History Characters / FullmetalAlchemistTeamMustang

[[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistBrothers Elric Brothers]] ([[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistEdwardElric Edward Elric]]) | '''Team Mustang''' | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistMainSupportingCast Main Supporting Cast]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistMilitary Military]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistHomunculi Homunculi]] ([[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistFather Father]]) | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistXing Xing]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistOthers Others]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistAnime 2003 Anime]]]]-]]]

* TheAce: Easily the best State Alchemist in terms of combat power, made Colonel before he was 30, has a loyal team, manages to assemble powerful allies to help him, and he has the highest homunculus body count.
* AchillesHeel: His spark-cloth gloves. Either remove, destroy or wet them, and he can't create the necessary spark for his Flame Alchemy. However, it's imperative to finish him off in this weakened state, before he can find other ignition sources. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for his enemies, this no longer applies after the Promised Day, when his portal-visitation leaves him able to perform the "clapping alchemy" - no circle, no gloves... no ''weakness''.]]
* TheAtoner: His main motive for becoming Fuhrer is to ensure that nothing like Ishval ever happens again. According to Riza, his ultimate goal would most likely lead to him getting tried and quite possibly put in jail for what he did in Ishval - and he's just fine with that.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: By far the most badass member of his unit, as well as the resistance he organized. [[spoiler: He effortlessly dominates Envy in a one-on-one duel so one-sided its effectively a torture session.]]
* BackToBackBadasses: With Riza under the Fifth Laboratory and in the most official artworks drawn by Hiromu Arakawa.
* BadassBoast: To Lust: ''You said it takes more than that to kill you, right? Then I'll just keep killing you until you die!''
** The English Dub version of this is just as awesome.
-->'''Mustang:''' You told me I couldn't kill you... but I'd like to try and prove you wrong. So let's see... how many times is it gonna take?!
* BadassBookworm: In the same vein with Ed. Probably the most powerful of all the State Alchemists. [[spoiler:Incinerated Lust and curbstomped Envy with no effort, and he actually had to be injured twice and blinded in the final battle against Father [[StoryBreakerPower to preserve]] [[DramaPreservingHandicap the drama]].]]
* BadassFingersnap: [[TropeCodifier One of the most famous examples in fiction]] and provider of the trope image; when he snaps the friction he creates between his fingers provides the ignition for his flame alchemy.
* BadassInANiceSuit: He always wears a uniform with a dress shirt underneath and when he switches to his civilian clothes he prefers a very dapper look.
* BadassLongcoat: Wears a long black coat on his uniform. He wears a white long coat during his time in Ishval.
* BattleCouple: With fellow soldier Riza, unofficially, due to the military's anti-fraternization rules.
* BeardOfSorrow: While grieving [[spoiler:Hughes']] death, he lets himself go.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: [[spoiler:Mustang only loses his sight after meeting Truth, rather than his actual eyes. However, he was truly forced to perform human transmutation (specifically, Pride used energy from his own Philosopher's Stone while using the Gold-Toothed Doctor's knowledge to more-or-less ''force'' Roy through the Gate). Him just losing his sight did teach him something valuable, but he didn't commit the hubris of transmutation to warrant losing his eyes; in a side story, there was an alchemist who lost his eyes trying to bring his friends' daughter back, reinforcing this notion.]]
* BeneathTheMask: When we are introduced to him, one can understand why Edward hates his guts: he is a glory hound, kissing up his higher ups asses, ridiculously arrogant and a shameless womanizer. On top of all that, he has no qualms in burning someone in cold-blood. Turns out, he has to keep a pretense to hide his more ambitious goals in the military. Comes in all fronts: he is very much ObfuscatingStupidity in his use of alchemy, his arrogance is a charade to bury down his self-loathing and his fame with women is a long tale of UrbanLegendLoveLife (which is a long story in itself as stated below). He seems to have perfected his persona so much so that almost everyone [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimates him]].
* BerserkButton:
** He doesn't take kindly to being reminded that he's useless when wet.
** Harming either Riza or Hughes will get you barbecued. [[spoiler:Envy and Lust did both. Ask them how that went.]]
* BewareTheSillyOnes: Since his introduction, he was portrayed an obnoxious, arrogant, little goofball whose biggest weakness is getting wet. Then he kills the shit out of Lust and the audience is reminded that there is a reason why he made Colonel at such a young age.
* BigDamnHeroes: Pulls one on Ed and his team, while the latter are engaging a horde of immortal mooks and are slowly but surely losing. Mustang pops in, asks if they're in need of help, and proceeds to set every single one of the mooks ablaze, clearing the whole room in under two seconds.
* BloodKnight: An unusual example in that Roy doesn't exactly like fighting, but freely admits after his battle with Lust that he actually enjoys fighting a homunculus because it makes him feel human again.
* BrokenAce: Ishval did a number on him, and he never forgave himself for it. Being lauded as a war hero likely made him feel worse.
* ByronicHero: Actually a subversion. Mustang is certainly saddled with a lot of {{angst}} and guilt from Ishval, and although he is set up to be an AntiHero when he stages Maria Ross' murder, he remains one of the most idealistic characters in the entire series. To the point where he is able to refuse performing Human Transmutation when an opportunity presented itself twice.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: The Homunculus are not allowed to kill Mustang, or really engage him in battle because he was deemed a candidate to be a sacrifice for Father's plans. To get around this, they try to strip him of his closest allies to drive him to a corner. The fact that Lust was willing to do so ends up nearly screwing them over, if not for Mustang being that much of a badass.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Protecting your subordinates and being an effective military officer already carry a lot of responsibility. [[UpToEleven When your superiors are plotting against you, it's even worse.]]
* TheChessmaster: Sometimes successfully (the [[FakingTheDead Maria Ross incident]]), sometimes not so much ("''Scar feeding cats, King Bradley is a homunculus...''") Somewhat subverted on the whole, as most of his enemies and his allies figure out quickly that he's planning a coup, but consider his actions inconsequential to their plans, and they tend to ignore him because he's right where they want him to be. It should be noted that his coup would have failed spectacularly if not for major outside interference by others, and one of his allies swooped in at the last moment and took his prize from him anyway.
* ChessMotif: Refers to his five closest subordinates using the names of chess pieces; he himself is the king.
* ClarkKentOutfit: Mustang's uniform hides the amazing six-pack he has. Take a [[https://em.wattpad.com/e63732f7b8e83f01dfcf2aeecff2b0d6ddf8de65/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b6c6774777057776f66586972773d3d2d3635353637313434382e313536383031616136656130303864623737323138313830353631372e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720 look]].
* CodeName: [[PlayingWithFire The Flame Alchemist]].
* ColdBloodedTorture: Puts [[spoiler: Envy]] through this near the end of the series after discovering they were the one who [[spoiler:killed Maes Hughes]]. Upon learning this, Mustang flies into an UnstoppableRage and burns [[spoiler:Envy]] alive again and again, going so far as to [[EyeScream boil the fluid in their eyes]] and [[TongueTrauma burn out their tongue]] repeatedly. He even lets [[spoiler:Envy]] [[HealingFactor regenerate themselves]] each time before torching them again, outright stating that by the time he's done, [[spoiler:Envy]] will have died a ''thousand'' deaths.
* ColonelBadass: He's even the page image for the trope. He BURNS HIS OWN WOUNDS SHUT and by the end of the series, he manages to personally take down [[spoiler:two of the seven Homunculi]], which is REALLY impressive in that universe. He also plays several of the defining bits of the trope incredibly straight -- he's only thirty years old, rose through the ranks incredibly fast (partly due to being a State Alchemist, which automatically starts you off at the rank of Major), he's extremely high-minded and has tremendous ideals for the country, and he will throw himself into danger in a heartbeat rather than risk losing one of his comrades, particularly [[AFatherToHisMen his five dearest and most loyal subordinates]].
* CombatPragmatist:
** [[spoiler:Envy found out very painfully that [[TalkingIsAFreeAction talking ISN'T a free action]], [[ShapeshifterGuiltTrip pretending to be allies]] doesn't work (although Envy should have picked someone who was alive), and Mustang goes for the [[EyeScream EYES]].]]
** Subversion: [[spoiler:the one thing he lets Envy get away with is TransformationIsAFreeAction. Doubly subverted when he boils their eyes immediately afterwards, remarking how stupid it was to make his target bigger for him.]]
** Another subversion: [[spoiler:Mustang declares that he's going to let them regenerate each time before he resumes the torching, instead of getting it over with as fast as possible. He does this explicitly to make them suffer over and over again for Hughes' death.]]
* CrazyJealousGuy: When he first sees Barry the Chopper put his hands on Riza (who clearly doesn't like it), Roy responds by pulling on his ignition gloves and telling her to stand aside because "there's going to be a ''fire'' tonight." It's noteworthy that the font of his speech bubbles changes for this scene, and he's shown to be literally growling.
* CripplingOverspecialization:
** His Flame Alchemy. While he's a talented alchemist, he is so focused on said flame alchemy he's rarely seen using any other type of alchemy -- you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he does on the show -- and he's treated by most of the characters as severely weakened or nigh useless if he's wet and therefore denied his flame alchemy -- despite the fact that by all rights all that should do is make him even to any other alchemist that doesn't possess flame alchemy.
** Zig-zagged during his preparation for faking Maria Ross's death, where he sends Breda on a shopping trip for "the ingredients for one charred corpse". Unlike the formula used by the Elrics, Roy intends on making his cadaver mostly out of pork meat and bones, which are roughly analogous to that of humans. Roy justifies his corner-cutting by explaining to Breda that his dummy doesn't need to be functional and will be burnt through and through when he's done with it. Though this isn't quite the case as the doctor who examines it immediately knows it's fake, but he agrees to keep it a secret because he owes Roy a favor. The look on his face when this is brought up shows Roy knew he dodged a bullet.
* CurbStompBattle: Completely crushes Envy in what is unquestionably the single most one-sided battle against a homunculus in the entire series. It's so bad that Mustang's ''own allies'' have to jump in to stop him from crossing the MoralEventHorizon.
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-5XmgX3f68 Brotherhood anime version]] of the "fight" is... Mustang snapping his fingers repeatedly at Envy, releasing blast after blast until Envy evaporates into dust. Envy can't even get in an insult before the flames start flying, and there's a good minute at least where Envy isn't even visible from the force of the explosions.
** Roy vs. the half dead Wrath, which ends in five seconds. [[spoiler:That is, ''Roy'' gets floored by Wrath despite the latter's massive handicap.]]
* CursedWithAwesome: By the end of the series, he [[spoiler:lost his eyesight as toll for the Gate.]] On the other hand, he gained the ability to perform circleless Alchemy, which also expands his repertoire beyond just Flame Alchemy. And thanks to Doctor Marcoh, [[spoiler:he might be getting his sight back anyway.]]
-->'''Mustang''': Hmm... This ''IS'' convenient.
* TheDarkArts: His style of flame alchemy is unique to him. Its implied he learned it from reading [[spoiler: Hawkeye’s back scars]]. They haven’t shared this knowledge, and for good reason. Just watch what he does to Envy when he loses all self control.
* {{Determinator}}: Stabbing him through the abdomen won't stop him. Being forced to cauterize his own wounds won't stop him. Destroying his gloves won't stop him. Not even [[spoiler:''losing his eyesight'']] will stop him for long. He will fight, and he ''will'' win.
* DiscardAndDraw: [[spoiler:Loses his eyesight as a result of being forced through the Gate, which means he's not as in control of his Flame Alchemy and needs Riza's help to aim. However, like the Elric Brothers, he can now perform alchemy without the need of a circle, which comes in handy when erecting defensive barriers.]]
* TheDreaded: In combat. Otherwise, he’s a legitimately good guy.
* DudeWhereIsMyRespect: {{Inverted}}. After Ishvalan war he is praised for his involvement it and commonly considered to be a war hero, but he would much rather [[TheAtoner get punished for it]].
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: When Edward "ObliviousToLove" Elric picks up on how much two people care about each other, it's pretty obvious.
-->'''Ed:''' And don't go worrying the Lieutenant.
* EyeScream: [[spoiler:Inflicts this on Envy during his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, by flash-boiling the water in Envy's eyeballs. Twice.]]
** This is subverted [[spoiler:when he lost his own sight after being forced into performing Human Transmutation. Sure he is blind but not due to direct damage on his own eyes.]]
* AFatherToHisMen: Part of the reason Team Mustang is recognized in the fandom as TrueCompanions is his leadership.
* TheFettered: He refuses to back down even after his plan is temporarily foiled by Wrath, and his goal involves getting himself tried for the war crimes he committed in Ishval. He won't sacrifice a life if he can help it, [[ThouShaltNotKill including enemies' lives]], and refuses to do Human Transmutation even when Hawkeye gets her throat slit.
* ForceAndFinesse: One-man variant, and how he manages to deliver such [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown a brutal beatdown]] on Envy. He performs pinpoint attacks with his right hand (which results in Envy's [[EyeScream eyeballs getting broiled]]), followed by [[StuffBlowingUp large-scale explosions]] with his left hand. Envy never stood a chance.
* FourStarBadass: At the very end of the manga, he reaches the rank of general.
* GenreSavvy: Tells Hughes not to talk about his loved ones in Ishval because [[spoiler:"those characters always get shot in the next battle."]] He's referring to novels.
* GetOutOfJailFreeCard: Subverted when it is revealed that he feels immensely guilty for [[MyGreatestFailure his actions in Ishval; being considered a war hero for committing mass murder sickens him and he actually]] ''[[TheAtoner wishes]]'' [[TheAtoner he was in jail for it.]]
* GoodEyesEvilEyes: If it wasn't apparent that Envy had just angered Mustang '''big time''', then his eyes narrowing to a slit makes it terrifyingly so. He's stopped right before he really goes off the deep end, though, then returns to normal.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: He has a scar on the back of his hand from when he had to cut a transmutation circle into it to kill Lust. Presumably he also gained one on his right side from the same battle, although it's never confirmed because we never see him with his shirt open again.
* GuileHero: As impressive as his flame alchemy is, his ability to out-think his opponents is even moreso. [[spoiler: Successfully managing to stage a coup in the name of an enemy you just staged an assassination attempt on is awfully impressive, especially when you plan it right under his nose when he knows that is exactly what you are trying to do.]]
* HandicappedBadass: [[spoiler: Loses his eyesight as a toll for going through the Gate (or rather, being forced through it, hence why he only lost his sight rather than his eyes). He gets his sight back thanks to a Philosopher's Stone in Marcoh's possession.]]
* HappilyAdopted: {{Implied|Trope}}. He was raised by his father's sister, and they are obviously very fond of one another.
* HavingABlast: His alchemy revolves around changing air densities to allow the air to combust and lead the flames to the target. He can even make the air so dense around the target that he essentially creates bombs out of pure oxygen that will explode spectacularly once the flames reach it. Overlaps with PlayingWithFire.
* HealItWithFire: He's skilled enough to cauterize severe wounds with his alchemy, and puts it to good use saving himself and Havoc. Of course, he admits that he almost passed out from the pain of doing so.
* HeroicBSOD: He has a brief one in the ''Brotherhood'' anime when Bradley plays the LoveIsAWeakness card and announces that he's making Riza his own personal assistant, essentially holding her hostage for Roy's good behavior. The poor guy's face turns ''gray''.
* HeroKiller: {{Inverted|Trope}}. He's the only character whose mere presence is enough to constitute a deadly threat to the [[HeroKiller Homunculi]], thus making him a Hero Killer Killer.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Hughes, ever since the Ishvalan War. [[spoiler: Needless to say, he does not take his friend's death very well.]]
* HeroWithBadPublicity: He becomes one after [[spoiler: the Maria Ross incident because he made everyone think he brutally burned her when he actually saved her.]]
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: He's aware of this possibility happening on his quest to reform the military, namely that he may become as bad as the current regime, so he makes Hawkeye promise to shoot him if he ever goes off the deep end. [[spoiler: Good thing that he's thought of this. When he encounters Envy, who killed his best friend Hughes, he becomes so ruthless that he nearly loses himself, making all of his friends and comrades present fear for him. See IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim for more information.]]
* HiddenHeartOfGold: He gives the impression that he's a selfish, womanizing, ladder climber when he's actually TheAtoner. He uses the womanizing as a cover story for when Riza goes undercover.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: He hightails it out of there when Lust severs a pipe and douses him and his ignition gloves. However, as he explains to Havoc, this wasn't because he was trying to ''flee''...
-->'''Mustang''': This is actually a boon. Where there's water, there's ample supply of hydrogen. I can transmute as much flammable gas as I want. And in that sealed-off room...
-->''[cut to Havoc winding up for a ReusableLighterToss, and...]''
-->'''''[BOOM!]'''''
* HorrifyingTheHorror: His brutal beatdown on [[spoiler: Envy]] near the end of the series. He actively tortures them to the point that by the end, they're ''[[VillainsWantMercy begging]]'' [[VillainsWantMercy for mercy]].
* HowDareYouDieOnMe: He says something like this to [[spoiler:Hughes's]] grave after his funeral, and then later says it almost word-for-word to Riza when her throat is cut. It's even close to an exact quote in the ''Brotherhood'' anime.
-->'''Roy:''' Don't you dare die! Stay with me, Lieutenant!
* HurtingHero: Justified, considering the Ishval massacre that he regrets.
* IAmAMonster: Invokes this trope to explain why he's eager to fight Homunculi: he only feels completely human when fighting ''true'' monsters.
* ICanStillFight: He needs Hawkeye to help him aim after [[spoiler:he loses his eyesight]], but his flames are as hot as ever. Not to mention, [[spoiler: he can summon defensive barriers from the ground without drawing alchemic circles.]]
* IfIDoNotReturn: PlayedWith in one scene, when he says this to Riza and she refuses to leave if he doesn't come back. To his amusement, he can only get her to agree as long as he promises to return.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: Subverted. While Ed, Hawkeye, and Scar all step in to stop him from killing [[spoiler:Envy]], they do so to prevent him from [[HeWhoFightsMonsters losing himself in his hatred]], with all of them agreeing that they deserve to die either way.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: With a snap of his fingers, he makes Envy's eyeballs explode, leaving the rest of the face relatively intact.
* InappropriatelyCloseComrades: With his fellow subordinate [[BodyguardCrush Riza Hawkeye]]. Arakawa's said [[UnresolvedSexualTension the only reason he and Riza aren't together]] is due to an anti-fraternization law in the military. There is nothing to say that they can't move forward their relationship [[MaybeEverAfter once he achieves his goal of becoming the leader of country]].
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Grumman. They play chess on their time off.
* InternalReformist: Of the "working the system" variety.
* {{Irony}}: When the BigBad gives a BreakingSpeech about what all the [[spoiler: alchemists who have committed human transmutation]] have lost, he notes that Mustang, [[spoiler: who had such a grand vision for reforming the military, had lost his eyesight.]]
* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: Invoking this is a big part of his motivation. As a soldier in the Ishval Civil War, he committed numerous atrocities, but as he was on the winning side, he was commended and treated as a war hero. His goal throughout the series is to become the Führer of Amestris, so he can make sure this is rectified. When Hawkeye points out that this means Mustang himself will most likely be tried as a war criminal and sent to prison, Mustang informs her that that's ''exactly'' what he wants. WordOfGod confirms that [[spoiler:Mustang does indeed see his day in court for his crimes in the war, and is found guilty, but pardoned for his role in saving everyone]].
* LargeHam: When distracting some officers over the radio in episode 18, he really gets into it.
* TheLeader: He's charismatic enough to get everyone underneath his command (and several people who ''outrank'' him) to conspire on what is essentially a military coup.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: For Riza, who emphatically asserts that she has no interest in living in a world without him. This is due to their deep and complicated backstory that resulted in their intense loyalty to one another.
* LogicalWeakness: The fact that he's useless when it's raining is a bit of a RunningGag. This is because, well, he uses fire, and rain is going to put a bit of a damper on his ability to get a flame going.
** His greater weakness is his gloves; they can't produce a spark if they're wet, and he can't use alchemy if the circle on them is damaged. But if he creates another circle elsewhere he can use alchemy again, and if the gloves are still intact he can transmute water into hydrogen gas. [[StuffBlowingUp Combine either with a alternate source of flame, and...]]
* {{Mangst}}: He was a [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic young soldier who learned flame alchemy to better protect his countrymen]]. [[WarIsHell Then he was brought into a genocidal war]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone where he personally]] [[WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife burned alive more]] of his own [[FantasticRacism (ethnically and religiously different)]] countrymen than most people ever speak to. He's since become determined to change the country by [[PuttingOnTheReich becoming the Fuhrer]] and putting himself on war trials to save his subordinates. This has to be pointed out to the audience.
* ManlyTears: Happens almost twice. He lets the tears fall during [[spoiler: Maes Hughes' funeral]]. The ''almost'' second time is [[spoiler: when [[ForcedToWatch he's forced to watch Riza bleed to death]]]], although this time he covers it with a lot of shouting.
* MaybeEverAfter: Although he and Riza have an incredibly close relationship based on their shared history and future goals, and are strongly implied on many occasions to have more than platonic feelings for each other underneath their professional masks, we are given no indication of whether or not TheyDo after the series ends. The ''Chronicles'' book further confirms that they remain together for the rest of their lives, but are unable to marry because of military regulations.
* MeaningfulName:
** Roy is old French for "King", creating an interesting parallel to Bradley, whose first name actually ''is'' "King".
** The P-51 '''Mustang''' was considered the best fighter plane in WWII. It's carried further back, as the Colonel, like the fighter plane, was most likely named for the "wild, untamed horse" who bucks the master's (in this case, Bradley's) commands.
** "Mustang" is also a slang term in the US military for commissioned officers who began their careers as enlisted soldiers.
* TheMenFirst: Insists on Havoc being treated before him despite his own intense injuries.
* MercyKillArrangement: He asks his trusted subordinate Riza Hawkeye to kill him if he ever "goes too far", as he fears that his ambitions might lead him to do too many unsavory things.
* MilkyWhiteEyes: As a visual effect when he goes blind.
* MookHorrorShow: Played straight in Mustang's "fight" against Envy. It was less of a fight and more of a hunt. [[spoiler: Just like a classic slasher film, Envy is shown frantically scrambling for his life, desperately trying ANYTHING to so much as phase Mustang. While Mustang [[TranquilFury calmly]] hunts him, his stride never breaking faster than [[TheSlowWalk a slow deliberate walk]] (yet he is always [[OffscreenTeleportation JUST behind Envy)]], all of Envy's attempts to attack him just managing [[UnstoppableRage to piss him off even more]]. Within minutes, Envy's expression when Mustang so much as gets him in the line of sight is [[OhCrap utter horror and fear]]. When Mustang finally cornered Envy, it was only Hawkeye begging Mustang to stop that prevented him from brutally murdering Envy (if only just).]]
* MrFanservice: So very, ''very'' much. About the only way his {{Fanservice}} factor could be increased would be if he got as many {{shirtless scene}}s as Ed.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Keeping with Arakawa's tendency to name military characters after real-world war machinery, Roy was named after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang the P-51 Mustang]], which gained fame in World War II for its ability to lead raids from the front, handle high altitudes, and stay flying for long periods thanks to its full capacity -- all of which are referenced in Roy's character. It also was responsible for shooting down more Axis aircraft than any other Allied fighter, which is alluded to in how [[spoiler:Roy ends up killing the homunculi more than any of the other heroes, both for good and in general terms of depleting their philosopher's stones]].
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast:
** To the point that whenever his ''allies'' hear [[RedBaron the Flame Alchemist]] is about to take the stage, they have a collective OhCrap moment and promptly clear the field.
** Mustang garners this reputation amongst the ''[[SmugSuper Homunculi]]'' as well after [[spoiler: he kills Lust.]]
* NoBadassToHisValet: Yes, he's the powerful Flame Alchemist and even some of his allies are afraid of him, but his "precious subordinate" Riza has no qualms about sassing or even bullying him if the need arises. He wouldn't dream of retaliating; the only time he's ever seen acting even remotely ''annoyed'' with her, it's because [[DeathByDespair she almost]] ''[[DeathByDespair died]]''.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Delivers this to Envy after admitting that he killed Maes Hughes. It involves burning him repeatedly, non-lethally, to inflict the maximum pain without allowing Envy to counteract.
* NotSoAboveItAll: Normally he's very strategic, professional, and pretty guarded, playing StraightMan to semi-comedic subordinates like Hughes. ''However,'' there are also a good few instances of him goofing around. He seems to enjoy acting like an obnoxious bro over the phone just a little ''too'' much. He even admits to this when he's screwing with the military radio to throw them off Scar's trail in Episode 21.
-->'''Mustang''': Attention! This is Sector 3 Patrol! We're under attack from Scar! Request immediate backup. What? No! [[LargeHam No! NOOOOO! AUUUGH!]] *disconnects the radio* Alright. On to Sector 17. Ohohoho! This is pretty fun!
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Though more like obfuscating perversion; the truth is those "mistresses" are actually his spies.
* OddFriendship: With Hughes. His constant pestering for Roy to find a wife and outgoing personality is a constant annoyance to Roy, but in the end, the two are as close as close friends could be.
* OneManArmy: With his flame alchemy he can wipe out entire cities with a snap. Think what he can do to soldiers in formation.
* OutOfCharacterAlert: His completely out-of-place remark about the chicks in the East to Armstrong when he's pretending he charred Maria Ross. It's how Armstrong knew that Maria Ross was there.
* OverrankedSoldier: While there is an in-universe justification, Roy is seen as this in the eyes of several of his contemporaries.
** Until Edward Elric passed exam at 12, Roy was the youngest State Alchemist in the country's history, which made him a Major in the military at the ripe old age of 20. And because he actively pursued promotion, the result was that by the time he turned 30 he had already become a ColonelBadass. Many older commanding officers resent and/or dislike Roy for a number of different reasons, with this being one of them.
** The epilogue shows he becomes a full general before the age of 40.
* PapaWolf: He doesn't take kindly to anyone hurting the Elric brothers. When Scar attacked them, Roy demanded that Scar fight him, despite it being a rainy day and knowing he's likely to get killed.
** He also doesn't take kindly to anyone harming his team. See AFatherToHisMen above.
* ParentalAbandonment: One of the guidebooks reveals that ''both'' of his parents died when he was young, leaving his father's sister to care for him.
* ParentalSubstitute: To the Elric brothers. Since their mom is dead and the father is long gone, (at first) he generally fills in the mentor role of being a parent, if not exactly the 'nurturing' part. Though this is more evident with Ed because of their shared status as State Alchemists (Roy having been the youngest in state history before Ed came along.) One scene even has Hughes pestering Roy about the two brothers and how they are too young to endure the hard reality of military life, and Roy just sighs and says he's their commanding officer, [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial not their father.]] [[TheStoic Riza]], of all people, is better at the 'nurture' part, although she mainly confined to showing [[SugarAndIcePersonality the more caring part of her personality]] to animals (in a firm but fair way) and [[FriendToAllChildren children.]]
* PayEvilUntoEvil: When he finds out that [[spoiler: Envy killed Maes Hughes, he goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, repeatedly flash-frying them until Envy is literally ''begging'' for mercy. Despite the fact that Mustang was rapidly approaching HeWhoFightsMonsters territory, after all of the atrocities Envy has committed, not the least of which include being directly responsible for kick-starting the Ishval Civil War, they deserved every second of Mustang's wrath]].
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Destroys city blocks by snapping his fingers.
* PietaPlagiarism:With the dying [[spoiler:Riza]].
* PlayingWithFire: His FLAME alchemy.
* PostVictoryCollapse: [[spoiler:After defeating Lust, he collapses due to the pain of his injuries and the HealItWithFire method that caused more pain.]]
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: In the Brotherhood anime, Riza puts up a decent fight against Envy but is clearly losing. Mustang enters by setting the whole corridor ablaze.
--> '''Mustang:''' What do you think you're doing to my irreplaceable subordinate?
* {{Protectorate}}: To Riza. The whole reason she's in the military, as she explains to young Winry in a flashback, is because "there is someone [Roy] she needs to protect".
* RankUp: In the epilogue. The stars on his epaulets indicate he's made General.
* RedBaron:
** The Flame Alchemist. Also doubles as Roy's CodeName.
** The Strongest State Alchemist.
** [[EldritchAbomination Pride]] also calls him "The Most Troublesome State Alchemist".
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: After finding out [[spoiler:Envy was the one who killed Hughes]], he goes on one of these. ''Man'', does he ever. It's pretty furious in the manga, but the anime takes it UpToEleven: at one point, he loses it completely and just keeps on firing ceaselessly until [[spoiler:Envy]] turns to dust. And even then, the only thing keeping him from crushing its true form under his foot is the thought of harming [[SubordinateExcuse Riza. ]]
* SandInMyEyes: "It's raining."
* SmartPeoplePlayChess: He plays often with General Grumman.
* SonOfAWhore: His foster mother and biological aunt is the [[MissKitty 'madam' of a whore house]], and he gets the bulk of his information from the girls that work for her.
* SpamAttack: He kills [[spoiler:Lust]] by repeatedly blowing her up until she dies.
* StuffBlowingUp: Again, part and parcel of being the Flame Alchemist.
* SupportingLeader: He's not TheHero, but he is the heroes' direct superior and he's the one to lead the resistance against the BigBad. This is why he can be seen as a BigGood.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Amusingly enough, Arakawa mentions in the third guidebook that she never intended him to be this way, despite the widespread fandom reaction. She states that he really isn't all that tall and although he's not bad looking, he isn't ravishingly handsome either. Most fandom estimates using Ed (the only canonical height ever given) as a baseline put him around or just under six feet.
* TeamDad: To his subordinates, especially Ed and Al, with Riza acting as the TeamMom.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: After [[spoiler:Envy confesses to be Hughes' killer]], Mustang slips into this mindset, intent on sending [[spoiler:Envy]] straight to hell with a death as painful as possible. He succeeds in completely obliterating [[spoiler:the homunculus' vessel]], preparing to go through with a merciless finish on his now helpless opponent. Riza and Scar stop him, noting that such a brutal finish would latch onto his leadership capacity as well.
* ThouShaltNotKill: Takes great pains to control his flames so that they only incapacitate soldiers during his section of the military coup.
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:Not that he ''needed'' to take one, but, while he temporarily loses his eyesight, he also gains the ability to transmute without a circle. It can be assumed that, although he's recovered his sight, he retained this skill.]]
* ToThePain: [[spoiler:He tauntingly describes every body part he's just incinerated once he starts turning Envy into a bonfire, though he soon abandons it for just burning him.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Mustang''': ''([[TranquilFury coldly]])'' It's kind of interesting how quickly the tongue can be rendered to a bubbling grease. It's surprising how easy it burns, ''isn't it?'']]
* TrickedOutGloves: The transmutation circles on his gloves help him with his alchemy.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: With Riza. Arakawa's comments verify that the only reason they aren't married by the end of the series is the anti-fraternization law. She has also confirmed that Roy eventually [[spoiler:achieves his goal of becoming Fuhrer, which may allow for a change in their relationship.]]
* UnstoppableRage: After Envy [[spoiler: proceeds to reveal that he was Hughes' murderer and [[TooDumbToLive gloats about it to Roy's face]], Roy proceeds to burn his body all the way down to ash and is about to step on the little bastard when they talk him out of it.]]
* UrbanLegendLoveLife: He uses this persona to fool ''almost everyone'' around him, so they [[ObfuscatingStupidity won't take him for more than a womanizer and ruthless careerist]]. But his comrades know him better than that; his visits to a house of ill repute are actually to [[spoiler:get information from the girls and say hi to his foster mother, [[SonOfAWhore who runs the place]]]]. He is known to call girls from his desk at work, but [[spoiler:the "girls" are actually trusted members of his personal staff answering to aliases, all but one of whom is male; in one issue of the manga, he even uses this system to coordinate a covert op]]. He has a journal in which he records all the details of his love life, [[spoiler:which is actually his encrypted alchemy research notes]]. [[spoiler:WordOfGod says that the only reason he hadn't married his second-in-command, Riza, was because it was prohibited under the Amestrian military anti-fraternization regs.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Ed. They drive each other nuts, but it becomes pretty apparent that they also always have each other's backs. It's alluded to this being because they're so alike at heart, but very different outwardly.
-->'''Ed''': The Colonel may be a bastard, but he's trustworthy.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Repeatedly said to be totally ineffective if under rain or if wet. It's not entirely accurate; he just can't use his alchemy if his ''gloves'' get wet, as they're made of a special ignition cloth to create the necessary spark. However, if he has another source of fire available (not even fire, all he needs for his alchemy is the appropriate circle and a spark -- such as from a lighter), pray for deliverance. We're looking at [[spoiler:(what's left of)]] you, [[spoiler:Lust]].
* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: In contrast to his [[TheChessmaster other behavior]], his fighting style is simple: KillItWithFire. If that doesn't work, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill kill it with more]]!
* WorldsBestWarrior: The absolute best combat alchemist among the heroes, excluding Hohenheim, who prefers to transmute non-lethal traps.
* YouCanBarelyStand: His final confrontation with Lust.
-->'''Roy:''' I almost passed out a few times.
* YouKilledMyFather: What he asks of several people suspected of killing [[spoiler:Hughes, his best friend]], though when he finally finds the real person ([[spoiler:Envy]]) he skips straight to the incinerating.
* ZeroApprovalGambit: [[spoiler:He enacted a plan to make it appear that he burned Maria Ross to death (it was actually a fake cadaver, and Ross was being sneaked out of the country). Ross was under arrest for the murder of Maes Hughes and was to be executed, so Mustang saved her life while making it appear to the higher-ups that his desire for vengeance was quenched. All the while, Ross's friends and family continue to think she's dead, making Mustang a bloodthirsty murderer in their eyes (at least until they learn the truth).]]

[[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistBrothers Elric Brothers]] | '''Team Mustang''' | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistMainSupportingCast Main Supporting Cast]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistMilitary Military]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistHomunculi Homunculi]] ([[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistFather Father]]) | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistXing Xing]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistOthers Others]] | [[Characters/FullmetalAlchemistAnime 2003 Anime]]]]-]]]

* AbusiveParents: {{Implied|Trope}}. She tells Roy Mustang in a flashback that her father, Berthold, who doubled as Roy's alchemy teacher, was "a terrifying man." The exact nature of his abuses are not made clear, but one thing is known for sure: he used her as the HumanNotepad for his research on flame alchemy when she was younger than eighteen. The father's only "redeeming trait" was asking Roy to take Riza in and protect her in his FamousLastWords, and he probably did it more to ensure his research wouldn't be lost than for Riza's sake.

* ChessMotif: Roy compares himself and each member to a chess piece as he looks at a chess set. See each character for specific role.

* TrueCompanions
* UndyingLoyalty: All of them are this to Roy.

* MookHorrorShow: [[spoiler: Played straight in Mustang's "fight" against Envy. It was less of a fight and more of a hunt. Just like a classic slasher film, Envy is shown frantically scrambling for his life, desperately trying ANYTHING to so much as phase Mustang. While Mustang [[TranquilFury calmly]] hunts him, his stride never breaking faster than [[TheSlowWalk a slow deliberate walk]] (yet he is always [[OffscreenTeleportation JUST behind Envy)]], all of Envy's attempts to attack him just managing [[UnstoppableRage to piss him off even more]]. Within minutes, Envy's expression when Mustang so much as gets him in the line of sight is [[OhCrap utter horror and fear]]. When Mustang finally cornered Envy, it was only Hawkeye begging Mustang to stop that prevented him from brutally murdering Envy (if only just).]]

* PietaPlagiarism: [[spoiler:With the dying Riza.]]

%%* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Edward's red. (One of two)

* SonOfAWhore: His foster mother and biological aunt is the 'madam' of a whore house, and he gets the bulk of his information from the girls that work for her.

* ManlyTears: Once. ''Almost'' twice, although the second time he covered it with a lot of shouting.

* {{Mukokuseki}}: Inverted. Roy's appearance strongly matches that of cast members who are explicitly from an Asiatic country, despite he himself living in a European country and having a European family name. His only known relative is a paternal aunt. This leads to some fan speculation that he has Xingese ancestry on his maternal side, but it's not something that's ever commented on.

%%* NobleMaleRoguishMale: Noble Male to Ed's Roguish Male.

* DumbBlonde: Inverted. Riza is a blonde, serious, competent, and wise.

* MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler:See Roy's entry on the main characters page.]]

* BloodKnight: A unusual example in that Roy doesn't exactly like fighting, but freely admits after his battle with Lust that he actually enjoys fighting a homunculus because it makes him feel human again.

** His Flame Alchemy. While he's a talented alchemist (Talented enough to become a State Alchemist long before he got his flame alchemy), he is so focused on said flame alchemy he's rarely seen using any other type of alchemy -- you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he does on the show -- and he's treated by most of the characters as severely weakened or nigh useless if he's wet and therefore denied his flame alchemy -- despite the fact that by all rights all that should do is make him even to any other alchemist that doesn't possess flame alchemy.

* TeamDad: To his subordinates, with Riza acting as the TeamMom.

* TeamMom: To Mustang's subordinates, counterbalancing Roy's TeamDad status.

* InappropriatelyCloseComrades: With his fellow subordinate [[BodyguardCrush Riza Hawkeye]].

* ShipSinking: Of a more minor degree; Arakawa's said [[UnresolvedSexualTension the only reason Riza and Mustang aren't together]] is due to an anti-fraternization law in the military... but that still means they can't be publicly together. [[spoiler: Though its the fuhrer who makes the laws, and the next fuhrer is her ShipperOnDeck grandfather...]]

* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:Roy fights Wrath who has lost his Ultimate Eye and is dying from his wounds. Despite his advantage, Roy barely gets to fight before Wrath closes the distance and beats him down with one attack.]]

* AmicablyDivorced: He's separated from his wife and son, but they still love him, calling him 'dear' and 'father' respectively. The reason for their separation is not so much irreconcilable differences but rather [[ShellShockedVeteran Dr. Knox having PTSD so severe that when it flares up he becoems dangerous to his family]].

* AmicablyDivorced: He's separated from his wife and son, but they still love him, calling him 'dear' and 'father' respectively. The reason for their separation is not so much irreconcilable differences but rather [[ShellShockedVeteran his PTSD flaring up and endangering his family]].

* MissKitty: She's the proprietor of a hostess bar and possibly a brothel. The fact that Mustang visits her place spreads the images that he's a shameless womanizer.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Abandons Amestris to Xing before the BigBad's plan come to fruition.

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Biichi Satou (JP), Jeremy Inman (EN), Creator/LuisMiguelPerez (Latin America), Ramon Campos (BR), Ruggero Andreozzi (IT)

* TookALevelInBadass:[[spoiler: When he's thrown into combat in the South. Also when he and the team are ready to go once the revolution kicks off, of course.]]

* HiddenDepths: Despite acting aloof and indifferent about how the trauma of war ultimately caused him to leave his family, he quietly asks Lan Fan to not attempt to kill May Chang once they both recover.

* TookALevelInBadass:[[spoiler:When he starts organizing illegal border crossings. Also when he and the team are ready to go once the revolution kicks off, of course.]]

* MercyKillArrangement: He asks his trusted subordinate Riza Hawkeye to kill him if he ever "goes too far", as he fears that his ambitions might lead him to do too much unsavory things.

** He also doesn't take kindly to anyone harming his team. See A Father To His Men above.

-->'''Mustang:''' What do you think you're doing to my irreplaceable subordinate?

** In Hungarian, it means "guardian." Makes sense, since she's Roy's bodyguard and also [[spoiler:the physical guardian of her father's research]].

* ChessMotif: Falman is the bishop. Bishops gain in strength towards the end of a chess game, usually because they're able to move unhindered. [[spoiler:His transfer to Briggs allows him to facilitate the cooperation between Mustang and Major General Armstrong, and before that, his knowledge of Amestris's wars allowed the heroes to figure out the national transmutation circle away from Central Command.]]

* Ambiguously Gay: Though his sexuality hasn't been confirmed in any way, he certainly looks and acts very MachoCamp with his BaraGenre-esque character design combined with BishieSparkle. There's also his full-body SomethingElseAlsoRises moment when Sig turns up to fight Sloth with him, and their earlier flex-off scene.

-->'''Knox:''' Ho, there could be an unknown pathogen in the doctor's house that could get out, and kill everyone in it.

--> ''Dr. Knox:'' No father wants to see children kill one another.

-->'''Knox''': "Have you heard ? They say there's a couple of Amestrian doctors continuing to treat Ishvalans in the Kanda district.
-->'''-Marcoh''': What ? How foolish... that's suicidal !
-->'''-Knox''': Foolish, huh ? That's what you'd say from a safety zone. On one hand, there are us doctors killing people to flatter authority. On the other, doctors who stick to the unfortunate and continue to let people live. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Doctor Marcoh, why am I killing people when I'm a doctor ?]]"

-->'''Knox:''' ''"If there's such a thing as God... Surely someone like me can have a cup of coffee with my own family...?"''

* HiddenHeartOfGold: Despite all him grumpiness, complaining about being dragged into the problems of the heroes he still cares for his patients and takes care of them without hesitation.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Although he didn't intended it as one (or if he did, was aiming it sorely at himself), he delivers a powerful one to Dr.Marcoh, which serves as the final nail of Marcoh's HeelRealization.
-->'''Knox''': "Have you heard ? They say there's a couple of amestrian doctors continuing to treat ishbalans in the Kanda district.
-->'''-Marcoh''': What ? How foolish... that's suicidal !
-->'''-Knox''': Foolish, huh ? That's what you'd say from a safety zone. On one hand, there are us doctors killing people to flatter authority. On the other, doctors who stick to the unfortunate and continue to let people live. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Doctor Marcoh, why am I killing people when I'm a doctor ?]]"

* {{Nephewism:}} After losing her brother and sister-in-law,[[spoiler: she becomes Roy's legal guardian.]]

!!Mustang's Affiliations

[[folder:Madame Christmas]]
!!Madame Christmas
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Youko Matsuoka (JP), Pam Dougherty (EN), Rosa Maria Baroli (BR)
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/madame_christmas.jpg]]
->'''Affiliation:''' Roy Mustang\\

[[folder:General]]

This page deals with the {{Tritagonist}} of the series Colonel Roy Mustang, his team and people affiliated with him.