Of Morphs and Homunculi

Once upon a time in March of 2018 there was a Blazing Sword podcast. And in this Blazing Sword podcast there was an FMA / FE 7 Homunculus - Morph discussion going on. During this discussion I mentioned that I would make a blog post about this. Time passed and I never got around to doing it. Better late than never.

Morphs in FE 7 and the homunculi from FMA share some interesting similarities. For example:

• The reason for their creation: Morphs and the homunculi are both artificial humans created to act as tools to further their maker’s agenda. Father in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood created the homunculi in order to become “the perfect being”. All of them, except for Greed, serve Father and work to make his plan of sacrificing Amestris come true throughout the anime and manga. Likewise, the morphs in Fire Emblem 7 are made specifically to help Nergal carry out his plans. 

• Their method of creation is very similar: The homunculi in FMA are powered by Philosopher Stones, which are created by sacrificing human lives. In the 2003 version homunculi are created from failed human transmutations. In Fire Emblem 7 morphs are created with recycled quintessence. Quintessence is defined in the game as a person’s life force. In a way, both homunculi and morphs are created from the essence and life force of dead people. As Envy put it in 2003 FMA: “You gotta spend life to make life”. 

• Both of them have distinct physical features that give them away: The homunculi and morphs have black hair and distinct eye colors. The homunculi in 2003 FMA have lavender eye colors while in Brotherhood their eyes are purple. According to FMA Wiki, the homunculi usually have purple eyes in the manga, but sometimes they are depicted as red. In FE 7 Morphs all have golden eyes and blood red lips. 

        The homunculi in FMA all have Ouroboros tattoos that instantly give them away as homunculi. Both homunculi and morphs dissolve into dust when they die.

• Morphs and homunculi are similarly limited in their emotional capacities: Morphs are generally characterized as emotionless. When they do express emotions, it’s usually one emotion such as Sonia’s arrogant belief that she’s “perfect” or Limstella’s devotion to Nergal. Ephidel only fakes emotion and that’s when he needs to carry out his assignment in aiding Nergal’s plan. 

        The Homunculi in FMA are designed to literally embody a certain vice from their creator. In addition to that vice they generally see themselves as superior to regular humans. FMA Wiki points out that this may be a reference “to pride being labelled by Christians as "the father of all sins".


In addition to these similarities it should be pointed out that both Nergal and Father share some similarities too.

• Both of them either try or succeed in instigating armed conflict that furthers their goals: Nergal’s plan in Fire Emblem 7 is to stir up a civil war in Lycia. This was done in order for him to collect enough quintessence in order to call more dragons through the Gate. 

                  In FMA we learn that Father created Amestris specifically so that it could one day become a nationwide transmutation circle that would eventually let him open the Portal and swallow God. This plan is the main reason why Amestris got involved in so many bloody conflicts and why it’s an expansionist state. The Ishval Civil War is a prime example of this. 

        Both of their plans revolve around opening a Gate in order to consume huge amounts of power: Once Nergal had obtained enough quintessence he was going to call dragons through the Dragon Gate and harness their quintessence to become all-powerful. Father’s entire plan revolved around creating a giant transmutation circle around Amestris, sacrificing it, absorbing the souls of the entire country of Amestris and then absorbing the power of God once the Gate of Truth had been opened.



They’re both characterized by a lust for knowledge: Both Nergal and Father are characterized by being too hungry for knowledge. This leads them to learn the secrets of magic / power that are considered taboo or forbidden within their respective series. It’s also worth noting the cost they must pay in order to achieve their goals. Father sacrifices the entire country of Xerxes, and later tries to do it again with Amestris.

Nergal turned to dark magic so that he could open the gate and reclaim Ninian and Nils. Sadly Nergal forgot who he was in the process. Eventually all Nergal remembered was that he needed power and that the Gate had to be opened. It’s also implied that his wife, Aenir’s fate also played a significant role in his lust for power.