system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Fullmetal Alchemist] Why doesn't Al draw transmutation circles on his armor for quick alchemy?

At the beginning of the story, Alphonse cannot do clap-alchemy and must instead use a transmutation circle. The majority of alchemists also have this limitation, but they partially circumvent it by using gloves, gauntlets, tattoos, etc, that already have a transmutation circle, allowing them do use alchemy during combat without pausing to draw an array.

Al could've used a similar technique and drawn transmutation circles on his armor, but he doesn't. Instead the rarely uses alchemy during combat; when he does, it typically requires Ed to distract the foe for a few seconds while Al draws the circle. Why?
gpt
One major thing about Ed and Al's alchemical combat is that they don't have a go to move, but instead change it up. Mustang uses his fire, so he has a circle for that. The muscly dude (it's been a while, okay?) uses his to convert rocks to projectiles, so he has that specific circle on his gauntlet thingy. Al would need to either pick one specific method of fighting with alchemy or to have many circles scratched all across his armor to fight effectively.