History Main / BrainsAndBrawn

%%* ''WebAnimation/FreezeFlame'': Iggy and Morton from ''Bowser's Koopalings''.
%%** Ludwig and Roy also follow this trope.

** In the backstory, this was the dynamic of Revan and Malak's partnership. [[{{Ubermensch}} Revan]] was a master of the Force, extremely wise despite his youth, and [[TheStrategist possibly the greatest military strategist in galactic history]] up to that point. Malak towered over his master, was [[MasterSwordsman the more martial focused]] of the two but, while far from stupid and a competent tactician, was [[AttackAttackAttack nowhere near Revan's equal in long-term strategic thinking]].

** In the backstory, this was the dynamic of Revan and Malak's partnership. [[{{Ubermensch}} Revan]] was a master of the Force, extremely wise despite his youth, and [[TheStrategist possibly the greatest military strategist in galactic history]] up to that point. Malak towered over his master, was [[MasterSwordsman the more martial focused]] of the two and, while far from stupid and a competent tactician, was [[AttackAttackAttack nowhere near Revan's equal in long-term strategic thinking]].

** In the backstory, this was the dynamic of Revan and Malak's partnership. [[Ubermensch Revan]] was a master of the Force, extremely wise despite his youth, and [[TheStrategist possibly the greatest military strategist in galactic history]] up to that point. Malak towered over his master, was [[MasterSwordsman the more martial focused]] of the two and, while far from stupid and a competent tactician, was [[AttackAttackAttack nowhere near Revan's equal in long-term strategic thinking]].

** In the backstory, this was the dynamic of Revan and Malak's partnership. [[Ubermensch Revan]] was a master of the Force, extremely wise despite his youth, and [[TheStrategist possibly the greatest military strategist in galactic history]] up to that point. Malak towered over his master, was [[MasterSwordsman the more martial focused]] of the two and, while far from stupid and a competent tactician, was nowhere near Revan's equal in long-term strategic thinking.

** In the backstory, this was the dynamic of Revan and Malak's partnership. Revan was a master of the Force, extremely wise despite his youth, and possibly the greatest military strategist in galactic history up to that point. Malak towered over his master, was the more martial focused of the two and, while far from stupid and a competent tactician, was nowhere near Revan's equal in long-term strategic thinking.

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Zaalbar is an adolescent Wookiee exile; two meters and change of brute strength and empty stomach. However, he's painfully shy and unable to speak Basic, so he's more than happy to leave that part to Mission Vao, a petite Twi'lek teenager who grew up on the streets and (while no stranger to defending herself) [[UtilityPartyMember is better suited to thievery]] than fighting.

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': [[TheDarkChick Zexion]] and [[TheBrute Lexaeus]] are a subversion. They certainly look the part, Lexaeus being a muscular giant, and Zexion a tiny (by comparison at least) {{Bishonen}}, but [[GeniusBruiser Lexaeus is actually pretty brainy]], and [[BadassBookworm Zexion not exactly lacking in brawn.]]

* Subverted by Castor Troy and his brother Pollux in ''Film/FaceOff''. At first glance they appear to be the brawn and brains respectively, but Castor is more than capable of cunning, and Pollux has a high IQ, but also an AmbiguousDisorder that causes him to screw up simple things. Castor is the one who does most of the enforcing, but Pollux, being a MadBomber, has the higher body count. Furthermore, Castor is the main villain and the one who switches faces with Sean Archer.

%% * Rocky and Mugsy, from a series of WesternAnimation/BugsBunny shorts.

* Mentioned, in name if not in spirit, in Creator/AnneMcCaffrey's ''Literature/TheShipWhoSang'' and its sequels -- each "brainship" is assigned a "brawn" who acts as companion, ambassador and muscle for the immobile cyborged pilot encased inside the ship. Averted because brawns are also required to be pretty damn smart in order to come close to the pilot's abilities. As mentioned below, they also serve as someone to say to the other, "why are we heading to [planet / space station / NegativeSpaceWedgie] again?".

%%* [[TheHero Red]] and [[TheRival Blue/Green]] from ''Anime/PokemonOrigins''. Red's main goal in the OVA is [[HundredPercentCompletion to fill the Pokedex]], with becoming Champion just being a bonus. Blue/Green's main goal is to [[ToBeAMaster battle his way to the top]], with filling the Pokedex as an afterthought.

** This is the exact name of a trainer duo, consisting of a [[BareFistedMonk Black Belt]] and a [[MindOverMatter Psychic]]. Such a duo also appeared in [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] in a double battle against [[TheHero Ash]] [[TeethClenchedTeamwork and]] [[TheRival Paul]].

%%** Wario and Waluigi. The latter is the brains while the former is the brawn.

* Played with in ''Literature/Dragonlance'' with Raistlin and Caramon Majere. They are twins, and early in their lives they are described as one person split in two. Raistlin is sickly and slight of build but possesses a particularly keen intellect, while Caramon is powerfully built but appears dull. However, by the end of the War of the Lance, the two have fully become their own people and go their separate ways. As the most power archmage in Krynn's history, Raistlin no longer relied on his brother's brawn. In contrast, Caramon's friends realize that he is not stupid, he simply weighs all options overly cautiously, preferring to trust in his twin's cleverness and decisiveness. As Caramon gains confidence in himself, he loses this indecisiveness and proves himself to be a particularly skilled general.

!!Examples:

%% * ''Anime/DanganRonpa3'' has the Despair Sisters: Junko Enoshima, the [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Ultimate Analyst]], and her sister Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'':
** The HeterosexualLifePartners Elena and Sara are a TheSmartGirl and TheBigGirl duo. Elena [[TheLeader handles leadership]], [[SensorCharacter sensors]], and [[TheFace negotiation]], while Sara has SuperStrength, a HealingFactor, and wields [[{{BFG}} the big guns.]]

** For [[BigBad her plan]] to destroy the Kingdom of Atlas, Salem [[ForceAndFinesse pairs together]] Dr. Watts and Tyrian Callows. Watts works through [[TheCracker technology and hacking]] while [[PracticallyJoker Tyrian]] targets those they need murdered. Together, they sow chaos throughout the kingdom, turning the wealthy Atlas and impoverished Mantle against each other.]]

* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', [[AcademicAlphaBitch Weiss]] deliberately wanted to form this dynamic with [[TheAce Pyrrha Nikos]]. Instead, she got [[TheHero Ruby]], which would still count as this trope [[TeethClenchedTeamwork if the two could actually work together]]. Pyrrha's partnership with [[TheStrategist Jaune]] can also be considered as this.
** Among those serving the BigBad, Dr. Arthur Watts and Tyrian Callows work very well together under this dynamic. When sent on a mission to the Kingdom of Atlas and the impoverished Mantle, Watts uses his [[TheCracker expertise with hacking and technology]] to cover DanceBattler Tyrian's tracks whenever he's on the hunt for someone to murder.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' introduces the duo Tatsugiri and Dondozo. Tatsugiri is described as being highly intelligent but physically weak, while Dondozo is large and power but lacks in brains. Tatsugiri lives in Dondozo's mouth and issues orders to it, while also helping Dondozo to catch food which the latter otherwise does poorly at despite being a glutton. This even extends in battle, as if the two are sent out together in a Double Battle, Tatsugiri can use its ability Commander to hide inside of Dondozo's mouth, protecting itself from damage while allowing Dondozo's [[SecretArt signature move Order Up]] access to an additional buffing affect based on the variation of Tatsugiri that entered its mouth. [[spoiler:The two Pokémon together act as the False Dragon Titan at Casseroya Lake, albeit not as a Double Battle]].

%% * A team-up of Brainy and Hefty, or Handy and Hefty, in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs''.

** {{Invoked|Trope}} in the manual for the first ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' game, which describes Luigi as the brains, and [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] as the brawn.
%%** Wario and Waluigi. The latter is the brains while the former is the brawn.

** Ivy is a physically unintimidating {{nerd}} and her superpower allows her brief bursts of genius. Her best friend, Luna, is a confrontative bruiser whose strength was enhanced by her lightning power.