History Main / CloseRangeCombatant

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' have Melee and Unarmed characters. The former only uses various daggers, bats, swords, and the like, but does also have things like throwing knives/spears or tomahawks as a viable ranged option. Unarmed characters have nothing of the short. While there is no shortage of Melee enemies, a large portions of your opponents use guns, making this a tricky build

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Every non-bending fighter is this, only exception being Mai who throws knives from a distance. [[TheParalyzer Ty Lee]] and [[LadyOfWar Suki]] are the standouts as the former fights strictly using hand-to-hand alone, while the latter combines martial prowess with swordfighting and her fans.

In video games, especially fighting games, characters who are {{Close Range Combatant}}s tend to have strong "physical" attacks but ineffective projectiles, or absolutely none at all. These characters tend to be {{Mighty Glacier}}s or {{Lightning Bruiser}}s. {{Fragile Speedster}}s who have no projectiles but rely on HitAndRunTactics can qualify as this.

** Sonic, a FragileSpeedster using HitAndRunTactics.

** This is the weakness of Neji, Hinata, and Rock Lee in Part I. All three were Taijutsu Specialists without any other options besides kunai and shuriken for ranged combat. Neji was especially hit hard by this weakness while fighting the LongRangedFighter of the [[EliteMook Sound Four]], Kidomaru, who could comfortably find his weakness from long distance and nearly killed him despite the defensive power of his Kaiten. [[spoiler: Neji and Hinata learned ranged Jyuken techniques over the timeskip called [[KiAttacks Air Palms]] which can kill a whole bunch of White Zetsu at once, stun [[BloodKnight Kisame]] of all people, or even deflect enemy projectiles like Nagato's Shinra Tensei.]] Rock Lee however, since Taijutsu is his only option, doesn't have any method of long ranged combat unless he can master [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique the Sixth and Seven Gates]] which [[spoiler: turns punches into long range fireballs (Morning Peacock) or an explosive, long range punch in the shape of a tiger (Daytime Tiger).]]

** This is the weakness of Neji, Hinata, and Rock Lee in Part I. All three were Taijutsu Specialists without any other options besides kunai and shuriken for ranged combat. Neji was especially hit hard by this weakness while fighting the LongRangedSpecialist of the [[EliteMook Sound Four]], Kidomaru, who could comfortably find his weakness from long distance and nearly killed him despite the defensive power of his Kaiten. [[spoiler: Neji and Hinata learned ranged Jyuken techniques over the timeskip called [[KiAttacks Air Palms]] which can kill a whole bunch of White Zetsu at once, stun [[BloodKnight Kisame]] of all people, or even deflect enemy projectiles like Nagato's Shinra Tensei.]] Rock Lee however, since Taijutsu is his only option, doesn't have any method of long ranged combat unless he can master [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique the Sixth and Seven Gates]] which [[spoiler: turns punches into long range fireballs (Morning Peacock) or an explosive, long range punch in the shape of a tiger (Daytime Tiger).]]

** This is the weakness of Neji, Hinata, and Rock Lee in Part I. All three were Taijutsu Specialists without any other options besides kunai and shuriken for ranged combat. [[spoiler: Neji and Hinata learned ranged Jyuken techniques over the timeskip called [[KiAttacks Air Palms]] which can kill a whole bunch of White Zetsu at once, stun [[BloodKnight Kisame]] of all people, or even deflect enemy projectiles like Nagato's Shinra Tensei.]] Rock Lee however, since Taijutsu is his only option, doesn't have any method of long ranged combat unless he can master [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique the Sixth and Seven Gates]] which [[spoiler: turns punches into long range fireballs (Morning Peacock) or an explosive, long range punch in the shape of a tiger (Daytime Tiger).]]

** This is the weakness of Neji, Hinata, and Rock Lee in Part I. All three were Taijutsu Specialists without any other options besides kunai and shuriken for ranged combat. [[spoiler: Neji and Hinata learned ranged Jyuken techniques over the timeskip called [[KiAttacks Air Palms]] which can kill a whole bunch of White Zetsu at once, stun Kisame of all people.]] Rock Lee however, since Taijutsu is his only option, doesn't have any method of long ranged combat unless he can master [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique the Sixth and Seven Gates]] which [[spoiler: turns punches into long range fireballs (Morning Peacock) or an explosive, long range punch in the shape of a tiger (Daytime Tiger).]]

** As an NPC, Brick from the first game fights solely via running up to someone and punching them to death even though he could use guns in the previous game (though he was only proficient with rocket launchers).

* Every faction available has some form of a close-combat specialist as a unit. Even armies like the Imperial Guard and Tau, who are focused more on mechanized warfare and ranged firepower:

* Warhammer40K: In a galaxy where the weakest weapon in the setting is a laser gun than can blow a man's arm off, warriors of Khorne and Orks live only to get into melee combat as fast as possible and chop the enemy apart with axes. [[SwordAndGun They do carry pistols]], but those can only be used within charging range of the enemy.

This only applies where long-range combat with projectiles or longer melee weapons like swords are a notable part of a work. It's [[PeopleSitOnChairs not interesting]] in settings where close-quarters combat is the only kind of combat.

** Gaige, the Mechromancer: Her "Ordered Chaos" skill tree allows her to accumulated anarchy, which gives her boosted damage and close-range options at the cost of accuracy (making her an example of this trope who uses guns), as well as melee options. Her [[RobotBuddy Death Trap]] is also one of these, as he fights with his claws initially.

* ''[[AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'': Every non-bending fighter is this, only exception being Mai who throws knives from a distance. [[TheParalyzer Ty Lee]] and [[LadyOfWar Suki]] are the standouts as the former fights strictly using hand-to-hand alone, while the latter combines martial prowess with swordfighting and her fans.

** ''VideoGame/WarioLand'': Wario, a LightningBruiser without projectiles.
** ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Sonic, a FragileSpeedster using HitAndRunTactics.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}''; Zero, the Assassin, can be built as either this or a sniper, depending on the skills the player puts points into.
** Gaige: her Anarchy skill tree gives boosted damage and close-range options at the cost of accuracy.

* Warhammer40K: In a galaxy where the weakest weapon in the setting is a laser gun than can blow a man's arm off, warriors of Khorne and Orks live only to get into melee combat as fast as possible and chop the enemy apart with axes.

* ''{{Bleach}}'': While the preferred method of combat is with swords, many of the characters are capable of fighting hand-to-hand, but [[{{ninja}} the Onmitsukido]] specializes in unarmed combat; making this Yoruichi and Soi Fon's preferred style of combat. They're so proficient at it, that they're able able to take on armed, captain level, opponents!

* ''FalloutNewVegas'' and ''FalloutThree'' have Melee and Unarmed characters. The former only uses various daggers, bats, swords, and the like, but does also have things like throwing knives/spears or tomahawks as a viable ranged option. Unarmed characters have nothing of the short. While there is no shortage of Melee enemies, a large portions of your opponents use guns, making this a tricky build

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

[[AC:{{Film}}-Live Action]]
* BlackWidow, CaptainAmerica and Thor in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

** [[VideoGame/WarioLand Wario]], a LightningBruiser without projectiles.
** [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]], a FragileSpeedster using HitAndRunTactics.

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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* The Pyro in ''TeamFortress2'' is built around this trope. His flamethrower [[ArbitraryMaximumRange stops working after a short distance]] but is very effective against those close enough. His shotgun works at a greater distance, but the pellets spread out to the point where they do little damage. The only long range weapon he possesses is his optional flare gun, but it's not very effective unless used against an opponent already set on fire by a short range fire burst.

In video games, especially fighting games, characters who are {{Close Quarters Combatant}}s tend to have strong "physical" attacks but ineffective projectiles, or absolutely none at all. These characters tend to be {{Mighty Glacier}}s or {{Lightning Bruiser}}s. {{Fragile Speedster}}s who have no projectiles but rely on HitAndRunTactics can qualify as this.