History Main / CloseRangeCombatant

** Something setting the [[Characters/MonsterVerseKingGhidorah MonsterVerse incarnation of Mechagodzilla]] apart from its previous incarnations: rather than being a WalkingArmory, he only displays two ranged weapons (his shoulder missile batteries and his Proton Scream), which while powerful he uses sparingly rather than spamming them. Instead, this Mechagodzilla incarnation is likely the best melee fighter in any continuity so far.

* ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'':

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

** According to an official Japanese encyclopedia book from 2007, the Vulcans were a later addition not found in the original design. The [[InvokedTrope Epyon's original designer considers ranged weapons of all kinds to be cowardly therefore the Epyon was intended as a melee-only suit]] but [[DownplayedTrope vulcans tend to be minor weapons at best with short range]] and the Epyon remains a primarily close range mobile suit.

** Space Marines use Assault Marines and Terminator Assault Marines. From a more strategic perspective, Space Marines the close quarters specialists to the Imperial Guard's LongRangeFighter: they lack the armour and artillery support the guard possess, but they excel at melee actions and tight firefights, gritty assaults on critical objectives and ship boarding actions.

** The Pyro class is built around this trope. Their flamethrowers' flame [[ArbitraryMaximumRange dissipates after a short distance]] but deals a lot of damage. Their shotgun works at a greater distance, [[ShortRangeShotgun but the pellets spread out to the point where they do little damage at long range]]. The only long range weapon they have is the unlockable {{Flare Gun}}s, but they have a slow fire rate and deals little damage except against enemies that are already on fire.

* The Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles have two, the SaiGuy Raphael and the FightingWithChucks Michelangelo (though both have a trend of [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throwing to hit faraway enemies]], Mike in particular).

* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' features a few [[HumongousMecha BattleMechs]] which are geared specifically for close-ranged combat, typically carrying [[MoreDakka ultra-autocannons]], short-ranged missiles, and sometimes a giant [[{{BFS}} metal sword]] or [[AnAxeToGrind axe]]. The King Crab is a notable murder machine, because it carries two class-20 Autocannons, weapons which on their own can give a mech an InstantDeathRadius. Newer melee mechs often feature experimental tech, such as the triple-strength myomer which lets them [[BoomHeadshot instantly decapitate a mech]], once their artificial muscles have [[LimitBreak heated up to operational temperature]]. However, it's worth noting that "pure" (or nearly pure) melee designs are relatively rare and unpopular. A classic example is the original ''Charger'', which at 80 tons is equipped only with a handful of "popgun" small lasers -- it's fast for its weight class and has powerful physical attacks if it does get that close, but it basically can't hit ''anything'' outside ninety meters and even up to that distance its ranged damage output is essentially pitiful. (Its original intended use was as a superheavy ''scout'', not a frontline combat machine... and it says something about it that it fails in even that role.)

** [[BareFistedMonk Ma]][[MultiArmedAndDangerous champ]] has very few ranged attacks, and is mainly based around getting close to his opponents and inflicting a heavy barrage of punches.
** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Gar]][[DishingOutDirt chomp's]] primary focus is charging at foes to catch them in a relentless assault of slashes and ground-shaking strikes (as a matter of fact, Garchomp's unique stance is running straight towards the enemy). He has a few ranged attacks, but they're mainly used to punish foes who try to keep their distance.

** [[EverythingsBetterWithDragons Gar]][[DishingOutDirt chomp's]] primary focus is charging at foes to catch them in a relentless assault of slashes and ground-shaking strikes (as a matter of fact, Garchomp's unique stance is running straight towards the enemy). He has a few ranged attacks, but they're mainly used to punish foes who try to keep their distance.

* ''VideoGame/BountyOfOne'': Natoko the ninja elf (as well as anyone who picks his unique item, the Funeral Vengeance) becomes one. Even though all characters have ranged attacks including Natoko, the Funeral Vengeance makes a character attack up to 3x as fast the closer they are to an enemy, but down to 3x as slow if they're far from enemies, thus enforcing this trope in order for a character to deal good damage.

* ''VideoGame/BountyOfOne'': Natoko the ninja elf (as well as anyone who picks his unique item, the Funeral Vengeance) becomes one. Even though all characters have ranged attacks including Natoko, the Funeral Vengeance makes a character attack up to 3x as fast the closer they are to an enemy, but down to 3x as slow if they're far from enemies.

* Numerous characters of ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''' very many are melee-based. The extremeness of the degree of this trope applied varies -- some can have abilities that are usable at range to let the character affect enemies without being right next to them making them a less rigid version of the trope, and/or have abilities that let them get next to enemies nearly instantly and quickly invalid that lack of range issue, but a few can only attack enemies when they've pretty much managed to get right next to them or slightly beyond that. [[MightyGlacier They tend to hurt a lot when they do and be difficult to kill before getting that close]].

* ''VideoGame/ForHonor'': Every single character, and justified as the game's primary focus is on visceral medieval melee combat. The only "ranged" weapons in a sense are the perk specials, which for example let you call down a RainOfArrows. The Berserker for the Vikings faction takes this UpToEleven as his [[DualWielding twin axes]] have an incredibly short reach, though he is something of a LightningBruiser, with excellent mobility and combo potential.

* Numerous characters of ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''' [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters very many]] are melee-based. The extremeness of the degree of this trope applied varies -- some can have abilities that are usable at range to let the character affect enemies without being right next to them making them a less rigid version of the trope, and/or have abilities that let them get next to enemies nearly instantly and quickly invalid that lack of range issue, but a few can only attack enemies when they've pretty much managed to get right next to them or slightly beyond that. [[MightyGlacier They tend to hurt a lot when they do and be difficult to kill before getting that close]].

* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' features a few [[HumongousMecha BattleMechs]] which are geared specifically for close-ranged combat, typically carrying [[MoreDakka ultra-autocannons]], short-ranged missiles, and sometimes a giant [[{{BFS}} metal sword]] or [[AnAxeToGrind axe]]. The King Crab is a notable murder machine, because it carries two class-20 Autocannons, weapons which on their own can give a mech an InstantDeathRadius. Newer melee mechs often feature experimental tech, such as the triple-strength myomer which lets them [[BoomHeadshot instantly decapitate a mech]], once their artificial muscles have [[LimitBreak heated up to operational temperature]].
** Although it's worth noting that "pure" (or nearly pure) melee designs are relatively rare and unpopular. A classic example is the original ''Charger'', which at 80 tons is equipped only with a handful of "popgun" small lasers -- it's fast for its weight class and has powerful physical attacks if it does get that close, but it basically can't hit ''anything'' outside ninety meters and even up to that distance its ranged damage output is essentially pitiful. (Its original intended use was as a superheavy ''scout'', not a frontline combat machine...and it says something about it that it fails in even that role.)
* Creator/AvalonHill's ''TabletopGame/{{PanzerBlitz}}'' and ''TabletopGame/PanzerLeader''. Infantry units have very short range, usually only 1 hex (adjacent), compared to the much longer ranges of tanks and artillery.

* Every faction in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' 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:

* The Pyro in ''VideoGame/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, [[ShortRangeShotgun 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 has a slow fire rate and deals little damage except against enemies that are already on fire.
** Players who want to ''really'' envision this trope can set up loadouts for either Soldier[[note]]Rocket Jumper, B.A.S.E. Jumper, Market Gardener, referred to as 'Trolldier'[[/note]] or Demoman[[note]]Ali Baba's Wee Booties, any of the shields, any of the swords, referred to as 'Demoknight'[[/note]] that can only deal melee damage.

** ComicBook/SheHulk served this role when she was on the team when she took Ben's place due to their similar powers.