History Main / MagicallyIneptFighter

* Gourry Gabriev from ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' is the only non-magic-user of the cast, relying solely on his [[ImplausibleFencingPowers sword skills]]. His lack of intelligence can also factor why he's not a magic-user, too.
* Kamijou Touma of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' is completely unable to use magic or esper abilities because of his [[AntiMagic Imagine Breaker]] arm. So he simply [[FightsLikeANormal punches his enemies]] to submission, magicians and espers alike, [[SuperpowerLottery regardless of power]] [[PowerLevels level]].

* Louie in ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'' can fight a sword, but while he can use magic, his skill is mediocre with terrible results.

* AmazonianBeauty Tiona from Loki Familia in ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon''. Most fighters have one or two spells or other magical abilities to complement their physical combat skills but as of Volume 10 of the main series and Volume 5 of the spin-off, Tiona and Bete have shown no magical abilities whatsoever, and even Bete escapes this category by using magic boots that [[PowerCopying take on the elemental properties of magic directed at him]].

* Glenn in ''LightNovel/AkashicRecordsOfBastardMagicInstructor'' is a downplayed example. He is actually very knowledgeable about magic, but he can't shorten incantations like other mages can, meaning he can't use combat magic unless someone buys him time. He usually relies on his fists (sometimes enhanced with magic) and a gun. To even the field, he can use his original magic [[AntiMagic Fool's World]] to prevent his opponents casting magic (though it applies to him and any nearby allies as well).
* Ikki Kurogane in ''LightNovel/ChivalryOfAFailedKnight'' completely sums up to this. He's the only named character whose magic capacity is F-Rank, which is so "meager" for any Blazer to have; thus putting him at a severe disadvantage to any attack directed at him from stronger Blazers. Nevertheless, Ikki instead makes up for his lack of power with his A-Rank [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower phys]][[MadeOfIron ical]] stat, [[AwesomeByAnalysis insight]], [[MasterSwordsman swordsmanship]], and using ''[[ExplosiveOverclocking Ittou Shura]]'' to deliver a final blow to his opponent by pooling in all of his magic in the attack.

** Kenpachi Zaraki is a physical powerhouse, able to defeat almost any opponent he faces with his overwhelming strength, but he is completely unable to tap into the higher-level zanpakuto abilities that the other Gotei 13 captains use on a regular basis. He and the entire 11th Division also willfully avoid learning or using Kido spells, and one of his officers hides his zapakuto's true power because it resembles one.
** Renji is a formidable fighter but his Kido skills are lacking and he's constantly mocked for it. The closest thing he gets to using one in combat is when he uses a deliberate MagicMisfire as a point-blank explosion.

* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'': The Fanalis tribe are a race that all naturally possess inhuman physical strength and speed. Even a young fanalis can easily shatter rock. As a result they are widely feared an sought after as "the strongest race". On the other hand, they are all born with incrediblely low [[LifeEnergy Magoi]] and thus even if they get their hands on a magic item they run the risk of killing themselves should they try to use it. Interestingly, it seems those who are half Fanalis have less strength but more magoi

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': The ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'' arc introduces characters with the ability to manifest Stands, [[FightingSpirit semi-independent spiritual entities that fight on their behalf]], which [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness would become one of the series's signature elements]]. Most Stands have [[StoryBreakerPower abilities strange and powerful enough to completely change the terms of a fight]] (ranging from illusions, to placing {{Geas}}a on enemies, to disintegrating everything that comes near them), turning every encounter into a two-way PuzzleBoss... except for TheHero Jotaro's Stand "[[TarotMotifs Star]] [[PlatinumMakesEverythingShinier Platinum]]", which is simply a LightningBruiser with [[SuperReflexes sharp senses]] and NervesOfSteel. [[spoiler:In the finale of the arc Jotaro discovers that Star Platinum does have [[TimeStandsStill a more conventional Stand ability]], but it's exhausting enough that he can't make heavy use of it.]]
** In the [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood first Part of the manga]], Speedwagon is the only member of Jonathan's gaggle of friends who lacks the ability to use the Ripple, which makes him unable to properly kill the vampires they face. He makes up for it with a [[WeaponizedHeadgear razor-edged hat]] and [[DropTheHammer trusty sledgehammer]].

* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' Malenia is the only member of the Haligtree faction to make no use of incantations in her fighting style, though she makes up for it with determination and sheer skill with her sword. [[spoiler: This is presumably because she's busy focusing on holding back the Scarlet Rot; when she gives in to it in her second phase, she'll start using Rot-based magic such as Scarlet Aeonia and summoning temporary clones made of Aeonian Butterflies.]]

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem''
** Every physical class in the ''Fire Emblem'' series has little use for magic, but with the existence of magic weapons, it is inevitable that someone will try to use magic without the aptitude for it. While this isn't much of a problem in some ''Fire Emblem'' games, such as the GBA games[[note]]All units have either a Strength or Magic stat (never both at the same time), depending on their class[[/note]], in which magic weapons are fueled by the user's Strength stat and will target the enemy's Resistance stat regardless, axe-wielding Fighters and Armor Knights are particularly notable for being terrible with magic. Their specialty involves heavy attacks and sturdy defenses, which are foiled by their extremely low tolerance for magic. The only units that can utilize magic weapons effectively are hybrid classes (units that can use both weapons and magic, which are usually advanced classes for the latter).

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''

* ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler''
** Olberic has great physical stats -- his HP, Physical Attack, and Physical Defense are either the highest or second-best among the eight heroes. He also learns abilities that boost these stats even further. However, his default Warrior class never gets any elemental skills naturally. In addition, Olberic's Elemental Defense is just okay, and his Elemental Attack is downright ''awful'', being the lowest among the party by a long shot.
** One of the secret classes also falls under this category. [[spoiler:The Warmaster is a MasterOfAll when it comes to weapons, being the only class that can use all six weapon types, as well as having an incredibly strong Divine Skill that uses all six at once. However, the Warmaster has no elemental skills of any kind, and it provides no boost to Elemental Attack or Defense whatsoever.]]

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', Bowser is a MightyGlacier with high attack and defense, but awful magic attacks.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfMana''

** ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana''

* Downplayed with Hagrid from ''Literature/HarryPotter''. He is a half-giant who was expelled from the wizard school Hogwarts and not allowed to use magic by the Ministry (on top of his wand getting broken). Despite this, he can still cast spells with a piece of his wand hidden in his umbrella, but he has to rely much more on physical strength than the rest of the cast when it comes to fighting. Being resistant to magic thanks to his heritage helps, too.

** In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' the vampire lord Konrad von Carstein wasn't incapable of magic, which vampires have an inherent aptitude for, but he was extremely bad at it. He relied on necromancers to animate his undead troops for him and was prone to murdering them in resentment for their talent, ultimately resulting in his defeat when they [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal abandoned him en masse]] mid battle leaving him to try and fail to hold his army together by himself.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. Khorne, Chaos god of war, sees magic as a tool for cowards and traitors, and so is the only one without a list of spells, but his followers are very strong physical fighters (when not TheBerserker), and his 40K champion is immune to magic. Magical items and weapons, however, are acceptable, and captured sorcerers and cowards toil endlessly at the base of the Skull Throne to create more for his champions to use.

* A staple of the ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, where the protagonists tend to use [=COMPs=] to summon demons in the place of magic, which their companions tend to possess. Hazama, a playable character in the spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei: If... is the exception, able to use both demon-summing software and magic, though that game is known for being a black sheep. Demons focused on physical attacks generally tend to lack in MP and everything else magic-related. In games where physical skills cost MP rather than [[CastFromHitPoints HP]], physical skills tend to cost less than magic skills of similar attack power to compensate.

* ''Manga/Magi:LabyrinthOfMagic'': The Fanalis tribe are a race that all naturally possess inhuman physical strength and speed. Even a young fanalis can easily shatter rock. As a result they are widely feared an sought after as "the strongest race". On the other hand, they are all born with incrediblely low [[LifeEnergy Magoi]] and thus even if they get their hands on a magic item they run the risk of killing themselves should they try to use it. Interestingly, it seems those who are half Fanalis have less strength but more magoi

** Humans and elves are able to tap into this source, but it's so hard to do that it generally requires extensive training. Untrained magic users have a tendency to attract unwanted attention from The Fade's various denizens, so magic tends to be an all-in proposition in Thedas.

Justifications for this vary. Sometimes martial and magical prowess are not mutually exclusive by nature, but seldom go together because both take so much specialized training that few have the time and talent to master both. Sometimes it's enforced because ArmorAndMagicDontMix, so warriors would rather not waste time learning spells that they won't be able to use while armored. Sometime they became fighters because they [[DumbMuscle aren't gifted with the mind]] to do great magic. Or maybe they aren't born with the ability to use magic so they need to rely on their martial abilities. In some cases they may be outright WeakToMagic. Or maybe there's no in-story justification at all, which can lead to the FridgeLogic that if there is no major barrier between learning both the martial and arcane arts, why hasn't this character [[MagicKnight brushed up on their magic skills?]]

Can overlap with MageKiller if he's particularly good at fighting magic-users despite lacking magical abilities. Contrast SquishyWizard, which has strong magic but weak physical skills, KungFuWizard and MagicKnight, which is skilled with both weapons or hand-to-hand combat and magic. Compare BadassNormal, who can keep up with the super-powered despite lacking superpowers, and UnSorcerer, who is the only person in their society to lack magical ability.

* Rock Lee of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is incapable of any ninjutsu or genjutsu (both requires good [[{{Mana}} chakra]] control), so he focuses on taijutsu (martial arts) instead. Downplayed by his mentor Might Guy: He can do some ninjutsu (SummonMagic, for example) but he simply prefers to use his fists and legs.

* AmazonianBeauty Tiona from Loki Familia in ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon''. Most fighters have one or two spells or other magical abilities to complement their physical combat skills but as of Volume 10 of the main series and Volume 5 of the spin-off, Tiona and Bete have shown no magical abilities what so ever, and even Bete escapes this category by using magic boots that [[PowerCopying take on the elemental properties of magic directed at him]].

* Ikki Kurogane in ''LightNovel/ChivalryOfAFailedKnight'' completely sums up to this. He's the only named character who's magic capacity is F-Rank, which is so "meager" for any Blazer to have; thus putting him at a severe disadvantage to any attack directed at him from stronger Blazers. Nevertheless, Ikki instead makes up his lack of power with his A-Rank [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower phys]][[MadeOfIron ical]] stat, [[AwesomeByAnalysis insight]], [[MasterSwordsman swordsmanship]], and using ''[[ExplosiveOverclocking Ittou Shura]]'' to deliver a final blow to his opponent by pooling in all of his magic in the attack.
* The title character of ''Manga/MashleMagicAndMuscles'' is a boy who enrolls in WizardingSchool despite having no magical ability. He instead uses CharlesAtlasSuperpower to get through not only fighting, but ''any'' tasks he's expected to solve using magic.

* Katt from ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' is a subversion. She starts off as a physical damage-based GlassCannon. However, she begins to learn high-level magic quite early, but doesn't have enough AP to use it until the higher levels, [[FusionDance if she's fused]] with the right shamans or if you have one of the potential [=TownShip=] tenants give her training that increases her maximum AP.
* Ayla from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' is one of two playable characters that cannot learn magic, and the other one (Robo) has futuristic weapons that simulate magic pretty well. It's justified, as Ayla was born before magic existed, and even without magic she will typically be your strongest physical attacker.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'', powerful melee units tend to have very bad ranged attacks when they have them at all (Berserkers, Nobs, Assault Terminators) while ranged units don't last long at all in melee (Fire Warriors, Guardsmen). Terminators and Obliterators were an exception, but were nerfed in following games to follow this trend.
* Berserkers in ''VideoGame/DesktopDungeons'' have a passive attack damage bonus and [[AntiMagic magic resistance]], but requires more mana to cast glyphs. Worshipping [[WarGod Taurog]] enforces this, since his boons give you powerful equipment (which take up inventory space that glyphs can also go into) but reduce your max mana. You can combine both and mow down almost anything [[CripplingOverspecialization that doesn't have physical resist]].

*** The Prince of Midenhall is -necessarily- a powerful hitter, but his main weakness is that he can't cast magic. He is the only one of the main trio who can't use magic, and the only lead character of any ''Dragon Quest'' game who can't use magic, for that matter.

*** Neither Alena nor Ragnar have any MP. It's mentioned that Alena is entirely incapable of using magic.

* ''VideoGame/{{Elsword}}''. 5 of 9 characters, by default, excel in physical power (Elsword, Raven, Chung, Ara and Elesis) and they have little magical power and defense as a result. In particular, it is mentioned that Elsword's weakest point is indeed at magic (whereas the other four can have some decent, but still not impressive, magical attacks). They can advance either to a purely physical class that plays with this even straighter, or a class that develops their magic power instead, subverting this trope.
* In ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', Warriors, Monks, Rogues, and Berserkers don't have a mana bar. Every other class does, and uses some form of spells in their arsenal.

** Throughout the series in general, physically-inclined characters like Monks, Dragoons, Warriors and Paladins will have either no magical ability, or low Magic if they are somehow able to learn spells.

** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', the Knights of Seiros (Catherine, Shamir, Alois, and Gilbert) are mostly trained in physical combat, and thus have low Magic stat caps to go with it. Catherine is the only Knight capable of wielding a [[MagicalWeapon magical Hero's Relic]], but otherwise has a hard time learning magic spells due to her [[EverybodyHatesMathematics hatred of math]], a key component of Reason magic.

* ''VideoGame/SagaFrontier2'' has Gustave XIII, who cannot use Spell Arts (making him an UnSorcerer). He compensates for this by mastering nonmagical Weapon Arts, and by using steel weapons (which [[AntiMagic resist magic]]) instead of the more common, magically potent and physically weaker stone blades.

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', the strongest melee units (Abominations, Tauren, Knights) only have one passive ability (the Abomination has an active one to restore health). The Druid of the Claw isn't as strong as the others, but has more abilities to make up for it.

* Earth Demons and Jakkai from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'' have the lowest magical ability of any race. The Jakkai can generally only learn one spell (maybe two if they're lucky) in their life, but are much stronger and faster than humans [[PintsizedPowerhouse despite their small size]]. Earth demons are likewise only capable of learning a single basic earth spell, but make up for it by being 12 to 14ft-tall behemoths with immense physical power (and while earth demons might only learn one spell, their raw strength gives that one spell devastating power).

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'', which is a game that has psychic abilities as a plot point (with three of the four heroes as prodigies), presents Jeff, whose intelligence is through the roof but is completely unable to use any spells. Instead, he has no qualms about launching [[StuffBlowingUp bottle rockets]] at enemies, he invents {{Ray Gun}}s in his spare time, and he's physically the second-strongest party member after [[TheHero Ness.]]

** Subverted for [[TheHero Ramza]] in ''Videogame/FinalFantasyTactics''. his default job in the game is TheSquire-- albeit one with unique abilities[[note]]an extra speed buff,a [[CastFromHitPoints healing skill]], a [[GameBreaker brave/spd/atk self-buff package...]][[/note]] and more [[JackOfAllStats balanced stats]]. Like other squires, there are no magic based skills for him to learn... except one, which can be learned a la BlueMage by getting hit by it... [[GuideDangIt Which is never hinted at anywhere in the game]], so you can spend the entire game without any magic for Ramza's squire job.

** Every physical class in the ''Fire Emblem'' series has little use for magic, but with the existence of magic weapons, it is inevitable that someone will try to use magic without the aptitude for it. While this isn't much of a problem in some Fire Emblem games, such as the GBA games[[note]]All units have either a Strength or Magic stat (never both at the same time), depending on their class[[/note]], in which magic weapons are fueled by the user's Strength stat and will target the enemy's Resistance stat regardless, axe-wielding Fighters and Armor Knights are particularly notable for being terrible with magic. Their specialty involves heavy attacks and sturdy defenses, which are foiled by their extremely low tolerance for magic. The only units that can utilize magic weapons effectively are hybrid classes (units that can use both weapons and magic, which are usually advanced classes for the latter).
** In the games where all units have both a Strength and Magic stat, all characters have a Strength stat for determining damage with physical weapons and speed penalties from equipping a heavy weapon, and a Magic stat for determining damage with magic tomes and magic weapons, and effectiveness with healing staves. While tome users have enough Strength to squeak by without speed penalties, expect most weapon users to have such pitifully low Magic that they'll do laughable damage with the few magic weapons you do get. Even in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'' onward, where MagicKnight classes are more common, the only characters who are able to consistently wield both steel and magic without any problems (low stat growth in one area, poor weapon levels, late jointime) are ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''[='=]s Elincia and ''Awakening''[='=]s Robin and Libra.

* Chie in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' has the highest physical attack, but weak magic (and doesn't learn as many advanced ice spells as Teddie, even though [[AnIcePerson she uses the same element]]). Most of her strongest persona abilities are physical attacks (which CastFromHitPoints) and physical buffs. Additionally, [[MightyGlacier Kanji]] gets the higher-level [[ShockAndAwe Electricity]] spells, but his Magic stat is so abysmal he doesn't really perform better than Chie at magic.

* Most ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' games have at least one party member who cannot use magic (or techniques, as sequels call them). Odin in the first game, his {{expy}} Rudo in the second, and anybody who is a pureblood Orakian in the third are unable to use techniques but have the strength and endurance to act as front line fighters, and Odin and Rudo make up for it by equipping [[TheGunslinger very strong firearms]]. ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'' plays with this a bit as it redefined what abilities androids possessed compared to ''III''' (techniques are out, [[SpecialAttack Skills]] are in, and they likewise carry guns into battle), and Gryz, a Motavian axe-wielding warrior, is still capable of using one technique and a few Skills.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'': The ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'' arc introduces characters with the ability to manifest Stands, [[FightingSpirit semi-independent spiritual entities that fight on their behalf]], which [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness would become one of the series's signature elements]]. Most Stands have [[StoryBreakerPower abilities strange and powerful enough to completely change the terms of a fight]] (ranging from illusions, to placing {{Geas}}a on enemies, to disintegrating everything that comes near them), turning every encounter into a two-way PuzzleBoss... except for TheHero Jotaro's Stand "[[TarotMotifs Star]] [[PlatinumMakesEverythingShinier Platinum]]", which is simply a LightningBruiser with [[SuperReflexes sharp senses]] and NervesOfSteel. [[spoiler:In the finale of the arc Jotaro discovers that Star Platinum does have [[TimeStandsStill a more conventional Stand ability]], but it's exhausting enough that he can't make heavy use of it.]]

Justifications for this vary. Sometimes martial and magical prowess are not mutually exclusive by nature, but seldom go together because both take so much specialized training that few have the time and talent to master both. Sometimes it's enforced because ArmorAndMagicDontMix, so warriors would rather not waste time learning spells that they won't be able to use while armored. Sometime they became fighters because they [[DumbMuscle aren't gifted with the mind]] to do great magic. Or maybe they aren't [[MageSpecies born with the ability to use magic]] so they need to rely on their martial abilities. In some cases they may be outright WeakToMagic. Or maybe there's no in-story justification at all, which can lead to the FridgeLogic that if there is no major barrier between learning both the martial and arcane arts, why hasn't this character [[MagicKnight brushed up on their magic skills?]]

Justifications for this vary. Sometimes martial and magical prowess are not mutually exclusive by nature, but seldom go together because both take so much specialized training that few have the time and talent to master both. Sometimes it's enforced because ArmorAndMagicDontMix, so warriors would rather not waste time learning spells that they won't be able to use while armored. Sometime they became fighters because they [[DumbMuscle aren't gifted with the mind]] to do great magic. Or maybe the magic-users in a given setting embrace a philosophy of [[TechnicalPacifist technical pacifism]] that would be at odds with training to disembowel their enemies. In some cases they may be outright WeakToMagic. Or maybe there's no in-story justification at all, which can lead to the FridgeLogic that if there is no major barrier between learning both the martial and arcane arts, why hasn't this character [[MagicKnight brushed up on their magic skills?]]

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'': The ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'' arc introduces characters with the ability to manifest Stands, [[FightingSpirit semi-independent spiritual entities that fight on their behalf]], which [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness would become one of the series's signature elements]]. Most Stands have [[StoryBreakerPower abilities strange and powerful enough to completely change the terms of a fight]] (ranging from illusions, to placing {{Geas}}a on enemies, to disintegrating everything that comes near them), turning every encounter into a two-way PuzzleBoss... except for TheHero Jotaro's Stand "[[TarotMotifs Star]] [[PlatinumMakesEverythingShinier Platinum]]", which is simply a LightningBruiser with sharp senses and NervesOfSteel. [[spoiler:In the finale of the arc Jotaro discovers that Star Platinum does have a more conventional Stand ability, but it's exhausting enough that he can't make heavy use of it.]]

* In the ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' a large chunk of recurring human characters have some level of magic, as this is basically required to stand a chance against monsters, but a few plain mortals manage regardless. Murphy holds her own with years of Aikido training and a bunch of firepower. Kincaid is only part human, but his supernatural reflexes and precision is mostly put to use with a wide array of firearms. The Knight's of the Cross also apply, as they each have a [[CoolSword Sword with a nail from the Crucification in them]], generally get a healthy helping of [[ThereAreNoCoincidences divine coincidence]], and occasionally pray for some extra intervention but aren't capable of any actual magic themselves.

* Katt from ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' is a subversion. She starts off as a physical damage based GlassCannon. However, she begins to learn high level magic quite early, but doesn't have enough AP to use it until the higher levels, [[FusionDance if she's fused]] with the right shamans or if you have one of the potential [=TownShip=] tennants give her training that increases her maximum AP.
* Ayla from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' is one of the two characters that cannot learn magic, and the other one (Robo) has futuristic weapons that simulate magic pretty well. Ayla will typically be your strongest physical attacker. Though it's justified in Ayla's case, as she was born before magic existed.

* In the ''VideoGame/DragonBallZBudokaiTenkaichi'' series, characters who either existed before Ki Attacks became common in the source material (such as Yajirobe, Nam, or Great Ape Kid Goku) or rely primarily on brute strength (such as Videl or Spopovich) have little to no ki-based abilities; Many of them cannot fly, and their standard ki blast either has an incredibly slow firing rate or is just throwing weak rocks at the opponent instead. Note that in this series, flight and ki blasts are abilities that are so ingrained into most of the cast as to be a basic game mechanic.

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'', which is a game that has psychic abilities as a plot point (with three of the four heroes as prodigies), presents Jeff, whose intelligence is through the roof but is completely unable to use any spells. Instead, he has no qualms about launching [[StuffBlowingUp bottle rockets]] at enemies and he invents death rays among other insane firearms, and is physically the second strongest party member after [[TheHero Ness.]]

** In general, throughout the series physically-inclined characters like Monks, Dragoons, Warriors and Paladins will have no magical ability, and low Magic if they are somehow able to learn spells.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', the boss guarding the spell Holy, the Minotaur, is physically very powerful, having the same Strength stat as the final boss, but it can only attack without magic. At the end of the battle, it tries to use Holy on the player, and actually is unable to use the spell is was guarding in the first place due to being so physically focused!
** Subverted for [[TheHero Ramza]] in ''Videogame/FinalFantasyTactics''. his default job in the game is TheSquire-- albeit one with unique abilities[[note]]an extra speed buff,a [[CastFromHitPoints healing skill]], a [[GameBreaker brave/spd/atk self buff package...]][[/note]] and more [[JackOfAllStats balanced stats]]. Like other squires, there are no magic based skills for him to learn... except one, which can be learned a la BlueMage by getting hit by it... [[GuideDangIt a method never hinted at anywhere in the game.]] so you can spend the entire game without any magic for Ramza's squire job.
** The Bangaa race in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' have one class that specializes in magic, but compared to other races that use magic as well, Bangaas are terrible magic users and are more suited to their physical based classes.
** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', most heavy-hitters like Garland, Cloud, Jecht, and Gabranth, have a variety of close-range physical moves, and one or two ranged magical moves mostly to keep them from being entirely helpless against evasive opponents.

** Every physical class in the ''Fire Emblem'' series has little use for magic, but with the existence of magic weapons, it is inevitable that someone would use it despite their low magic. While this isn't much of a problem in some Fire Emblem games, such as the GBA games[[note]]All units have either a Strength or Magic stat (never both at the same time), depending on their class[[/note]], in which magic weapons are fueled by the user's Strength stat and will target the enemy's Resistance stat regardless, axe-wielding fighters and Armor Knights are the worst among other classes as their speciality involves heavy attacks and sturdy defenses which is foiled with their extremely low tolerance for magic. The only units that can utilize magic weapons are hybrid classes (units that can use both weapons and magic, which are usually advanced classes for the latter).

* Arche from ''VideoGame/FortuneSummoners'' spends the majority of the game without a single spell. And she only gets two magical moves by the end of the game and she still aren't allowed in magic class. But she more than compensates for this with her sword skills.

* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', attacks are classified as either working off of Attack or Special Attack. Many Pokemon excel in one stat but are lacking in the other, thus limiting their versatility. Pokémon that excel in Attack but not Special Attack are the ones that fall under this category, and in metagame jargon, are called "physical sweepers." Most Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Steel-type Pokémon usually fall under this category.

*** StoneWall Duran has excellent Strength and Defense, but mediocre Magic Defense and ''awful'' Magic Attack. The few spells he learns are almost all [[SupportPartyMember support spells]] that don't require high Magic Attack, such as [[HealThyself healing]] on his Light path or [[SpellBlade elemental Saber spells]] on his Dark path. The fact that Duran is magically inept is even a plot point in his storyline: because Duran can't use magic, he's on the end of a CurbStompBattle by the Crimson Wizard the first time they meet. Duran resolves to get stronger by way of a class change before fighting the Crimson Wizard again.

* The eponymous protagonist of ''Webcomic/PoppyOPossum'' lives in a world where literally ''everyone'' has magic - except for long-tailed possums like her, who not only lack the ability to use any magic whatsoever, but also [[AntiMagic absorb it from the surrounding environment]], and as such are [[FantasticRacism treated like second-class citizens at best]]. She makes up for it by being [[SuperStrength obscenely strong]] and [[MadeOfIron tough]] to the point that [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength sending large objects flying with the slightest effort]] is a regular (if regrettable) occurrence for her, as is [[ImplacableMan surviving things that would outright kill most other people.]]
* Earth Demons and Jakkai from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'' have the lowest magical ability of any race, the jakkai can only learn one (maybe two spells if lucky) in their life but are much stronger and faster than humans [[PintsizedPowerhouse despite their small size]] and earth demons are only capable of learning a single basic earth spell but are 12-14ft tall behemoths with immense physical power, however it is actually somewhat zig-zagged since while earth demons can only learn one spell their raw might gives that one spell devastating power.

* Louie in ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', he is a better fighter with a sword, and while he can use magic, his skills with magic are mediocre with terrible results.

* Berserkers in ''VideoGame/DesktopDungeons'' have a passive attack damage bonus and [[AntiMagic passive magic resistance]], but requires more mana to cast glyphs. Worshipping [[WarGod Taurog]] enforces this, since his boons give you powerful equipment but reduce your max mana. You can even combine both and mow down almost anything [[CripplingOverspecialization that doesn't have physical resist]].

** In the [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood first Part of the manga]], Speedwagon is the only member of Jonathan's gaggle of friends who lacks the ability to use the Ripple, which makes him unable to properly kill the vampires they face. He makes up for it with a razor-edged hat and trusty sledgehammer.

* The title character of ''Manga/{{Mashle}}'' is a boy who enrolls in WizardingSchool despite having no magical ability. He instead uses CharlesAtlasSuperpower to get through not only fighting, but ''any'' tasks he's expected to solve using magic.