History Main / RockPaperSwitch

* In ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'', this happened with the original [[ThePsychoRangers Psycho Rangers]], who had previously downloaded all their opponents fighting styles. Unfortunately, the Psychos proved to be quite DangerouslyGenreSavvy about it:

* An episode of the ''PowerpuffGirls'' had them facing imposters in {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s, which nonetheless fooled the girls (and the crooks) into attacking each other until they got the idea to only attack their own counterpart--the inverse of the trope.

* Inverted in an episode of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. [[FragileSpeedster Uryuu]] fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[MightyGlacier Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.

* An early ''[[ArchieSonic Archie Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' comic had the Freedom Fighter's beating their evil selves from another dimension like this.
* The old ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}'' comics used this a lot. There were always mooks whose AppliedPhlebotinum allowed each mook to completely counter the powers of one certain X Man apiece... so the X Men switched sparring partners. and it never dawns on the mooks to develop the ability to counter the powers of ''multiple'' X Men at a time.
** Also done in a later episode of the '90s [[WesternAnimation/{{X-Men}} animated series]], where some of the X-Men are facing X-Factor and having a stalemate (Cyclops vs. Havok; Wolverine vs. Multiple Man; Beast vs. Wolfsbane; etc.). The X-Men switch it up and get the upper hand.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* An episode of ''BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' had the heroes each take advantage of a teammate's clone this way (for instance, "Feara" believed she was chasing Mira using her intangibility powers, which wear her out, but she was actually chasing a hologram by XR, causing Feara to be the one to wear out.)

* The DubiousCompany teams of start off running at their EvilCounterpart during the showdown in Kreedor's castle, only to trade up immediately for [[BacktoBackBadasses defensive]] or [[ThisIsUnforgivable vendetta]] reasons. It ends with [[TheSmartGirl Sal]] vs [[TheDragon Izor]], [[TheLeader Walter]] vs [[DarkChick Mary]], [[TheBigGirl Tiren]] vs [[EvilGenius Gary]], [[TheHeart Elly]] vs [[TheBrute Marty]], and [[TheLancer Leeroy]] vs [[DragonLady Sue]].

* Inverted in the case of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Weasel Wild Weasels.]] American aircraft were being shot down by Anti-Aircraft missiles over North Vietnam, a classic Rock beats Scissors if there ever was one. Planes were then specifically sent to destroy said AA sites [[CrazyEnoughToWork and it WORKED.]] [[GameBreaker Almost like giving Scissors Paper missiles to take out rock.]]

* In ''PowerRangers'', this happened with the original [[ThePsychoRangers Psycho Rangers]] - all the rangers dressed as the Blue Ranger to confuse them.

* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' had this when the seven heroes went up against Brainithor. This had Wonder Woman and Superman trading off, as well as Hawk Girl and Green Lantern.

* Season Four finale of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' when Trigon created evil duplicates of Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. Beast Boy took on Evil Starfire, Cyborg took on Evil Beast Boy, and Starfire took on Evil Cyborg.

* Inverted in an episode of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. Uryuu fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[GentleGiant Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.

** Also done in a later episode of the '90s animated series, where some of the X-Men are facing X-Factor and having a stalemate (Cyclops vs. Havok; Wolverine vs. Multiple Man; Beast vs. Wolfsbane; etc.). The X-Men switch it up and get the upper hand.

* The old ''XMen'' comics used this a lot. There were always mooks whose AppliedPhlebotinum allowed each mook to completely counter the powers of one certain X Man apiece... so the X Men switched sparring partners. and it never dawns on the mooks to develop the ability to counter the powers of ''multiple'' X Men at a time.

* Inverted in an episode of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. [[TheArcher Uryuu]] fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[GentleGiant Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.

* Inverted in an episode of {{Bleach}}. [[TheArcher Uryuu]] fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[GentleGiant Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.

* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' did the same thing.

* Inverted in an episode of {{Bleach}}. [[TheArcher Uryuu]] fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[GentleGiant Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.

* ''OrderOfTheStick'' had a villain version, as well as subverting it, when Nale traded enemies with Thog, only to end up with a worse match-off.
** "I've wanted to [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beat the crap]] out of [[TheLoad someone who looks]] [[EvilTwin just like you]] [[OhCrap for a long time.]]"

* An episode of the ''PowerpuffGirls'' had them facing imposters in {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s, which nonetheless fooled the girls (and the crooks) into attacking each other until they got the idea to only attack their own counterpart--the inverse of the trope.

[[folder:RealLife]]

----

* Something like this occurred in the ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "That Which Survives". A computer generated construct had the power to kill a specific human target by touch. When the Enterprise crew members facing it realized this, they interposed someone else between the opponent and its target, foiling the attack. Eventually the computer wised up and created a construct for each crew member, so the crew switched around until each was facing a construct meant for someone else.

[[folder:Comicbooks]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* OlderThanSteam. Sun Tzu's descendant Sun Pin reportedly advised a variant of this in a series of horse races in the mid-4th century BCE: "Match your third string against his first, your best against his second, and your second best against his weakest." So they won two out of three races and cleaned up on the betting.
** This is almost exactly replicated in one Piers Anthony's ''Battle Circle'' books, albeit involving fighters. They then start discussing what happens when the other side is as GenreSavvy, or it's uncertain who's the best, etc.

* The ''ExtremeGhostbusters'' cartoon had an episode in which the characters were trying to defeat their worst fears. They fail, and suddenly decide to switch and fight each others' fears.

Examples:
* Season Four finale of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' when Trigon created evil duplicates of Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. Beast Boy took on Evil Starfire, Cyborg took on Evil Beast Boy, and Starfire took on Evil Cyborg.
* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' had this when the seven heroes went up against Brainithor. This had Wonder Woman and Superman trading off, as well as Hawk Girl and Green Lantern.

* ''{{Reboot}}'' in Wizards, Warriors, and a Word From Our Sponsors had Mike and Dot trade against their evil counterparts and quickly won.

* In fact, this happened with the original [[ThePsychoRangers Psycho Rangers]] - all the rangers dressed as the Blue Ranger to confuse them.
* The ''Extreme {{Ghostbusters}}'' cartoon had an episode in which the characters were trying to defeat their worst fears. They fail, and suddenly decide to switch and fight each others' fears.
* ''XiaolinShowdown'' did the same thing.
* Something like this occurred in the ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "That Which Survives". A computer generated construct had the power to kill a specific human target by touch. When the Enterprise crew members facing it realized this, they interposed someone else between the opponent and its target, foiling the attack. Eventually the computer wised up and created a construct for each crew member, so the crew switched around until each was facing a construct meant for someone else.
* Inverted in an episode of {{Bleach}}. [[TheArcher Uryuu]] fairs poorly against a SmashMook, while [[GentleGiant Chad]] has trouble with a fast and agile Arrancar. They switch opponents and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame.
* An early ''[[ArchieSonic Archie Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' comic had the Freedom Fighter's beating their evil selves from another dimension like this.

* An episode of ''BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' had the heroes each take advantage of a teammate's clone this way (for instance, "Feara" believed she was chasing Mira using her intangibility powers, which wear her out, but she was actually chasing a hologram by XR, causing Feara to be the one to wear out.)

* The old ''XMen'' comics used this a lot. There were always mooks whose AppliedPhlebotinum allowed each mook to completely counter the powers of one certain X Man apiece... so the XMen switched sparring partners. and it never dawns on the mooks to develop the ability to counter the powers of ''multiple'' Xmen at a time.

* Happened in an episode of {{Bleach}}. This troper was wondering "Why aren't they ''switching''?" for about 2-3 minutes before they got to it.

Basically have a team of heroes face off against a team of villains where each hero pairs off with another villain, mano a mano. In some cases, it's [[ThePsychoRangers their enemy rivals]] and in some cases the heroes are fighting off their evil counterparts (which invariably leads to starting off with everyone fighting themselves). This unfortunately leads to potential complications, as usually the one they're fighting against has the upper hand, because being their rival means knowing their moves and how to counter it.

* Happened in an episode of {{Naruto}}. The characters actually fight their evil clones for two (maybe three) episodes before they finally figure it out.
** Except instead of switching, they simply "fight harder", because the clones are only as good as they were at the moment of the clone's creation.

* An early Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic had the Freedom Fighter's beating their evil selves from another dimension like this.

<<|FightScene|>>

* Season Four finale of ''TeenTitans'' when Trigon created evil duplicates of Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. Beast Boy took on Evil Starfire, Cyborg took on Evil Beast Boy, and Starfire took on Evil Cyborg.