History Main / SmartPeopleShoot

* [[IntelligentPrimate Great apes]] are both very smart and able to throw rocks or sticks with incredible force. But while throwing things is the easy part, ''aiming'' takes a lot of coordination that has only really been mastered by humanity, the brainiest of the Great Apes - and we, in fact, seem specialized for throwing, thanks to our posture, our eyesight, and our shoulder joints.

* [[IntelligentPrimate Great apes]] are both very smart and able to throw rocks or sticks with incredible force. We humans in particular seem specialized for throwing, thanks to our posture, our eyesight, and our shoulder joints.

%%* ''Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero'': While Mimori
%%is confined to a wheelchair, she still
%%contributes to battles with her knowledge
%%and sniping skills.

%%* ''Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero'': While X is
%%confined to a wheelchair, she still contribu

%%* ''Anime/Yuna?IsAHero'': While X is conf

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* The 'Magus' class in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'''s Second Edition is a martial class that specializes in FullContactMagic by way of weapon attacks. By nature of tabletop stat customization, there's nothing preventing you from making a BookDumb Magus, but since their spellcasting ability is [[MagicIsMental intelligence]], those are the exception rather than the rule. The 'Starlight Span' subclass really emphasizes the ranged aspect by allowing the weapon attacks in question to be [[MageMarksman ranged attacks from bows or guns]], and a further feat emphasizes the intellect of the Starlight Span Magus by allowing them to originate HerdHittingAttack spell effects from the location of their projectile impacts rather than themself - meaning it is encouraged for a Starlight Span Magus to think outside the box and occasionally shoot way off the obvious target at some random patch of ground. [[ExactlyWhatIAimedAt They didn't miss, they were giving their spell a favourable angle]].

An explanation for this is the neverending war between [[BrainsVersusBrawn brains and brawn]]: if a character has mostly brains but have to join a fight, they need ranged weaponry to compensate for their lack of brawn.

There are other possible explanations that reinforce this connection: in a way, ranged weapons can be seen as a sign of higher intelligence, and giving them to a character will confirm that they're indeed smart. Keep in mind that tool use is almost always [[ToolsOfSapience considered a sign of advanced of cognitive abilities]]. Great apes, some of the most intelligent organisms on Earth, are capable of throwing sticks and stones. Modifying those sticks and stones to be more efficient projectile means you're ''way'' more intelligent. Using bows and arrows, guns, and lasers? You really must be a genius. Also, from the 17th century onwards firearms have progressively replaced melee weapons in armed conflicts, which in turn makes people who wield the latter seem less technologically or cultrally advanced to our eyes.

Not only is making ranged weapons a sign of high intelligence, but using them require much more responsibility. Anybody can just swing a melee weapon, or their fists, if they're strong enough. Meanwhile, with ranged weapons you have to pay attention to not miss a shot and waste ammo, not hurting your allies, not ruining your only weapon or even hurt yourself; once again, if a character prefers ranged weapons and wins, they're very likely to prefer using their mind in a fight.

# Super-heavy ranged weapons like missile launchers, bazookas, [[GatlingGood rotary cannons]] and {{BFG}}s can be counted for this trope, but they're rarer than the other examples, especially if they're portrayed as PowerfulButInaccurate. This is because of their bigger size that requires more strength to use, which contradicts the concept of smart people using guns because they're weaker, as explained above, and are instead seen more in the hands of [[BrutishCharacterBrutishWeapon brutes]]. However, there's always the possibility of the wielder being a GeniusBruiser. The ShortRangeShotgun is also rarely used for this trope, because of their high stopping power combined with lower reach.
# If a weapon can be used in both long and close range (like throwing knives, shurikens or [[DeadlyDisc chakrams]]), they have to be thrown consistenly more than swung in melee: if TheSmartGuy [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throws his sword]] as a DesperationAttack, it doesn't count; but conversely a character can count even if they occasionally PistolWhip opponents.

# This trope can apply to non-automated vehicles or [[MechaTropes mechs]] as well, as long if they're specialized for ranged combat and the pilot is known to be smart; otherwise, stick to weapons and powers.

SubTrope of BadassBookworm, TheGunslinger and WeaponBasedCharacterization, and SisterTrope to ColdSniper and AloofArcher, to which it can overlap, just like with MagicIsMental, SquishyWizard and MageMarksman, when the wise mage specializes in incinerating the battle field. This trope and WomenAreWiser are used to explain GuysSmashGirlsShoot. For literally using your mind to shoot, see PsiBlast.

* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'': Teana Lanster is a [[MageMarksman magical sharpshooter]] and the tactician of the Forwards team. These two skill sets complement each other in her battlefield control technique, as she continuously analyzes the situation and her opponents' actions and uses pin-point sniper shots to distract or to outright take them down. This is particularly demonstrated in the FinalBattle of the season, where she [[spoiler:single-handedly apprehends three Numbers by predicting their attack pattern and firing off three shots in such a way that would knock them all out within half a second of each other, denying them a chance to regroup]].
* ''Anime/OnePiece'': Usopp is [[WeakButSkilled the weakest but also the craftiest]] member or the Straw Hat crew, being a ConsummateLiar and a GadgeteerGenius, and he fights with [[BratsWithSlingshots a slingshot]] and lots of creativity.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': Ami's a scientist, and her magical attacks are all projectiles, so she vastly prefers to attack at range, but she has trained up her melee competencies just in-case.

** ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'': Ace Ukiyo/Kamen Rider Geats is the cool, clever and [[CunningLikeAFox fox-themed]] protagonist of ''Geats'', and experienced Desire Grand Prix winner and GuileHero. He's unique among primary Riders in that his main TransformationTrinket is themed after a revolver, and receives a firearm as his initial weapon, opposing most primary Riders who start out with [[HeroesPreferSwords swords]].%%Needs more context.

** ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger'': Renn Kosaka is the smartest and most cool-headed member of the Go-Onger, and the only one who could speak Hiramechimedes' name the first time. As Go-On Blue, his personal weapon is an HandCannon, unlike most of the other Go-Ongers who use melee weapons. His ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'', Flynn [=McAllistair=], also qualifies, being the team's [[TheEngineer mechanic]] and adept shooter.

* The 'Magus' class in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'''s Second Edition is a martial class who specializes in FullContactMagic by way of weapon attacks. By nature of tabletop stat customization there's nothing preventing you from making a BookDumb Magus, but since their spellcasting ability is [[MagicIsMental intelligence]], those are the exception rather than the rule. The 'Starlight Span' subclass really emphasizes the ranged aspect by allowing the weapon attacks in question to be [[MageMarksman ranged attacks from bows or guns]], and a further feat emphasizes the intellect of the Starlight Span Magus by allowing them to originate HerdHittingAttack spell effects from the location of their projectile impacts rather than themself - meaning it is encouraged for a Starlight Span Magus to think outside the box and occasionally shoot way off the obvious target at some random patch of ground. [[ExactlyWhatIAimedAt They didn't miss, they were giving their spell a favourable angle]].

* ''Videogame/EldenRing'': Most sorceries have their damage governed by the Intelligence stat, and a pair of particular ones-- Loretta's Greatbow and Loretta's Mastery-- summon a bow made of magical energy that shoots giant arrows with [[HomingProjectile homing capabilities]].

* ''VideoGame/AVeryLongRopeToTheTopOfTheSky'': Spirit (SPI for short) is the statistic that governs magic damage, and is boosted by items like the Concentration Band which "focuses your mental energy", and the Saecelium Circlet whose FlavorText says:"Time slows around this, giving the wearer more time to think".

* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'': All but one of the murders that Phoenix defends his client for in the first game is carried out via blunt force trauma or stabbing. The sole shooting in occurs in Case 1-4 at the hands of [[spoiler:Manfred von Karma, a brilliant prosecutor who took on Miles Edgeworth as his protege long before he tried to frame Edgeworth for murder]].

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': Moxxie Knolastname is the brains of the "Immediate Murder Professionals" organization, an extremely intelligent imp and a GunNut. He's the only member to consistently use guns (his wife Millie is the brawn and uses a battleaxe, his boss Blitzo who also fairly smart and most-often uses flintlocks, and his SitcomArchNemesis Loona fights like an animal).

* ''WesternAnimation/BlueEyeSamurai'': The smuggler Abijah Fowler is a master strategist and mechanist who smuggles contraband for the Shogun. While not bad in melee in a pinch, it's his use of a flintlock rifle makes him dangerous to unprepared opponents.%%???

%%Shoud I include whips or spears

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Series protagonist Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist, is adept at all kinds of ranged weapons, from handguns to [=SMGs=] to experimental particle accelerators. Though in and out of universe, the weapon he's identified most with is a [[CrowbarCombatant crowbar.]]

* ''{{VideoGame/Earthbound1994}}'': Jeff, a ChildProdigy and the TeamNormal of the party, has a toy Pop Gun as his starting weapon, which later progresses to a series of highly-powerful lasers.

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* ''WebAnimation/Helluva Boss'': Moxxie Knolastname is the brains of the "Immediate Murder Professionals" organization, an extremely intelligent imp and a GunNut. He's the only member to consistently use guns (his wife Millie is the brawn and uses a battleaxe, his boss Blitzo who also fairly smart and most-often uses flintlocks, and his SitcomArchNemesis Loona fights like an animal).

* ''WebAnimation/Helluva Boss'': Moxxie Knolastname is the brains of the "Immediate Murder Professionals" organization, an extremely intelligent imp and a GunNut. He's the only member to consistently use guns (his wife Millie is the brawn and uses a battleaxe, his boss Blitzo who also fairly smart and most-often uses flintlocks, and his SitcomArchNemesisLoona fights like an animal).

%%[[folder:Web Animation]]
%%* ''WebAnimation/Helluva Boss'': Moxxie Knolastname is the brains of the "Immediate Murder Professionals" organization, an extremely intelligent imp and a GunNut. He's the only member to consistently use guns (his wife Millie is the brawn and uses a battleaxe, his boss Blitzo who also fairly smart and most-often uses flintlocks, and his SitcomArchNemesisLoona fights like an animal).

%%* ''WebAnimation/Helluva Boss': %%Moxxie Knolastname is the %%brains of the "Immediate Murder %%Professionals" organization, in %%contrast to his wife Millie who %%is the brawn and uses a %%battleaxe, his boss Blitzo who %%is something of an in-between %%and most-often uses flintlock %%pistols, and his Sitcom Arch %%Nemesis Loona who tears %%everything to shreds with her %%claws and teeth. Moxxie is an %%extremely intelligent imp with %%a vast pool of knowledge when %%it comes to firearms (and %%pretty much anything that %%shoots a bullet), proving to be %%extremely proficient even with %%a new gun the moment it lands %%in his hands.
%%[[/folder]]

%% If a weapon can be used in
%%both long and close range (
%%like throwing knives, shurikens
%%or [[DeadlyDisc chakrams]],
%%they have to be thrown
%%consistenly more than swung in
%%melee: if TheSmartGuy
%%[[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks
%%throws his sword]] as a
%%DesperationAttack, it doesn't
%%count; but conversely a
%%character can count even if
%%they occasionally PistolWhip.

[[index]]
----
* GunsAndGunplayTropes
* IntelligenceTropes
* TropesOfWisdom
* WeaponBasedCharacterization
* WeaponsAndWieldingTropes
* WeaponSpecialization
[[/index]]