Line #7 CombatPragmatist/WebComics


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9	* ''Webcomic/AxeCop'' is not above poisoning his enemies or murdering them in their sleep.
10	* Karcharoth and Fenrir of ''Webcomic/CryHavoc'' do whatever they think they need to in order to survive and win.
11	* Dark Pegasus from ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' not only [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_923.php disintegrates an enemy in mid-speech]], but then finishes his speech by mocking his enemies for allowing him to do that.
12	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'':
13	** Mr. Raven.
14	--->'''Wizard:''' Feigned frailty, no "En guarde"... Have you no honor?\
15	'''Raven:''' The lives of my students are more important.
16	** The [[OurVampiresAreDifferent aberration]] [[KnownOnlyByTheirNickname known only as "Scarf"]] turns out to be the one antagonist who comes the closest to actually killing a major named character - by pulling a gun on them from behind while they're fighting a completely different aberration.
17	* ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'':
18	** Jon Amraphel is the only main character without any magical ability. How does he cope with fighting MagicKnight elven military, [[WarriorMonk monks]] with BulletTime SuperSpeed, and tiny fairy demigods? By a) being [[TheGunslinger very good with guns]], and b) cheating like hell. Being a semi-retired assassin, he does his best to avoid anything like a face-to-face fight.
19	** Meji proves she has a pragmatist streak after she [[spoiler:ascends to godhood]]. When Ian fought the elves with [[spoiler:his newly-acquired divine power]], he blew up their city, fought the entire elven army at once, and then fought the fake human god. When the elves threaten Meji, she says that if ''she'' decides to fight them, she'll just stop their hearts.
20	* Anyone but [[SkilledButNaive Wildfire]] is this in ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow''. Special mention goes to "Dirty Harry" Eastwood who, well, [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2007-12-29/comic/black-and-white/dirty-harry-fights-dirty/ fights dirty]], Lothar and his "cunning plans" and Morth who additionally mixes this with PragmaticVillainy.
21	* ''Webcomic/FreakingRomance'': Verose can fight, and she can quickly analyze an opponent's strengths and weaknesses before engaging. She is also more than capable of using the environment and whatever objects are handy to win.
22	* The Combagals of ''Webcomic/FurryFightChronicles'' are not afraid to fight dirty if the situation demands it. Attacks to [[GroinAttack the groin,]] [[BreastAttack to the breasts,]] and other tactics are encouraged.
23	* Pinton the Pig in ''Future Pig'' is definitely this. See him teach it to a student [[http://www.futurepig.com/fut065.html here.]]
24	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
25	** The end of Agatha and Othar's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040924 little talk]] [[spoiler: she pushes him over the side of an airship.]] [[MetaGuy Othar]] apparently has the catchphrase "[[LampshadeHanging Foul!]]" for whenever this sort of thing happens.
26	** Agatha vs. her cousin:
27	--->[[spoiler:'''Zola Anya Talinka Venia Zeblinkya Malfeazium:''']] Bringing a ''knife'' to a ''gun fight'' doesn't seem very smart, now does it?\
28	'''Agatha Heterodyne:''' Well, I suppose it isn't that much worse than bringing a gun to a [[ClockworkCreature clank]] fight.
29	** Bangladesh [=DuPree=]. The best example is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040901 her fight]] with [[spoiler: Zulenna]].
30	** The Jägers are all over this trope. In fact one of them [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120521 expressed]] this [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120528 twice]] during just one fight:
31	--->'''General Zog:''' Killink hyu enemies ''alvays'' counts.\
32	'''General Zog:''' Hmf. Iz still cheating. But in der ''GOOT'' way!
33	** [[spoiler:The un-lobotomized Dmitri Vapnoople]] is a proponent of this kind of thinking. The "first lesson" he imparts on Agatha when taking her up as an unwilling apprentice is to take ''any'' of your opponents distractions -- say, for example, a screaming VillainousBreakdown -- to eliminate them right then and there. And proceeds to demonstrate by [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190524 tossing an enemy having one such breakdown into a dimensional rift like he were getting rid of last night's trash]].
34	* Manseok Gang from ''Webcomic/TheGodOfHighSchool'' is a sadistic ex-con who practices [[FantasticFightingStyle Northern Taekwondo]], a variant developed during the Korean War that emphasizes dirty tactics like eye gouges and [[GroinAttack strikes below the belt]].
35	* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'':
36	** [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Math]] is confronted by a Wolverine knock-off villain with impenetrable skin and unstoppable claws. Just when Math's looking forward to an [[WorthyOpponent interesting fight]], Sidney uses her [[CombatTentacles whipcoil orb]] to [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1331 stick the foe's own claws into his chest]].
37	--->'''Sidney:''' ''[to a [[DisapprovingLook glowering]] Math]'' What? Clearly, one of those statements was false.
38	** Maxima is the most powerful super in the world by a large margin, to the point that she is capable of literally nuking things and surviving worse. She is also a soldier and was taught to be a ruthlessly efficient fighter. When fighting Vehemence, she has Peggy [[EyeScream shoot him in the eye]] with an [[{{BFG}} anti-materiel rifle]], uses the distraction to knock him to the ground, [[GroinAttack stomps on his crotch]] (though he dodges that one) hard enough to leave a ten-foot crater, punches him a hundred feet into a construction site, uses a concrete pillar to grind his face in, and then vaporizes his arm.
39	--->'''Vehemence:''' [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-260-adding-injury-to-injury/ God damnit lady!]]
40	** During said fight, Sydney realizes that Vehemence gained strength (and energy) through aggression, which is why he started the fight. She also knows he is otherwise an ordinary person; therefore, she has Dabbler distract him by rope-jumping, then has as many of her teammates as possible hold his head underwater in a puddle so that he would have to expend energy to keep from drowning. Thus the offer of "surrender, or die".
41	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
42	** Jack Noir is a big fan of teleporting behind people and stabbing them in the back. Though he is omnipotent, so perhaps he doesn't count.
43	** Winning his immortality by [[spoiler:killing the Black Queen with the bunny]] does, however.
44	** Vriska Serket and her ancestor, Marquise Mindfang have no qualms with using their psychic powers to use others to kill or maim their opponents.
45	** Dave is not above using his friend [[spoiler:who their foe cannot bring himself to harm]] as a HumanShield. AUTO-HARLEY!
46	** Terezi [[spoiler:knows that Vriska has to be stopped to preserve the timeline and the lives of all the other trolls and that she would have no chance against her in a fair fight. So she tricks Vriska into a psychological game of chicken and stabs her in the back.]]
47	* ''Webcomic/IDontWantThisKindOfHero'': In Orca's words, Hyena's a born fighter. Whereas even ''Dana'' will respect Amore's TruceZone, Hyena fully believes in attacking Knife wherever they're spotted and is appalled that her sister walked away from a fight. She likely gets away with it because Orca was incapacitated, not killed.
48	* TFA Prowl in the ''Webcomic/{{Insecticomics}}'' teaches his class to use any available item as a weapon. When Laserbeak tries to call him on this, [[http://www.insecticons.com/insecticomics/v5/437.html he kicks her aft with a sandwich.]]
49	* ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'':
50	** Jared was disqualified and barred from trainer battles for allowing his Gyarados to eat opponent Pokemon.
51	** During the Nomura Syndrome arc, the Commander refuses to follow turn-based RPG rules, and just shoots the random monsters they encounter.
52	--->'''Commander:''' Import'nt t' draw that fine line between fightin' dirty an' fightin' stupid.\
53	'''Jared:''' Well that doesn't seem very sporting...\
54	'''Jonesy:''' Excuse me, but remind me again [[CallBack why you were kicked out of the Pokemon League?]]
55	** He does it again in the same arc during the climactic fight with Gackt, after the latter transforms into his ultimate [[spoiler:well, penultimate]] form. Rather than engage in another lengthy RPG-style duel, he declares that he's gonna "[[Franchise/SailorMoon Moon Tiara Magic]] this bullshit," and simply climbs up and cuts Gackt's throat.
56	--->'''Jonesy:''' I don't think that's how Moon Tiara Magic works.
57	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
58	** Haley has no problem fighting ''very'' dirty. For example, she [[spoiler:ambushes Crystal as she is in the shower, catching her without her weapons, armor, and protective jewelry, and kills her while she is stunned on the floor.]] It might be argued that this is dishonorable, but aside from that being the whole ''point'', Haley is ChaoticGood, not ChaoticStupid. Who could forget her approach to [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0327.html the test of the mind]]? Or, for that matter, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0565.html the return trip]]? Considering Haley's class and the above commentary on ''D&D'' rogues, this is justified.
59	** Belkar also fits into this category.
60	*** He is quite willing to fight sneakily with a paladin and either taking potshots or using traps against her. When he knocks her unconscious, however, he actually waits until she wakes up again instead of simply killing her. He even let her believe that she had merely become dizzy for a few seconds. He ''did'' steal and drink her healing potions while he had the chance. For [[HeroicComedicSociopath Belkar]], this is less about being honorable and more about pissing her off. Obviously, he can't annoy her if she's out cold. Not to mention that his plan had been [[spoiler:to let her kill him so that she lost her Paladin powers, while he could always get resurrected later]].
61	*** When Belkar is confronted with the son of a Kobold he had killed, who is in full [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya revenge mode]], he is unable to kill him due to [[spoiler:his Mark of Justice]]. He simply hires mercenaries mid-fight to slay him.
62	---->'''Belkar:''' 50 gp bonus to whoever makes him scream the loudest!
63	*** Belkar is an even better example in the prequel book ''On the Origin of [=PCs=]'':
64	---->'''Guard:''' You knifed seventeen people in a tavern brawl.\
65	'''Belkar:''' Hey, its not my fault they brought fists to a knife fight.\
66	'''Guard:''' It wasn't a knife fight until ''you'' started stabbing people!
67	** Miko herself surprisingly pulls this off while appearing to be more of the HonorBeforeReason type. When facing a group of enemies, she rouses them all to wake up, allows them to pick up their weapons, and even lets them eat first, allegedly so it'll be a fair fight. In truth, this was all a ploy to get them into one group so they could all be hit with the same attack.
68	** Vaarsuvius shows shades of this, particularly in their fight with [[spoiler:Zz'dtri.]]
69	--->'''[[spoiler:Zz'dtri]]:''' Cheater.\
70	'''Vaarsuvius:''' Oh heavens! I cannot believe I violated the detailed rules and regulations we agreed upon before starting this contest! We must consult the referee for an appropriate penalty regarding my heinous transgression!
71	** In the same fight, no less, rather than letting skill or stats win out, [[spoiler:Zz'dtri]] had specifically tailored all his spells and abilities to counter V's. V takes advantage of the CripplingOverspecialization by mind-controlling Yukyuk, who is a ranger rather than a wizard.
72	** The Black Dragon waits to attack Vaarsuuvius until after they have left their allies and have exhausted their higher-level spells.
73	** Redcloak has always been pragmatic, with examples such as using Titanium Elementals instead of Earth because they are lighter yet just as strong (if distasteful, not being a "classic" element); walking his hobgoblin army into certain death because he only needs them as a distraction (prior to gaining a change of heart regarding racism); creating decoys of Xykon to make the heroes guess which one's real, but then having the real one take an entirely different method of approach with ''greater invisibility''; etc. Redcloak plays it straight when he is proposed to a fair fight [[spoiler: by Thanh]], who is held by an elemental summoned by Redcloak.
74	--->'''Redcloak:''' Stupid risks are just that: stupid. Crush him.
75	** Xykon is also this. For example, in his fight with [[DeathByOriginStory Fyron]], he couldn't best the wizard with magic. So he [[ISurrenderSuckers pretends to surrender]], then beats him to death [[ImprovisedWeapon with his own Wizzy Award]]
76	--->'''Xykon:''' I've found that only two things really matter. Power, in as great a quantity as you can muster, and style... and in a pinch, style can slide.
77	** During his gladiator match against Thog, Roy uses discarded crossbow bolts as improvised shivs, [[GrievousBottleyHarm smashes an empty potion bottle into Thog's face]], throws sand in his eyes, and eventually wins by [[spoiler:goading Thog into dropping the ceiling on himself]].
78	--->'''Roy:''' THAT'S how I use my Intelligence score in combat, dumbass!
79	* Rocky the rogue from ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'' stands out in their adventuring group.
80	* ''Webcomic/OzzieTheVampire'': Kimmy [[http://www.ozziethevampire.com/comic/episode-01-vinyl-fight-page-35 tricks]] Glasya-Labolas into turning around, then kicks him in the groin from behind.
81	-->'''Glasya-Labolas:''' Dishonorable!! Uncouth!! Have you wenches no sense of a warrior's code?!?!\
82	'''Kimmy:''' ''God'', no.
83	* In ''Webcomic/{{Pacificators}}'', some of the characters tend to lean towards this (especially those with the [[PlayingWithFire power of fire]] and [[BlowYouAway power of air]]), but Taffe Torbern deserves a special mention. No, it's not her special combo (kick in the knee then a heel palm strike, followed by a GroinAttack), but the fact that she is [[spoiler: [[DisabilitySuperpower deaf.]]]] Observe Gincoi's [[http://www.sailorenergy.net/MangaPacificators/MangaPacisV02CH09P152.html shock]] and [[http://www.sailorenergy.net/MangaPacificators/MangaPacisV02CH09P153.html confusion]] when his attack failed.
84	* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'':
85	** Tagon. His first pugil-stick practice with Schlock involved slicing Schlock, and his pugil stick, in half with a concealed RazorFloss wire hidden in his shoes. Don't worry, Schlock can survive that sort of thing. His second, against the neophant Chisulo, involved lobbing the pugil stick into his opponent's {{eye\|Scream}} from across the ring. And then, at a later wargame with sticky rounds as ordnance, he cheated by asking the ship to [[GravityMaster use some applied gravitics to mess with the enemy team's shots]].
86	--->'''Chisulo:''' I'm pretty sure that's cheating.\
87	'''Tagon:''' I'm sorry, did you just say, "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"\
88	'''Chisulo:''' Thank you, sir! Point... um... taken.
89	** Schlock himself is pretty pragmatic, to the point arming him with a powerful gun is ''merciful''. He'll just devour his enemies alive otherwise.
90	** Kathryn too, to the point that she's one of the few people to have disabled Schlock.
91	** ''[[BigBookOfWar The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries]]'' deals heavily in this trope; Maxim 31 even explicitly states "Only cheaters prosper". Therefore it's rare to find a major character who doesn't use this.
92	* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'':
93	** Bun-Bun just plain ''loves'' this trope. Some examples:
94	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=981222 Setting up bombs to kill the Ghost of Christmas Past.]]
95	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990214 Smashing a demon's glasses]] then [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990215 tricking it into climbing into a meat grinder.]]
96	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990324 Offering to settle things peacefully]] before attacking with an AerosolFlamethrower.
97	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990328 Pulling out a surprise bazooka.]]
98	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990330 Putting his "friends" in rabbit costumes to act as decoys.]]
99	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990404 Using a robot's programming to make it jump into molten steel.]]
100	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=010624 Shoving a gun up someone's nose, then, when they try to dig it out, hit them with a barstool]] [[{{Gorn}} setting the gun off and driving their arm elbow-deep into their own head, simultaneously]].
101	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=010701 Throwing someone out the airlock.]]
102	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=010723 Using a spaceship's artificial gravity to knock people out.]]
103	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=050222 Using knockout gas to capture a bunch of villagers]]
104	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=050925 Electrocuting his opponent.]]
105	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=051211 And hitting him with a log from behind.]]
106	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=060115 And setting him on fire.]]
107	*** [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=060118 And cutting his limbs off with hedge clippers.]]
108	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=090518 Threatening to kill the person his opponent loves, throwing a flower pot at their face to distract them, then running off to follow through on their threat.]]
109	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=090528 Trying to slow his opponent down by giving her some "innocent bystanders to slice up."]]
110	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=090605 Pulling a gun during a knife fight.]]
111	** Torg:
112	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080425 Torg facing Lord Moldy Pants in a magic duel pulls out a shotgun.]] [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080504 He also shot first.]]
113	*** [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/020622 Torg and the truth brick.]]
114	* In ''Webcomic/SpyingWithLana'', Lana will pull every trick in the book in order to win a fight.
115	* Everyone from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', albeit with a few exceptions. These are [[BloodKnight Rak]] [[EgomaniacHunter Wraithraiser]], [[{{Ronin}} Hatz]], and [[PintsizedPowerhouse Mule]] [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Love]].
116	* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Spellwrights have a [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen code of rules]] for {{Wizard Duel}}s, which Quigley cheerfully ignores in favour of sneaking spells into his opponents' clothes, deploying pre-made magic devices to get an edge, and using AugmentedReality goggles to fine-tune his spellwork.
117	-->'''Duane:''' ''M-my cloak! Bad form!'' "A dueling gentleman shall not draw from his opponent's person, clothing, nor weap-"\
118	'''Quigley:''' ''[Yanks Duane off his feet by his cloak]'' Mm-hmm.
119	* ''Webcomic/WeakHero'':
120	** Gray's bread and butter. To make up for his lack of muscle, Gray employs every nasty trick in the book in order to win his battles- attacking an opponent's sensitive areas, using ''everything'' he has on hand as a weapon, restraining them so he can pummel them while they're helpless, the list goes on.
121	** Forrest isn't above underhanded tactics in order to achieve a win. He splits up Ben's gang so he can take them down one at a time, targets Alex specifically knowing that it'll anger Ben, takes Teddy as a hostage when it seems like Alex is about to escape, and then, when it seems like Alex might be able to take him in a fight, he gets his {{mook}}s to hold him in place so he can't fight back.
122	** As opposed to his [[{{Foil}} counterpart]] Wolf, who fights for the fun of it, Giju fights to win, and employs dirty tricks like faking surrender or distracting his opponent with loud sounds or feints to gain an advantage.
123	* King Eric in ''Webcomic/YetAnotherFantasyGamerComic'' is known as great and just man and all that, but once the gloves are off, they are... ''[[http://yafgc.net/comic/0258-royal-backlash/ really off]]''.
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Context CombatPragmatist / WebComics