Line #11 Main/CombatPragmatist


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7	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/74639fb6_f5f1_45f7_90ef_cf483051cdff.png]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350:[-[[Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant "Only a heathen would bring a gun to a sword fight."\
9	"And only a moron would bring a sword to a gun fight."]]-]]]
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11	%% Quote reverted following decision on the General Page Quote Discussion:
12	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100&page=330#8246
13	%% Do not change an existing quote without discussing it first on this thread.
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15	->'''Will Turner:''' You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you.\
16	'''Jack Sparrow:''' That's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?
17	-->-- ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl''
18
19	Some fights have rules. Most don't. However, a lot of people will still fight as though there are rules.
20
21	Heh... ''suckers''.
22
23	The Combat Pragmatist is a character who is defined by their willingness to do anything in a fight to win.
24
25	This typically applies to "real" fights where there's actually something at stake that's more important than a cash prize, a trophy, or a title belt, and usually not professional fights in a controlled environment where safeguards are in place to prevent one side from suffering too much damage and where one can be disqualified for not abiding by the rules. In such settings, the Combat Pragmatist is an unsympathetic character (usually the main antagonist) who shows through their ruthlessness that they honor nothing -- not their opponents, not the sport and its customs, not the tournament's sacred history -- but winning, and tends to believe that there's no such thing as a "dirty" fight if your goal is to survive.
26
27	These characters are characterized by an extensive knowledge of tactics others may consider "dirty" fighting or just by a willingness to use those tactics to achieve their goal, often against more "honorable" opponents (i.e. {{Genre Blind\|ness}} ones). They are likely to think of any adherence to rules or sporting combat as HonorBeforeReason.
28
29	They do ''not'' suffer from a ComplexityAddiction, are never afraid to use a MundaneSolution (nor do they need it to be [[StatingTheSimpleSolution pointed out to them]]), ''never'' assume that the other person will fight "honorably", have no interest in [[IAmNotLeftHanded handicapping themselves]], don't care if their opponent is a [[WorthyOpponent worthy one]], and will not hesitate to KickThemWhileTheyAreDown. They almost always have their weapon of choice either on them or near them at all times, and possibly a spare or two: [[DeviousDaggers knives and daggers]] are an especially popular choice for such characters due to their light weight and ease of concealment. So do [[GunNut guns]], especially if everybody else is [[DoesNotLikeGuns adverse]] at carrying firearms [[FantasyGunControl for whatever reason]]. But if caught without their weapons, [[ImprobableWeaponUser they're willing]] to use absolutely ''[[ImprovisedWeapon anything]]'' as a weapon and only resort to GoodOldFisticuffs if there's no weapon nearby.
30
31	They will not hesitate to use a DangerousForbiddenTechnique. They have no compunction about [[WouldHurtAChild hurting a child]]. Or about attacking someone [[InTheBack from behind]]. Or [[AHandfulForAnEye throwing sand in their eyes]]. Or [[DefeatByModesty pulling down their pants]] (or flipping up their skirts if dealing with women or a [[ManInAKilt kilt-wearing man]]). Or the HeyYouHaymaker. Or [[ManBitesMan biting them]]. Or using WeightedGloves. Or a GroinAttack. Or hitting the other guy upside the head [[HammerHilt with the hilt of their sword]]. Or [[ISurrenderSuckers pretending to surrender]]. Or... [[OverlyLongGag well, you get the idea.]] However, there ''can'' be different levels of this. Even those who don't believe in fighting fair [[EveryoneHasStandards may still have lines they won't cross, such as]] [[ThouShallNotKill refusing to kill]] or [[WouldNotShootACivilian not hurting anyone who's not already part of the fight]].
32
33	Often overlaps with the NoNonsenseNemesis, {{Anti Hero}}es, and especially {{Ninja}}. They almost never allow [[HonorBeforeReason honor or sentiment]] to cloud their judgement, will usually take measures to avoid [[DeathByPragmatism setbacks, or betrayal]]. Sometimes WeakButSkilled or TooCleverByHalf, though the truly pragmatic former will constantly seek to increase their power level and hence advantage over their enemies. It can look like ConfusionFu in practice -- but it almost always isn't. If TheUnfettered fights, then they'll be one of these. In a video game, don't expect them to be above using a CheeseStrategy to win.
34
35	This can be an EstablishingCharacterMoment. It can also be divisive, both among the audience and InUniverse, due to MoralMyopia -- the hero is a resourceful badass, while the villain is just a dirty cheater. This can lead to instances of BlackAndGrayMorality, showing that the hero and the villain aren't so different, and the difference between someone being [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters a terrorist or a freedom fighter]]. For heroes, it's possible for these tactics, if extreme enough, to lead to WhatTheHellHero moments or claims of IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim, sometimes resulting in responses of IDidWhatIHadToDo, and in extreme cases, can be a metaphor for SlowlySlippingIntoEvil that represents the start or conclusion of a FaceHeelTurn. Escalation can also be an issue, as someone who previously fought "honourably" may now decide that TheGlovesComeOff and demonstrate a willingness to go to [[EvilerThanThou much, much darker depths]].
36
37	Villains can also be pragmatic, though it usually takes on a [[PragmaticVillainy different form]]. Villains being normal Combat Pragmatists is usually averted, or at least not played out completely straight, as it can possibly even lead to them [[TheBadGuyWins being victorious]]. If they are, it means they avert BondVillainStupidity and [[HeroKiller actually kill the hero]] instead of [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine having dinner with them]]. Depending on the context, using these tactics can be their KickTheDog moment or even their crossing of the MoralEventHorizon.
38
39	Characters are often deliberately not put into this trope due to RuleOfCool. If everyone took this approach to combat who could, key characters would be dead or defeated too soon and the story would be over a little too quickly. Plus, it's often just way cooler to show off more complicated tactics than simple ones. Additionally, MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s sometimes make having this type of character difficult by ensuring that they can't do certain actions. On the other hand, when drawn-out straight fights are impractical, excitement can be created by GenreShift away from pure action to espionage, planning, intrigue and the thrill of the hunt, with clever heroes and villains alike who avoid the IdiotBall and unnecessary flash, and any open violence being quick and decisive. However, this can come as "Cheating in a fight with no rules is not cheating" and "If you want to defeat the bad guys, you don't have to fight fair with them". WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism is a related trope.
40
41	On occasion, a BadassTeacher or CynicalMentor will be this when teaching their mentee to fight, particularly if the mentee is inexperienced, is being trained to literally fight for their life, or at some other extreme disadvantage to 'honorable' opponents. This is more common in literature where fighting is more realistic, so it's harder to downplay a blow received and it's difficult to describe an 'honorable' fight where a disadvantaged opponent would realistically win.
42
43	Can occur with LimitedWindowOfVulnerability when the pragmatic solution is to kill someone or something very quickly while they're vulnerable. This is very often the case, for the more smarter and opportunistic [[FragileSpeedster Fragile Speedsters]]. After all, what they may lack in force and raw power, they can [[WeakButSkilled certainly improvise]] and do it swiftly to [[DumbMuscle outwit the opposition]] at least.
44
45	Curiously enough, those of GreyAndGrayMorality would be the best example here. These characters shrewdly see the good and bad in pretty much every concept. On one hand maybe sending that criminal to prison is the right thing, but will they [[HeelFaceTurn really repent their crimes?]] This kind of contemplation is very common for characters/themes like these, that to say [[LightIsGood good is right]] and [[DarkIsEvil evil is wrong]] entirely is not an absolute.
46
47	Needless to say, when the author decides that [[SimpleSolutionWontWork being a right bastard in battle is not a applicable solution to the problems of the plot]], some hoops [[{{Handwave}} may need to be leaped through]].
48
49	[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] WhyDontYouJustShootHim (although often is a subversion of that trope).
50	----
51	!!Example Subpages:
52
53	[[index]]
54	* CombatPragmatist/AnimeAndManga
55	** ''CombatPragmatist/DragonBall''
56	** ''CombatPragmatist/OnePiece''
57	* CombatPragmatist/ComicBooks
58	* CombatPragmatist/FanWorks
59	* [[CombatPragmatist/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
60	* CombatPragmatist/{{Literature}}
61	* CombatPragmatist/LiveActionTV
62	* CombatPragmatist/TabletopGames
63	* CombatPragmatist/VideoGames
64	* CombatPragmatist/WebAnimation
65	* CombatPragmatist/{{Webcomics}}
66	* CombatPragmatist/WebOriginal
67	* CombatPragmatist/WesternAnimation
68	* CombatPragmatist/RealLife
69	[[/index]]
70
71	!!Other Examples:
72
73	[[foldercontrol]]
74
75	[[folder:Advertising]]
76	* A commercial in Geico's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtZtkhRG8es "rhetorical question" ad]] campaign tested the question of whether the pen is mightier than the sword. A skilled ninja shows off his sword skills, and his opponent uses a pen to sign for a package containing a taser, which he immediately uses on the ninja.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Films — Animation]]
80	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}},'' a quick-thinking [[PluckyGirl Coraline]] defeats [[OneBadMother the Other Mother]] by throwing her own ally, [[TalkingAnimal the Cat]], at her face. Note that the Cat was not in on this plan.
81	* ''Franchise/TheIncredibles'':
82	** Frozone can use his ice powers in many ways. When Frozone first joins the fight against the Omnidroid v.10 in the first ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'', he immediately attempts to freeze the tentacle joints attaching them to the main body to limit its mobility and ability to attack. Sadly, it doesn't work, and the robot tosses him onto a [[CarCushion nearby car]].
83	** In the sequel ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'', Evelyn gains a significant advantage over Elastigirl by bouncing her around the airplane cabin with erratic piloting. She also reduces the oxygen throughout the plane, causing Elastigirl to suffer from hypoxia, making it hard for her to fight back.
84	* Lord Shen, the BigBad of ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', knows that he is too weak to defeat his opponents [[spoiler: and conquer China]] with kung fu alone. [[spoiler: So he uses cannons instead. As well as fight with knives.]] This is evident when he uses the weapon instead of facing Master Thundering Rhino in a kung fu fight which he knows he cannot win. It's specifically mentioned that Master Thundering Rhino's "Horn Defense" is impervious to any attack, and we see it when he casually blocks all of Shen's thrown knives with his horn. Naturally, Shen's not going to fight fair.
85	* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheSamuraiSword'', Miyumi explains her martial arts school's philosophy thusly: "In order to win, you must be willing to do what your opponent is not willing to do." Considering this is a Scooby-Doo movie, that amounts to pulling off Daphne's headband so her bangs obscure her vision, rather than anything dirtier, but Daphne still considers it a dirty trick and an unfair victory.
86	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'': Subverted. Muntz starts the fight between him and Carl with a claymore, but eventually stops to grab a lever action shotgun. Which is rather odd considering the movie's audience.
87	* In the climax ''WesternAnimation/{{Wizards}}'', Avatar and Blackwolf appear to building up to an epic WizardDuel. However, [[spoiler: Avatar then simply pulls a pistol and shoots Blackwolf instead]].
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
91	* ''Literature/LoneWolf'', compared to most HighFantasy heroes. Several Kai disciplines emphasize camouflage and sneaking around, and Lone Wolf has no qualms against DressingAsTheEnemy. Attacking by surprise, or against an unarmed or wounded opponent, is advantageous and encouraged. The effects of his psychic attacks, when described, are clearly to cause pain. The Kai Lord ethic seems to be "whatever gets the job done," and Lone Wolf makes use of psychic powers, spells, magitek, bow and arrows, even poison on occasion, as well as [[EvilWeapon Darklord weapons]], without hesitation. Only the vilest black magic items are out of bounds, and that's more because they are likely [[ArtifactOfDeath Artifacts of Death]] than anything else.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Music]]
95	* Music/{{Vocaloid}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Z_Yf8ut8Y Hikyou Sentai Urotander]].
96	-->"Yes, by every means possible, we go for the win."
97	* In Music/JohnnyCash's "A Boy Named Sue", the title character seeks revenge on his estranged father for his [[GenderBlenderName awful name.]] Sue's had to fight his whole life through to defend himself from mockery, and has become a tough combat pragmatist as a result. When Sue finds his dad, they get into an epic brawl, and Sue describes his father as kicking like a mule and biting like a crocodile. [[LikeFatherLikeSon Both Sue and his dad]] are examples.
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Music Videos]]
101	* In the Royal Guardsmen's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxzg_iM-T4E Snoopy vs. the Red Baron]]" this is how the fight between [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]] and the Red Baron ends: [[spoiler:after being shot down in their first fight Snoopy gets a new plane and challenges the Red Baron to another fight, the Baron laughs... [[OhCrap Then notices that Snoopy got him in sight while he was laughing]], at which point "Snoopy fired once, and he fired twice/And that Bloody Red Baron went spinning out of sight"]].
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
105	* Literature/TheBible:
106	** Two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi ended up slaughtering all the men of a city [[KnightTemplarBigBrother because their prince had raped their sister]]. How did they achieve this? By telling the men they would let the prince marry their sister if all the men of the city agreed to be circumcised. That took all the fighting men out of commission, and their conquest of the city was incredibly easy. Their father Jacob, however, [[WhatTheHellHero hated this]] and told them this only made more trouble than practicality for them for them in the long run, because now all the Canaanite tribes viewed them as enemies and would turn against them.
107	** It has been argued that the story of David and Goliath is less about the triumph of faith over brawn, and more about taking a deadly ranged weapon like a sling to a knife fight. Also David then beheaded Goliath with his own sword, just to be sure.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Podcasts]]
111	* Rym of the podcast ''Podcast/GeekNights'' has repeatedly stated he is one. People still vote for him in political games, anyway.
112	-->"YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!"
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
116	* This is the [[{{Heel}} Rudo-Luchador's]] schtick. They tend to be stronger, and play dirtier than the [[{{face}} Technico-Luchador]].
117	* Wrestling/TommyDreamer's nickname is "The Innovator of Violence" thanks to his ability to improvise during hardcore matches.
118	* Wrestling/RicFlair's nickname is "The Dirtiest Player in the Game" thanks to his talent at {{Groin Attack}}s, eye pokes, distractions, etc.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Roleplay]]
122	* Everyone in ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' fights dirty but Dr. Kerzach probably fights the dirtiest.
123	* ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'': A meta example: pionoplayer and aegis have both gotten into trouble for finding and abusing loopholes in the rules to gain advantage over other players.
124	* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', several heroes and villains fight dirty whenever they can; very few characters actually try to fight in a gentlemanly manner.
125	* Darth Apparatus from ''Roleplay/TheGunganCouncil'', a Sith, has thrown sand in eyes, used blasters, and bombs in order to win in a universe where his comrades will use only the Force and their lightsabers.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Theatre]]
129	* In ''Theatre/DeadEnd'', "Baby-Face" Martin teaches Tommy that "fair and square" is no way to win a fight.
130	* Invoked by Ben in Theatre/DeathOfASalesman. "Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You'll never get out of the jungle that way."
131	* Evgeny Shvarts has a play called [[http://a7sharp9.com/dragon.html The Dragon]]. When the titular dragon is challenged to combat by the protagonist, he wants to just incinerate him first, but is reminded that there is a document he signed preventing that (the dragon claims he wrote it when he was "a naïve, sentimental, inexperienced youth", but the threat to reveal he is afraid to fight fair is enough for the battle to happen on more even terms).
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Web Videos]]
135	* In his ''WebVideo/DVDRHell'' riff of the Franchise/WinnieThePooh video "Too Smart For Strangers", Creator/BradJones' advice for children dealing with 'strangers' is for the child to 'Go for the nuts'.
136	* In ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'', Darth Vader is a rapping version. He ends his fights with Hitler by (in order) freezing him in carbonite, dropping him into a rancor pit, and slicing him in half with his lightsaber.
137	* ''WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment'':
138	** Spoony once told the story of his ''[[TabletopGame/StarWarsD6 Star Wars RPG]]'' character that killed Sith with a number of dirty tricks. Things like flamethrowers, shotguns, and rigging his ship with explosives.
139	** A convention ''D&D'' game guest-starring Linkara and Mike "The Birdman" Dodd had Spoony's character grab a glass during dinner, shatter it and put the shards in his satchel. When the party is beset upon by a big, hulking brute of a monster later on, Spoony just throws [[CrazyPrepared GLASS IN ITS EYES]].
140	** When he finished his review of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', when [[spoiler:Snow]] came to fight him, after assuring him that he would fight fairly, he immediately opened fire with automatic firearms. When that doesn't work, Spoony ultimately wins by ''ripping his throat out with his bare hands.''
141	** When a Headless attacked him after one of his ''Ultima'' reviews, Spoony claimed that Linkara would probably be all "I AM A MAN!" and fight him like a man. Then Spoony kicks the Headless in the crotch, and remarks that ''he'' on the other hand fights like a dirty bastard.
142	* In ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'', the Website/ChannelAwesome crew tries to play along the fantasy scenario, only using (fake) swords. But when the Cloaks use a machine gun, [[WebVideo/TheAngryJoeShow Angry Joe]] uses his gun. And in a climactic battle, [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] goes "screw this" before dropping his sword and grabbing his gun, and while Joe is using his SMG again, WebVideo/ObscurusLupa grabs a spare and starts shooting as well.
143	[[/folder]]

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