History CombatPragmatist / WebOriginal

* ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}:'' Oh so very much, on both ends. On the hunters' ends, they won't just wait for Dream if they reach the End before him. They'll rig the portal with a trap to kill Dream instantly ([[ItOnlyWorksOnce with the two times they've done this varying wildly in terms of success]]). On Dream's end, he'll use strength potions to [[CurbStompBattle annihilate the hunters]], [[NoKillLikeOverkill rig explosions or lava to harm or kill the hunters in a chase]], lock one of the hunters in close quarters to pick them off alone, use a splash potion of invisibility to make the hunters [[FriendOrFoe confuse each other for Dream himself]], and many more. If a hunter's approaching fast? Sure, Dream could fight with a likely-diamond sword, but he could just as easily plug them full of arrows to buy him a brief amount time to prepare.

* ''Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG''- The titular Mr. Welch really doesn't think highly of fair duels.

* In ''Literature/TheSalvationWar'', the demons accuse the humans of fighting dishonorably by using long-ranged artillery, airstrikes, tanks, and long-range rifles rather than fight the demons in hand-to-hand combat. Or at least, the demons ''try'' to, but the humans are too busy [[MugglesDoItBetter slaughtering their Bronze-Age armies]] wholesale to listen. Of course, the demons' view on "honorable" combat is for humans to be crushed under their heels before becoming dinner.
* Alexis of ''Literature/AGreyWorld'' won't shy from doing what needs to be done to survive a fight.

* Knowing that [[WeakButSkilled he'll likely be less powerful than those he'll have to fight]] thanks to his small {{mana}} reserves, Zorian -- the protagonist of ''Literature/MotherOfLearning'' -- plans much of his fighting style around tricks and traps.

* Humanity's space combat doctrine in ''Literature/TheJenkinsverse'' is basically this. Humans are the newcomers on the galactic scene so basic human technology lags behind galactic standard. They make up for it by using the technologies they reverse-engineered and mastered in highly unorthodox ways (e.g. using supercapacitors reverse-engineered from alien guns in conjunction with forcefields acting as solar panels on their ships to make up for their lower reactor capacity) and by playing very ''very'' dirty.
* ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}:'' Oh so very much, on both ends. On the hunters' ends, they won't just wait for Dream if they reach the End before him. They'll rig the portal with a trap to kill Dream instantly ([[ItOnlyWorksOnce with the two times they've done this varying wildly in terms of success]]). On Dream's end, he'll use strength potions to [[CurbStompBattle annihilate the hunters]], [[NoKillLikeOverkill rig explosions or lava to harm or kill the hunters in a chase]], lock one of the hunters in close quarters to pick them off alone, use a splash potion of invisibility to make the hunters [[FriendOrFoe confuse each other for Dream himself]], and many more. If a hunter's approaching fast? Sure, Dream could fight with a likely-diamond sword, but he could just as easily plug them full of arrows to buy him a brief amount time to prepare.
* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'': In "The Witch in the Web," Miss Holloway points out to Wiley that he has no chance at winning their BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind, since he's a LivingMemory trapped in ''her'' mind. He freely admits that's true... "so I'm gonna cheat." Cue him using his limited powers to possess Pamela's body in the ''real'' world to force her to strangle Miss Holloway.

* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'': In "The Witch in the Web," Miss Holloway points out to Wiley that he has no chance at winning their BattleAtTheCenterOfTheMind, since he's a memory trapped in ''her'' mind. He freely admits that's true... "so I'm gonna cheat." Cue him using his limited powers to possess Pamela's body in the ''real'' world to force her to strangle Miss Holloway.

* Given that ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' takes place in a CrapsackWorld of superheroes and supervillains, a couple characters develop a "whatever works" attitude towards combat:

** PRT Director Emily Piggot, an [[BadassNormal unpowered human being]] in charge of [[HeroesRUs the government superheroes]] of [[TheCity Brockton Bay]], approaches the fight against [[spoiler:the Slaughterhouse Nine]] this way.

* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', several heroes and villains fight dirty whenever they can; very few characters actually try to fight in a gentlemanly manner.
* Sensei Ito, one of the martial arts instructors at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, has created an entire fighting style around this. He's a little old man with no mutant powers, and he can take down flying bricks, avatars, you name it. He's fighting (and training) mutants, so you know he isn't going to fight fair.
** One should note, of course, that some folks [[spoiler: - including Ayla -]] doubt that Ito is actually ''just'' a BadassNormal. One of the prevailing theories is that he's also [[spoiler: either a secret mutant, or ''very'' experienced at Ki manipulation. Odds are weighted towards the Ki manipulation.]]
** Erik Mahren, [[spoiler: before his emergence as a mutant.]] As one of the range instructors, he's the one who okays [[spoiler: or used to]] what is and is not allowed to be used on the range. And he ''is'' a BadassNormal, and is more than capable of defending himself against most of the students at Whateley - even the ones who think it's funny to sneak up behind people and stab them in the kidneys.

* In ''Literature/TheSalvationWar'', the demons accuse the humans of fighting dishonorably by using long-ranged artillery, airstrikes, tanks, and long-range rifles rather than fight the demons in hand-to-hand combat. Or at least, the demons ''try'' to, but the humans are too busy [[MugglesDoItBetter slaughtering their Bronze-Age armies]] wholesale to listen.
** Of course, the demons' view on "honorable" combat is for humans to be crushed under their heels before becoming dinner.
* Sup guy extraordinaire ''VideoGame/JohnnyRocketfingers''.
* Pretty much everyone in ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' fights dirty but Dr. Kerzach probably fights the dirtiest.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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'.
* Rym of the podcast ''Podcast/GeekNights'' has repeatedly stated he is one. People still vote for him in political games, anyway.
** "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!"

* Agent Washington of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' is a freelancer with no AI and no special combat abilities (sans amazing capability with firearms) or armor enhancements. He makes up for this by fighting smart. He always tries to even the odds through strength in numbers, stealing weapons off his enemies, or just grabbing a bigger gun (sometimes metaphorical, sometimes not). He was able to stop The Meta (an absurdly powerful hivemind of AI in a super strong, over-enhanced BloodKnight) not through force, but with deception and knowledge he himself wasn't supposed to hold about his surroundings.
** Agent Tex is the strongest combatant in the series, but still prefers a pragmatic fight. She often uses her cloaking device and plasma grenades to end a fight before she starts it, and will set up a battle field with explosives and extra weapons ahead of time. [[spoiler: She'd probably win more if she wasn't subconsciously programmed to be a FailureHero.]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' provides a few examples:
** Yang Xiao Long. In her introduction, she steps into a BadGuyBar and gets into an altercation with the owner, a big mafia boss. When he threatens to sic his goons on her, she sweet-talks him and offers a make-up kiss. When the [[SchmuckBait schmuck]] acquiesces to her offer and leans in to plant a kiss onto the lovely blonde, [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom she plants an altogether different kind of kiss onto him]]. She also qualifies [[FridgeBrilliance if you bear in mind that]] when Ruby, Weiss and Blake aren't using their weapons they store them in rocket-powered lockers at Beacon, ready to call in whenever they need them. Yang? Her [[PowerFist Ember]] [[ArmCannon Celica]] folds up into a pair of unassuming bracelets, so she can take them anywhere and lay the smack-down any time she needs to.
** Her sister, Ruby Rose also qualifies. When fighting weaker opponents her fighting style is pretty straightforward, but when things are ''serious'' she's one third TheStrategist, one third this and one third CrazyAwesome. On this trope's side she's not afraid to use [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells freezing bullets]], taking someone else's weapon when her own is unavailable, blinding opponents with tricks like pulling hat over his eyes or making them lose balance by opening enemy's umbrella during windy fight on top of airship.
*** This trait of hers actually became [[MemeticMutation memetic]] during volume seven. For reference, the above was written about the first three volumes; she has since maimed an opponent when his back was turned, headbutted somebody else when her weapon was unavailable, jumped into the cannon of a GiantMecha in order to disable it with a sniper shot, used a magical artifact to pull a TimeStop so she could concentrate on her innate magical ability, modified her scythe so it can twist a full 180 degrees and give her a backswing, and impaled a Megoliath (a massive mammoth Grimm) on its own tusk. Ironically enough, she's a friendly, caring, and cheerful outside of combat.
** In "Punished", we learn these two probably got this trait from [[CoolUncle Uncle Qrow]]. For one thing, he freely abuses his Semblance ([[spoiler:TheJinx]]) to cause problems for his opponent, and when [[spoiler:Tyrian disarms him of his sword, Qrow settles for simply ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating the shit out of the maniac with his bare fists]]'', which stuns and shocks Tyrian long enough for Qrow to retrieve his weapon.]]
** On bad guys side there is Roman Torchwick with [[CaneFu cane]] that works as a [[MixAndMatchWeapon gun]] and GrapplingHookPistol. He doesn't hesitate to deliver shoting equivalent of sucker punch when enemy is distracted or shot down heavy container on top of enemy's head.
** Vernal turns out to be this, as in her fight against [[spoiler:Weiss, she makes an effort to keep on top of her and interrupt her summon Semblance, while also interrupting her fancy LadyOfWar pirouettes and hitting her with powerful strikes. Weiss is on the defensive throughout and is eventually defeated handily in one of the most one-sided fights in the series so far. Unfortunately, for Cinder, [[KickTheDog being knocked out of the fight with a depleted aura isn't enough]].]]

* [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment 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.
** 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]].
** 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.''
** 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.
* WebAnimation/DeathBattle has quite a lot of examples.
** Samus was willing to shoot off the head [[spoiler:of a frozen Boba Fett]].
** Wonder Woman used her Lasso to ensnare Rogue while thrashing her.
** Haggar used a metal pipe during his fight with Zangief.
** Rapheal attacks a downed Donetallo. [[spoiler:Killed him no less.]]
** Leonardo uses the sewers to do sneak attacks on Zitz.
** Shadow uses Chaos Control to teleport Vegeta every single time the Saiyan tries to kill him.
** Rebecca Black was willing to exploit Justin Bieber's fear of throwing objects.
** Starscream played possum in order to shoot Rainbow Dash with his Null-Ray. [[spoiler:And Dashy responds by redirecting Starscream's missiles back at him.]]
** Batman tries to use the darkness to sneak up on Spider-Man.
** Superman discards Goku of most of his gear during their fight.
*** Averted with Goku, who given the chance, refuses to rely on Kryptonite to beat Superman, saying he wants to win fair and square.
** He-Man [[spoiler:destroys Lion-O's weapon.]]
** M. Bison was willing to resort to brainwashing during battle.
** [[spoiler:Black Orchid turns Ivy Valentine into a frog and crushes her while she's helpless.]]
** Tails remains in the air to avoid Luigi's attacks.
** [[spoiler:Blastoise chokes Charizard just before blasting him at point-blank range with Hydro Pump.]] Earlier, Venusaur was willing to use Sleep Powder to render his opponents vulnerable.
** Gamera attacked Godzilla while his back was turned.
** Guts headbutting Nightmare when both of them are in a BladeLock.
** Mega Man was willing to use Rush during his fight with Astro Boy.
** Tai physically assaults Red to keep him from giving out orders to Charizard.
** Mewtwo [[spoiler:erases all of Shadow's memories and kills him with a giant spoon.]]
* Calamity in ''WebAnimation/NoEvil''. When [[spoiler:Charles]] starts [[EvilGloating monologuing]] as a prelude to calling on the Black Ick, Calamity punches him in the stomach before he finishes talking.
-->"We meet again! Well, I'm sorry, but I'll have to take you out. As much as I love an audience, I can't have people getting in my ''ugh''"
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': The Darkness counterparts always use dirty tricks when they fight, such as ambushing the characters from the shadows.
* Much like his counterpart in the real series, Future Trunks of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' is more concerned with winning fights to the death to save lives than he is in "honor." He begins to run out of patience for the other characters' nonsense when Goku is running out of steam fighting Cell, he recommends throwing Goku a sensu bean in order to revitalize him to continue fighting, and everyone else hesitates.
-->'''Future Trunks:''' Guys, if you're bothered by cheating, either loosen your moral code, or stop hinging ''the fate of the world ON DEATH MATCHES!''

* Humanity's space combat doctrine in ''[[Literature/TheJenkinsverse]]'' is basically this. Humans are the newcomers on the galactic scene so basic human technology lags behind galactic standard. They make up for it by using the technologies they reverse-engineered and mastered in highly unorthodox ways (e.g. using supercapacitors reverse-engineered from alien guns in conjunction with forcefields acting as solar panels on their ships to make up for their lower reactor capacity) and by playing very ''very'' dirty.

* In ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'', the Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses 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.

* Given that ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' takes place in a CrapsackWorld of superheroes and supervillains, a couple characters develop a "whatever works" attitude towards combat:
** Because Taylor Hebert (i.e. Skitter) is a skinny teenager with the power of [[TheMinionMaster controlling insects, spiders, and the like]] whose first fight pits her against a [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinetic]] HulkingOut monster of a supervillain, she explicitly adopts "as far as ''bugs'' are concerned, at least, I figure anything goes"[[note]]Quoted from [[http://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/plague-12-1/ Chapter 12.1]] -- spoilers inevitable[[/note]] as a survival strategy. It ends up being deconstructed, though. Her willingness to immediately escalate to terrifying brutality when she gets in a fight really doesn’t help her reputation with the rest of the world, and results in law enforcement prioritising her over far worse villains (who are at least less likely to make a swarm of bugs chew your genitals off as their opening move).
** PRT Director Emily Piggot, an [[BadassNormal unpowered human being]] in charge of [[HeroesRUs the government superheroes]] of [[TheCity Brockton Bay]], approaches the fight against [[spoiler:the Slaughterhouse Nine]] this way.

* ''The EvilOverlordList'' contains numerous examples of this.

** Because Taylor Hebert (i.e. Skitter) is a skinny teenager with the power of [[TheMinionMaster controlling insects, spiders, and the like]] whose first fight pits her against a [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinetic]] HulkingOut monster of a supervillain, she explicitly adopts "as far as ''bugs'' are concerned, at least, I figure anything goes"[[note]]Quoted from [[http://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/plague-12-1/ Chapter 12.1]] -- spoilers inevitable[[/note]] as a survival strategy.

-->'''Future Trunks:''' Guys, if cheating bothers you, either loosen your moral code, or stop hinging ''the fate of the world ON DEATH MATCHES!''

->'''Future Trunks:''' Guys, if cheating bothers you, either loosen your moral code, or stop hinging ''the fate of the world ON DEATH MATCHES!''