History Main / JackOfAllTrades

* The Ranger class in the ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series can't fly, summon vehicles, dual-wield heavy weapons or jet around like the others, but they have good health, relatively fast foot speed (and in some games can sprint to move even faster) and the biggest variety of weapons to choose from, so they're adaptable to almost anything a mission might call for.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'': As a general rule, the protagonists of most ''DQ'' games tend to be this. They can do a little of everything - healing, support, fighting - but aren't quite as good at any one thing as the more specialized characters. They get powerful equipment, though, and a couple of awesome exclusive spells (Thordain and Healusall), though their usefulness is offset by costing a lot of MP; especially as the heroes also tend to have mediocre MP growth.

** The one exception to the general pattern of the lead character being the most balanced is ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'', which was made before the pattern was established. The main character here, the Prince of Midenhall, is instead a MagicallyIneptFighter who can't cast spells at all. It's his cousin the Prince of Cannock that's the Jack of All Stats instead, sitting between Midenhall and the SquishyWizard Princess of Moonbrooke.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Unlike the Hero's other potential brides, Bianca has both good physical stats and a good-balanced selection of choices.

Supertrope of RenaissanceMan (where someone is exceptionally good at many things) and MasterOfNone (where someone does poorly at a lot of things). A related trope found in VideoGames and TabletopGames is the JackOfAllStats, who has well-balanced stats, not skills. See also TheRedMage, ComboPlatterPowers, and PowerCopying. DoAnythingRobot may be a justification for this. Compare the MasterOfAll, who is the best (or among the best) in practically everything. Contrast MinMaxing, TacticalRockPaperScissors, ElementalRockPaperScissors, CripplingOverspecialization, SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining. For similar tropes related to specific fields, see OmnidisciplinaryLawyer, DoAnythingSoldier, and OmnidisciplinaryScientist.

* The ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' are more or less government-sponsored heroes, so each of them are trained in an extensive curriculum. A young Herald takes classes in law, history, riding, combat, survival techniques, magic, field medicine, and politics, on top of basic literacy and mathematics. The idea is not to make them exceptional in ''all'' of these fields, but to make them at least somewhat capable of dealing with any problem they encounter, since most Heralds work alone. The stress of all this studying is one reason why only [[JumpedAtTheCall people who want to be Heralds]] can become Heralds: anyone conscripted into that sort of life would rebel.
** The character Pol has a touch of ''every'' magical Gift, which makes him an excellent substitute teacher. He's kept full-time at the Collegium for this reason alone; if a young Mindspeaker or Firestarter arrives unexpectedly, Pol can teach them enough of the basics [[PowerIncontinence to keep everyone safe]] until a specialist can be sent for. He'll never surpass his students, but the work he does is vital.

** The one exception to the general pattern of the lead character being the most balanced is ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'', which was made before the pattern was established. The main character here, the Prince of Midenhall, is instead a MagicallyIneptFighter who can't cast spells at all. It's his cousin the Prince of Cannock that's the Jack of All Stats instead, sitting between Midenhall and the SqishyWizard Princess of Moonbrooke.

** The one exception to the general pattern of the lead character being the most balanced is ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'', which was made before the pattern was established. The main character here, the Prince of Midenhall, is instead a MagicallyIneptFighter who can't cast spells at all. It's his cousin the Prince of Cannock that's the Jack of All Stats instead, sitting between Midenhall and the SqishyWizard Princess of Moonbrook.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
** As a general rule, the protagonists of most DQ games tend to be this. They can do a little of everything - healing, support, fighting - but aren't quite as good at any one thing as the more specialized characters. They get powerful equipment, though, and a couple of awesome exclusive spells (Thordain and Healusall), though their usefulness is offset by costing a lot of MP; especially as the heroes also tend to have mediocre MP growth.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Unlike the Hero's other potential brides, Bianca has both good physical stats and a good-balanced selection of choices.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'', thanks to the vocation system, characters can learn spells from every class and keep them even when changing vocation (which only affects stats).

** Referenced in the English localizations of titles that include a JobSystem (starting with ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' and retroactively adopted in prior games via remakes). Vocations are changed at the Alltrades Abbey, headed by Abbot Jack (or in ''VII'' where the Abbey is led by a woman, High Priestess Jacqueline). Yes, they went with the PunnyName Jack (or Jacq) of Alltrades. In ''IX'' specifically, Jack suffers DemonicPossession early on and transforms into a giant demon, identifying himself as (sigh) the [[MasterOfNone Master of Nu'un]] (and according to the Bestiary, [[HurricaneOfPuns his brainstorming for other names included High Jack and Jackrilege]]).

** "The Last Roundup" played with this when Applejack became shamed and depressed that she didn't win even a single event in a big rodeo after confidently predicting doing well, convinced it made her a MasterOfNone. Meanwhile, everyone else was massively impressed that she placed highly in ''everything''... so it could be said that she was an ''[[IncrediblyLamePun Applejack-of-All-Trades!]]''

* Erza from ''Manga/FairyTail''. Her magic essentially allows her to carry a personal armory around wherever she goes. In turn, this allows her to utilize just about every kind of melee weapon and armor there is. While she prefers swordplay, she's also shown herself skilled in [[BladeOnAStick spear combat]], and even [[HammerTime hammer combat]] as well.

* ''LightNovel/{{Konosuba}}'''s Kazuma is forced into this role, essentially playing a multi-class Fighter/Mage/Thief in the RPGMechanicsVerse, due to the fact that his teammates are all [[CripplingOverspecialization ultra-specialized for one specific thing and useless at everything else.]]

* In the Star Wars novel ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Wraith Squadron]]'' this is featured with Falynn. However [[MasterOfNone she fails to recognize the value of this type of character]] and considers herself AlwaysSecondBest to other members of the squadron, not realizing that she is second best to ''several different people''. In the end, her desire to prove herself and do things that no one else has done causes her to take a lot of risks, and [[spoiler:eventually gets her killed.]]

* ''The Bonfire: Forsaken Lands'': Downplayed in this game from Xigma Games. Your character is flexible in that they have the most basic starting skills which is gather wood, gather food and gather iron. They can also fight but they do weak damage and while they twice the health or more of your Warriors and Guards, your character can't equip anything so they'll never improve. Additionally as your building technology advances, there'll be a point were the character's only 3 skills won't allow them to do things like gather coal or create sunstones.

Supertrope of RenaissanceMan (where someone is exceptionally good at many things) and MasterOfNone (where someone does poorly at a lot of things). A related trope found in VideoGames and TabletopGames is the JackOfAllStats, who has well-balanced stats, not skills. See also TheRedMage, RenaissanceMan, ComboPlatterPowers, and PowerCopying. DoAnythingRobot may be a justification for this. Compare the MasterOfAll, who is the best (or among the best) in practically everything. Contrast MinMaxing, TacticalRockPaperScissors, ElementalRockPaperScissors, CripplingOverspecialization, SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining. For similar tropes related to specific fields, see OmnidisciplinaryLawyer, DoAnythingSoldier, and OmnidisciplinaryScientist.

->''"Jack-of-all-trades, MasterOfNone,''\\

** Hinagiku Katsura is this as well. She's just as hard-working as Hayate and has acquired a similarly expansive skill set that includes being highly skilled at household chores, an amazing cook that can even impress Hayate, having the best grades in the school, being good at every sport, almost always knowing whatever bit of knowledge other characters are asking for, excelling at the (surprisingly complex and important) paperwork for the academy's AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil, being the other go-to character for help in any situation, and even working part-time job at the same cafe as Hayate and fighting random demons/monsters in her spare time as an 'Ally of Justice passing through'. Unlike Hayate, she's actually completely specialized in combat as a kendo specialist, though it's hardly a problem since she can [[SummonToHand summon]] [[CoolSword a magic sword]] at will so she is never unarmed. But don't doubt the awesome power of her unarmed punches when she's angry...

* In ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven'', the Supreme is described as this. They are gifted with the seven most common gifts of magic - [[HealingHands Resurgence]], [[MindControl Concillium]], [[MindOverMatter Telekinesis]], [[PlayingWithFire Pyrokinesis]], [[{{Seers}} Divination]], [[TeleFrag Transmutation]], and [[IronicHell Descensum]], also known as the Seven Wonders. However, they are not nearly as adept at them as another witch specifically gifted with a talent in them, and often have only one or very few unique gifts of their own. For example, Zoe is able to communicate with the undead, cause DeathBySex, and has an affinity with spirits, among other things relating to them, such as their banishment or manipulation. Misty does not have many gifts, though she has been compared to Jesus, [[HealingHands for]] [[{{Immortality}} good]] [[AllLovingHero reason]], and can bring people back from the dead using [[MagicFeather mud]], and even then, it's not necessary.

* Natsuhiko Taking from ''Manga/Eyeshield21'' serves as the team's tight end, and is surprisingly skilled and versatile at all sports he plays, even if personality-wise he's generally regarded as an irritating moron.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheDeadPast": Nimmo, [[MostWritersAreWriters a science writer]], is paid to edit and rewrite scientific articles to make them more easily understood by people who don't know the basic scientific principles behind the research. He says that trying to write his articles is an education in itself, giving him a bit of understanding in pretty much every field.

* Hans Jerkov from Kenny Paas' VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas machinimas appears as a LSPD chief, a military general, and a high school teacher.

** The title butler is himself an excellent example. He can clean anything, cook like a gourmet with anything available, appear out of nowhere whenever and wherever he is needed, and has such a huge array of odd-job abilities that he is constantly getting roped into helping the other characters, whether it be helping Saki with her shop's finances, being a health manager for [[spoiler: the local IdolSinger]], helping Ashibashi-sensei finish his manga manuscript for the weekly deadline, work part-time in a cafe (as both waiter and cook), and even has shadier skills such as being an expert at cheating in Mahjong due to desperate need for money growing up. In combat he is shown to use damn near anything as a weapon, including being skilled in both various martial arts and even firearms, however he actually does have a specialty: he is [[spoiler: trained as a MasterSwordsman since childhood]].

* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'': Mamoru Chiba [=/=]Tuxedo Mask has a number of skills and it is sometimes commented on that there is very little he ''can't'' do. It helps him be the resident BadassNormal and Franchise/{{Batman}} {{Expy}}.

* Deconstructed with Chiaki, the protagonist of ''The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up''. She has a history of ex-boyfriends with different interests--pottery, skiing, and music, to name a few--that she had also developed herself. Being unable to let them go and insisting she will pick back up on the various interests someday, she finds her small apartment is cluttered with junk. It's not until Marie Kondo gives Chiaki her first assignment in the decluttering process when she learns [[spoiler: her main passion is [[SupremeChef culinary arts]], and in the end she is happy with just that interest]].

* In the Star Wars novel ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Wraith Squadron]]'' this is featured with Falynn. However [[MasterOfNone she fails to recognize the value of this type of character]] and considers herself AlwaysSecondBest to other members of the squadron, not realizing that she is second best to ''several different people''. In the end, her desire to prove herself and do things that no one else has done causes her to take a lot of risks, and [[spoiler: eventually gets her killed.]]

* In ''Literature/InCryptid'', cryptozoologists as a rule tend to have skills in a variety of fields -- they not only have to be zoologists, they're also {{Fantastic Anthropologist}}s for sapient cryptids[[note]]even though "anthro" doesn't make sense when talking about non-humans[[/note]], and almost all of them are skilled in armed and unarmed combat and field medicine (at least the ones that survive). And they all have to be able to spin a convincing lie to {{Muggles}} if needed.

** Zuko displays an incredible range of skills over the course of the show, unlike most Benders who rely on exclusively their bending to solve problems. He isn't the strongest firebender in the show, but he is able to beat [[spoiler: Zhao]] in a duel early on and continues to improve from there. He also masters a wide array of Firebending techniques many others may not even know exist, including enduring extreme cold at the North Pole and redirect and creating lightning. In terms of non-bending ability, he proves himself to be a skilled swordsman, unarmed fighter, acrobat, spy, tracker, and tactician. Thanks to his time hiding in the Earth Kingdom, he also has at least some passing knowledge of medicine, tea and food preparation, and odd repair jobs.
** Aang is a Master Airbender, but has very limited time to learn the other three elements within the shows 9 month timeline. However the benefit of having all four elements to everyone else's one means that not only can he decide to fight with whatever element best fits the situation, he can use all four elements together to accomplish things no other bender could.

* Skull Boy from ''WesternAnimation/RubyGloom''iis on a quest to find out who he really is and where he came from. In each episode, he performs some plot-related talent. Very well, in fact, and always follows up with this:

** A special mention goes to Senior Infantry NCOs such as the 0369 in the US Marines. While they are usually experts in one “field” of the Infantry (Rifleman, Mortars, Machine Gunners, etc) they are expected to have enough knowledge of every field to be able to act as the platoon sergeant for just about every type of unit, from a rifle platoon to a CAAT.

Supertrope of RenaissanceMan (where someone is exceptionally good at many things) and MasterOfNone (where someone does poorly at a lot of things). A related trope found in VideoGames and TabletopGames is the JackOfAllStats, who has well-balanced stats, not skills. See also TheRedMage, RenaissanceMan and PowerCopying. DoAnythingRobot may be a justification for this. Compare the MasterOfAll, who is the best (or among the best) in practically everything. Contrast MinMaxing, TacticalRockPaperScissors, ElementalRockPaperScissors, CripplingOverspecialization, SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining. For similar tropes related to specific fields, see OmnidisciplinaryLawyer, DoAnythingSoldier, and OmnidisciplinaryScientist.

* ''Art/BeastFables'': The description of [[https://www.deviantart.com/nazrigar/art/Weretober-2022-The-Great-Werebeast-Clades-932257842 "The Great Werebeast Clades]] says that weremammals are generalists, and you can find them working in almost any job, from warriors to intellectuals to janitors.