History Main / BrainsVersusBrawn

* The season finale of ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': ''Revenge of the Island'' is titled "Brain vs. Brawn: The Ultimate Showdown" as the final two contestants are [[spoiler: BlackAndNerdy Cameron and JerkJock Lightning]]. The season actually has two endings in which one or the other wins, however both win moreso out of luck, than actual skill on either of the brains or brawns side, as the final challenge completely exhausted them. During the actual fight however, [[spoiler:Lightning]] uses a crude weapon and armor and him trying to simply brute force his foe results in several mutant animals getting released into the arena. On the other hand, [[spoiler:Cameron]] designs a high tech suit of armor and outmaneuvers his foe with a lot of quick thinking.

* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': Izaya is an intelligent and well-read information broker who has a mutual hatred with Shizuo, a debt collector with inhuman strength who can shake off being hit by a car. In the final arc, the two have an all-out death battle, pitting Izaya's brain against Shizuo's brawn, as the former uses traps and schemes to kill, and the latter simply comes after Izaya with nothing but his fists. The fight culminates [[spoiler:in Izaya attempting and failing a [[XanatosGambit Xanatos]]/[[ThanatosGambit Thanatos]] gambit and neither die.]]
* In ''LightNovel/{{Maoyu}}'', the Hero is a CountryMouse who became a nigh-unstoppable OneManArmy thanks to being TheChosenOne and his constant training. Meanwhile, the Demon Queen is a scholar who spent most of her days prior to ascending to the throne reading and performing experiments. When Hero confronts her at the start of the story, she admits that she's probably no match for him in a fight, instead asking for his attention and challenging his worldview with a presentation on the impact of the human-demon war from an economic standpoint.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', [[DragonRider Hiccup and Toothless]] defeat [[BigBad the Red Death]] by fighting smart: while the Red Death is [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever gigantic]] and [[MightyGlacier monstrously powerful]], Toothless is [[LightningBruiser much faster and more agile]], so Hiccup puts that to work to their advantage by luring the Red Death into the clouds, where its line of sight is limited, leaving Toothless free to pelt it with plasma blasts. When the Red Death starts breathing fire everywhere in response and Toothless's prosthetic tail fin catches fire, Hiccup baits the Red Death into following them back to solid ground. Just as the Red Death is about to roast them with more dragon fire, Toothless shoots a plasma blast into its mouth before its breath has been ignited, leaving it to explode inside the Red Death's mouth. Just then, the Red Death realizes it was so preoccupied with diving after Hiccup and Toothless that [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou it's about to crash into Dragon Island]], at which point [[TooFastToStop it is far too late to slow down]] as its wings rip apart in the attempt; this leaves the Red Death completely helpless as it crashes into the ground and [[MadeOfExplodium explodes]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', [[DragonRider Hiccup and Toothless]] defeat [[BigBad the Red Death]] by fighting smart: while the Red Death is [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever gigantic]] and [[MightyGlacier monstrously powerful]], Toothless is much faster and more agile, so Hiccup puts that to work to their advantage by luring the Red Death into the clouds, where its line of sight is limited, leaving Toothless free to pelt it with plasma blasts. When the Red Death starts breathing fire everywhere in response and Toothless's prosthetic tail fin catches fire, Hiccup baits the Red Death into following them back to solid ground. Just as the Red Death is about to roast them with more dragon fire, Toothless shoots a plasma blast into its mouth before its breath has been ignited, leaving it to explode inside the Red Death's mouth. Just then, the Red Death realizes it was so preoccupied with diving after Hiccup and Toothless that [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou it's about to crash into Dragon Island]], at which point [[TooFastToStop it is far too late to slow down]] as its wings rip apart in the attempt; this leaves the Red Death completely helpless as it crashes into the ground and [[MadeOfExplodium explodes]].

* ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': Johann Schmidt (Brains) vs. Steve Rogers (Brawn). Both are {{Super Soldier}}s created from the same SuperSerum, and fight on opposite sides of the war, with Schmidt being a brilliant scientist using advanced technology who works from the shadows, while Rogers fights on the frontlines using a shield.

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, why many a {{Superhero}}'s archenemy is an EvilGenius, and why TheBully of the StereotypicalNerd is usually a JerkJock. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. {{Girls Vs Boys Plot}}s may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, why many a {{Superhero}}'s archenemy is an EvilGenius, and why TheBully of the StereotypicalNerd is usually a JerkJock. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. BattleOfTheSexes stories may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

* ''WesternAnimation/BrandyAndMrWhiskers'': The season 1 episode "Lack of Brains vs. Brawn" plays with this trope when Mr. Whiskers has to deal with TheBully Lester. While Mr. Whiskers is portrayed as being {{Nerd}}-ish relative to Lester, Mr. Whiskers is a CloudCuckoolander and often TheDitz of the show. However, as CharacterizationMarchesOn, in later episodes he becomes more of a GeniusDitz.

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, why many a {{Superhero}}'s archenemy is an EvilGenius, and why [[TheBully Bully]] of the StereotypicalNerd is usually a JerkJock. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. BattleOfTheSexes stories may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

An all too common contrast made in an array of works is between intelligence and physical strength. Characters will wholly embody one at the expense of the other (DumbMuscle, DumbJock, TheBrute, nerds with the stereotypical GeekPhysique, EvilGenius) or will be defined by how much they embody one over the other in a group (TheSmartGuy or TheBigGuy). Oftentimes, such characters will be directly contrasted and used as [[{{Foil}} Foils]] for one another as in BrainsAndBrawn or in BeautyBrainsAndBrawn. Creators also tend to impose morality onto the contrast, producing BrainsEvilBrawnGood, building off of DumbIsGood.

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, why many a {{Superhero}}'s archenemy is an EvilGenius, and why the nerd's [[TheBully Bully]] is usually a JerkJock. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. BattleOfTheSexes stories may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

->''"I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains."''

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, why many a {{Superhero}}'s archenemy is an EvilGenius, and why TheBully of {{Nerd}} characters are typically {{Jerk Jock}}s. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. BattleOfTheSexes stories may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

This contrast can even take on gendered forms since women, as "[[WomenAreDelicate the fairer sex]]," are considered to be [[MenAreTough physically weaker than men]], giving us the trope WomenAreWiser. StrongGirlSmartGuy inverts those associations. Outside of gender, you can see this contrast applied to entire races and civilizations in fantasy settings and science fiction. Many versions of the classic ElvesVersusDwarves dynamic include depictions of elves as a lofty, high-minded, intelligent race and dwarves as physically strong and BookDumb. WarriorVersusSorcerer works similarly, with warrior corresponding to brawn and [[SquishyWizard sorcerer]] corresponding to brains as MagicIsMental.

An all too common contrast made in an array of works is between intelligence and physical strength. Characters will wholly embody one at the expense of the other (DumbMuscle, DumbJock, TheBrute, {{Nerd}}s with the stereotypical GeekPhysique, and EvilGenius) or will be defined by how much they embody one over the other in a group (TheSmartGuy or TheBigGuy). Oftentimes, such characters will be directly contrasted and used as [[{{Foil}} Foils]] for one another as in BrainsAndBrawn or in BeautyBrainsAndBrawn. Creators also tend to impose morality onto the contrast, producing BrainsEvilBrawnGood, building off of DumbIsGood.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': Blossom and Buttercup can often fall into this dynamic as TheLeader & TheSmartGuy versus TheBigGuy, respectively. In "Three Girls And A Monster", Blossom and Buttercup keep arguing whether to defeat the monster of the episode with brute force or well-thought plans. They even end up [[DiscussedTrope shouting "Brains" and "Brawn" at each other]]. However, neither strategy works given the sheer size of the monster. What works instead is [[TakeAThirdOption Bubbles politely asking him to leave the city]].

* One of the themes in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'' revolves around gameplay focus. ''Seasons'' is more combat-centric and rewards good fighting while ''Ages'' features a lot of complex puzzles, meaning a player will hit a wall unless they use their noggin. Fitting, given the Oracle of Seasons is Din, named after the goddess of power, and the Oracle of Ages is Nayru, named after the goddess of wisdom.

In video games that use some version of TheSixStats to balance playable characters, there will typically be options in which strength is sacrificed for intelligence, wisdom, and/or dexterity and intelligence is sacrificed for strength and/or constitution. If character upgrades are done by the game itself, then expect the bias to become even more extreme, emphasizing this point further. And some games place limits on how much EXP you can put in either stat if the base character selected is of the "opposite" type.

->''"I can't compete with you physically and you're no match for my brains."''

* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': The Red Ranger Conner [=McKnight=] and the Blue Ranger [[TheSmartGuy Ethan]] [[BlackAndNerdy James]] have this dynamic in earlier episodes. Conner is a JerkJock who doesn't understand Ethan's obsession with information technology and lack of interest in athletics while Ethan sees Conner's disinterest in academics to be immature and foolish. In "Leader of the Whack", the two are transformed into the opposite of their default personalities, with the implication that on some level, a part of them wishes to explore the opposite of who they present to the outside world.

* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': TheLeader Conner is a JerkJock to JerkWithAHeartOfGold, who often mocks TheLancer Ethan for his lack of interest in athletics while Ethan (TheSmartGuy and BlackAndNerdy) finds Conner's disinterest in academics to be immature. In "Leader of the Whack", the two are transformed into the opposite of their default personalities, with the implication that on some level, a part of them wishes to explore the opposite of who they present to the outside world.