History Main / FightsLikeANormal

* Characters/{{Black Canary|TheBlackCanary}} from the DCU may be the single best example. Her only superpower ([[MakeMeWannaShout sonic scream]]) is rarely used, and she's probably gone on 15-20 issue streaks of not using it at all, but she's a martial artist good enough to give [[Characters/BatmanLadyShiva Lady Shiva]] pause. Not surprising, as the character was strictly a [[BadassNormal martial artist]] for twenty years before she got her powers.

** It is in fact probably easier to count those psykers that do ''not'' qualify for this trope: the Ork Weirdboy (who, while powerful, only relies on his abilities and psychically augmented staff), the psykers of the Renegades and Heretics (who are presumably simple Chaos-corrupted civilians and thus have no weapons or combat training), and the Tyranid Zoanthrope (who lacks any conventional combat ability at all due to being [[CripplingOverspecialization specifically created to use psychic powers and nothing else]]).

** It is in fact probably easier to count those psykers that do ''not'' qualify for this trope: the Ork Weirdboy (who, while powerful, only relies on his abilities and psychically augmented staff), the psykers of the Renegades and Heretics (who are presumably simple Chaos-corrupted civilians and thus have no weapons or combat training), and the Tyranid Zoanthrope (who lacks any conventional combat ability at all due to being [[CripplingOverspecialization specifically created to use psychic powers and nothing else).

** SpaceMarine Librarians are extremely powerful [[PsychicPowers psykers]] but still wield boltguns and melee weapons. After all, even if you get past their psychic abilities, you're still facing a seven-plus-foot-tall post-human SuperSoldier in PoweredArmor whose sidearm is a {{BFG}} with armor-piercing explosive rounds.
** Every Grey Knight is a psyker, but the vast majority fight the way regular {{Space Marine}}s do (for basic troops, their psyker powers give them enhanced melee abilities and that's it).

** In ''[[Literature/JediAcademyTrilogy I, Jedi]]'', Corran Horn advocates adding unarmed combat to the Jedi training syllabus so as to give Jedi a viable alternative to [[TheForce Force powers]] and [[LaserBlade lightsabers]], especially if they don't want to kill their opponent. [[spoiler: Luke Skywalker]] takes this on board during his BigDamnHeroes moment late in the book.

** While every character is able to cast powerful elemental spells through Psynergy, the game very much favors melee combat, with weapons unleashing powerful effects almost every other turn in the endgame (even for the SquishyWizard) and spells eventually relegated to healing once in a while. This gets Isaac some not-exactly-unfounded of cheating during the Colosso tournament, where you're supposed to use your non-combat abilities to manipulate the stage beforehand to give Isaac an easier time getting items (during the battle itself, there's nothing stopping Isaac from casting spells, which are apparently InvisibleToNormals, the ethics and use of which are handwaved away with "Psynergy is also a warrior's power").

* Happy Chaos from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear -STRIVE-'' is [[spoiler:the Original, the one who first discovered the Backyard and the first and greatest magic user in the universe.]] In stark contrast to his background, his main method of fighting is shooting with his [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolvers]], though he does use a bit of magic to help shoot things better.

* Happy Chaos from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear -STRIVE-'' is [[spoiler:the Original, the one who first discovered the Backyard and the first and greatest magic user in the universe.]] In stark contrast to his background, his main method of fighting is shooting with his [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolvers]], though he does use a bit of magic to help shoot things better.

** Maki was born with a Heavenly Restriction making her a MuggleBornOfMages, [[MagicallyIneptFighter unable to use cursed energy]] at all [[InvisibleToNormals or see curses unassisted]], but granting incredible physical ability. She uses [[MultiMeleeMaster a wide variety]] of enchanted weapons to exorcise curses instead.

'''ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}:''' That's not my power. That's my training. I was '''taught''' it.

Compare BoxingLessonsForSuperman, where trained fighting is an optional extra the character takes to help with extreme circumstances; and GuileHero, where they prefer trickery to outright confrontation. This trope can overlap with EmpoweredBadassNormal if the character still needs to mostly rely on previous fighting skills post-upgrade.

* ComicBook/BlackCanary from the DCU may be the single best example. Her only superpower ([[MakeMeWannaShout sonic scream]]) is rarely used, and she's probably gone on 15-20 issue streaks of not using it at all, but she's a martial artist good enough to give Comicbook/LadyShiva pause. Not surprising, as the character was strictly a [[BadassNormal martial artist]] for twenty years before she got her powers.

** Jessica Midnight possesses magical powers but relies on her armed and unarmed combat training. This is justified; Jessica having powers is in violation of Checkmate's Rule of Two that each super-powered or otherwise enhanced member in the “Royal Family” must have an un-powered counterpart in a corresponding position of power. Since there are already two bishops in Checkmate with superpowers (Thinker and August General In Iron), Jessica makes a third. Bea da Costa is the only one aware that Jessica has powers since she used them to defeat ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

* ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} possesses matter manipulation, telepathy, mind control, erosion blasts, chronokinesis, and teleportation. However, whenever he battles Franchise/{{Superman}}, he tends to just fight the Man of Steel with his bare hands while ignoring those other abilities (save for some occasional Omega Beams). Admittedly, a chunk of this is likely due to writers not really understanding Darkseid's powers.

* ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'' adversary Kenchiro Harada, aka the Silver Samurai, possesses the {{mutant|s}} power to surround his sword with an energy field, effectively transforming it into a lightsaber. That's the extent of his powers, and in order to actually use it effectively, he's reliant on his martial arts training and mastery of swordsmanship.
* Combat training is standard for the ComicBook/XMen since many of them have powers that are either not specifically combat-oriented or too dangerous to utilize except as a last resort. Most of them mainly rely on their mutant powers, but exceptions include Comicbook/{{Cable}} and ComicBook/{{Bishop}}, two time-displaced soldiers with vast but hard-to-control powers who normally just use guns.

* In ''Film/BlackPanther2018'', [[spoiler:ComicBook/ErikKillmonger]] gets enhanced by [[spoiler:the Black Panther herbs]], but he still just fights like a "normal" special forces soldier who just so happens to have SuperStrength. [[spoiler:T'Challa]] is able to beat him because [[spoiler:he has a greater understanding of the Black Panther powers and uses riskier manoeuvres that are only possible with them.]]

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfKorra'', Korra shows that, even with her bending blocked, she's dangerous. After all, bending is just empowered martial arts, and she's a master-level fighter.

!!This trope fought its way into these works the old-fashioned way because its Administrivia/WikiMagic was just TooAwesomeToUse:

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'''NOTE:''' A [[DePower depowered]] character such as a HenshinHero only counts if they can voluntarily switch them on and off at will and keeps them shut off most of the time, in which case they're WillfullyWeak. The character must have a choice whether or not to (try to) utilize their powers to qualify for this trope, or otherwise have powers which have no bearing on combat that can't be realistically replicated (such as Longevity, which would remove them from BadassNormal territory). Also, if EveryoneIsASuper then fighting with powers ''is'' normal — in such a setting, someone who can't or has reason to avoid doing so is actually a HandicappedBadass.

* Alucard from ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' is a vampire with supernatural powers. Despite that, he prefers to simply shoot his enemies with custom-made guns rather than use his inhuman abilities, mostly because he considers the majority of his opponents not worthy of using his superpowers against them. His guns, both of which qualify as {{Hand Cannon}}s, require his vampiric strength and resilience anyway -- a normal human trying to fire those guns like Alucard does would break both their wrists from the recoil. He's not particularly exceptional in that regard, either; most of the vampires in the series prefer guns or other hand weapons rather than using their vampiric abilities directly. Like Alucard, they're often used in a fashion that would be impossible for a human -- his apprentice, Seras, carries a 30mm cannon that fires rounds designed for AA guns, while a number of minor villains dual-wield machineguns or rifles.
* The titular character of ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'' is a mage, yet he prefers to fight with his hands, using his famous "LOUIE PUNCH!". He is called out on it multiple times.
* Li Ho from ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki''. His power is [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway to turn hair into telescoping bats]], but prefers to use taichi moves in combat.

* Zenkichi from ''Manga/MedakaBox'' only has passive powers [[spoiler: Nullifying coincidence and Parasite Seeing]], so he mostly still has to rely on his savate abilities in fights.
* Golden Lion King from ''Manga/RisingXRydeen'' has no choice but to rely on his hand-to-hand combat skills as his superpower which is that he can glow when he roars is useless in most situations.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has a lot of this; This is after all a world where you can eat any of over a hundred fruits to obtain ''completely'' random powers. Some people obtain extremely useful powers like transforming into and manipulating an intangible element, or an animal form. Some others get powers with seemingly no use at all. With the aid of CharlesAtlasSuperpower and a lot of training, many characters manage to turn these impractical powers to their advantage with creative {{Combat Pragmatis|t}}m, but still often have to rely on their basic fisticuffs to deal damage.
** While Luffy can be very creative with his RubberMan powers, he's still capable of fighting with fisticuffs, especially when facing Lucci.
** Mr. 2 can transform himself into others. Of course, this can increase (or decrease) his physical strength, but the fighting techniques themselves will have to be his normal ones, meaning that he's trained himself in non-superpower-related martial arts.
** A major component of Blackbeard's plan to become the strongest from behind the scenes is consuming a Devil Fruit that, amongst other powers, allows him to [[PowerNullifier totally disable a Devil Fruit user's powers by grabbing them.]] A snag in this plan is discussed by his crew as they watch his battle with Ace; he needs to draw his opponent towards him in order to grab them, leaving him vulnerable to characters who can also fight like a normal. Ace demonstrates this by managing to injure Blackbeard even after he had been grabbed.
** Discussed and Enforced in the New World. Previously, [[ElementalShapeshifter Logia]] users are really difficult to fight due to their intangibility giving them NighInvulnerability, unless you can counter their specific element. Then comes Armament Haki, allowing anyone to hit a Logia user who isn't themselves trained in Haki, and how common it is in the New World. One character remarks that "Logia users who rely on their powers too much have short lifespans."
** Absalom can turn himself and anything he touches invisible. He mostly uses plain bazookas strapped to his arms in fight, but he uses his invisibility for the element of surprise's sake: When the bazookas are invisible, no one can see when they're fired, and to those that don't know of his power, [[PowerMisidentification it looks like he's firing a shock wave or beam]], confusing the hell out of a lot of opponents.
** Kin'emon has a Devil Fruit, but since all it allows him to do is [[GorgeousGarmentGeneration summon clothes]], he fights with his sword.

* Homura Akemi of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' is the only Puella Magi who doesn't have some sort of magical weapon or directly offensive powers. Instead, she uses firearms stolen from the Yakuza and the JSDF as well as homemade explosives augmented by her time control and BagOfHolding abilities.

* Given what the series is known for, it's easy to forget that most of the heroes from ''Manga/DragonBall'' are trained martial artists who know how to fight without using energy attacks. In the original series, Goku, for example, rarely uses the Kamehameha or other advanced techniques and prefers to fight with his fists. This was mostly because energy attacks cost a lot of stamina and were best used for finishers. Some of this can still be seen in ''Z'' where most of the older cast members prefer fighting on the ground and don't beam spam that often.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': While fighting a Stand user without [[TakesOneToKillOne your own Stand is exceedingly impractical]] (since you can neither [[InvisibleToNormals see]] nor damage the Stand itself), many characters have Stands with non-combative abilities and fight with their own physical strength. Kenzou of ''Manga/StoneOcean'' in particular is already a skilled martial artist; all his Stand does is point him in the right direction. In a non-combative example, D'Arby the Elder's only power is that [[AbsurdlyHighStakesGame he gets your soul if he manages to beat you in a game.]] He still has to beat you at the game first, relying entirely on his own skill as a gambler and an inveterate cheat.
* In ''Manga/SailorMoon'', Sailor Venus and especially Sailor Jupiter are prone to try and just beat the stuff out of their enemies. {{Justified|Trope}} as they both tended to get into brawls before getting their powers, with Venus being implied to know Savate by [[KickChick how she kicks]] and Jupiter being a confirmed martial artist.
* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'': Ainz is a ridiculously powerful lich, and has a bad case of NormalFishInATinyPond (that is, while he considers himself in the middle of the upper tier of level 100 YGGDRASSIL players, the strongest in the new world are maybe level 30). Thus even as a SquishyWizard, his physical strength and damage resistance is enormous, which is why he can masquerade as a giant warrior DualWielding {{One Handed Zweihander}}s. He later asks for a duel between him (in his lich form) and the Empire's resident GladiatorGames champion, agreeing to use no magic (and even disables his damage resistance). He still trounces the champion with ease, [[spoiler:and the Emperor, seeing that there really is no hope of beating Ainz in melee either, surrenders the Empire to him]].

* ''Manga/{{Dorohedoro}}'':
** Shin is a mage and in contrast to his partner Noi (who has to fight this way because her power [[HealingHands can only heal people]]), his magic power allows him to dissect people alive at range. Outside an event in his backstory, he prefers beating people to death with a claw-hammer, or simply using his bare hands.
** [[spoiler:Nikaido]], despite being a mage, fights entirely bare-fisted for the early series. [[spoiler:It is eventually subverted during the latter half of the manga.]]

* ComicBook/IronFist for the most part relies on his martial skills in combat. Sure, he has his chi abilities, but he earned those powers by winning a fist-fight with an immortal dragon, so he doesn't much need them. Plus, at first his Iron Fist ability served mostly as a FinishingMove: it was too damaging to use against mooks, and initially left him so tired he couldn't overuse it.

* Combat training is standard for the ComicBook/XMen since many of them have powers that are either not specifically combat-oriented or too dangerous to utilize except as a last resort. Most of them mainly rely on their mutant powers, but exceptions include Comicbook/{{Cable}} and ComicBook/{{Bishop}}, two time-displaced soldiers with vast but hard-to-control powers who normally just use guns.

* Comicbook/{{Spawn}} has superpowers but prefers not to use them, since they're granted by hell and each use further damns his soul. Instead, he prefers to [[SuperheroPackingHeat pack some major heat]] to deal with his foes.
* ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} is a demon summoned from hell, but he certainly never uses his demonic powers against the monsters, faeries, demons, and gods, and while he has a really good healing factor, he mostly uses his GoodOldFisticuffs, his HandCannon, and other weapons and other religious and magical artifacts.

* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'s sole superhuman power (HealingFactor) has no offensive use, so he tends to fight relying only on his skills, katanas, and guns. Granted, his power still allows him [[ExploitedImmunity to use self-destructive tactics that would get anyone else killed]].
* ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} has no powers except supernaturally heightened senses to make up for his blindness. He combines these with top notch martial arts training. ''Series/Daredevil2015'' further grounds this by showing Murdock regularly ending up winded or even on the verge of collapse from his fights against multiple people, being unable to take down many enemies in one blow, and often getting hit when ganged up on.
* ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} possesses matter manipulation, telepathy, mind control, erosion blasts, chronokinesis, and teleportation. However, whenever he battles Franchise/{{Superman}}, he tends to just fight the Man of Steel with his bare hands while ignoring those other abilities (save for some occasional Omega Beams). Admittedly, a chunk of this is likely due to writers not really understanding Darkseid's powers.
* Honor Guest, ComicBook/TheSilencer, has the ability to project a sound-dampening field around her body. Since this doesn't usually have any offensive ''or'' defensive use, she mostly uses guns, knives, or martial arts to fight.
* ComicBook/MisterTerrific and Dr. Midnite from ''Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' both have powers that, while not entirely useless, are deeply unimpressive: the former can't be detected by machinery, while the latter can see in the dark. However, both of them are extremely intelligent and well-trained and use both facts to good advantage. ComicBook/{{Wildcat}} is also an example of this - thanks to a magic spell he has nine lives. This offers no offensive use and he simply gets by on his martial arts and boxing prowess.
* Also back in the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks golden age]]. [[ComicBook/DoctorFate Kent Nelsson]] would often forego the helmet of Nabu in favor of a non-magical 'half mask' version and only rely on the cape of levitation and the amulet of Anubis for crime-fighting. No in-universe reason was originally given for this practice[[note]]the out-of-universe one being that the writers thought it was making him [[InvincibleHero too overpowered]] compared to the thugs and gangsters the character usually fought[[/note]] but ComicBook/AllStarSquadron later revealed that it was because he realized that every time he put it on, Nabu was actually possessing him through it and he was afraid of losing himself.
* In ''Comicbook/{{PS238}},'' Ambriel/Guardian Angel's power is a sort of sentient force that protects her from harm. She eventually got a baseball bat [[StuffBlowingUp that explodes things]], giving her a more combat-ready ability.
* [[ComicBook/TheUltimates Ultimate Nick Fury]] is actually the first super soldier, and he has all the powers of Captain America. But he thought that being Captain America was something that only TheChosenOne would be, and he did not feel like being that one. He still serves his country but fights like a regular person.
* ''ComicBook/{{Checkmate}}'':
** Jessica Midnight possesses magical powers but relies on her armed and unarmed combat training. This is justified; Jessica having powers is in violation of Checkmate's Rule of Two that each super-powered or otherwise enhanced member in the “Royal Family” must have an un-powered counterpart in a corresponding position of power. Since there are already two bishops in Checkmate with superpowers (Thinker and August General In Iron), Jessica makes a third. Bea da Costa is the only one aware that Jessica has powers since she used them to defeat ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.
** Jessica's superior, Sasha Bordeaux also qualifies. Originally she was a BadassNormal and then became a {{Cyborg}}. As her cybernetics were forced unto her, she is not very comfortable with them and mostly relies on her skill with firearms in battle.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': This is what killed Nemesis Kid. When fighting the illusionist Princess Projectra, he [[AdaptiveAbility adapted]] the power to see through her illusions. In response, she simply used her martial arts skills to beat him senseless and [[NeckSnap snap his neck]].
* The ComicBook/BlackWidow's powers are slowed aging and an unusually powerful immune system against diseases and sickness. In battle, she relies on her martial arts, cunning, and weapons.

* In ''Film/BlackPanther2018'', [[spoiler:ComicBook/ErikKillmonger]] gets enhanced by [[spoiler:the Black Panther herbs]], but he still just fights like a "normal" special forces soldier who just so happens to have SuperStrength. [[spoiler:T'Challa]] is able to beat him because [[spoiler:he has a greater understanding of the Black Panther powers and uses riskier manoeuvres that are only possible with them.]]
* Like in the comics, Black Canary in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020'' is first and foremost an elite martial artist and only uses her sonic scream once in the entire film.

* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' series, out of the three cats with superpowers, only Lionblaze's are useful in battle (he can't get hurt in a fight). Jayfeather's power is to enter other cats' dreams (though he doesn't fight anyway, since he's a [[TheMedic medicine cat]]), and Dovewing's power - SuperSenses - is actually a hindrance in battle because the amount of noise and scents confuses her.
* In early books of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', Rand al'Thor has sufficient latent power in Channeling to be a PersonOfMassDestruction, but defaults to [[SpontaneousWeaponCreation creating swords of Fire]] and fighting normally with them. Several people {{lampshade|Hanging}} what a laughably inefficient use of his abilities it is.
* Safi and Iseult of ''Literature/TheWitchlands'' are both witches but fight like regular people, as one is a LivingLieDetector and the other is TheEmpath. [[spoiler:Though now that Iseult knows she's a Weaverwitch, able to induce MysticalPlague on people, this might change.]]
* [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] is a wizard, and in terms of raw power, is in the top 20 or 30 on the planet. And while he's not averse to slinging fireballs around, he also carries a gun whenever he expects danger, and later in the series takes martial arts training. Partly this is because many of the foes he faces can ignore his fire spells for one reason or another, but mainly it's because of the element of surprise. Most wizards prefer to solve [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer any and all problems with magic]]. The last thing anyone expects is for a wizard to [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim pull a gun on them]].
* Delta, among others, in ''Literature/StoneBurners'' augment her techie powers with combat training.

* Nova of ''Literature/{{Renegades}}'' can induce ForcedSleep with her touch, but because most of her enemies have ranged abilities, she's also an excellent martial artist and can shoot most weapons.
* [[CoolHorse Companions]] in the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series are angelic or quasi-angelic beings with human-level intelligence along with a number of psionic and magical abilities. However when violence is called for their go-to option is close-quarters combat using the bites, kicks, and body-checks that are the general repertoire of mundane warhorses.

* Justified on ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' - Sam Winchester has the ability to kill Final Boss level demons ''with his mind,'' keeping the human host alive to boot, but the powers aren't worth the price of unlocking them.

* Many primary spellcasters in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons 3.5e'' can hold their own quite well in a fight due to respectable hit point totals, equipment proficiencies, and base attack bonuses. Among these are clerics, druids, warlocks, favored souls, and spirit shamans.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'': A lot of Awakened metahumans [[MageMarksman fight using guns]]. Adepts can use [[BareFistedMonk their bare hands]] or [[ArchaicWeaponForAnAdvancedAge weapon foci]] and mages can use Combat spells to fight ([[TakesOneToKillOne and must in order to effectively harm spirits]]), but guns tend to be just as deadly, require no drain and leave behind no magical signature for magic police to track.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'':
** While every character is able to cast powerful elemental spells through Psynergy, the game very much favors melee combat, with weapons unleashing powerful effects almost every other turn in the endgame (even for the SquishyWizard) and spells eventually relegated to healing once in a while. This gets Isaac some not-exactly-unfounded of cheating during the Colosso tournament, where you're supposed to use your non-combat abilities to manipulate the stage beforehand to give Isaac an easier time getting items (during the battle itself, there's nothing stopping Isaac from casting spells, which are apparently InvisibleToNormals, the ethics and use of which are handwaved away with "Psynergy is also a warrior's power").
** In ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'', Sveta is a beastgirl who can fight and cast like all the others but has a unique ability that allows her to transform into a wolflike creature. This prevents her from using Psynergy or djinn, but it makes her standard attack ridiculously overpowered as it now hits ''every'' enemy, every turn, for free (even multi-target Psynergy deals less damage to isolated enemies). While the transformation ends when she runs out of djinn to fuel it, very few enemies can stand that kind of abuse for so long.
* In ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series, your character is some manner of immortal being and has access to three different schools of magic. ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' trades magic for guns that fire bullets made out of your own blood, arcane artifacts that also costs bullets to use, and the ability to transform into either a beast or a tentacled EldritchAbomination with a piece of cauliflower for a head. Yet the most common type of character build you will likely face in [=PvP=] involves ignoring all of that crap (besides the innate [[JustifiedExtraLives self-resurrection]]) and focusing entirely on either Strength, Dexterity (Skill in ''Bloodborne''), or both, depending on the weapon they're using, so they can hit you with said weapon really hard. Even if you do pump your magic stats, you can use them solely to cast SpellBlade buffs on a weapon, while your actual ''fighting'' style will still be that of an ordinary physical brute. Or cut out the middleman and just infuse the weapon so that it directly scales off those stats instead of the physical ones.
* The titular character of ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'' has ResurrectiveImmortality and a [[ArtificialLimbs prosthetic arm]] that can be outfitted with various attachments for use in combat, but he still has to mostly rely on his own skill with a sword. He later gets a fancy cursed sword that can kill immortal beings, but using it in normal combat costs [[{{Mana}} Spirit Emblems]], which are usually better served to fuel his prosthetic attachments, so he'll end up usually only taking it out to deal a finishing blow against an immortal foe after first defeating them with his normal sword.
* Subverted with the Cyborg Ninja in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' who declares a true fight is hand-to-hand and that only a fool trusts his life to a weapon, wanting he and Snake to put away their flashy swords and guns and cyborg powers for a true fistfight. However, as the fight goes on and he begins being beaten he starts to rely on his powers more and more, turning invisible and teleporting and [[MoralMyopia continuing to chastise Snake if he pulls out a weapon]]. It helps that he's trying to prolong the fight because he loves it so much and that he's [[PsychoPrototype stark-raving mad]].
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a rather complex example with the mortal warrior Atreus, who ended up becoming [[LegacyCharacter a new incarnation]] of the WarGod known as Pantheon. Originally, [[TwoBeingsOneBody his body was hijacked]] by a celestial "Aspect of War" called Pantheon who used him like armor to physically fight with, but following a duel with the demonic OmnicidalManiac Aatrox, the Pantheon spirit was killed, [[{{Determinator}} but Atreus survived]] while preserving the entity's insane celestial powers. Atreus [[NayTheist came to detest gods]] and believes that [[HumansAreSpecial humans are strong enough to not have to depend on them]], so despite essentially being [[PhysicalGod a god in physical form]], he chooses to fight like any other mortal, [[EmpoweredBadassNormal with a celestial spear and shield in hand]].
-->'''Atreus''': [[AGodIAmNot I am no more than a soldier]], ''[[HumansAreWarriors and no less.]]''
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' has Nergigante, an Elder Dragon with no special elemental abilities, breath weapon, or similar power. What it has is brute force, high-speed healing, and a no-nonsense fighting strategy where it beats down opponents and goes straight for the kill. As a result it can take on Elder Dragons and win despite lacking any elemental advantage.

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Being TheImmune in addition to being a mage enables Lalli to fight the setting's PlagueZombie monsters up close and keep his energy-draining magic powers for tasks that actually require them. Non-immune mages, by contrast, can contribute to fights only via long-range magic.
* WebComic/AxeCop owns a tornado gun and knows a move that hits his opponent with the adjacent state or province, [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands and who knows what else,]] but his favourite move? "I'll chop your head off!"

*** In Book 3, [[spoiler:[[EmpoweredBadassNormal Harmonic Convergence-empowered]] Bumi]] plays with the trope: He ''does'' use his [[spoiler:air]]bending in combat; however, he seems to only know how to do so ''defensively''. As far as offense goes, he seems to favor grappling — for example, when fighting [[spoiler:Red Lotus earthbender [[MagmaMan Ghazan]]]], he actually [[CombatPragmatist resorts to]] [[ByTheHair hair-pulling]] and ''[[ManBitesMan biting]]''.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Rarity - a fashionista whose main magical talent lies in beautification and beautiful things - can on several occasions be seen punching out her enemies in typical fisticuffs (hooficuffs?) fashion. Unlike her friend Twilight Sparkle, she lacks combat magic, but she won't let that stop her.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Kanan uses a regular blaster on a lot of his ops, only breaking out the Force powers and lightsaber when he's in serious trouble. {{Justified|Trope}} as he's a Jedi on the run from TheEmpire, and revealing himself as such puts a huge bullseye on himself (which actually happens in the [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion pilot]]). However, as the series progresses he starts to use his lightsaber more often, as taking an apprentice means he has to relearn how to fight like a Jedi. Culminates in season 3: after [[spoiler:being blinded in the season 2 finale]], he can't really hide his Jedi status anymore, and although he still carries his blaster he uses it much less.

* The ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist for the most part relies on his martial skills in combat. Sure, he has his chi abilities, but he earned those powers by winning a fist-fight with an immortal dragon, so he doesn't much need them. Plus, at first his Iron Fist ability served mostly as a FinishingMove: it was too damaging to use against mooks, and initially left him so tired he couldn't overuse it.

* ''Manga/WelcomeToDemonSchoolIrumaKun'': Balam is one of two Khet-ranked demons at Babyls (the eight rank out of ten) and is strong enough to hold the two best combatants in the Misfits Class at bay without a scratch for days on end. His actual power is lie detection, which is useful as an exam administrator but not so much while fighting.

** Pyrrha Nikos is a discussed version of the trope. Pyrrha has a reputation for being "the Untouchable Girl". She is a four times Mistral champion and considered unbeatable in combat tournaments. Aside from her great skill at combat, she appears to use no obvious powers beyond recalling weapons to her hand. This is because she hides what her Semblance really is. Mercury spars with her in training very briefly just to get an idea of what her power is before discussing it with Cinder and Emerald: Pyrrha is using her magnetism power to gently nudge weapons and armour of both herself and her opponent to ensure her strikes always hit and her opponent's strikes always miss. Cinder comments that it makes her seem to others as though she's fated for victory when she's really taking destiny into her own hands.