History Main / FleshVersusSteel

* In ''StarTrek'' we have the Borg vs. Species 8472: Techno-zombies versus a biological species with an immune system so powerful it kills any other living creature they come into contact with.

* ''{{Transformers}}'' has used this trope on a few occasions. In both ''BeastWarsII'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'', the heroic, technorganic Maximals fight against the evil, purely robotic Predacons/Vehicons. This situation was inverted in ''[[TransformersRobotsInDisguise Robots in Disguise]]'', in which the heroic, completely mechanical Autobots fight the evil, technorganic Predacons.

* [[WorldOfWarCraft]] has its share of this trope with some of OrderVersusChaos thrown in the mix, as featured more extensively in the Ulduar instance, which showcases the ancient conflict between the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Titans]] and the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]]. Lore-wise, shortly after the Titans had finished crafting Azeroth, they had intended it to be taken cared of by [[LivingStatue humanoids made of solid rock or metal]] (like the Earthen, which later became the [[AllDwarvesAreTheSame dwarves]]) and MechanicalLifeforms (like the Mechagnomes, which became the [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]]) to maintain order and stability. When the Old Gods appeared, they hexed Azeroth with the Curse of Flesh, which turned the Titans' seed races into fleshy, mortal creatures in order to [[TheVirus facilitate assmiliation]]. The respective factions' {{Mooks}} thus follow this trope, with the stone-like [[AmbiguousRobots Titanic Watchers]] vs. the viscous [[Cthulhumanoid Faceless Ones]] ([[spoiler:Some of the former were [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] by the boss of the Ulduar instance [[SealedEvilInACan Yogg-Saron]].]])

* [[WorldOfWarCraft World of WarCraft: Wrath of the Lich King]] had its share of this and OrderVersusChaos in the Ulduar instance, which features the conflict with the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Titans]] and the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]]. Apparently, after the Titans crafted Azeroth, they had intended the newly born world to be inhabited by [[LivingStatue humanoids made of solid rock or metal]] (like the Earthen, which became the dwarves) and MechanicalLifeforms (like the Mechagnomes, which became the gnomes) to maintain order and stability. Then the chaotic Old Gods showed up and hexed the world with the Curse of Flesh, which turned the Titans' seed races into fleshy, mortal creatures in order to [[TheVirus facilitate assmiliation]]. Their respective Mooks follow this trope to the letter though, with the stone-like Titanic Watchers vs. the viscous Faceless Ones ([[spoiler:although some of the former were [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] by the instance's boss Yogg-Saron.]])

* [[WorldOfWarCraft World of WarCraft: Wrath of the Lich King]] had its share of this and OrderVersusChaos in the Ulduar instance, which features the conflict with the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Titans]] and the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]]. Apparently, after the Titans crafted Azeroth, they had intended the newly born world to be inhabited by [[LivingStatue humanoids made of solid rock or metal]] (like the Earthen, which became the dwarves) and MechanicalLifeforms (like the Mechagnomes, which became the gnomes) to maintain order and stability. Then the chaotic Old Gods showed up and hexed the world with the Curse of Flesh, which turned the Titans' seed races into fleshy, mortal creatures in order to [[TheVirus facilitate assmiliation]]. Their respective Mooks follow this trope to the letter though, with the stone-like Titanic Watchers vs. the viscous Faceless Ones ([[spoiler: although some of the former were [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] by the instance's boss Yogg-Saron.)

* ''{{Transformers}}'' has used this trope on a few occasions. In both ''BeastWarsII'' and ''BeastMachines'', the heroic, technorganic Maximals fight against the evil, purely robotic Predacons/Vehicons. This situation was inverted in ''[[TransformersRobotsInDisguise Robots in Disguise]]'', in which the heroic, completely mechanical Autobots fight the evil, technorganic Predacons.

* The ''Dune'' prequels are classic Machine vs Human. The 1st trilogy doesn't have a Machine 'race' but is also Flesh vs Steel. On Arrakis, flesh, standard unarmored humans, is the most durable. War machines and even basic technology doesn't handle the sand, electrical activity and local wildlife very well.

[[AC:{{Tabletop Games}}]]
* In Warhammer 40,000 It's heavily implied that the Necrons and the Daemons of Chaos wage war on each other regularly, intending to destroy each other. This is good, and bad, because if Chaos is destoyed, our universe and the Warp will not become one, but the Necrons will eat most life in the galaxy and keep the rest around to breed new snacks (and then eat them again. Repeat for all eternity). If Chaos wins, the Necrons are no longer a threat but the Chaos Gods' plans continue.
* The Slaad and Inevitables from most versions of Dungeons and Dragons.

* In Warhammer 40,000 It's heavily implied that the Necrons and the Daemons of Chaos wage war on each other regularly, intending to destroy each other. This is good, and bad, because if Chaos is destoyed, our universe and the Warp will not become one, but the Necrons will wipe out all life in the galaxy. If Chaos wins, the Necrons are no longer a threat but the Chaos Gods' plans continue.

* The movie of ''StarshipTroopers'', with the alien bug castes as biological weapons vs. the human technology or [[HollywoodTactics lack thereof]].

* [[WorldOfWarCraft World of WarCraft: Wrath of the Lich King]] had its share of this and OrderVersusChaos in the Ulduar instance, which features the conflict with the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Titans]] and the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]]. Apparently, after the Titans crafted Azeroth, they had intended the newly born world to be inhabited by [[LivingStatue humanoids made of solid rock or metal]] (like the Earthen, which became the dwarves) and MechanicalLifeforms (like the Mechagnomes, which became the gnomes) to maintain order and stability. Then the chaotic Old Gods showed up and hexed the world with the Curse of Flesh, which turned the Titans' seed races into fleshy, mortal creatures in order to [[TheVirus facilitate assmiliation]]. Their respective Mooks follow this trope to the letter though, with the stone-like Titanic Watchers vs. the viscous Faceless Ones ([[spoiler: although some of the former were Brainwashed by the local, [[SealedEvilInACan awakening]] [[ShoutOut Yogg-Saron]].]])

-->'''Dak'kon''', ''[[PlanescapeTorment Planescape: Torment]]'''

* The [[AdaptationDecay movie]] of ''StarshipTroopers'', with the alien bug castes as biological weapons vs. the human technology (or [[HollywoodTactics lack thereof]].

* I'm surprised that no has mentioned the Slaad and Inevitables from most versions of Dungeons and Dragons.

* In ''{{Literature.Leviathan}}'' by Scott Westerfield, the alternate World War One is like this, fought between the Clankers, who use walking tanks, and the Darwinists, who combine and alter DNA to create living airships and such.

* In ''{{Literature.Leviathan}}'' by Scott Westerfield, the alternate World War One is like this, fought between the clankers, who use walking tanks, and the Darwinists, who combine and alter DNA to create living airships and such.

* In ''{{Literature.Leviathan Leviathan}}'' by Scott Westerfield, the alternate World War One is like this, fought between the clankers, who use walking tanks, and the Darwinists, who combine and alter DNA to create living airships and such.

* In ''{{Leviathan|Literature.Leviathan}}'' by Scott Westerfield, the alternate World War One is like this, fought between the clankers, who use walking tanks, and the Darwinists, who combine and alter DNA to create living airships and such.