History Main / GeniusBruiser

* Sonic is this in ''Fanfic/PrisonIslandBreak.'' He's a LightningBruiser on par with [[TheDreaded Shadow,]] successfully managed to defeat [[MightyGlacier Knuckles]], and is able to easily adapt to any given situation by being a brilliant and intelligent strategist.

* LetsPlay/{{Dream}} often has enough gear to take out the hunters solo within the first minute and remains a consistent threat in combat throughout the entire video (let's just say there's a ''reason'' the later videos end up pitting more than one hunter against Dream). He's also quite smart and resourceful, using the terrain, whatever he has on him, and the hunters' own overeager tendencies to his advantage. He'll use potions, set up vantage points, bluff the absolute hell out of the hunters, and set off traps like a [[StuffBlowingUp bed in the Nether or a recently-crafted End Crystal in a stronghold]].
* ''WebVideo/{{Technoblade}}'', Dream's rival and victor of their 1v1 duel. He is a former English major and often quotes Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War''. His knowledge and skill at combat often comes in clutch to give the upper hand to whomever he was teaming with, in any number of competitions, completely breaking multiple challenges and his participation completely breaking a competition by raising the highest number of kills on a team combined from 19 to ''over 100''.

* ''[[Fanfic/TheDarkLordsOfNerima The Dark Lords Ascendant]]'''s BigBad is [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Tanizaki Kazuo]], the head of a multi-national MegaCorp with legitimate and BlackMarket dealings, thousands of politicians around the world in his pocket, resources everywhere, and long-reaching and very ''ambitious'' plans. On top of all this, he's also a martial artist capable of going toe-to-toe with [[Anime/RanmaOneHalf Ranma]] and winning, while calculating [[XanatosGambit any outcome of said fight to be to his advantage]].

In fantasy, a Genius Bruiser is often a MagicKnight or a MightyGlacier. This character also tends to be combined with LightningBruiser, as the speed is frequently tied into intelligence or very specific training. See also MinoredInAssKicking and SmarterThanYouLook. In a team specializing in brains, is TheBigGuy (he is their Class 5) and if specializing in brawn, is TheSmartGuy. Contrast with ShorterMeansSmarter, DumbMuscle and SquishyWizard.

In fantasy, a Genius Bruiser is often a MagicKnight or a MightyGlacier. This character also tends to be combined with LightningBruiser, as the speed is frequently tied into intelligence or very specific training. See also MinoredInAssKicking and SmarterThanYouLook. In a {{team}} specializing in brains, is TheBigGuy (he is their Class 5) and if specializing in brawn, is TheSmartGuy. Contrast with ShorterMeansSmarter, DumbMuscle and SquishyWizard.

In fantasy, a Genius Bruiser is often a MagicKnight or a MightyGlacier. This character also tends to be combined with LightningBruiser, as the speed is frequently tied into intelligence or very specific training. See also MinoredInAssKicking and SmarterThanYouLook. In a {{team}} specializing in brains, is TheBigGuy (he is their Class 4) and if specializing in brawn, is TheSmartGuy. Contrast with ShorterMeansSmarter, DumbMuscle and SquishyWizard.

In fantasy, a Genius Bruiser is often a MagicKnight or a MightyGlacier. This character also tends to be combined with LightningBruiser, as the speed is frequently tied into intelligence or very specific training. See also MinoredInAssKicking and SmarterThanYouLook. In a {{team}} specializing in brains, is TheBigGuy (he is their Class 5) and if specializing in brawn, is TheSmartGuy. Contrast with ShorterMeansSmarter, DumbMuscle and SquishyWizard.

* Speaking of LetsPlay/{{Dream}}, there's also ''LetsPlay/{{Technoblade}}'', Dream's rival and victor of their 1v1 duel. He was a former English major and often quoted Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War''. His knowledge and skill at combat often came in clutch to give the upper hand to whomever he was teaming with, in any number of competitions, completely breaking multiple challenges and his participation completely breaking a competition by raising the highest number of kills on a team combined from 19 to ''over 100''.

In fantasy, a Genius Bruiser is often a MagicKnight or a MightyGlacier. This character also tends to be combined with LightningBruiser, as the speed is frequently tied into intelligence or very specific training. See also MinoredInAssKicking and SmarterThanYouLook. In a {{team}} specializing in brains, is TheBigGuy (he is their Class 5) and if specializing in brawn, is TheSmartGuy. Contrast with ShorterMeansSmarter.

* ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'': Pankrator Jagganoth is one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse and nigh invincible, but what ''really'' makes him dangerous is that he’s ''not'' DumbMuscle like many think. He’s actually the most intelligent of the Seven and one of the few of them who actually plans ahead for the future; amongst other things, he’s the only Demiurge that bothers reverse-engineering technology from worlds he conquers. [[SmugSnake The others think they can just rely on their powers for all eternity and that nothing can stop them]], but Jagganoth actually acknowledges threats to their power and develops contingencies. He’d be the OnlySaneMan of the group, if not for the fact that he’s also an OmnicidalManiac.

This trope is very much TruthInTelevision, and often the {{Foil}} for JerkJock. While the latter are over-represented in team sports, GeniusBruiser types often come from individual sports, such as track and field, gymnastics, fencing, skiing, swimming, or boxing. Compare AcademicAthlete.

[[caption-width-right:350: He could rip you to shreds and calculate the amount of said shreds there would be afterwards.]]

** Although the Chaos God Khorne, from ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'', ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', is usually seen as a [[TheBerserker blood mad berserker]], he is still the physical embodiment of war itself and no mortal, god or daemon can match his understanding of tactics or his military expertise. As extensions of his will, the most favoured of Khorne’s daemonic generals are also gifted with a fraction of this knowledge.

* Shaquille O'Neal is widely recognized as one of the best centers in the history of professional basketball who often used his size (over 7 feet tall and over 300 pounds) to overpower opponents on the court. As of May 2012, it's now Dr. Shaquille O'Neal, as Shaq has earned a doctorate in education, which he earned with a cumulative GPA of 3.8. He also attended film school, and is currently attending law school, simply because he thinks it's fun. Shaq may be the only man in the world with a [=PhD=], a platinum album and an Olympic gold medal. Shaq is also a savvy businessman, having made large of sums in real estate, and was one of the original investors in both Google and Vitamin Water, both of which became enormous successes.

** Alun Wyn Jones, the current (2020) captain of the UsefulNotes/{{Wales}} national team and also the country's most-capped player (i.e., most international appearances), is also qualified as a lawyer, more specifically a solicitor.

* [[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/sports/ncaafootball/25rolle.html?_r=1 Myron Rolle.]] Rhodes scholar and 6'2" 215 pound safety for Florida State University. Was drafted by the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Tennessee Titans]], but never played a regular-season game... but no need to cry for him. Rolle enrolled in medical school at FSU in 2013, graduating in May 2017 (making him [[https://twitter.com/sinow/status/865985035035447297 DOCTOR]] Myron Rolle), and is now a [[http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18938175/ex-florida-state-seminoles-star-myron-rolle-begin-residency-harvard-medical-school-massachusetts-general-hospital neurosurgery resident at Harvard.]]

The converse of the BadassBookworm. In general, a Genius Bruiser looks huge and powerfully muscled, then unexpectedly shows off an intellectual side, whereas a BadassBookworm looks like a standard geek, but then displays a surprising amount of physical prowess. Remember, in this case [[{{Aversion}} Muscles Are NOT Meaningless]]. The character ''does not'' need to look the part to qualify for this trope, though it's never a minus. If AuthorityEqualsAsskicking, you may well end up with an EmperorScientist. A Genius Bruiser is almost always also a CulturedBadass, but not necessarily. May fulfill the role of Brawn in a BrainsAndBrawn duo.

* In the [=RPs=] ''[[Roleplay/InsaneCafeSeries Insane Cafe]] 2: Rise of the Shurlups'' and ''Insane Cafe 3: The Curse of the Haunted Hotel'' features Zachary Johnson, an anthropomorphic Clydesdale who is very well versed in biology and is shown to be capable of tearing doors out of the wall with his bare hands.
** Mr. Bigmouth also counts. He is rather large ''Saurolophus'' who has been shown to be capable of opening a large wooden crate barehanded and is considered an authority on medicinal herbs.
* [[FunnyAnimal Zachary Johnson]] from ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' is a researcher at Pelvanida. He is so strong that when he kicks a combat robot, ''he leaves the imprint of his foot on the robot's armor''.

* ''Webcomic/SuperRivals'': Though she usually relies on her fists, [[FlyingBrick Awesome Girl]] can adapt quickly when going up against foes as strong as her. During her fight with the Unitcorn she flies to evade his charging and strike when he leaves himself vulnerable. Later in her scuffle with 'Hero Babe For Hire", Throwdown, Awesome Girl uses her own power against her by hitting Throwdown so fast she builds up too much energy and it explodes, dazing her.

* Webcomic/SuperRivals: Though she usually relies on her fists, [[FlyingBrick Awesome Girl]] can adapt quickly when going up against foes as strong as her. During her fight with the Unitcorn she flies to evade his charging and strike when he leaves himself vulnerable. Later in her scuffle with 'Hero Babe For Hire", Throwdown, Awesome Girl uses her own power against her by hitting Throwdown so fast she builds up too much energy and it explodes, dazing her.

* Illyra of ''Webcomic/RumorsOfWar'' is TheBigGuy in a smarts-centric FiveManBand. Not that she doesn't qualify as TheBigGuy on her own merits, she just tends to fall into TheBigGuy role since she isn't [[strike:[[BrokenBird as nice as]]]] [[TheChick Occela]], and she isn't [[strike:[[ActionGirl as motivated as]]]] [[TheHero Elysia]]. [[DeconstructorFleet You know what? Never mind]].

** One can argue that this is a compulsory trait for any heavy-hitter hunter.
*** Kyril is most certainly this thanks to being a CombatPragmatist. Just because he is a LightningBruiser doesn't mean he goes for [[AttackAttackAttack the aggressive route]] every time. From dismantling traps, selecting at most a group of three to take out, to his occasional usage of Shaman Bone Blades, it is evident that stealth is also one of his strengths.

** As a group, [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs can be considered as this]]. They certainly look like [[DumbMuscle dumb brutes]], but some war bands are capable of showing a degree of cunning that can catch a seasoned knight off guard.

* The SECOND pick of the 2012 draft: Robert Griffin III. Let's let [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] explain: "Griffin graduated from high school a semester early, after serving as class president and ranking seventh in his class. He began attending Baylor University during the spring 2008 semester when he was 17 years old. As a member of Baylor's track and field team, Griffin finished in first place in the hurdles at both the Big 12 Conference Championship and the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship meets; he also broke the NCAA Midwest Regional hurdles record. He placed third in the NCAA meet and also participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials, in which he advanced to the semifinals. Griffin graduated in three years with a degree in political science and a 3.67 GPA, while appearing on the Dean's List twice. During his final year of college sports eligibility, he was studying for a Master's degree in communication."

** Tanica is introduced as an assassin on the team sent to kill Smith. After she is [[BalefulPolymorph accidentally turned into a tree]] during the fight, she ends up as a patient of the Dragon Doctors, and they decide to take turns keeping her company to save her from [[GoMadFromTheIsolation going crazy from lack of social interaction]]. Mori, TheSmartGuy, [[http://dragondoctors.dhscomix.com/archives/comic/ch-3-page-16 decides on his first turn to challenge Tanica to a relaxing game of]] TabletopGame/{{Go}} -- and learns to his discomfiture that Tanica is ''good'' at it. [[spoiler:It is later revealed that Tanica became an assassin specifically to pay off the student loans incurred earning her multiple university degrees]].

-->-- Website/YouTube commenters discussion, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awUdBZVkcKI here]]

* Speaking of LetsPlay/{{Dream}}, there's also ''LetsPlay/{{Technoblade}}'', Dream's rival and victor of their 1v1 duel. He was a former English major and often quoted Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War''. His knowledge and skill at combat often came in clutch to give the upper hand to whomever he was teaming with, in any number of competitions, completely breaking multiple challenges and his participation completely breaking a competition by raising the highest number of kills on a team combined from 19 to ''[[UpToEleven over 100]]''.

* ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}'' often has enough gear to take out the hunters solo within the first minute and remains a consistent threat in combat throughout the entire video (let's just say there's a ''reason'' the later videos end up pitting more than one hunter against Dream). He's also quite smart and resourceful, using the terrain, whatever he has on him, and the hunters' own overeager tendencies to his advantage. He'll use potions, set up vantage points, bluff the absolute hell out of the hunters, and set off traps like a [[StuffBlowingUp bed in the Nether or a recently-crafted End Crystal in a stronghold]].
* Let's not forget ''LetsPlay/{{Technoblade}}'', LetsPlay/{{Dream}}'s rival and victor of their 1v1 dual. He's a former English major and often quotes Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War''. His knowledge and skill at combat has often come in clutch to give the upper hand to whomever he's teaming with, in any number of competitions, completely breaking multiple challenges and his participation completely breaking a competition by raising the highest number of kills on a team combined from 19 to ''[[UpToEleven over 100]]''.