Line #191 Main/PhysicalMysticalTechnological


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5	[[quoteright:325:[[ComicBook/AvengersDisassembled https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thor_vol_2_81_textless.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:325:From top to bottom: SuperSoldier, [[PoweredArmor Super Armor]], and [[SuperHeroGods Super God]].]]
7
8	A [[PowerTrio trichotomy]] of character/faction archetypes that expands the MagicVersusScience dichotomy with the CharlesAtlasSuperpower: one archetype learns magical spells, another builds crazy gadgets, and the third perfects their own body (and any powers that come with it) to reach levels of personal power comparable to the first two. They may be standing against each other in a triangle of TacticalRockPaperScissors, or they may instead be part of the same team/group, using their distinct set of abilities to solve various problems together. In games, they can form the basis of a ThreeStatSystem.
9
10	The "strength" character/faction may symbolize people with low-to-mid technology and looking more down-to-earth compared to the magic and tech characters/factions. In a work that employs multiple (humanoid) races, the "strength" faction tend to be [[HumansAreWarriors normal humans]], while [[OurElvesAreDifferent elves]] often represent the "magic" faction, and [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarves]], the "tech" faction.
11
12	SubTrope to ThreeApproachSystem. Compare FighterMageThief, which applies more to the roles in combat each character fills, and can overlap with this trope in various incarnations depending on what they use to do so. A Fighter usually dominates the front lines with raw physical might and fighting skill, but can also use SupernaturalMartialArts or FullContactMagic, or anything from guns and PoweredArmor to tanks and HumongousMecha. A Mage most often uses magic and mysticism to control the battlefield, but they can also utilize {{Magitek}}, SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic, {{Nanomachines}} or [[DroneDeployer drones]], or be a mutant, alien or monster whose powers are a part of their innate biology (or be a shapeshifter/beast tamer to make use of those powers). A Thief's subversive toolset can run the gamut from [[GadgeteerGenius tech gadgets]], hacking skills, [[TrapMaster mechanical traps]] and explosives, pure dexterity and skill at running, hiding, sniping, archery, knife work and poisoning, or mystical tricks of {{Teleportation}}, [[MasterOfIllusion illusion]], concealment and [[CharmPerson manipulation]].
13	----
14	!!Examples:
15
16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
19	* The [[Anime/GodzillaPlanetOfTheMonsters Godzilla Anime Trilogy]] has both a race and corresponding kaiju antagonist of each film that fits this trio type compared to the below Live-Action example.
20	** The Humans and Godzilla Earth are the physical with the former being normal earthbound people and the latter's usual use of claws and atomic breath on top of being a {{Planimal}} with several other original abilities in this adaptation.
21	** The Bilusaludo and Mechagodzilla are the technological with the former favoring science and logic above all things and the latter being entirely composed of nanometal and is later converted into a city with its nanometal also being able to assimilate life to itself.
22	** The Exif and King Ghidorah are the mystical with the former being religious clergies and the latter being a creature from another dimension that is worshipped as a god and has abilities that defy reality.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Comic Books]]
26	* The holy trinity of Creator/DCComics
27	** Franchise/{{Superman}}'s powers come from his alien biology, and he is the main powerhouse of the three.
28	** Franchise/{{Batman}} is a mortal with CharlesAtlasSuperpower, armed to the teeth with gadgets and technology he built.
29	** Franchise/WonderWoman's powers were granted to her by the Greek gods. Though, in some continuities, she is a goddess herself.
30	* ''Comicbook/TheAvengers''' most iconic members: Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man are physical, mystical, and technological, respectively. Usually also applies in adaptations of the Avengers as well, such as ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', or the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
31	** Cap was turned into a SuperSoldier by SuperScience during WWII.
32	** Iron Man relies on the suits he builds, all powered by the arc reactor he invented.
33	** Thor is a Norse god, with a mystical power over storms and lightning.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Fan Work]]
37	* ''WebVideo/MasakoXDragonBallWhatIf'': The trio of storylines where [[Fanfic/WhatIfBulmaTrainedLikeGoku Bulma]], Chi-Chi, and [[Fanfic/WhatIfVidelWasAZFighter Videl]] are turned into AdaptationalBadass Z-Fighters contrast each other in this way. Although all three of them start off on the martial arts training route, they eventually branch off in different ways.
38	** Videl is the Physical. [[TouchedByVorlons Her DNA is altered by giving birth to a Saiyan and being exposed to God Ki]], making her a lot stronger in addition to her continuing her martial-arts training with Gohan.
39	** Bulma is the Technological. She starts developing training and strength-enhancing tools and gear for herself to fight on the front lines, eventually donning a whole suit of PoweredArmor and even a HumongousMecha.
40	** Chi-Chi is the Mystical. She is taken on by Fortuneteller Baba as an apprentice and learns to use magic and ki in concert, and grows to outmatch even Babidi in mysticism.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
44	* ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'': Each of the first three movies' villains have this, which overlaps with FighterMageThief to provide {{Contrasting Sequel Antagonist}}s.
45	** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'': Tai Lung is Physical, trained to be a master of kung fu and expected to become the Dragon Warrior.
46	** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen is Technological, inventor of the cannon in a world mostly protected by martial fighters.
47	** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3'': Kai is Mystical, a long-dead warrior returned from the Spirit World who can steal the chi of others.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
51	* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''
52	** In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', Iron Man's Avenger faction forms a PowerTrio with this dynamic.
53	*** Iron Man is the tech-based ScienceHero wearing PoweredArmor.
54	*** Doctor Strange is a Master of the Mystic Arts and the setting's premiere mystical hero.
55	*** Spider-Man is a genetically-altered human with an assortment of enhancements to his physiology like SuperStrength, SuperToughness, SuperReflexes, and agility. He does have a specialized suit provided by Tony himself in this movie (which provides his webbing), but most of his powers come from his own physiology.
56	** The Big Three of the Avengers themselves:
57	*** Captain America is a SuperSoldier whose body operates at peak human capacity.
58	*** Iron Man is a GadgeteerGenius wearing a self-made suit of PoweredArmor.
59	*** Thor mainly fights with his magic hammer Mjölnir and can throw around [[ShockAndAwe lightning.]]
60	* The various ''Film/{{Gamera}}'' kaiju, like Godzilla below, can be divided up like this (but ''unlike'' Godzilla, tend to not fall as hard to the technological side):
61	** Physical: Showa Gyaos, Legion, and Zedus.
62	** Technological: Viras, Guiron, and Zigra.
63	** Mystical: Gamera himself, Barugon, Jiger, Heisei Gyaos, and Irys.
64	* The various {{Kaiju}} from the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' franchise can be divided into these three categories:
65	** Kaiju that are fully natural in origin such as Anguirus, Rodan, and Titanosaurus are Physical.
66	** Kaiju who are worshiped as PhysicalGods or have otherwise supernatural natures like Mothra, Battra, and King Ghidorah are Mystical.
67	** Kaiju that have been altered or created by humans/aliens like Mechagodzilla, Gigan, and Godzilla himself are Technological.
68	** There are also a few kaiju who combine Mystical and Technological enough to fit both groups such as King Caesar (a {{Golem}} seemingly made from both science and magic), Biollante (a BotanicalAbomination created through combining plant, Godzilla, and human DNA that somehow gained a dead human's soul), and Kiryu (a {{Cyborg}} Mechagodzilla that gets possessed by the spirit of the original Godzilla).
69	** Due to the DependingOnTheWriter nature of the franchise, reoccurring kaiju often bounce back and forth on what group they fall into.
70	*** Godzilla is normally Technological by virtue of being mutated by radiation from nuclear weapons/waste, but in ''[[Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack GMK]]'' he is Mystical because he's the incarnation of the angry spirits of those who died in the Pacific in WWII.
71	*** King Ghidorah is normally Mystical due to his powers (near immortal, independent space flight, [[ShockAndAwe Gravity Beams]]), even being an outright deity in [[Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack one instance]], but in ''Film/GodzillaVsKingGhidorah'' he becomes Technological by being created through nuclear weapons testing (TimeTravel was also involved).
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
75	* ''Franchise/KamenRider''
76	** The first Kamen Riders of each [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese era]]: [[note]]Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa.[[/note]]
77	*** [[Series/KamenRider1971 Kamen Rider #1]] is physical, as an [[{{Cyborg}} "altered human"]] who relies on martial arts moves to defeat his foes.
78	*** Series/KamenRiderKuuga is mystical, a warrior given power by ancient {{magitek}} able to [[{{Transmutation}} transmute]] ordinary objects into weapons.
79	*** Series/KamenRiderZeroOne is technological, as he uses the advanced A.I. technology provided by Satellite Zea to construct his high-tech armor.
80	** ''Series/KamenRiderAgito'':
81	*** The titular Agito is Mystical, using a combination between angelic and elemental powers.
82	*** Kamen rider G3 is Technological, being a police officer who uses PoweredArmor.
83	*** Kamen Rider Gills is Physical as his transformed state and fighting style resembles a wild animal.
84	** ''Series/KamenRiderKiva''
85	*** Kiva himself is Physical, using a bestial fighting style. Alternatively, he could be the Mystical because he has powers associated with vampires, switches between forms that have PlayingWithFire, MakingASplash and ShockAndAwe, can call his Castle Doran dragon to fight against giant enemies, and later on gets to transform into a dragon and use the magical Zanvat Sword.
86	*** The Kamen Rider Ixa system is the Technological, a suit of PoweredArmor designed to fight [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Fangires]].
87	*** Kamen Rider Saga as an array of Mystical powers, due to him being a Fangire himself. Alternatively, Saga can be the Physical because he only uses martial arts and his Jacorder whip and summons monsters.
88	** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'' has this dynamic with Takeru, Akari and Onari.
89	*** Takeru is the titular Kamen Rider, qualifying as the physical fighter
90	*** Akari is the scientist, creating many inventions helping Takeru.
91	*** Onari is the priest of the Buddhist temple, who is adamant the supernatural exists.
92	* In ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', the original TerribleTrio that comprised the LegionOfDoom fits this dynamic.
93	** Eobard Thawne is a [[SuperSpeed speedster]] and the most physically powerful, making him the Physical force.
94	** Damien Darhk, while for the most part depowered, has dabbled in magic and possesses [[LongLived reduced aging]].
95	** Malcolm Merlyn is a BadassNormal ProfessionalKiller who uses {{Trick Arrow}}s much like his ArchEnemy Oliver Queen, making him the technological side.
96	* ''Series/TheLibrarians2014'' has a trio in the three Librarians-in-Training:
97	** Cassandra Kilian knows the most about magic,
98	** Ezekiel Jones is really good with technology, and
99	** Jacob Stone is an experienced barfighter.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
103	* ''TabletopGame/BladesInTheDark'' has a strict SinglePhlebotinumLimit and everything in the setting is powered by electroplasm, but there are different in-universe approaches to using it: spectrology, rituals, and arcane enchantments take a more mystical stance, while alchemy, spark-craft and plain-old industrial engineering champion the scientific approach. The seven available [[CharacterClass playbooks]] break down (almost) neatly into three equal groups: [[StealthExpert Lurks]] and, particularly, [[SummonMagic Whispers]] have mostly magic/arcane powers; [[TheGunslinger Hounds]] and [[GadgeteerGenius Leeches]] rely heavily on tech; and [[TheBigGuy Cutters]] and [[TheSocialExpert Slides]] are largely all about the physical (whether violence or personal charisma). ([[TheChessmaster Spiders]] sit comfortably in the middle of the net, without any truly superhuman abilities except foresight and management skills.)
104	* ''TabletopGame/MarvelCrisisProtocol'' cleanly divides its DamageTyping into Physical, Energy, and Mystic.
105	* The gameplay divide in early editions of ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' was StreetSamurai (strength), Mage/Shaman (magic), and [[TheCracker Decker]] (tech). Later editions added more archetypes that blurred the lines like the [[DroneDeployer Rigger]], [[{{Technopath}} Technomancer]], and [[MagicKnight Adepts]].
106	* ''TableTopGame/{{Starfinder}}'': The core classes of Starfinder revolve around this trope
107	** Pure Might: The Soldier, who can use all weapons and armor in the game
108	** Pure Tech: The Mechanic, whose abilities are tied to either their robot or exosuit
109	** Pure Magic: The Mystic, who channels the power of gods or cosmic forces into spells
110	** Hybrid Might/Magic: The Solarian, who channels the power of the stars into powerful melee effects
111	** Hybrid Magic/Tech: The Technomancer, who treats magic as a science and combines it with technology
112	** Hybrid Might/Tech: The Operative, who uses tactics, stealth, and subtle technology to land critical attacks
113	** The final base class, the Envoy, is a jack-of-all-trades and can play towards any one of these.
114	[[/folder]]
115
116	[[folder:Video Games]]
117	* In ''VideoGame/SeventhDragon'', most classes are focused on physical or magical damage. Then there's the Hacker and Agent classes from the Tokyo-based games, who have low damage output but provide tactical support by "hacking" enemies to debuff them, inflict status effects, or [[ManaDrain sap Mana]] from them.
118	* ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'': The main gameplay divide is between tech and magick (using one greatly limits the other). Physical fighters can practice either or neither; thieves can practice ''either'', but lockpicking is either tech or magic (and ''stealthy'' lockpicking is tech).
119	* ''VideoGame/ArmoryAndMachine'': The "Surroundings" zone is split into three areas: The Landfill, the Laboratory, and the Forest. The enemies in the Landfill are mainly [[ElementalEmbodiment Earth Elementals]] that [[DishingOutDirt control the Earth]] via unknown forces (Mystical), the enemies in the Laboratory are robots with lasers, electricity and high amounts of shielding (Technological), and the enemies in the forest are beasts and killer plants that attack with {{Natural Weapon}}s (Physical).
120	* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'': The three [[CoDragons Chosen of the Absolute]]. Ketheric Thorm is the Mystical, a powerful and immortal {{necromancer}} with an army of summoned undead, [[spoiler:and even summons an avatar of Myrkul in his fight]]. Enver Gortash is the Technological, a talented inventor who created the [[MechaMooks Steel Watcher constructs]] and fights with a crossbow and traps in combat [[spoiler:until he's empowered by Bane]]. Orin the Red is the Physical, being a knife-wielding murderess whose {{humanshifting}} ability stems from her Changeling physiology [[spoiler:and she transforms into a hard-hitting Bhaalspawn Slayer form in her fight]].
121	* ''VideoGame/BountyOfOne'': The first three characters fall into this archetype. Serra is the Technological, as she wields a crossbow gun. Nigel is the Physical, as his weapon is a shuriken that he throws with physical skill. Ollin is the Mystical, as he is a desert spirit who wields a MagicStaff that grants him [[GreenThumb cactus magic]]. Later characters introduced would fall into different archetypes, with Natoko being Physical+Mystical (he wields a sword that he reforged with his own hatred) and [=R0B3RT=] being firmly Technological (he's a robot with a steampunk turret).
122	* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireDragonQuarter'' has the main trio: Ryu who uses a sword, Nina who uses black magic and Lin who uses guns.
123	* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': Team Snakemouth falls under this dynamic. Kabbu is the Physical, relying on his strength, natural horn, and digging abilities for his attacks and overworld skills. Leif is the Mystical, as a user of ice magic, and one of the few mages in the setting. Vi is the Technological, with her main weapon being an advanced boomerang tool that she collects upgrades for, and coming from the technologically-advanced Hive.
124	* ''Videogame/ChronoTrigger'':
125	** For the PowerTrio, Lucca's role pretty much defined as the Technological, but the other two can have different interpretations.
126	*** Crono as the MasterSwordsman and Marle as the WhiteMage.
127	*** Crono ([[MagicKnight swordsman who eventually uses Light magic]]), Marle (a SquishyWizard until you get her the [[FixedDamageAttack Venus Bow]])
128	*** Later additions include Ayla (purely physical fighter), Robo (a robot whose tech attacks use the Shadow element), Frog (a water MagicKnight), and possibly [[spoiler:Magus, who has the best Shadow magic]].
129	** On the villainous side, the [[GoldfishPoopGang Three Mystical Knights]] consist of Slash, a swordsman, Flea, a wizard, and Ozzie, who uses mechanical traps.
130	* ''VideoGame/CivilizationBeyondEarth'' offers the player a choice of three affinities - ways of human development [[SettlingTheFrontier in the new world]]. At the heart of [[HumanityIsSuperior Purity's]] philosophy is a celebration of the human form and history, which its adherents are willing to defend with reinforced [[PowerArmor Battlesuits]] and a variety of heavy armored vehicles. Adepts of [[BioPunk Harmony]] aim for a [[InHarmonyWithNature symbiotic relationship with the environment of the new planet]], for the protection of which they use genetically enhanced local life forms as well as [[DeadlyGas miasma]] that is poisonous to all but themselves. Finally, [[CyberPunk Supremacy]], believing in technology as the greatest gift of mankind, capable, if properly used, of making civilization completely independent of the environment and giving society [[BrainUploading immortality]], uses robotics, cybernetics, and other similar technologies to secure its vision of a better future.
131	* ''DC: Dual Force'' has five different factions: Might, Energy, Tactics, Anarchy and Tyranny. While the last two are more chaotic/lawful villains respectively, the first three fit into the trope -- Might contains physically powerful heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman and focuses on both raw stats and buffs. Energy contains energy-based and mystical heroes like the Flash, Shazam and Zatanna and focuses on gaining extra energy and spells. Tactics contains technological heroes like Batman, Green Arrow and Cyborg, and focuses on card draw and gadgets.
132	* ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline'' has this built into character creation. There are 15 power sets, but you also have to choose an "Origin", Meta, Magic, or Tech independent of powers. Heroes will apprentice with Superman, Wonder Woman, or Batman respectively, while villains will follow Lex Luthor, Circe, or the Joker according to their origin.
133	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' has Dante, V, and Nero. Dante fights with a variety of melee weapons, firearms, and has access to a [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]] mode from the get-go; V, by controlling {{familiar}}s; and Nero, with cybernetic arms, a customized {{flaming sword}}, and a revolver.
134	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': The three Rogue specializations fit into this framework. Assassin is the physical, with the Rogue undertaking physical training to blend into the shadows and slay enemies en masse, Tempest is the mystical, employing elemental flasks imbued with FireIceLightning powers to enhance themselves in combat, and Artificer is the technological, using traps and mines to control the flow of battle.
135	* In ''VideoGame/DragonBallOnline'', these are the three classes available for the human race: the physical-based Martial Artist, the magic-based Mystic, and the technology-based Engineer.
136	* ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERAttackOfDarkforce'': The PMEC team has this composition. Platinum is the technological genius, crafting the shoulder-mounted cannons she uses for combat on top of other tech that her company uses. Kurogane puts her shinobi skills to use as the team's resident melee combatant. And Emerald is the mythical, with her phenomenal psychic powers.
137	* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The playable characters and enemies come in one of the 3 attributes: Biologic (physical), Psychic (mystical) and Mecha (technological). They also form a TacticalRockPaperScissors, with Biologic beating Psychic beating Mecha beating Biologic.
138	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'': Cloud and Tifa are the Physical, Barret is the Technological, and Aerith is the Mystical. Cloud is a MightyGlacier who relies on powerful attacks and counters with his colossal sword, Tifa is a GlassCannon who unleashes quick combos of punches and kicks for heavy damage. Barret uses mechanical arms as his weapons and his moveset is primarily focused on shooting, but he can become a Physical character too if given a melee weapon. Aerith, the party SquishyWizard, uses magic for all her attacks.
139	* ''VideoGame/GreedFall'': The combat GameSystem is based around weapons (physical blades and impact weapons), tech (firearms, traps, and bombs), and magic (both offensive and defensive). Of the game's six factions, three subscribe to one of these extremes: the Coin Guard are mercenaries who are all about raw muscle, the Thélème are religious zealots who believe magic comes from God, and the Bridge Alliance are merchants and alchemists who built the most technologically-advanced nation in the world. And, of course, [[MagicVersusScience the Thélème and the Bridge are permanently at each other's throats]].
140	* ''VideoGame/IronMarines'':
141	** The player has three categories of deployable troops. Army, which are base humans wielding guns and armor and closest to the "Physical" units, Empyreans, which are psionic aliens and the "Mystical" units, and Mechs, which are MiniMecha with high-tech weaponry and drones and are the "Tech" units.
142	** The three villain factions also count. The Fell are the "Physical", being [[EvilIsVisceral fleshy and bony]] organic aliens that use brute strength, biological attack and OrganicTechnology. The Peripheroids are the "Technological", being [[MechaMooks metallic and mechanical]] robots that utilize lasers, missiles, electricity and machinery. The Raad are the "Mystical", being EnergyBeings in containment suits that utilize ElementalPowers of fire, electricity, gravity and quantum physics, all derived from the plasma they're made of.
143	* ''VideoGame/KingdomRush'' and its sequels fit this in regards to the four tower types. Archers and Barracks are the Physical towers, doing melee damage and in the latter case spawning soldiers to block enemies and attack them with swords. Mage towers are the Magical units, whose attacks deal magic damage and are effective against foes with high physical armor. Finally, the Artillery towers are the Tech units, who specialize in physical SplashDamage via liberal use of explosives, and/or electricity.
144	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Three consecutive main series games feature enemy factions with this theme as {{Contrasting Sequel Antagonist}}s:
145	** ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'': The Haltmann Works Company is the Technological, using high-tech devices to industrialize Pop Star for profit.
146	** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'': The Jambandran Religion is the Mystical, whose members include three mage-generals and a cultist who [[spoiler:seek to revive a dark god]].
147	** ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'': The Beast Pack is the Physical, whose members are beasts that use their instincts and natural capabilities in combat, and their goal is to capture Waddle Dees for a sinister purpose. [[spoiler:The true mastermind, however, is an UltimateLifeform who utilizes both Mystical and Technological means by psionically brainwashing the Beast Pack and enslaving the captured Waddle Dees as HamsterWheelPower to provide power to its containment capsule in Lab Discovera]].
148	* The ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series has three main skill sets for Shepard and Ryder to develop: combat, tech, and biotics. Combat skills revolve around using common weapons more efficiently while taking more punishment than a normal person could; tech is all about hacking and building multi-purpose drones; and biotics are essentially space magic. This is particularly noticeable in the first ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', where each player class and each companion have a rating in each of these three parameters, visible on the party selection screen. There are also hybrids of the sets: the Infiltrator (Combat/Tech), who can turn invisible and uses sniper rifles; the Vanguard (Combat/Biotics), who can warp themself into a biotic battering ram; and the Sentinel (Tech/Biotics), who can combine tech and biotics to create powerful defenses.
149	* ''VideoGame/Mousehunt2008'' has the Zokor area, a city of magic and technology created by the mice, and has three prominent districts that follow this theme. The Fealty District contains melee focused warrior mice as enemies, and their leader is the [[MultiMeleeMaster Paladin Weapon Master]]. The Scholar District contains mystical scholar mice and their summons as enemies, and their leader is the [[SoulPower Soul Binder]]. The Tech District contains construct and scientist mice as enemies, and their leader is the [[{{Magitek}} Manaforge Smith]].
150	* ''VideoGame/NieR'' has the core trio of Nier, Kainé and Emil. Nier is a normal human skilled in both one-handed and two-handed swords, as well as lances, and has to rely on his book Grimoire Weiss to use magic. Kainé has a Shade fused with her human body, which gives her electricity-based magic attacks. Emil's powerful magic attacks come from the fact that he's a living weapon created by a technologically advanced ancient civilization.
151	* The canceled WesternRPG ''Project Resurgence'' would have been set in a post-apocalyptic world whose inhabitant tribes take conflicting approaches to rebuilding their world: some rely entirely on science and technology, some go for the newly-emergent magic (which nobody still quite understands), and some reject both in favor of perfecting their combat and other physical skills. The player would have been able to choose any of these approaches and even mix them, if they wanted to.
152	* ''VideoGame/RFOnline'': the three playable races/factions are nicely put this way - Accretian Empire are all robots and uses (mostly) high tech equipments, Holy Alliance of Cora are SpaceElves-like race with lots of mysticism, and the Belato Union are normal-ish short people. The last one can be geared towards either tech or magic depending on their class choice, however.
153	* ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' has three types of weapons that fit this theme. Melee weapons represent physical strength, guns technology, and magic represents mystical. Technically, all of these are anima powered, but how that power appears fits the theme.
154	* ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'''s endgame armor features such a branch: The Accelerator (Aegisalt ore) path is the technological path, where ranged weapons like guns receive a damage boost and an efficiency boost due to high energy restoration; the Manipulator (Ferozium) path is the magical path, providing the highest bonuses to staff and wand users; and the Separator (Violium) path is the strength path, providing health and melee damage bonuses when equipped.
155	* These are the three sources of power in the ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' series, somewhat mapping onto the three species. Terrans mostly use technology. Zerg mostly use raw physical power. Protoss use a combination of mystical psionic powers and very strong technology.
156	* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}''' ''Utopia'' expansion, you are able to take on Ascension Perks (special modifiers that grant you a huge boost in certain aspects, such as a massively-increased military limit, or a boost to border size). There are six ascension perks, split up into three groups of two that are mutually exclusive to each other and which fill this purpose. Psionic Theory fills magic ("Mind over Matter" and "Transcendence"), allowing civilizations to gain telepathy and other supernatural abilities, which allows them to communicate with the otherwise-unintelligible endgame crises, as well as pierce the shroud and gain powerful modifiers. Gene Tailoring ("Engineered Evolution" and "Evolutionary Mastery") fills Strength, allowing you to modify your any species within the empire to remove negative traits and replace them with positive ones, with the second-tier Ascended Trait adding special options for gene modding that no one else can access. Synthetic Evolution ("The Flesh is Weak" and "Synthetic Evolution") fill tech, as civilizations may choose to convert their entire citizenry into synthetics/robots, meaning they will never die of natural causes, and do not need food to survive, giving you one less resource to have to worry about.
157	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Bowser and his CoDragons:
158	** Bowser is the physical - despite being a powerful magician, he mainly relies on his own strength and fire breath in combat.
159	** Bowser Jr. is the technological - he's a GadgeteerGenius and many of his boss fights involve him operating some sort of machine.
160	** Kamek is the mystical - as a Magikoopa, he has a wide variety of magical abilities, which he uses to a much greater extent than Bowser.
161	* ''VideoGame/SystemShock2'' begins with the player choosing a career as a Marine specializing in weapons, a Navy agent capable of hacking into technology or an OSA agent specializing in PsychicPowers.
162	* Played with in ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' where weapons fall into melee, ranged (technological, mostly guns) and magic. Later in the game armor sets start to match this by having different helmets for each category which can provide substantially different bonuses. However, nothing is stopping you from freely switching between types of equipment, mixing and matching the play a hybrid character (at the very least it's common to have both a melee and ranged weapon available regardless of your overall focus) and there is also a bit of equipment catering to the more niche summoning archetype.
163	* ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}'' has three classes: the Magic-based Alchemist, the Strength-based Destroyer and the Tech-based Vanquisher.
164	* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'': Heroes are almost all Mystical and Physical (the latter further divided into melee Strength heroes and melee or ranged Agility heroes), but one patch added the Goblin Tinker, an explicitly technological hero who builds robots, fires rockets, and turns into a tank (dwarves as a faction are Technological, having gunpowder and aircraft, but their hero is Physical).
165	* ''VideoGame/WildArms1'' has Jack as the Physical due him being a swordsman and therefore having the most 'normal' skillset of the playable trio. Cecilia is the Mystical due to her having spent ten years of her life studying magic and being able to communicate with the Guardians. Rudy is the Technological due to his ARM abilities and [[spoiler: [[TomatoInTheMirror being made of]] [[LostTechnology Lost Technology.]]]]
166	* In ''[[VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown XCOM: Enemy Within]]'', the expansion to the first game, there are MEC Troopers (Technological), Gene Mod Soldiers (Physical) and Psionic Soldiers (Mystical). MEC Troopers are big and bulky, heavily armoured and equipped with deadly weapons from {{BFG}} to PowerFist. Gene Mod Soldiers get a number of body upgrades that emphasis moving away from the group and striking from an unexpected angle - cloaking, jumping up to rooftops, etc. Psionic Soldiers don't have the survivability or mobility of the other two but the arcane power they bring to the field can damage, disrupt or support.
167
168	[[/folder]]
169
170	[[folder:Webcomics]]
171	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', the main characters' powers and skills contrast each other in this way. The Avalon twins' powers come from [[TouchedByVorlons touching the Star Seed]], making them the Physical, Arrio is a mage with a magic ring, spellbook and connection to the Magi Dimension, making him the Mystical, while Nathan utilizes his father's advanced technology and a lot of personal training, making him the Technological.
172	[[/folder]]
173
174	[[folder:Western Animation]]
175	* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
176	** The original PowerTrio of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' had this dynamic.
177	*** Ben wields the Omnitrix that gave him raw power by transforming him into a super alien of his choice.
178	*** Gwen studies arcane arts and was able to fight using magic.
179	*** Grandpa Max is a BadassNormal who relies on skill and various gadgets at his disposal.
180	** Played with in regards to Ben's Team from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' to ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'':
181	*** Ben is usually the Physical as he still relies on the power of his alien transformations granted by the Omnitrix/Ultimatrix. Though he sometimes shifts to technology due to the capabilities of the SuperWristGadget.
182	*** Kevin is the resident GadgeteerGenius who collates an assortment of alien gear, however he often plays TheBigGuy too with his Osmosian powers granting him SuperStrength and [[MadeOfIron durability]].
183	*** Gwen still plays the magic part straight, despite her powers being retconned several times to alien heritage rather than straight-up magic.
184	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' does this with the three main human members of the primary crimefighting team. Kim is the physical muscle, Wade with his gadgets is technological, and Ron has his mystical monkey powers.
185	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
186	** Korra herself is the obviously the Mystical, being the Avatar and having strong connections with the Spirit World, though she prefers using more aggressive Bending styles like Earth and Fire than the more spiritually-driven Air. Bolin is the Physical because he's a strong Earthbender (who later on learns the insanely powerful Lavabending), but doesn't have much in terms of Spirit connection. Asami is the Technological, as she's a non-bender who relies on technology, machines and being a CombatPragmatist to hold her own against bender enemies.
187	** Each ArcVillain also follows the theme: Amon is the Physical, as he fights enemies head-on and erases their power, Unalaq and Zaheer are the Mystical, as Unalaq is a powerful Waterbender with connections with the Spirit Realm, and later forms a pact with the evil god Vaatu, while Zaheer is an ascetic Airbender anarchist obsessed with Air Nomad culture and mysticism, whose intense meditation gives him the power to fly freely. Kuvira is the Technological, as her army uses lots of hi-tech weapons and machines including a giant spirit-powered cannon and a HumongousMecha. Subverted with Zaheer, as he tends to use his spiritually-driven Airbending to fight up close instead of being a SquishyWizard.
188	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': The three main villains, (Fuzzy Lumpkins, HIM and Mojo Jojo).
189	** Fuzzy Lumpkins is Physical, relying mostly on his brute strength and occasional help from his equally strong relatives. His only weapons are his shotgun, banjo and (in one case) a giant rock, which are all mundane objects.
190	** HIM is Mystical, being an evil demon with supernatural powers to do evil things.
191	** Mojo Jojo is Technological, being an EvilGenius who creates high-tech weapons in order to try and take over Townsville.
192	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
193	** The first trio of Homeworld Gems to appear in the show (Jasper, Lapis Lazuli and Peridot).
194	*** Jasper is a [[SuperSoldier Quartz]] gem that can give a hard fight simply with her innate strength. In Season 3, she becomes a BeastMaster, capturing and taming corrupted Gems useing nothing but her own brute strength.
195	*** Lapis Lazuli is not [[SquishyWizard physically tough]], and [[MakingASplash her water powers]] could be considered useless in her homeworld, due to the shortage of water, but [[LethalHarmlessPowers NOT on Earth]].
196	*** Peridot, before discovering her [[ExtraOreDinary ferrokinesis]], heavily relied on Homeworld's gadgets and her own limb enhancers for protection.
197	** The Crystal Gems B-team, which includes Lapis and Peridot, but has Bismuth in place of Jasper.
198	*** Bismuth is the BigGirl who possess many innate physical abilities, including SuperStrength, super durability, shapeshifting her hands into varies weapons and tools, being heat resistant to the point where she can bath in lava and having the lesser known ability to cool molten metal simply by blowing on it. Whilst she does create weapons, these are all traditional medieval style weapons, made using old-fashioned blacksmithing, with the added bonus of her beforementioned abilities eliminating her need for tools or protective gear.
199	*** Lapis Lazuli remains unchanged from before.
200	*** Peridot, after loosing access to her Homeworld tech, now eaither uses earth tech, or builds her own machines using whatever she can find.
201	* The first three students of HIVE introduced in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' follow the dynamic together.
202	** Mammoth is the giant of the group with SuperStrength.
203	** Jinx is a magic user who [[WindsOfDestinyChange can make anything she influences suffer catastrophic bad luck]].
204	** Gizmo is the short, insufferable GadgeteerGenius.
205	* Creator/{{Filmation}}'s animated series ''WesternAnimation/ThundarrTheBarbarian'' fields a PowerTrio of heroes that go WalkingTheEarth (riding, actually) thwarting various villains in an AfterTheEnd world.
206	** Physical: Ookla the mok, one of the {{Beast M\|an}}en in form who roars and growls to communicate. He's a WalkingShirtlessScene in a loincloth that does all the team's heavy lifting and much of the melee combat.
207	** Mystical: Ariel the mage, who's better dressed than a NubileSavage, and has WaifFu combat skills. While not quite a wizard-class magic wielder, she can and has cast a useful spell when needed.
208	** Technological: Thundarr, the group leader, wields as his principal weapon the [[LaserBlade Sun Sword]], which he deploys when fighting MechaMooks.
209	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PhysicalMysticalTechnological