Archetype:Combat Pragmatist

Combat Pragmatist
Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones), was one who took every advantage in a fight.
The Archetype of:	Combat Pragmatist

"You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you."
"That's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?"

― Will Turner and Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)

"I had thought that the man who killed Ou Ki would have been of a far greater caliber."
"Quite the opposite. It is precisely I am such a small man that I was able to win. It is because I am a coward that I dedicate so much myself to petty little schemes. I will gladly resort to anything, even underhanded methods if it means we can emerge unharmed. The level of detail in my plans correlates directly to how much of a coward I am."

― Ryo Fui and Ri Boku (Kingdom)

"Pillaging, slaughtering, you name it, we do it. No one here is going to hold you back from doing whatever the hell you want. Anything and everything goes, All in the name of victory."

― Kan Ki (Kingdom)

"You are free to call us cowards once you are dead!!! The one who survived is the victor!!!"

― Dagama (One Piece)

"George, remember everything I taught you about Queensbury Rules and fighting fair?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well, now's a good time to forget it!"

― Ape and George (George Of The Jungle)

"Only a moron would bring a sword to a gun fight."

― Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant)

"That's where the caped crowd always misses the point. Some enemies you charge head-on. Others you shoot through the head with a high-powered Skrull sniper rifle from four miles away."

― Frank Castle/The Punisher (Marvel Comics)

"Nothing is true; everything is permitted."

― The Assassin Brotherhood's Maxim (Assassin's Creed)

The ability to embody the combat pragmatist archetype. Note this is essentially a definition of an archetype/concept.

Also Called

• Dirty Fighting

Properties

The character is an advantage-seeker. They are defined by their willingness to win by any means necessary. Strategically, they are very much unpredictable and can be considered dishonorable compared to more moralistic fighters. However, they are definitely not cowardly, being more opportunistic and inventive when the odds are stacked against them. Essentially, these characters are much more realistic when it comes to non-fictional representations of battle and war.

Associated Powers

• Absolute Unpredictability
• All Adaptations (Varies)
• Adoptive Muscle Memory
• Advantage Creation
• Attack Prediction
• Brawling Mastery
• Cheating Mastery
• Combat Perception
• Combat Specialism
• Defense Prediction
• Enhanced Combat Mastery
• Enhanced Intelligence
• Enhanced Survivability
• Improbable Weapon Proficiency
  • Improvised Weapon Proficiency
• Killing Mastery
• Opportunity Sense
• Martial Arts Mastery
  • Mixed Martial Arts Mastery
• Military Mastery
• Ninjutsu Mastery
• Path to Victory
• Predictability Manipulation
• Stealth Combat
• Strategy Manipulation
• Superpower Replication
• Tactical Analysis
• Tactical Genius
• Unpredictability
• Weapon Proficiency

Relationships

• Adventurer
• Assassin
• Badass
  • Badass Normal
  • Empowered Badass Normal
• Bounty Hunter
• Fragile Speedster
  • The smarter speedsters improvise against tougher opponents.
• Hitman
• Mercenary
• Ninja
• Outbreak Survivalist
• Rebel
• Setup Fighter
• Soldier
• Spy
• Thief
• Treasure Hunter
• Trickster

Flaws/Weaknesses

• Users can still be outmatched by far superior opponents, regardless of odds.

Known Users

See also: Combat Pragmatist Never Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight

Anime/Manga/Manhwa

• Jin Sohan (A Dance of Swords in the Night')
• Erwin Smith (Attack on Titan)
• Eren Yaeger (Attack on Titan)
• Azumi (Azumi)
• Balalaika (Black Lagoon)
• Revy (Black Lagoon)
• Ginjo Kujo (Bleach)
• Kisuke Urahara (Bleach)
• Sosuke Aizen (Bleach)
• Godou Kusanagi (Campione)
• Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass)
• Jet Black (Cowboy Bebop)
• Hei (Darker Than Black)
• Children of Wammy's House (Death Note)
  • L Lawliet
  • Near
  • Mello
• Light Yagami (Death Note)
• Piccolo (Dragon Ball series)
• Vegeta (Dragon Ball series)
• Future Trunks (Dragon Ball series)
• Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)
• Gray Fullbuster (Fairy Tail)
• Kang Han Soo (FFF-Class Trashero)
• Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
• Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima): optional
• Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
• Kim Suho/Lloyd Frontera (The Greatest Estate Developer)
• Issei Hyoudo (Highschool DxD)
• Yuto Kiba (Highschool DxD)
• The Goblin Slayer (Goblin Slayer)
• Joseph Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency)
• Kars (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency)
• Giorno Giovana (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part V: Golden Wind/Vento Aureo)
• Diavolo (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part V: Golden Wind/Vento Aureo)
• Various Characters (Kingdom)
  • Kan Ki
  • Ka Rin
  • Mou Ten
  • Ri Boku
  • Shun Sui Ju
• Arsène Lupin III (Lupin III)
• All For One (My Hero Academia)
• Momo Yaoyorozu (My Hero Academia)
• Nine (My Hero Academia)
• Hidden Rain Ninja (Naruto)
• Hidden Sound Ninja (Naruto)
• Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)
• Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)
• Konan (Naruto)
• Madara Uchiha (Naruto)
• Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
• Obito Uchiha (Naruto)
• Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
• Tenten (Naruto)
• Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling)
• Kumoko/Shiraori (So I'm a Spider, So What?)
• Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
• Marshall D. Teach/Blackbeard (One Piece)
• Krieg (One Piece)
• Crocodile (One Piece)
• Donquixote Doflamingo (One Piece)
• Sakazuki/Akainu (One Piece)
• New Fish-Men Pirates (One Piece)
• Cheongmyeong (Return of the Blossoming Blade)
• Merlin (Seven Deadly Sins)
• Shirou Yusa (Shinza Banshou series)
• Loid Forger/Twilight (Spy x Family)
• Rimuru Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)
• Hyuk Musang (World’s Greatest Senior Disciple)
• Murong Geomhwa (World’s Greatest Senior Disciple)

Cartoons/Comics

• Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
• Danny Fenton/Phantom (Danny Phantom)
• Bruce Wayne/Batman (DC Comics)
• The Joker (DC Comics)
• Slade Wilson/Deathstroke (DC Comics)
• Midnighter (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
• Lord Shen (Kung Fu Panda 2)
• Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes)
• Fa Mulan (Mulan)

Mythology/Religion/Folklore

• David (The Bible)
• Jason (Greek Mythology)

Literature

• Slytherin House students (Harry Potter)
  • Narcissa Malfoy
  • Salazar Slytherin
  • Severus Snape
  • Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort
• Abraham Van Helsing (Dracula)
• Count Dracula (Dracula)
• Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes Series)

Live Television/Movies

• The Man With No Name (The Dollars Trilogy)
• Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
• John Rambo (Rambo)
• Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
• Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
• Bounty Hunters (Star Wars)
  • Asajj Ventress
  • Boba Fett
  • Cad Bane
  • Fennec Shand
• Many CIS Generals/Leaders (Star Wars)
  • Admiral Trench
  • General Grievous
• Clone Troopers (Star Wars)
  • Clone Squad 99/The Bad Batch
• Han Solo (Star Wars)
• Mandalorians (Star Wars)
  • Bo-Katan Kryze
  • Din Djarin
  • Jango Fett
  • Sabine Wren
  • The Armorer
• Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Thrawn (Star Wars Canon/Legends)
• Padme Amidala (Star Wars)
• Sith (Star Wars)
  • Count Dooku
  • Darth Maul
  • Darth Sidious/Palpatine
  • Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker
• Wilhuff Tarkin (Star Wars)
• Bryan Mills (Taken)
• Terminators (Terminator)
• James Bond (James Bond series)
• Mike Ehrmantraut ("Better Call Saul")

Video Games

• Renee "Wraith" H. Blasey (Apex Legends)
• Revenant (Apex Legends)
• The Assassin Brotherhood & Templar Order (Assassin's Creed)
• Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot)
• Isaac Clarke (Dead Space)
• Carl "CJ" Johnson (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
• Protagonist characters (The Elder Scrolls)
• Protagonist characters (Fallout)
• Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy XV)
• Kratos (God of War)
• Agent 47 (Hitman)
• Vanitas (Kingdom Hearts series)
• Big Boss (Metal Gear Solid)
• Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
• Dark-type Pokémon (Pokémon)
  • Hisuian Samurott
• Poison-type Pokémon (Pokémon)
• Wolf/Okami/Sekiro (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
• Various Characters (Mortal Kombat)
• Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)
• Kaliyo Djannis (Star Wars: The Old Republic)
• Link (The Legend of Zelda)
• Counter Guardian EMIYA (TYPE-MOON)
• Gilgmesh (TYPE-MOON)
• Kiritsugu Emiya (TYPE-MOON)
• Robin Hood (TYPE-MOON)
• Starkiller/Galen Marek (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed)

Gallery

Anime/Manga/Manhwa

Eren Yaeger (Attack on Titan) resolved himself to do whatever is necessary to save his people, including manipulating his half-brother, betraying his friends, and destroying the entire world.

Sosuke Aizen (Bleach) can come up with any pragmatic advantages and plans for his goals to overthrow the Soul King.

Kisuke Urahara (Bleach) is well known for his ability to prepare for any possible situation.

Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass) uses every advantage available to him to take down his enemies.

In the past, Vegeta (Dragon Ball series) would take any advantages available to him, including killing civilians or even allowing himself to be fatally wounded in order get a Zenkai boost.

Lacking innate talent, Issei Hyodou (Highschool DxD) relied on pragmatism, using abnormal ways that is considered foolish to fight even managed to best combat geniuses like Vali and Cao Cao.

Since his youth, Joseph Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) has mixed his intelligence and wit with a variety of equipment to catch his opponents off guard.

Ri Boku (Kingdom)

Kan Ki (Kingdom)

Ka Rin (Kingdom)

Arsène Lupin III (Lupin III) is a slippery Thief with many tricks.

With his Quirk, All For One (My Hero Academia) can steal the quirks of others, just to counter his opponents. This has made him both highly dangerous and nigh unstoppable.

Renowned for his deceptive tactics, Itachi Uchiha (Naruto) was able to face down powerful shinobi like Orochimaru, Deidara, and Kakashi Hatake on equal ground with superb and incredible mastery over potent genjutsu.

Known as the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake (Right) (Naruto) could learn the jutsu of his opponents with his Sharingan, being able to quickly mimic them.

Overtime, Sasuke Uchiha (Left) and Naruto Uzumaki (Right) (Naruto) gained soo many skills and jutsu, neither one could best the other.

As a shinobi and warrior from over 100 years ago, Madara Uchiha (Naruto) was legendary for his quick, adaptive combat style.

Tenten (Naruto) stored multiple varieties of different ninja tools, that were as versatile as she was.

Ninja from the Hidden Sound (Naruto) had a variety of different weapons and Jutsu. This made them both unique and memorable opponents.

Many Hidden Rain Ninja such as Pain (Naruto) didn't adhere to one specific Chakra Element, thus they took advantage of multiple other techniques to succeed.

Obito Uchiha (Naruto) almost died fighting the equally creative Konan. Unfortunately for her, he survived a continuous explosion via Izanagi.

"Foul-Play" Krieg (One Piece) lives up to his moniker for his pragmatic ideals by using any means necessary to achieve victory.

Crocodile (One Piece) strives to achieve victory at all costs, whether it be sacrificing even his subordinates or eschewing honor in combat.

Donquixote Doflamingo (One Piece) uses any means to gain the advantage, whether to falsify his resignation from the Warlords or destroying the entire Dressrosa to kill all his enemies.

Sakazuki (One Piece) is willing to use any means to win, such as deceiving Squard or taunting Ace about Whitebeard in order to gain the advantages.

Hody Jones (One Piece) and his New Fish-Men Pirates crew are pragmatists in that they would use any methods to overwhelm mankind, including drug abuse and destroying the entire Fish-Man Island.

Merlin (Seven Deadly Sins) mixes her power of Infinity with her mastery of magic to a point that others consider her strength unfair.

Rimuru Tempest (That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime) cleverly used his wide range of abilities to his advantage.

Despite being both a Genius and having the local police on his side, L (Death Note) wasn't above using unorthodox methods in order to catch his culprits.

Loid Forger/Twilight (Spy x Family) is willing to use any and all means that will complete his mission and give him an advantage in combat.

Cartoons/Comics

Danny Fenton/Phantom (Danny Phantom)

Clone Squad 99/The Bad Batch (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) used highly unorthodox tactics, even compared to most other Clones.

Literature

Students of the Slytherin House (Harry Potter) are well-known or infamous for winning by any means necessary.

Despite his weaknesses as a Vampire, Count Dracula (Bram Stoker's Dracula). Managed to overcome them, through the help of his minions.

Live Television/Movies

Lord Shen (Kung Fu Panda 2)

Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Boba Fett (Star Wars)

Han Solo (Star Wars)

Cad Bane (Star Wars)

As a Mandalorian, Din Djarin (Star Wars) could take on groups of enemies with skills and tools alone.

Despite just being a Senator, Padme Amidala (Star Wars) could handle herself in a fight, to the point where she even tricked General Grievous once.

Many CIS Leaders like General Grievous (Star Wars) used dirty tactics during the Clone Wars. However Grievous was also notably a notorious coward, as during his battle with Nahdar Vebb, Grievous shot him while being in a blade lock.

Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars) used highly unorthodox tactics, even by Jedi standards.

Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) gets the better of Kendra with dirty tactics, such as digging her nails into her skin and hair pulling.

Ace Ukiyo/Kamen Rider Geats (Kamen Rider Geats) true to his fox motif will use anything to win even lie to his allies.

Keiwa Sakurai/Kamen Rider Tycoon (Kamen Rider Geats) can be just as pragmatic as Ace especially when he uses his Bujin Sword form when he tried to attack Michinaga before transforming and using misdirection to try and caught Ace off guard.

Video Games

The Assassin Brotherhood (Assassins Creed)

Shay Cormac (Assassin's Creed: Rogue) is an Assassin-turned Templar, that became just as ruthless as his cohorts.

Agent 47 (Hitman) is the ultimate Hitman; using any item and hazard he can find to his advantage.

Sekiro/Wolf/Okami (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)

Shirou Yusa (Shinza Banshou series) possesses the Sense of Foreknowledge, which allows him to remain calm in any situation and use everything around him to his advantage.

Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Counter Gaurdian EMIYA (TYPE-MOON) is a pragmatist with weapons for every situation and is willing to take underhanded methods to get results.

Gilgamesh (TYPE-MOON) can use his Gate of Babylon to fire off an uncountable number of specialized weapons, allowing him to overwhelm nearly any opponent regardless of his/her defenses.

Kiritsugu Emiya (TYPe-MOON) was known as the Magus Killer for his willingness to use any method necessary to kill other ages.

When push comes to shove, Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima) would use even dishonorable tactics if it meant success, despite originally being a Samurai.

Compared to its Unovan counterpart, Husuian Samurott (Pokémon​) will do anything in order to win, even resort to dirty tactics.

While he is a Boxer, Balrog (Street Fighter) uses dirty moves like stomping on opponents foots and headbutting them for the victory.

Videos

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