Stories where the main characters have to work around their weaknesses with their wits (Weak and Smart MC)
Manga
Characters that work around their weaknesses are the GOATS frfr
also, here is an extra recommendation, [Hand Jumper] the MC from the series (Sayeon Lee) is an ultra nerd who spent most of her life studying to become a lawyer but has been forced by the government to become a mega-dystopian type of X-men. She has psychopathic tendencies, so she uses logic and morals to try to teach herself to be a good person (but since she is really smart she actually ends up inadvertently justifying her bad actions a lot of the time). Also, her only power is going back in time for a few minutes, so for her to stand a chance against magneto and friends she has to be smart (which thankfully our gaslight queen definitely is)
the only reason it's not properly on the list is that it isn't here on the site
also, here is an extra recommendation, [Hand Jumper] the MC from the series (Sayeon Lee) is an ultra nerd who spent most of her life studying to become a lawyer but has been forced by the government to become a mega-dystopian type of X-men. She has psychopathic tendencies, so she uses logic and morals to try to teach herself to be a good person (but since she is really smart she actually ends up inadvertently justifying her bad actions a lot of the time). Also, her only power is going back in time for a few minutes, so for her to stand a chance against magneto and friends she has to be smart (which thankfully our gaslight queen definitely is)
the only reason it's not properly on the list is that it isn't here on the site
Manga, ? vol, 2013
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Osamus from [world trigger], bro, is very weak. You can count on one hand the amount of guys this dude has actually taken out, but thankfully he is even smarter, he puts his friend skills to good use, and he comes up with some consistently genius plans, can't think of a better MC for a battle sci-fi manga
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Manga, ? vol, 2014
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kazuma from [konosuba] might be immature and a sleazy bag, but lucky for us, his friend group is even worse, so we get to watch Kazuma out witt and weasel his way out of a bunch of wacky situations (while laughing and him and company along the way)
Dungeon Meshi
Delicious in Dungeon
Manga, 14 vol, 2014
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Laos from [delicious in dungeon] he may be goofy and far from OP, but his autistic, hipper fixation on monster biology always saves the day. (and I know that a 6"1' young dude that spends all day moving around in full plate armor is not "weak", by human standards, but humans aren't the average challenge in the show, so I don't care, because just like John Cena can't beat a bear, Laios and company can't beat a dragon by just throwing hands, that's why they need to make a plan in basically chapter/episode to beat the monster of the week, if not for his smarts Laos would be getting soloed by most of the verses and would come out with some bruises even against those cute mushroom fellows)
Manhwa, ? vol, 2021
Me:-
Author:10
[ember knight] My boi Nagyunn basically infiltrates a battle shōnen with the characters in one of those crazy manga training arcs and has to pretend he is his badass brother to avenge the death of said badass brother. Sadly, sadly, he is genuinely the weakest person in the whole world; however, he hides that by using clever schemes. I don't want to spoil you on any of those schemes, but trust me, it's very impressive to see him constantly save the day when he is constantly getting speed blitzed ( and all the while people don't even know that he can't even see what is happening half the time lol).
Maou to Yuusha no Tatakai no Ura de
Reincarnated into a Game as the Hero's Friend: Running the Kingdom Behind the Scenes
Manga, ? vol, 2022
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Author:9
Verna from [the Hero's Friend] has information on what will happen and makes war formations and battle strategies based on that, so he saves a lot of people; however, he isn't actually powerful, I mean he isn't weak, he can deal with monster fodder, and he is a stand-out Spearman in his class. He has been training hard for over 10 years, but he is still just 16, and whenever he spars with a professional knight who has years of experience using a spear, Bro simply is no match; even if he is at the top of his class any professional still outmatches him in skill
Manhwa, 5 vol, 2014
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Author:8
Jin from [bastard], bro is a middle schooler trying to stop his dad from killing his crush. My guy doesn't have money, physical strength, social influence, or even a high school diploma, but bro has a good head above his shoulder, so that will have to do
Manga, 10 vol, 2006
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Author:7
[MX0]. Because of some misunderstanding, little Bro ends up going to hogwarts and getting the reputation of being the strongest dude around, but he actually can't use magic and is not a gym rat like mashele, so he has to scheme and lie his way out of most magical and wacky situations (including fights)
Manga, 26 vol, 2017
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Author:8
Tetsuo from [my home hero] is a middle-aged office guy who likes to read and write mystery stories for fun. He ends up killing a gangster to protect his daughter, so the mafia started looking for him. He is literally outgunned, so he has to cover his tracks and lie his way out of that situation
Manhwa, 6 vol, 2015
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Author:9
Ram from [Gilgamesh]. The dude is immortal, but he is weaker than the characters running around in his world, so he uses his regenerative powers, magic knowledge, and friends, to create strategies that let him and his companions run away from enemies who are stronger than them
Imawa no Kuni no Alice
Alice in Borderland
Manga, 18 vol, 2010
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[Alice in the Borderland] the MC is a GAMER, so of course Bro is physically weak (he just like me fr fr), but unlike me, he is actually pretty smart, and he (usually) finds clever solutions to the death games he got stuck in, but when the games aren't about intellect, and focus on physical skill, he usually has to really on his bro's
Yuusha ga Shinda!: Murabito no Ore ga Hotta Otoshiana ni Yuusha ga Ochita Kekka.
The Legendary Hero Is Dead!
Manga, 20 vol, 2014
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Scott from [Yuusha ga Shinda!] is a peasant, he is a farmer slash hunter, and one day he accidentally kills the legendary hero with one of his traps, so the necromancer of the party brings him back into the hero's body so he can finish the hero's job. Sadly, Bro is still weak and has no magic, so he has to rely on his quick wit and staple traps to survive
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
Light Novel, ? vol, 2014
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Subaru from [re:zero] he is not a genius by any means, but he has groundhog day powers, which means he has information, time, and no choice but to use his brains to get the job done, since his calisthenic skills and god awful magic definitely won't cut it
