Dominant strategy
Also said as Optimal strategy, No-brainer, Solved
A choice that is at least as good as every alternative, whatever the opponent does. Once people find it, the rest of your options might as well not exist.
A game with one is no longer a game of choices. Players will find it however it looks, and they will use it even if it is dull, because they play to win, and they then blame you for the boredom.
Say it
“The sword beats both other weapons in every match-up we simulated, so it is a dominant strategy. Cut its damage by 15% so that the spear beats it again.”
Where you’ve seen it
Online Mario Kart Wii came to be ruled by bikes that drift on the inside of turns, above all Funky Kong on the Flame Runner, because they kept their speed through corners that karts could not.
Not to be confused with strong option
A strong option wins often and still has something that beats it. A dominant strategy has nothing that beats it, so no other choice ever makes sense.