Finesse weapons are those that don’t rely on brute force to do damage. They might be smaller or lighter than other weapons, making them easier to use in close quarters, or they might have special properties that make them more effective against certain types of enemies. There are a few finesse weapons in D&D 5e, and each has its own unique benefits. The rapier is a versatile weapon that can be used for stabbing or slashing, and the shortbow is an excellent choice for ranged combat. The whip can cause damage both from close range and afar, while the dagger can be used to disarm opponents or take their heads off from a distance. Whether you’re looking for a weapon that will help you take down your enemies quickly or one that will let you stay safe while you take them down, finesse weapons are a great option. ..
If you look at the list of weapons in the equipment section of Chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook, you’ll notice that several weapons have special properties. “Finesse” is one of these special properties for some weapons.
Basically, finesse weapons tend to be heavily favored by Dex-based characters, like Rogues.
For example: a level 1 fighter with Dex 16 (+3) and Str 12 (+1) might want to compare a long sword (d8 damage, no finesse) to a rapier (d8 damage, with finesse). The fighter has +2 proficiency bonus, which applies to the attack but not to damage.
When using the longsword, the fighter has +3 to hit (+1 from strength, +2 from proficiency) and does d8+1 damage.
Using the rapier, the fighter has +5 to hit (+3 from dex, +2 from proficiency) and does d8+3 damage.
Clearly the rapier is the better option. In theory, the fighter could use STR for their rapier attacks and damage, but that doesn’t make much sense in this case.
There are a limited number of finesse weapons in 5e, and they tend to do a bit less damage (1 or 2 points less on average) than non-finesse weapons.
Most finesse weapons also lack the properties that some of the more powerful 5e weapons have, such as Reach and Heavy (which meshes well with the Great Weapon Master feat).
A list of the finesse weapons in 5e:
Dagger Dart Rapier Scimitar Shortsword Whip
For characters with martial weapon proficiencies, here’s some weapon choice tips to keep in mind:
If you want to wield one weapon, use the rapier. If you want to wield two weapons, use shortswords or scimitars. If you want to melee attack from 10’ range, use a whip. If you want to attack from range, you’re probably better off using a longbow or crossbow.
