History Main / ForceAndFinesse

* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork6'''s Beast Out system varies depending on which {{version|ExclusiveContent}} the player chooses. Gregar's Beast Out is the force, giving [=MegaMan.EXE=] a [[MoreDakka rapid-fire buster]], [[ImmuneToFlinching super armor]], and is best employed to decisively end a fight. Falzar's Beast Out is the finesse, offering a [[SpreadShot buster that hits multiple rows]], immunity to GeoEffects, and gives the user an opportunity to gain stage control.

* ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'' has Kazuma and Ryuhou. Kazuma's Alter gives him a big metal fist while Ryuhou has a stand with precision blades.

Subtrope of OpposingCombatPhilosophies, and supertrope to MaleMightFemaleFinesse. Can be related to BrainsAndBrawn and BrainsVersusBrawn, depending on if finesse coincides with intelligence. The Red Oni in a RedOniBlueOni pairing is likely to use force, while the Blue Oni typically relies on finesse.

* Franchise/TheDCU:
** Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/{{Batman}} have this dynamic when they team up. The former is one of the most powerful flying bricks in existence while the latter is a BadassNormal [[ActionHero martial artist]], [[ScienceHero scientist]], [[GuileHero detective]] and StealthExpert. Their respective [[DistaffCounterpart distaff counterparts]] ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} also have this dynamic when they team up, as do ComicBook/PowerGirl and ComicBook/{{Huntress}}.
** ''ComicBook/{{Flash}}'': Although they're both incredibly powerful speedsters, traditionally [[Characters/TheFlashBarryAllen Barry Allen]] has been the finesse and ComicBook/WallyWest has been the force. Wally is faster than Barry and has a unique connection to the [[BackgroundMagicField Speed Force]] which allows him to instinctively do things that other speedsters either can't do easily or can't do at all. Meanwhile, although Barry is slower he's a highly intelligent man who supplements his powers with [[ScienceHero scientific brilliance]].
** The West twins initially shared a connection to the Speed Force which made their powers manifest in strange ways, Irey (finesse) had the power to [[{{Intangibility}} walk though walls]] while Jai (force) had SuperStrength. In ''The Flash: Rebirth'', Irey got the full suite of speedster powers (force) and Jai lost his powers altogether (finesse). Post-''ComicBook/InfiniteFrontier'' Jai has his strength back (force), while Irey has kept her speed (finesse).
** ComicBook/SuperSons follows the adventures of Superboy (Jon Kent) and Robin (Damian Wayne). Given they are the sons of Superman and Batman respectively, they also repeat this dynamic with the superpowered Jon serving as the force while the sly and cunning but very human Damian serves as the finesse.
* Franchise/MarvelUniverse: The classic team of [[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and ComicBook/IronFist. Power Man -- or Luke Cage, as he now prefers -- is a superhumanly strong brawler with unbreakable skin; his crimefighting partner Iron Fist is one of the most skilled martial artists on the planet.
* Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles: Between the four turtles in almost every incarnation whether it be in comics, movies or shows, the dynamic is divided pretty evenly.

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* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Zaraki and Byakuya have this dynamic when they take on Yammy. Zaraki is a hot-headed berserker with no respect for tactics or grace and fights with wild, vicious strikes from his {{BFS}}. Byakuya is a MagicKnight skilled in all forms of Shinigami combat arts and his [[CoolSword Zanpakuto]] special ability dissolves into thousands of tiny blades to skewer his enemies from multiple angles. Between the two of them, Yammy doesn't stand a chance.

* ''VideoGame/DragonBallFighterz'': Young Gohan focuses more on raw power, but lacks proper technique, whereas Adult Gohan has far superior technique to compensate for his initial lack of brute strength.

* The Force fighter is blunt, straightforward, and relies on sheer power to get through their battles. More often than not, they'll either use their [[GoodOldFisticuffs bare fists]] or a [[{{BFS}} really big sword]] to get the job done. They're probably on the slow side, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. Expect them to be UnskilledButStrong, at least relative to everyone else. Tropes that may apply:

* ''Literature/HighSchoolDxD'' has Issei and Kiba. Issei fights with the Dragon Arm, while Kiba fights with swords.

** The Nameless King and Dark Sun Gwyndolin are this on a metatextual level. Though fought in different games, both are sons of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight who employ contrasting skillsets, with the Nameless King being a the Force (a RatedMForManly DragonRider who alternates between lightning-heavy Miracles from a distance and deadly attacks from his spear) with Gwyndolin being the Finesse (a SquishyWizard MasterOfIllusion WholesomeCrossdresser who employs archery and long distance Sorcery while using VillainTeleportation to keep the player at a distance).

* ''WebComic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'' protagonist, Commander Badass, and his [[ArtificialHuman "brother"]] Ace pull this off, as seen [[http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/compatible-in-their-own-way here]]. Seeing as they're respectively designed to be a RatedMForManly gritty action hero and a TuxedoAndMartini type, it just comes with the territory.

** [[BigBad Xykon]] was a powerful sorcerer even before he became a [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]], but was constantly looked down on by wizards, who deem their magic to be superior.[[note]]To clarify, in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', which this series is based on, wizards operate off a VancianMagic system, where they must prepare their spells in advance, and attain their power through study and experimentation. Sorcerers, on the other hand, are born with magic in them, and so don't need to prepare the spells they know in order to use them.[[/note]] Xykon himself is somewhat lazy and has a fairly short attention span, and so was dismissed as being unintelligent by the more studious wizards. However, the sheer overwhelming force of Xykon's magic ends up being more than a match for the wizard [[spoiler:Dorukan]], which he delights in reveling in.

** The Nameless King and Dark Sun Gwyndolin are this on a metatextual level. Though fought in different games, both are sons of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight who employ contrasting skillsets, with the Nameless King being a the Force (a RatedMForManly DragonRider who alternates between lightning-heavy Miracles from a distance and deadly attacks from his BladeOnAStick) with Gwyndolin being the Finesse (a SquishyWizard MasterOfIllusion WholesomeCrossdresser who employs archery and long distance Sorcery while using VillainTeleportation to keep the player at a distance).

* Amethyst and Pearl form this sort of dynamic in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', with reckless whip-user Amethyst being the force, and the graceful [[BladeOnAStick spear-wielding]] Pearl being the finesse. The leader of the Crystal Gems, Garnet, [[StrongAndSkilled displays a balance between the two]] in most of her fights. Further emphasized when you combine either Pearl or Amethyst with the relatively stable Garnet. Sugilite uses a flailing mace with reckless abandon while Sardonyx has a hammer that she strikes with utmost precision.

* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDxD'' has Issei and Kiba. Issei fights with the Dragon Arm, while Kiba fights with swords.

* Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles: Between the four turtles, the dynamic is divided pretty evenly.
** Force: TheBigGuy Raphael who is the most temperamental of his brothers and cares more about fighting than he does about the techniques of becoming a ninja and PluckyComicRelief Michalangelo who is more cheery but also cares more about fighting similar to Ralph.
** Finesse: Leonardo who takes his job as TheLeader and as a ninja very seriously and is usually the one most dedicated in becoming a true ninja and Donatello who is the one who is [[TheSmartGuy the most strategic and brainy of his brothers]] and could qualify as a GeniusBruiser.

** Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/{{Batman}} have this dynamic when they team up. The former is one of the most powerful flying bricks in existence while the latter is a BadassNormal [[ActionHero martial artist]], [[ScienceHero scientist]], [[GuileHero detective]] and StealthExpert. Their respective [[DistaffCounterpart distaff counterparts]] ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} also have this dynamic when they team up as do ComicBook/PowerGirl and ComicBook/{{Huntress}}.

* ''Manga/DragonBallSuper'': Goku's Ultra Instinct and Vegeta's Ultra Ego fit this dynamic and suits their users very well as Ultra Instinct is about dodging, countering, and anticipating attacks while Ultra Ego is about getting more stronger from taking and absorbing hits.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' this is a very prominent theme, used throughout the series. Usually the Force characters are the extroverted [[BoisterousBruiser hard-hitters]] (Naruto, Sakura, Guy etc), contrasting the more introverted [[RenaissanceMan skill-refiners]] (Sasuke, Hinata, Kakashi etc) who serve as the opposing Finesse. Ultimately, neither factor prevails, which is especially highlighted in the final battle between [[spoiler: Naruto and Sasuke]]. Instead, both serves a purpose [[FireForgedFriends mutually in combat]].

*** The final boss of the first DLC for ''VideoGame/DarkSouls3'' has this [[spoiler: in phase 2. Father Ariandel is big, strong, and slow; Sister Friede is normal-sized, less strong(though not to be taken lightly), and fast]].

* Amethyst and Pearl form this sort of dynamic in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', with reckless [[WhipItGood whip-user]] Amethyst being the force, and the graceful [[BladeOnAStick spear-wielding]] Pearl being the finesse. The leader of the Crystal Gems, Garnet, [[StrongAndSkilled displays a balance between the two]] in most of her fights. Further emphasized when you combine either Pearl or Amethyst with the relatively stable Garnet. Sugilite uses a flailing mace with reckless abandon while Sardonyx has a hammer that she strikes with utmost precision.

** Finesse: Leonardo who takes his job as TheLeader and as a ninja very seriously and is usually the one most dedicated in becoming a true ninja and TheSmartGuy Donatello who could qualify as a GeniusBruiser.

* Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles: Between the four turtles.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Gru and Vector's technology when compared to each other; Gru's machines are focused on comically-bulky Diesel Punk, while Vector's machines are slim, sleek and brightly-colored.

* ''Film/JurassicWorld'' features the climactic battle of [[RaptorAttack Blue the Raptor]] and [[KingOfTheDinosaurs Rexie]] against the ''Indominus rex''. Blue uses her speed to keep the ''I. rex'' distracted while Rexie matches her on brute strength.

*** Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood. Rex plays a [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Dinosaur deck]] which focuses on beatdown tactics to reduce his opponent's life points as quickly as possible. Weevil plays an [[BigCreepyCrawlies Insect deck]] which focuses on swarming and field control.

* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' has Ibuki, who is the only character with ammo having a limited number of usable kunai. She is usually paired with stronger characters like R. Mika and Makoto, who both fight physically with no powers and both are in contention for the physically strongest female in the game, and Birdie. Birdie is a giant brute who's strength rival's Zangief's and can smash an opponent down a concrete floor.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', Ike (force) and Marth (finesse) share this dynamic.
** Ditto Marth and Lucina in the fourth game. They have the same moveset, but Lucina doesn't have Marth's "sweet spot" on the edge of the sword. Her strikes are weaker than Marth's sweetspotted hits, but stronger otherwise, meaning proper spacing is less important with her. Ike still shows as a force fighter, while Robin shows up as a new finesse fighter--his moves have limited uses in their "strong" form before he must rely on weaker versions of them for awhile.
** From ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros4 3DS/Wii U]]'', Roy serves as the Force counterpart to Marth's Finesse: while Marth relies on careful positioning with his sword's sweetspot being at the tip, Roy's sweetspot is closer to his sword's hilt, favoring a more aggressive rushdown-based fighting style.
*** It should be noted that Sakurai has gone on record to say that the ideology behind Marth has always been to be a flashy, technical Finesse swordfighter to counterbalance [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link's]] less refined but more powerful Force style of swordfighting.
** From ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Ultimate]]'', [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Pyra/Mythra]] have this dynamic: Pyra is the Force, with attacks that are slow but damaging; while Mythra is the Finesse, having weaker but faster-hitting attacks.

** It's even evident in their [[WeaponOfChoice weapons of choice]] and vigilante antics. Laurel uses two practical tonfas/batons, while Sara uses the more elegant bo staff along with a silk scarf to fall down from great heights like a ''Cirque du Soleil'' performer.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' this is the reason why [[PhysicalGod Kwamis]] take [[PowerLimiter Holders]]. Bad, bad things happen when a God unleashes their full power.