History Main / MaleMightFemaleFinesse

* Similar to the Superman and Wonder Woman example, ComicBook/{{Thor}} and [[Characters/MarvelComicsAsgardians Lady Sif]] his off-and-on-again ActionGirlfriend/amicable ex frequently are presented in this dynamic. Though both are highly skilled warriors with general divine strength, Thor of course has the massive edge in strength and power being a FlyingBrick, whereas Sif is a versatile LadyOfWar swordswoman with great speed and agilty.

* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'':
** Ranma has a curse that turns him into a girl. While his male half is still pretty fast, his female form allows him even greater speed and agility, but at the cost of being smaller and weaker than his male form.
** During his battle with Herb of the Musk Dynasty, Herb, who is initially locked into a female form, uses a form of Ki Attack that has Ranma baffled, until Herb manages to turn back to male and uses the same attack, at which point Ranma can see what's happening. Herb's female form had done it so blinding fast Ranma couldn't make heads or tails of it.
* Yoshimori and Tokine from ''Manga/{{Kekkaishi}}''. Yoshimori possesses a much greater raw power to build large kekkais, but it lacks precision and form. Tokine lacks Yoshimori's sheer force but has more skill and accuracy in forming the barriers.

* In ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'', [[BoisterousBruiser Alex Louis]] and [[LadyOfWar Olivier Mira Armstrong]] are usually depicted fighting with his fists and her sword respectively. Olivier is a BadassNormal who can wipe the floor with those using superhuman powers and alchemy with nothing but raw martial prowess, while Alex supplements his skill with alchemy and his sculpted physique. The typical personality traits for the two are reversed gender-wise though, as the male Alex is boisterous, affectionate and childish compared to the cold, collected and harsher demeanor of the sister Olivier.

* Inverted when Marvel Comics ran some story arcs around ''ComicBook/XMen'' members Gambit and Rogue as a romantic pair. Gambit tends to be quick and elusive in combat, flinging kinetic energy at adversaries, while Rogue is a melee scrapper, able to absorb the traits and powers of those she contacts.
* Marvel Comics' cosmic colossus Galactus is a world-devouring MightyGlacier, largely impervious to mundane weapons. However, populated worlds can be problematic, so Galactus for a time had a herald called Nova, a superheroine given the powers of blistering flames and limitless flight. Nova arrives first, informs the populace that "time's up," burns off their puny resistance, then Galactus comes and finishes off their whole planet.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Colossus the HuskyRusskie with metallic skin is often paired with Kitty Pride, an [[IntangibleMan Intangible Woman]] who has trained in ninja skills.
* The Duo of Stargirl (AKA Courtney Whitmore) and S.T.R.I.P.E. (Pat Dugan) from DC comics have this dynamic. The former relies on a combination of speed and agility (along with her Cosmic staff to shoot) while the latter fights using PoweredArmor that gives him greater strength to make for its slower speed.

* A one-shot story by Jim Starlin saw ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} and ComicBook/BlackWidow go up against a serial killer named Rose and her brutish sidekick named Charlie. Rose was a telepath who could mind control people and used [[PsychoKnifeNut knives for torture and killing]] while Charlie was large [[TheBrute brute]] who attacked Matt with an axe and had [[StoutStrength solid muscle beneath his portly-looking physique]]. Matt and Natasha could also be argued to have this dynamic as well with Matt being a martial artist who [[BoxingBattler incorporates boxing into his fighting style]] while Natasha is a Russian spy and FemmeFatale whose signature weapon is her "Widow's Bite" and is trained in ballet.
* Franchise/SpiderMan and ComicBook/BlackCat. Spidey is a LightningBruiser (albeit not on the same level as Superman or Thor) with little formal training while Black Cat DependingOnTheWriter is a BadassNormal thief who relies on her martial arts, acrobatics, stealth, and sex appeal or has the ability to [[WindsOfDestinyChange affect probability]].

* The BattleCouple of Malcolm Duncan (Herald/Vox/Herald) and Karen Beecher (Bumblebee) from ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''. Mal is a martial artist with [[MakeMeWannaShout sonic powers]] while Karen has the ability to [[SizeShifter shrink]].

* ComicBook/BuckyBarnes and the aforementioned Black Widow also had this dynamic as a BattleCouple. Bucky had a cybernetic arm and used guns and his shield whereas Natasha was an acrobatic fighter with a SuperWristGadget.
* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': Originally all the male members of the team had powers that were geared towards direct combat - [[RubberMan elasticity]], [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinesis]] and SuperStrength. By contrast, [[TheSmurfettePrinciple Sue]] originally only had the power to [[{{Invisibility}} turn invisible]]. She later [[ShapingYourAttacks acquired the power to create a form of matter that she could shape any way she desired]] and her invisibility powers were expanded into turning other people and objects invisible as well. She easily has the most versatile power set of the FF while the men are largely geared towards brute force in comparison.

* In ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'', [[BoisterousBruiser Alex Louis]] and [[LadyOfWar Olivier Mira Armstrong]] are usually depicted fighting with his fists and her sword respectively. Olivier is a BadassNormal who can wipe the floor with those using superhuman powers and alchemy with nothing but raw martial prowess, while Alex supplements his skill with alchemy and his sculpted physique.

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' likes this trope a lot. Comparing the three lords of Blazing Blade, Lyndis is a FragileSpeedster, Hector is MightyGlacier and Eliwood is somewhere in the middle. In Sacred Stones, the female lord Erika is quick but frail, while her brother Ephraim is a bit slower and much stronger and sturdier. Across the series, Pegasus Knights, a class with some of the best mobility in the game but poor defense, are almost exclusively female. On the flip side, slow, tough and mighty Armor Knights are usually men, and in some games all Armor Knights are male.

*** The latest entry has Ferra/Torr, two characters that fight as one. Ferra is small and fast, and Torr is huge and powerful.

** Inverted with the four-person team in the next generation of fighters introduced in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''. The team's two female members, Cassie Cage and Jacqui Briggs (the daughters of the aforementioned Sonya and Jax respectively), are the more physical brawlers while their two male teammates, Takeda (a ninja personally trained by Scorpion) and Kung Jin (the successor of Liu Kang and Kung Lao as a Shaolin martial artist), rely more on speed and skill.
** The latest entry has Ferra/Torr, two characters that fight as one. Ferra is small and fast, and Torr is huge and powerful.

** [[LightningBruiser Ryu]] and his pupil [[FragileSpeedster Sakura Kasugano]].

* Speaking of [[VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken Street Fighter and Tekken]], This is more notable with official teams that involve one male and one female. In all cases the male character has more health than his female ally to emphasize this.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''

** In ''Tekken 7'', Kazumi Mishima in her base form is the Finesse to her husband Heihachi's Force, but once she turns {{One Winged Angel}}, she now becomes the Force to Heihachi's Finesse.

* This is Chie and Kanji's dynamic as the party's two physical attackers in ''VideoGame/Persona4''. Kanji is a traditional MightyGlacier with high HP, Strength and Endurance, and average-to-low stats elsewhere. Chie's Strength is comparatively low (it's just below Yosuke's, who's not a physical specialist) but she has higher Agility, learns more multi-target and multi-hitting moves, and [[CriticalHitClass has skills that raise her critical hit rate]]. Interestingly, Chie is a {{Tomboy}} while Kanji has [[RealMenWearPink stereotypically feminise interests.]]

* ''EldenRing'' has the graceful, katana-wielding Malenia as the female finesse and her double greatsword-wielding, half-brother Radahn as the male might.

** ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} and ComicBook/JeanGrey also qualify. The former has considerable martial arts skills and possesses uncontrollable but devastating EyeBeams while the latter is a telepath and telekinetic.

* A one-shot story by Jim Starlin saw ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} and ComicBook/BlackWidow go up against a serial killer named Rose and her brutish sidekick named Charlie. Rose was a telepath who could mind control people and used [[KnifeNut knives for torture and killing]] while Charlie was large [[TheBrute brute]] who attacked Matt with an axe and had [[StoutStrength solid muscle beneath his portly-looking physique]]. Matt and Natasha could also be argued to have this dynamic as well with Matt being a martial artist who [[BoxingBattler incorporates boxing into his fighting style]] while Natasha is a Russian spy and FemmeFatale whose signature weapon is her "Widow's Bite" and is trained in ballet.

** Played straight with the dynamic between the siblings Kenny and Shannon. Kenny, a basketball player, can sprint as his special ability, while the GirlNextDoor Shannon can solve puzzles more easily and perform first aid more effectively. (Ironically, it's Kenny who you spend the first half of the game trying to save from monsters.) It's inverted, however, with the other playable characters. The SchoolNewspaperNewshound Josh finds items more easily and the {{delinquent|s}} Stan picks locks much faster, while TheCheerleader Ashley is the best fighter in the game thanks to her special ability that lets her do a [[DoubleTap quick rapid-fire attack]] with her weapon.

* ''{{Franchise/EXTRAPOWER}}'':

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Inverted in ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': Andrew is a laid-back guy who uses his powers of [[WindsOfDestinyChange probability manipulation]] to provide support for Parley, a [[TheLadette Lad-ette]] with a longsword, [[spoiler:SuperStrength, and TeleportSpam abilities]].

[[folder:Web Original]]

* Mocked in ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'''s review of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate.''
-->"We play as twins, Jacob and Evie Frye, one of them is brash and reckless and direct-combat-oriented; the other is smart and measured and more suited to stealth. I'll leave you to guess which one's the boy and which one's the girl, but here's a hint: try to think like the laziest writer in the fucking universe."

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk1996'': The Hulk's fighting style relies primarily on punches, grapples, and throws. She-Hulk is more acrobatic and uses her legs more than her cousin.

* ''EldenRing'' has the graceful, katana-wielding Malenia as the female finesse and her double greatsword-wielding, half-brother Radagon as the male might.

** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': The game features co-protagonists Dante and Lucia who are male and female, respectively. The former's moves are based on strong attacks while the latter was less powerful but made to be quicker and more agile. Trish, by virtue of being based on Dante's move set from the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first game]], however, is a subversion - by being both strong ''and'' female.
** ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'': Dante is the son of a [[FemaleAngelMaleDemon female angel and a male demon]] and has inherited the powers of both. His angelic powers are weak but hit fast while his demonic powers are slow but devastating.

* A one-shot story by Jim Starlin saw ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} and ComicBook/BlackWidow go up against a serial killer named Rose and her brutish sidekick named Charlie. Rose was a telepath who could mind control people and used [[KnifeNut knives for torture and killing]] while Charlie was large [[TheBrute brute]] who attacked Matt with an axe and had [[StoutStrength solid muscle beneath his portly-looking physique]]. Matt and Natasha could also be argued to have this dynamic as well with Matt being a martial artist who [[BoxingBattler incorporates boxing into his fighting style]] while Natasha is a Russian spy and FemmeFatale whose signature weapon is her "[[StunGun Widow's Bite]]" and is trained in ballet.

** Inverted in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', where the only two heroes who are able to overpower ComicBook/{{Thanos}} on their own, [[ComicBook/ScarletWitch Wanda Maximoff]] and ComicBook/CarolDanvers, are both women -- and Thanos fights them both off with finesse and trickery, beating Wanda by calling in an artillery strike that decimates his own forces, and beating Carol by grabbing the Power Stone out of the Infinity Gauntlet and transferring it to his gauntlet-free hand to give her a MegatonPunch.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': The [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry2 second game]] featured co-protagonists Dante and Lucia. The former's moves are based on strong attacks while the latter was less powerful but made to be more agile and quicker. Trish, by virtue of being based on Dante's move set from the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first game]], however, is a subversion - by being both strong ''and'' female.

SubTrope to MenAreTough and WomenAreDelicate. May be part of a BattleCouple, but not always. Can be justified if HugeGuyTinyGirl is in play.

* In the ''VideoGame/FridayNightFunkin'' mod ''VideoGame/MidFightMasses'', this is represented in the respective musical styles of the two main opponents, Sarv and Ruv. While both have a tendency to spam strings of notes, Sarv plays it off more elegantly with a sweet airy synth-like voice while Ruv doesn't hold any punches and literally belts out notes in a voice so powerful it shakes the foundation of the church.

* In ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'', Izuku has this relationship with both Pyrrha and Weiss. Izuku is a pugilist who initially makes up for his lack of experience with the incredible power of his Semblance. His Semblance provides nothing but brute force and speed and can't be directly used to bolster others. On the other hand, Pyrrha's and Weiss' Semblances can each manipulate the battlefield to their advantage and have a wide array of applications. Pyrrha is a MultiMeleeMaster who uses her Semblance to give herself the illusion of inhuman grace and precision. while Weiss is a DanceBattler who wields a RoyalRapier who has a variety of supportive and attacking abilities with her use of Dust and her Glyphs. While both of them are better fighters than him at the start of the story, they lack the firepower to bring down a Giant Nevermore, which Izuku ends up doing in one punch.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Gender inverted in ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': Andrew is a laid-back guy who uses his powers of [[WindsOfDestinyChange probability manipulation]] to provide support for Parley, a [[TheLadette Lad-ette]] with a longsword, [[spoiler:SuperStrength, and TeleportSpam abilities]].

** Inverted in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', where the only two heroes who are able to overpower ComicBook/{{Thanos}} on their own, [[ComicBook/ScarletWitch Wanda Maximoff]] and ComicBook/CarolDanvers, are both women -- and Thanos fights them both off with finesse and trickery, beating Wanda by calling in an artillery strike on his position and beating Carol by grabbing the Power Stone out of the Infinity Gauntlet to give her a MegatonPunch.

* Inverted in ''Series/WandaVision'', keeping up the tradition of the aforementioned ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. [[ComicBook/ScarletWitch Wanda Maximoff]] is the powerhouse in her relationship with ComicBook/TheVision, the one seemingly responsible for what is happening in Westview [[spoiler:and later revealed to have caused it through a combination of her grief and her enormous magical power]], and while the Vision is no slouch as a physical fighter either, he is the more intellectual of the pair and the one who is [[DrivingQuestion trying to figure out what is happening]]. The final battle between Wanda and the BigBad [[spoiler:Agatha Harkness]] is a classic superhero slugfest, while the concurrent battle between the Vision and [[spoiler:White Vision/Cataract isn't settled through violence, but through a debate about the [[TheseusShipParadox Ship of Theseus]] and the nature of their respective identities]].

* The Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse has two examples, one on each side of the morality spectrum. Franchise/{{Superman}} and [[AntiVillain General Zod]] are super-strong heavy hitters, while their female allies Franchise/WonderWoman and [[DarkActionGirl Faora]] use speed and precision to get the job done. Somewhat downplayed as Wonder Woman and Faora themselves also demonstrate immense strength; the gender difference is more oriented towards speed versus agility.

* ''Film/TheCuttingEdge'': Male ice hockey player (a more brute-force sport) Doug is initially at odds with, and later falls in love with, female figure skater (a sport more focused on aesthetics) Kate.