[RPG] Is Dexterity overpowered compared to Strength

ability-scoresdnd-5eoptimization

Finesse weapons allow you to use Dex for attack and damage rolls. This allows most of classes, including even some first-line fighters, to dump Str for Dex – you do not lose in attack rolls, only a little bit in damage rolls (there are no finesse two-handed weapons, but a rapier with d8 dmg is still pretty good), you gain a lot in AC, and as a bonus you have excellent ranged attacks. You cannot really grapple etc., but you easily avoid such attacks.

Having low Str incurs some limitations like lower carrying capacity, but this seems to be more than offset by having good Dex skill checks. All in all, having a power-focused fighter against a fighter with this kind of optimization, my bets would be strongly on the second one. Am I missing something?

(Of course, the DM can have something to say on that, and it may also look like poor role-playing; but let's put aside those for now.)

Best Answer

It's not as overpowered as you might think, depending on your class choice.

The AC bonus only helps with light and medium armor. If you were a fighter, you could have full plate on which makes your AC 18, regardless of what your Dex stat is. The max you can get with dex armor (without feats or unarmored defense) is 17, either from 12+5 studded leather or 15+2 half plate. Obviously, we aren't including shields.

If you want range you could be chucking spears. Granted it's no d10 bow, but it also lets you go into melee whenever you want.

Of course dex isn't the best stat for a fighter to put a low score into, but you could manage. And that giant great sword you wield will be doing excellent damage while you tank for the party.