History Main / RoyalRapier

* In the most recent ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, the rapier became the weapon of choice of TheRedMage job, a class of suave fencers with a [[NiceHat pimp hat]] skilled in both black and white magic. Notably, the [[PublicDomainArtifact Joyeuse]] became a recurring weapon and is always a fencing sword.

** [[FieryRedhead Lilly]] [[SheIsAllGrownUp Pendragon]] carries one in ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII''. She also dresses like a musketeer, complete with [[NiceHat a big plumed hat]]. An another character from the same game, Yuber, seems to dual-wield rapiers.

* Count Dooku from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' has a lightsaber exclusively designed to mimic the likeness of a Rapier. His fighting style is also based on traditional Fencing, targeting weak spots and raposting over brute force. Though he is also a Sith, Dooku wasn't a self-proclaimed Count since he had great influence, over his homeworld of Serenno.

* ''Manga/ArmedGirlsMachiavellism'': Mary Kikakujō is half-French and acts like a noblewoman. She wields a rapier, which tends to catch her Japanese opponents who are more used to facing katanas off guard. For example, since a rapier specializes in thrusting, she can fight in a narrow corridor with ease, something that would hinder a katana user.

* Propeller Knight from ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'', a very flamboyant and [[FrenchJerk vaguely French]] captain of a massive airship, swings his rapier around when he isn't zooming around with his [[HatOfFlight propeller helmet]].

'''Remember, don't just add an example because someone in a story uses a rapier.''' You have to ''explain'' how its form or the way they use it sheds light on the character's backstory, upbringing, and personality, and makes them look classy or noble. For more information about real rapiers, see UsefulNotes/{{Swords}} and UsefulNotes/EuropeanSwordsmanship. Fictional swords called rapiers might not have all the features of historical rapiers, but any example should at least be single-handed with a straight, symmetrical, and relatively narrow blade; a fancy hilt is optional. This trope also accommodates the early rapier or "side sword,"[[note]]basically a sword with a hilt too developed to be considered a medieval arming sword, but too stout-bladed to be called a rapier,[[/note]] as well as its daintier eventual replacement, the smallsword.

** Zigzagged with Shouichi Shinkawa/[=XaXa=]. He's a master fencer and he wields an estoc, a thin, sharply pointed sword meant for stabbing. He also turns out to be the scion of a rich family that owns a hospital. On the other hand, Shouchi himself doesn't have the typical personality traits of a rapier user, being rather thuggish and blunt towards other characters.
%%* The Needles from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod''. Due to the tendency of the air surrogate Shinsoo to be more viscous, swords quickly lose their effectiveness. Hence weapons more focused on stabbing are more commonly found.

** In ''VideoGame/YsVIIILacrimosaOfDana'' Laxia [[TheVonTropeFamily von Roswell]] is a young noblewoman who fights with a rapier. Het EstablishingCharacterMoment, when Adol walks on her bathing, is to slap him and then [[CantBatheWithoutAWeapon take him at swordpoint]].
** In the same game [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/YsMemoriesOfCelceta Griselda]]]] carries a rapier on her, as befits a noblewoman [[spoiler:and the crown princess of Romn]].
** In the very same game still, Austin is a noble, who's first seen fighting off monsters with a rapier.

* ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'': This is the form taken by Umi's sword, partially justified since she's the captain of the fencing team in her school. She's also an {{Ojou}}, having the high-class background

* Suzunosuke Mamiya from ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'' uses one and has two more with him just in case. In this case, Suzunosuke takes advantage of the rapier's flexible blade to move it at high speed, confusing the opponent and stabbing him. Gama managed to render this weapon useless by looking carefully at Suzunosuke's movements as he attacked to predict the next blow. While he's not a noble of sorts (more likely a Ronin) he does have the suave, swashbuckling look of a rapier user, looking more delicate and classier than the average Muhou Ryuu commander (he even has a BeautyMark!).

* ''Webcomic/EverSoSlightly'': Resident RichBitch Eliana Harrison has a rapier with a sapphire blade allocated to her strife specibus. She also has seven other rapiers.

* [[RebelliousPrincess Estelle]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' can wield these as well as {{s|impleStaff}}taves. She also wields a shield, and has the highest defense stat by default among your characters. However, she doesn't have many combat Artes, being a better mage than a fencer (although very capable in expert hands).

* ''VideoGame/TaleSeries'':

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', M'Quve's YMS-15 Gyan uses a beam saber in very rapier-like fashion. Given his aristocratic tendencies and [[WickedCultured cultured]] [[CulturedWarrior behavior]], this makes a lot of sense.
* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'': George de Sand's [=GF13=]-009NF Gundam Rose uses a beam rapier. His family is wealthy and powerful, and he styles himself as a knight fighting to uphold the honor of Neo-France.
* While it's technically a SwordCane, a lot of Brook's fighting style in ''Manga/OnePiece'' is fencing with a thin blade mixed with [[IaijutsuPractitioner quick-draws]]. Downplayed in that he is ''not'' high-class or suave-- in fact his social skills have deteriorated from long isolation-- but fits the "entertainer" mold mentioned in the description.

* ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1973'', and ''The Four Musketeers'' (1974), and ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1993'', and really, most adaptations of the novel. Both the Musketeers ([[PraetorianGuard royal guards]], many of them of noble blood) and the Cardinal's Guard (the high class soldiers of the ChurchMilitant) use them.

* ImpoverishedPatrician Angelo of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' can specialize in them. His nemesis and half-brother [[BastardBastard Marcello]] likewise wields a rapier as his weapon of choice.
* Aurora, the heroine of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestHeroesTheWorldTreesWoeAndTheBlightBelow'' has her default weapon as a rapier, always shown with them in cutscenes. It's rather fitting as she is one of the Royal Guards for the king. She does have more [[SliceAndDiceSwordsmanship slashes than thrusts]] in her moveset, however.
%% * In both ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' games, rapiers and similar weapons are seen and classified as "Fencing Weapons". In the first game they're harder to find. Unlike swords and sabers, they can't use "hard hitting" techniques in exchange for highly damaging attacks. They also seems to be the favorite weapons of thieves and rogues in both games (with Dranor and Gladys in the first and Cano in the second).

* Raphael, a WickedCultured and insane vampire aristocrat and his adopted daughter Amy from ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' wield rapiers with finesse.

%% * Prince Peasley from ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''

%% ** Anita, from ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'' wields one too: although the game refers to it as a ''sword'', the in-game battle sprite clearly shows that Anita's weapon is a rapier. Her special rune allows her to unleash a succession of quick thrusts with it, dealing huge damages in the process.
* Prince Enrique from ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' uses one. His precise and slightly stiff fighting style expresses his status as a crown prince in self-imposed exile with more booksmarts than battle experience, especially when it's contrasted against the other sword-wielding character in the party, career LoveableRogue Vyse, who uses a more aggressive and forceful slashing style with dual cutlasses.
* The Prince(ss) class from ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey III: The Drowned City'' initially uses Rapiers. So do Buccaneers, which combine traits of Musketeers and Pirates.

%% * The fencer line of units in ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth''.

* Karin Koenig from ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' is a German officer of noble blood, and wields Rapiers as her preferred weapon. Her fighting style is based on classical fencing, with Special Moves learned by collecting manuscripts from ''Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung''.
* Richard in ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' wields these and is a prince.
* Saleh from ''VideoGame/TalesOfRebirth'' wields one. It's fitting for a suave SmugSnake like himself.

* Sima Shi, Yuan Shao, and Liu Shan in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 7'' and subsequent games. All three of them are nobles and are quite skilled with this weapon.
* In the most recent ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, the rapier became the weapon of choice of TheRedMage job, a class of suave fencers with a [[NiceHat pimp hat]] skilled in both black and white magic. Notably, the [[PublicDomainArtifact Joyeuse]] became a recurring weapon and is always a fencing sword.
** Larsa from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' wields one (quite fittingly for a prince of the empire).
** In ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance Tactics Advance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2 A2]]'' rapiers are used by the Red Mages, Elementalists, and Fencers, all three of which are [[OneGenderRace Viera]] only classes.
%% * Charlotte from the ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' series has one of these.
%% * A common weapon in the ''VideoGame/DeptHeaven'' series, used as:
%% ** Fia's main weapon in ''VideoGame/RivieraThePromisedLand''
%% ** The preferred equipment of swordswomen in ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion'', ''VideoGame/BlazeUnion'', ''VideoGame/GloriaUnion'', and ''VideoGame/YggdraUnison'', including Luciana, Aegina, Monica, and Anne.
%% ** The basic weapon for Duelists in ''VideoGame/KnightsInTheNightmare''.
%% ** The secondary weapon type for Elise and Natalia in ''VideoGame/{{Gungnir}}''.
%% * Layer wields a rapier in ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man X8}}''.
%% ** Zero can choose to use the Z Rapier in ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission''.
%% * Rapiers, foils, and espada roperas are weapon types in ''[[RomancingSaga Romancing Saga: Minstrel Song]]''.
* One of the weapon types available in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', used for quick, repeated thrusts. There's even a unique one dropped by the Undead Prince Ricard, Ricard's Rapier. You can actually find two of them in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' for dual-wielding purpose.
** Dark Souls predecessor ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' embraces this trope wholeheartedly with a starting class called Royalty. The character is described as "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a person of royal descent]]" and begins the game with a rapier.

%%* Rapiers are a class of sword that Hector can use in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness'', and naturally he whips out the ImplausibleFencingPowers to do such things as [[BlowYouAway create gusts of wind]] as he thrusts.
* [[LadyOfWar Fiora]], the Grand Duelist of ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. Her lore stated that she used to belong to a family of nobles that has fallen from grace due to her father doing some sort of foul play. A frustrated Fiora defeated her father and set off to beat down everyone she comes across with her rapier to restore her family's honor. Oh and she is ''extremely'' [[SmugSuper smug at doing so]], berating her opponents for having "such unrefined style" in combat, what with her fluid and calculating fighting style.
%% * In 'Pirates!' (and 'Pirates! Gold'), rapier is one of the three weapons the player character chooses before each duel. It has the longest reach and lowest damage of them all.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': If Princess Zelda is playing the part of PrettyPrincessPowerhouse, and is doing so with a sword instead of just magic and/or a bow and her signature Light Arrows, a rapier is her preferred weapon.
** She wields one in her [[spoiler:[[DemonicPossession boss fight]]]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. However, there's no swordplay involved, she only uses it in lunging attacks. She was also armed with it when Zant first invaded, but she did not use it.
** She uses a rapier [[BowAndSwordInAccord alongside]] her Light Arrows in her playable appearance in ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors''
** Though she can use a number of other weapons in ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule'', Zelda is the only character who can use rapier-class weapons, including her special endgame weapon. (Even Cadence, who [[VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer is no stranger to such weapons]], loses the knack in Hyrule.)
* Propeller Knight from ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'', a very flamboyant and [[FrenchJerk vaguely French]] captain of a massive airship, swings his rapier around when he isn't zooming around with his [[HatOfFlight propeller helmet]].
* ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'': Party member Camellia Gwerm is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy minor nobleman who fights in a poised and elegant manner with a rapier and buckler, when she isn't using shamanic spells.
* In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', Sir Percival wields a rapier. Fitting, since her counterpart Blaze is a princess.
* Three characters in ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries''' Zemuria Saga so far have this as their weapon of choice, two of which are members of nobility.
** Kloe Rinz, a student of Jenis Royal Academy from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'' uses rapier as her weapon of choice and is said to be the best among her schoolmates. Considering [[spoiler: her real identity is Klaudia von Auslese, granddaughter of Liberl Kindom's Queen]] and she receives direct training from an officer in Liberl's Royal Army who was also a student of one of the best sword users in the game, it's fitting. Gameplay-wise, players won't use her to attack enemies much since she's arts-oriented character, the one heavily geared toward healing at that. The one who trains her, [[spoiler: 1st Lt. Julia Schwarz]], is also playable.
** Elise Schwarzer, Rean's adoptive sister and member of Baron Schwarzer family in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' is trained to use her family's swordsmanship style. Despite this, she learns the least amount of crafts and she's an arts-oriented character much like her predecessor Kloe. She's also depicted in-game as a polite young lady befitting of her status as a noble.
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness'' features an enemy called Dead Fencer who skillfully wields a rapier. Described as "a monster endowed with the soul of a noble", it employs a flurry of rapid trust as its main attack which always ends in a polite bow. Stronger versions appear later in the game, including the Dead Baron and the rare [[BossInMookClothing Duke Mirage]].
* As a stylish person of noble birth, Sylvando of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'' can use any one-handed sword, but he is particularly predisposed to rapiers, including his starting weapon and the unique Shamshir of Light. Rapiers tend to give larger boosts to the user's Charm stat, which directly powers several of Sylvando's abilities.
* ''VideoGame/TheTenthLine'': As The Princess says, when complemented on her swordsmanship by Tox:
--> Of course, beastman! All royalty is proficient in the art of fencing. 'Tis the sport of kings, after all.

%%* The Needles from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod''. Due to the tendency of the air surrogate Shinsoo to be more viscous, swords quickly lose their effectiveness. Hence weapons more focused on stabbing are more commonly found.

* [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jean Pierre Polnareff's]] Silver Chariot is an armored swordfighter who uses a rapier. Polnareff himself sees himself as a KnightInShiningArmor.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'':
** Serpico wields a saber during the Conviction arc, and later receives from the witch Flora a sword made of feathers infused with wind elementals that let him [[RazorWind throw winds around]]. However, during his visit to Vritannis with Farnese when they had both left behind Flora's gifts, he uses an actual rapier to fight Guts in the hall of pillars. Serpico was born a street urchin, but [[HeroicBastard is the illegitimate son of a nobleman]] and was given a position (and presumably an education) in his household at a young age, and so acts with the culture and sophistication of a young gentleman.
* While it's technically a SwordCane, a lot of Brook's fighting style in ''Manga/OnePiece'' is fencing with a thin blade mixed with [[IaijutsuPractitioner quick-draws]]. Downplayed in that he is ''not'' high-class or suave-- in fact his social skills have deteriorated from long isolation-- but fits the "entertainer" mold mentioned in the description.
%% * Durand from ''Anime/LeChevalierDEon'' wield this and a main gauche.
* Fried Justine from ''Manga/FairyTail'', who can even use it like a pen to write runes. He's usually very calm and collected, and is the leader of the Raijin Tribe. His rapier is most likely to complement his outfit, which resembles that of a French nobleman's.
%% * Sylvie from ''PrincessLover''.
* Suzunosuke Mamiya from ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'' uses one and has two more with him just in case. In this case, Suzunosuke takes advantage of the rapier's flexible blade to move it at high speed, confusing the opponent and stabbing him. Gama managed to render this weapon useless by looking carefully at Suzunosuke's movements as he attacked to predict the next blow. While he's not a noble of sorts (more likely a Ronin) he does have the suave, swashbuckling look of a rapier user, looking more delicate and classier than the average Muhou Ryuu commander (he even has a BeautyMark!).
* In ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', [[CatFolk Nyanta]], [[CoolOldGuy gentleman cat]] and resident SupremeChef wields dual rapiers and even asserts that "a rapier is a gentleman's weapon".
* [[ProperLady Elizabeth Midford]] from ''Manga/BlackButler'' is an expert fencer, and uses a rapier to kill zombies, and on a sinking ''Titanic'' expy, no less. For bonus points, there is DualWielding going on.

* The Caerula Adamas of ''Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove'' are the high-class members of the cast in civilian form and they each have a rapier as magical boys.

* {{Subverted}} in ''La Seine no Hoshi'': the titular hero was trained in fencing by a nobleman (and is engaged to his son), but carries a similar-looking but much heavier basket-hilted straight-bladed cavalry sword. She did once fight a nobleman who had one... And [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome broke it]], as rapiers are not suited to block such a heavy sword.
* {{Subverted}} in ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'': Oscar is the daughter of a count, a formidable fencer and the bodyguard of the King and Queen of France, but [[ShownTheirWork carries the standard-issue sword of a French cavalry officer of the era]].
* Invoked in ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' with the "Royal Sword Style", which is modeled after fencing and, as the name suggest, only taught to royalty. Users that play this trope 100% straight are [[StarterVillain Jamil]], who was trained in the Royal Sword Style and uses a rapier in combat ([[BadBoss or to torture his slaves]]) and Al Thamen's [[CastingAShadow Bjorn]], whose clothes calls to mind a pirate swashbuckler and is likely a fallen noble of sort. Alibaba uses this style with a dagger rather than a rapier, and his master [[WarriorPrince Sharrkan]] wields a black scimitar thin and delicate enough to pass for a fencing saber. Both of them are of royal blood as well.
* In ''[[Manga/SoulHunter Houshin Engi]]'', Cho Komei (who looks like a french nobleman in mannerism and outfit) wields the rapier-like whip Bakuryuusaku (Dragon-Binding Rope) Paopei, which fits his previously mentioned looks and the fact that he considers himself a Duke. On a smaller note, Tou Sengyoku fights with a thin rapier sword when her Paopei is disabled [[spoiler: by Taikobou's new [[AntiMagic Super Paopei Taikyokuzu]]]] during the battle of Bokuya, and she's kinda of nobility.
* The [[Manga/TheLegendOfZelda manga adaptation]] of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]]'' has Ralph, a descendant of the royal family of Labrynna, trying to kill [[BigBad Veran]] with a short rapier. This is a departure from the game, where he used a traditional arming sword instead. Cap'n, the [[CulturedBadass cultured]] undead lover of Queen Ambi, also carries a rapier to contrast the staves and daggers wielded by his men.
* The main weapon of Esdeath from ''Manga/AkameGaKill'' is a giant rapier. She's a well-spoken, impeccably dressed general who shows herself to be well-versed in topics such as the environment, warfare, and torture.
* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'': Jeanne d'Arc is depicted as carrying a rapier even though her primary weapon is her flag. The ''Fate'' franchise tends to play up Jeanne as a noble, ladylike figure, despite the fact that the historical Jeanne was a peasant girl, and if anything would have used a common broadsword in battle.
** ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' takes this further, with two characters notably equipped with rapiers. [[WholesomeCrossdresser Androgynous]] [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi 18th Century French]] soldier, personal spy in service to [[UsefulNotes/LouisXV King Louis XV]], and diplomat Chevalier d'Eon wields a rapier as their primary weapon in battle, while Mash Kyrielight keeps one on her belt upon gaining her 3rd Ascension befitting her status as a Demi-Servant fusion with [[spoiler:Galahad, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table]]. It's theorized that it may just be a WeaponForIntimidation however, as she has yet to be seeing using it and instead prefers to ShieldBash her enemies.
* ''LightNovel/TheAsteriskWar'': Julis von Riessfeld is an actual princess (albeit of a constitutional monarchy) and uses a [[LaserBlade Lux]] in the form of a rapier, Aspera Spina.

* Debuting in ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', Puss in Boots acts suaver than the other characters, and has a rapier that he’s good enough with to fight humans twice his size.

* ''Film/TheCrow'': Top Dollar is the king of crime in his city. He's not interested in mere financial gain, however. He and his sister live a bacchanal of evil and want to spread discord purely for its own sake. He dresses in fine, outdated outfits and has a whole wall of various swords. His weapon of choice is an ornate rapier. Interesting trivia: his rapier is the Six-Fingered Sword from ''Film/ThePrincessBride''

* In ''Film/{{The Count of Monte Cristo|2002}}'', the Count is taught the steps and thrusts by a [[WarriorPoet philosopher and commander]] who was imprisoned for refusing to reveal the location of a priceless treasure. Skill with the weapon is explicitly mirrored with improving one's mental faculties. "[[WeakButSkilled Speed of hand. Speed of mind.]]" It's portrayed fairly accurately, as well: toward the end of the movie, his noble rival Albert takes advantage of the blade's flimsiness to break the Count's own rapier in two with his own similar, yet more durable blade.
* In most adaptations, the weapon of choice of {{Franchise/Zorro}} is a Spanish rapier. Zorro's SecretIdentity is ''Don'' Diego de la Vega, back when the title "Don" was still reserved for the nobility as opposed to [[TheMafia crime bosses]].
* In ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'', the sword [[TheHero Will Turner]] forges for [[TheRival Norrington]] on the occasion of his promotion to Commodore isn't actually a rapier, but rather a smallsword, a shorter rapier-style sword meant mainly as a dress sword. Norrington is an upper class naval officer, betrothed to the daughter of the governor. Moreover, the sword seems tied to his career: During the period he was AWOL, the sword was kept by [[BigBad Lord Beckett]], and returned to him upon his return to the fold and promotion to Admiral. After using it in [[RedemptionEqualsDeath his heroic sacrifice]], [[TheDragon Davey Jones]] keeps it and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard uses it to kill its original creator]]. It's contrasted by [[{{Swashbuckler}} numerous other kinds of swords]] used in the films, each likewise reflecting their owners' fighting styles and personalities.
* In ''Film/ByTheSword'', fencing is portrayed as a refined art. Villard's father's rapier is displayed in a glass case in his fencing school. [[spoiler: He later uses it in his duel against Suba during the climax of the movie.]]
* ''Film/{{Casanova}}'': the title character, a dashing rogue who runs amok in well-heeled society, is flung a fairly fancy fencing foil hidden within a cane.
* ''Film/RobRoy'': The British fop, [[TheDandy dandy]] and noble BastardBastard Archibald Cunningham uses a rapier. This is all in contrast to the various Scottish clansmen, who are poor and earthy and wield [[{{BFS}} big, heavy claymores]]. In the opening scene, Archibald mocks a Scotsman's sword as a "cleaver" fit only for slaughtering livestock. Ironically, he meets his demise by one of such swords when Rob Roy finds a way to deliver him a [[SingleStrokeBattle single strike]] just as it seemed Archibald was going to easily win.

* The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse has a LaserBlade version of a rapier, called a lightfoil. It was invented by a Sith sect called the Mecrosa Order and adopted by the nobility of the Tapani sector; the latter modified it to be slightly weaker than a more usual lightsaber, but much easier to use for a Muggle.

* Averted by Richard Literature/{{Sharpe}}; an infantry officer of his rank is normally expected to carry a small and lightweight sabre that's effectively a slightly curved rapier. Being [[PriorEnlisted a common soldier who earned a battlefield commission]], Sharpe instead totes [[{{BFS}} a whacking great heavy cavalry blade]] which many lesser men would struggle to wield while dismounted. And before he acquired said sword, when he found himself drafted into a BoardingParty while travelling home from India on a Royal Navy warship in ''Sharpe's Trafalgar'', he developed a certain fondness for the cutlass.
* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', Reepicheep (perhaps the most chivalrous character in the series, an excellent fighter, and incidentally a talking mouse) uses one. The narration explicitly identifies it as a rapier in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader''.
* Lara Raith from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' uses one as her WeaponofChoice, usually paired with a pistol. As befitting her high status in vampire society, the hilt is encrusted with rubies.
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', when Elayne remakes the Queen's Guard to be [[AmazonBrigade mostly female]], she arms them with rapiers along with [[BlingofWar some really stunning uniforms]].
* ''Literature/TheLockedTomb'': The rapier is the official weapon of the Cavaliers, who are NumberTwo to their House's ruling {{Necromancer}} in a SwordAndSorcerer duo. This annoys Gideon, who much prefers longswords. It also {{Foreshadow|ing}}s the secret behind the Lyctoral office: [[spoiler:the Cavalier's soul and expertise are [[YourSoulIsMine absorbed]] by the Necromancer, whose {{Geek Physique|s}} requires a light weapon.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy'' has Sigvald the Magnificent, whose trademark weapon is rapier. He may look like a flimsy pretty boy, but he can slice you to ribbons with it, plus he's the mortal champion of Slaanesh.

* Raphael, a WickedCultured and insane vampire aristocrat and his adopted daughter Amy from ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' wield rapiers with finesse.

* Jean in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' wields one. And he's a genuine prince too. Likewise for Princess Nina in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireI''.

%% * In both ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' games, rapiers and similar weapons are seen and classified as "Fencing Weapons". In the first game they're harder to find. Unlike swords and sabers, they can't use "hard hitting" techniques in exchange for highly damaging attacks. They also seems to be the favorite weapons of thieves and rogues in both games (with Dranor and Gladys in the first and Cano in the second).

* ImpoverishedPatrician Angelo of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' can specialize in them. His nemesis and half-brother [[BastardBastard Marcello]] likewise wields a rapier as his weapon of choice.

* Aurora, the heroine of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestHeroesTheWorldTreesWoeAndTheBlightBelow'' has her default weapon as a rapier, always shown with them in cutscenes. It's rather fitting as she is one of the Royal Guards for the king. She does have more [[SliceAndDiceSwordsmanship slashes than thrusts]] in her moveset, however.
* Three characters in [[VideoGame/TrailsSeries Zemuria Saga]] so far have this as their weapon of choice, two of which are members of nobility.

* In ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'', Prosecutor Barok van Zieks is a well-to-do member of the gentry who wears a smallsword.
* ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'': Party member Camellia Gwerm is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy minor nobleman who fights in a poised and elegant manner with a rapier and buckler, when she isn't using shamanic spells.

* In ''WebAnimation/NomadOfNowhere'', Don Paragon is a very spoiled SissyVillain, but an aristocrat all the same. He demonstrates great skill in both wielding and throwing his rapier.

* ''Webcomic/EverSoSlightly'': Resident RichBitch Eliana Harrison has a rapier with a sapphire blade allocated to her strife specibus. She also has seven other rapiers.

* Averted by Richard Literature/{{Sharpe}}; an infantry officer of his rank is normally expected to carry a small and lightweight sabre that's effectively a slightly curved rapier. Being the sort of fellow he is, Sharpe instead totes [[{{BFS}} a whacking great heavy cavalry blade]] which many lesser men would struggle to wield while dismounted. And before he acquired said sword, when he found himself drafted into a BoardingParty while travelling home from India on a Royal Navy warship in ''Sharpe's Trafalgar'', he developed a certain fondness for the cutlass.

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons 3.5'' the rapier has the distinction of being one of the most effective weapons to which the [[WeakButSkilled Weapon Finesse]] feat can be applied, making it a perennial favorite of the sort to favor speed over brute force.

* ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'': Party member Camellia Gwerm is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy minor nobleman who fights with a rapier and buckler--when she isn't using shamanic spells anyway.

* Debuting in ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', Puss in Boots acts suaver than the other characters, and has a rapier that he’s good enough with to fight humans twice his size.’

* Jean in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' wields one. And he's a genuine prince too.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': If Princess Zelda is playing the part of PrettyPrincessPowerhouse, and is doing so with a sword instead of just magic, a rapier is her preferred weapon.

* ImpoverishedPatrician Angelo of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' can specialize in them.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* {{Subverted}} in ''La Seine no Hoshi'': the titular hero was trained in fencing by a nobleman (and is engaged to his son), but carries a similar-looking but much heavier basket-hilted straight-bladed cavalry sword. She did once fight a nobleman who had one... And [[RealityEnsues broke it]], as rapiers are not suited to block such a heavy sword.

* ''Film/RobRoy'': The British fop, [[TheDandy dandy]] and noble BastardBastard Archibald Cunningham uses a rapier. This is all in contrast to the various Scottish clansmen, who are poor and earthy and wield big, heavy claymores. In the opening scene, Archibald mocks a Scotsman's sword as a "cleaver" fit only for slaughtering livestock.