The foil is descended from a sword used for practicing dualing. Like the epee, touches can only be scored with the tip of the weapon. The only valid target is the torso. If two foil fencers score touches almost at the same time, the director determines who gets the point using a system of right-of-way rules. These were originally intended to teach dualists how to hit the opponent without getting hit himself, and so the right of way initially goes to the fencer who started the attack. Certain moves such as parries can enable the other fencer to gain right-of-way.

The equipment used by foilists is somewhere between epee and saber equipment in complexity. Like all fencers, foilists wear a jacket, kickers, mask, and glove for protection. To determine the target area, foilists wear a lamé, a vest embedded with a fine conductive mesh, over their jackets. A foilist's body cord is identical to a saberist's, with a three prong plug to conenct to the reel, a two prong plug for the foil, and a clip to connect to the lamé.