Animals are cheating!

[Andor]

Okay, According to the Monster Manual a critter cannot have a feat for which it does not meet the prerequisite unless it's a bonus feat. According to the players handbook Weapon Finesse requires a +1 BAB. So why do half the 1 HD animals in the monster manual have Weapon Finesse, but not have it listed as a bonus feat?

And yes normally a rules quibble this small would be ignorable, but well... let's just say Reincarnation is involved.

 

[Notmousse]

If memory serves that book's had errata for just such instances.

 

[eamon]

Weapon Finesse Feat
Some creatures that have this feat lack the +1 base
attack bonus prerequisite. Since bonus feats do not
require the creature to fulfill any feat prerequisites (see
page 301 in the Monster Manual), make the Weapon
Finesse feat a bonus feat and add an additional feat (see
the table below).

Of course, as long as it's not a bonus feat, it might be reasonable for a creature to choose a different feat.
Anyways, the table generally adds Alertness or Stealthy, and occasionally Agile, and the Snake gets Improved Initiative.

 

[Jack Simth]

Their skill points are also occasionally off, too. It's not normally enough to affect the CR any.

 

[LonePaladin]

WotC's site has errata for the Monster Manual, including this very subject. It has all of the animals this applies to listed, along with what changes to make to its feats. (Most of them got Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat, and something else like Alertness to replace it.)

 

[Andor]

Sweet! Thanks guys.