With its requirements met (Str 7 · Dex 15), Main-gauche reaches 238 attack rating at +25; the strongest affinities at those stats are Flame Art and Sacred at 344.
Standard affinity at max upgrade, each weapon at its own requirements. A full bar is the class's strongest (Black Knife, 383).
Moveset from the game files
Damage with Standard +25 at the stats above, before the enemy's defense; two-handed moves include two-handing's Strength bonus. MV (motion value) is the hit's share of attack rating (100 = all of it).
One-handed17players can parry them
Move
MV
Damage
Stance
Stamina
1st hit
R1 1Slash
100
238
3
9.9
0.33 s
R1 2Slash
101
240
3
9.9
0.27 s
R1 3Slash
102
242
3
9.9
0.30 s
R1 4Slash
103
245
3
9.9
0.27 s
R1 5Slash
104
247
3
9.9
0.30 s
R1 6Slash
110
262
6
9.9
0.47 s
R2Slash
120
285
6
16.5
—
Charged R2Slash
150
357
18
24.2
0.87 s
R2 2Slash
120
285
6
16.5
—
Charged R2 2Slash
150
357
18
24.2
0.93 s
Running R1Slash
105
250
3
11
0.50 s
Running R2Pierce
120
285
6
16.5
0.53 s
Rolling R1Pierce
90
214
3
8.8
0.33 s
Backstep R1Slash
90
214
3
8.8
0.50 s
Jumping R1Slash
107
254
4.5
8.8
0.40 s
Jumping R2Slash
122
290
12
15.4
0.43 s
Guard counterSlash
140
333
18
15.4
0.57 s
Two-handed17players can parry them
Move
MV
Damage
Stance
Stamina
1st hit
R1 1Slash
103
252
3.9
12.1
0.33 s
R1 2Slash
104
255
3.9
12.1
0.33 s
R1 3Slash
105
257
3.9
12.1
0.30 s
R1 4Slash
106
260
3.9
12.1
0.33 s
R1 5Slash
107
262
3.9
12.1
0.30 s
R1 6Slash
115
282
7.8
12.1
0.40 s
R2Pierce
125
306
6.6
19.8
—
Charged R2Pierce
155
380
19.8
29.7
0.87 s
R2 2Pierce
125
306
6.6
19.8
—
Charged R2 2Pierce
155
380
19.8
29.7
0.90 s
Running R1Slash
110
269
3.9
13.2
0.50 s
Running R2Pierce
125
306
6.6
19.8
0.53 s
Rolling R1Pierce
95
233
3.9
11
0.27 s
Backstep R1Slash
95
233
3.9
11
0.47 s
Jumping R1Slash
112
274
5.9
11
0.40 s
Jumping R2Slash
127
311
13.2
18.7
0.43 s
Guard counterSlash
150
367
19.8
18.7
0.63 s
Criticals2
Move
MV
Damage
Stance
Stamina
1st hit
BackstabPierce
294
770
0
15.4
0.50 s
RipostePierce
420
1,100
0
15.4
0.83 s
From the player's animation events, BehaviorParam_PC and AtkParam_Pc. First hit: seconds at normal speed from the start of the move's animation (uncharged R2s start from a released charge, so they show —). Criticals include the weapon's critical multiplier. * The elemental motion value differs from the physical one shown; the damage uses each.
By upgrade level (Standard)
Level
AR
Physical
Cost
+0
91
91
—
+1
96
96
Smithing Stone [1] × 2
+2
102
102
Smithing Stone [1] × 4
+3
107
107
Smithing Stone [1] × 6
+4
113
113
Smithing Stone [2] × 2
+5
119
119
Smithing Stone [2] × 4
+6
124
124
Smithing Stone [2] × 6
+7
130
130
Smithing Stone [3] × 2
+8
136
136
Smithing Stone [3] × 4
+9
142
142
Smithing Stone [3] × 6
+10
147
147
Smithing Stone [4] × 2
+11
153
153
Smithing Stone [4] × 4
+12
159
159
Smithing Stone [4] × 6
+13
165
165
Smithing Stone [5] × 2
+14
171
171
Smithing Stone [5] × 4
+15
177
177
Smithing Stone [5] × 6
+16
183
183
Smithing Stone [6] × 2
+17
189
189
Smithing Stone [6] × 4
+18
195
195
Smithing Stone [6] × 6
+19
201
201
Smithing Stone [7] × 2
+20
207
207
Smithing Stone [7] × 4
+21
213
213
Smithing Stone [7] × 6
+22
219
219
Smithing Stone [8] × 2
+23
225
225
Smithing Stone [8] × 4
+24
231
231
Smithing Stone [8] × 6
+25
238
238
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone × 1
From +0 to +25: 12 Smithing Stone [1], 12 Smithing Stone [2], 12 Smithing Stone [3], 12 Smithing Stone [4], 12 Smithing Stone [5], 12 Smithing Stone [6], 12 Smithing Stone [7], 12 Smithing Stone [8], 1 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.