Main-gauche
Main-gauche is a Shadow of the Erdtree dagger found in Shadow Keep. It is designed as an off-hand parrying blade and pairs naturally with thrusting swords, while ordinary reinforcement supports affinities and compatible skills.
Key Takeaways
Main-gauche is a Shadow of the Erdtree dagger built around off-hand parrying rather than conventional main-hand damage.
Off-hand defensive identity
Its defining role is an off-hand dagger with the Parry skill, letting the wielder pair a defensive parry option with a separate main-hand weapon.
DLC availability
Main-gauche requires Shadow of the Erdtree, so it is unavailable in the base game and belongs to the expansion’s weapon pool.
Strong utility, limited reach
The weapon’s value comes from parry utility and flexible off-hand pairing; its dagger-class reach makes it less suitable as a standalone spacing weapon.
Standard upgrade path
Main-gauche uses Elden Ring’s regular weapon-upgrade and customization framework rather than functioning as a uniquely reinforced weapon, subject to its documented skill and affinity restrictions.
Closest comparison
It is more directly comparable to the Parrying Dagger and other parry-oriented off-hand choices than to general-purpose daggers used primarily for main-hand attacks.
Overview
Main-gauche is a Shadow of the Erdtree dagger built around the left-hand parrying role suggested by its name. Its defining identity is defensive rather than purely offensive: it gives dagger users a dedicated option for pairing close-range pressure with a parry skill.
In Elden Ring, Main-gauche is a dagger and a DLC weapon rather than a base-game variant of an existing dagger. Its broad guard distinguishes it visually and thematically from slimmer knives, while its intended left-hand use gives it a clearer role than a conventional single-weapon sidearm.
The weapon is most relevant to characters already committed to close-range combat, especially those using a dagger in the other hand or treating a light weapon as a defensive complement. Its value comes from combining the mobility and quick attacks associated with daggers with access to parrying, rather than from presenting a separate long-reach or heavy-damage weapon class.
Main-gauche therefore differs from ordinary dagger alternatives mainly through function and handling context. A player choosing it is trading the opportunity to equip another offensive skill in that hand for a weapon that can support deliberate defensive timing. That makes it a specialized sidegrade, not a universal replacement for faster or more aggressively focused daggers.
Its place in progression is tied to Shadow of the Erdtree content, so it should not be treated as part of the base-game acquisition pool. The weapon can matter to DLC characters refining a dual-dagger or parry-oriented setup, but its usefulness depends on whether the player actively uses parries; without that playstyle, more directly offensive dagger options may be simpler alternatives.
Statistics
Elden Ring publishes no 0–100 stat bars, so this page lists the verified requirements, scaling and handling figures instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryThrusting Swords
- Damage TypePierce
- Primary ScalingDex D
- Weight2
- SkillParry
- Str Req8
- Dex Req13
- How to ObtainCommon early enemy drop
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar thrusting swords
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main-gauche | 8 | 13 | 2 | Dex D |
| Rapier | 7 | 15 | 2.5 | Dex C |
| Thiollier's Hidden Needle | 8 | 20 | 3 | Dex C |
| Antspur Rapier | 8 | 18 | 3 | Dex C |
| Noble's Estoc | 8 | 15 | 3.5 | Dex C / Int D |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Shadow of the Erdtree access and entry into Castle Ensis are required. The pickup is not tied to a quest, boss, NG+ cycle, or limited-time condition; no alternate recovery route is required.
- 01In Shadow of the Erdtree, enter Castle Ensis in Gravesite Plain and reach the Castle Ensis Checkpoint Site of Grace. Search the nearby interior room and loot the corpse there to obtain Main-gauche; this is a guaranteed fixed pickup, not an enemy drop, vendor purchase, quest reward, or boss reward.
Availability
Requires Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
Main-gauche is not part of the base-game weapon pool.
Requires Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
No separate difficulty or NG+ availability restriction is established.
Mechanics and Handling
Off-hand parry role
Main-gauche is built around its Parry skill rather than a distinctive offensive gimmick. In the left hand, its skill can deflect eligible incoming attacks when timed during the parry window, potentially leaving the attacker open to a critical riposte. The timing is attack-dependent, so the weapon rewards reading an opponent’s wind-up rather than holding the skill continuously.
Its normal attacks use the fast, close-range dagger pattern: quick strikes with limited reach and little room for error if the user remains in front of a larger weapon. It can therefore provide an offensive off-hand option while still preserving access to a parry, but it does not replace the spacing advantages of a longer main-hand weapon.
Main-gauche has the usual dagger commitment and reach limitations. Its practical value is highest for players who deliberately use left-hand parries and can switch between pressure and defense; players seeking passive defense or broad coverage will generally get more from a shield or a longer weapon.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Provides a dedicated Parry skill in the off hand, leaving the main hand free to retain its weapon skill.
- Its dagger-class handling supports quick close-range attacks and rapid recovery compared with slower melee classes.
- Its large guard visually and mechanically suits a parry-focused off-hand role rather than a conventional damage-first dagger.
Weaknesses
- Its short dagger reach makes consistent spacing more demanding than with larger off-hand weapons.
- Using it for parries gives up the blocking coverage and guard utility of a shield.
- The weapon's value depends heavily on recognizing parryable attacks; missed timings provide little defensive benefit.
Best uses
- Pair it with a main-hand weapon whose skill or attack pattern you want to preserve while adding parry access.
- Use it against humanoid or other reliably parryable enemies when ripostes are part of the intended combat plan.
- Choose it for an aggressive close-range setup where quick off-hand attacks and parry attempts matter more than shield defense.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class or role | Distinguishing trait | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main-gauche | Parry skill and a guard-oriented design | Players who want a dagger that supports parrying without giving up a light melee weapon | — |
| Parrying Dagger | More narrowly focused on parry-oriented use | A simpler choice when defensive timing is the weapon's primary purpose | — |
| Misericorde | Specialized for critical attacks after a successful parry or stance break | Builds that treat the dagger as a riposte weapon rather than a sustained dueling tool | — |
| Wakizashi | Katana-like presentation and innate bleed capability | Players who prefer pressure and bleed buildup over Main-gauche's defensive emphasis | — |
Trivia
- “Main-gauche” is French for “left hand,” the traditional name for a left-hand parrying dagger used alongside a primary weapon. Elden Ring uses the term to signal the weapon’s intended off-hand role.
- The weapon’s oversized guard reflects the historical main-gauche’s defensive purpose rather than a purely ornamental design. Its in-game description likewise presents it as a dagger meant to accompany a weapon held in the right hand.