Discover how Maelle from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can unleash over 2 billion damage with her nuke build. Dive into the details of this explosive strategy and learn how Sandfall Interactive is responding to this game-changing skill.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates
Stendhal Hurts, A Lot
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to captivate players with new discoveries every day, including the revelation that the Expeditioner, Maelle, can deliver up to 2 billion damage. This extraordinary feat is part of the game's rich endgame content, which not only expands the story but also introduces challenging bosses with immense HP and devastating one-hit attacks. Players have devised a powerful nuke build to tackle these formidable foes. Note: This article contains minor spoilers, so proceed with caution.
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Maelle's skill, Stendhal, is known for its high damage output, which can be boosted to 200% when she is in Virtuose stance. To achieve the nuke build, players need to equip Maelle with two specific Luminas: Cheater, which grants an additional turn, and Shortcut, which provides another turn when Maelle's HP drops below 30%.
Additionally, Maelle must wield her weapon, the Medalum, which allows her to start battles in Virtuose stance. She also requires the skill Last Stand, which activates Virtuose stance and reduces her HP to one point.
To further enhance Maelle's damage, players should equip her with at least three of the following skills: Painted Power, which allows damage to exceed 9,999; Death’s Door, which boosts damage by 50% at low health; Confident Fighter, which increases damage by 30% but removes healing; and Inverted Affinity, which adds 50% damage but makes healing harmful. With the right combination of Pictos and Luminas, Maelle can surpass 2 billion damage. For context, the endgame boss Simon has around 45 million HP, meaning Maelle's strategy could theoretically defeat him 48 times over.
Players are continuously experimenting with different combinations and characters to push the boundaries of damage output. The challenging post-game content in Expedition 33 encourages players to develop innovative strategies to enhance their gameplay experience.
Stendhal Getting Nerfed
Sandfall Interactive has recognized that Stendhal's overwhelming power was making the game too easy. In a May 8 Twitter (X) post, the studio announced upcoming adjustments to Maelle’s skill. Originally, they planned only minor bug fixes, but Stendhal's extreme damage necessitated a balance change. Sandfall Interactive admitted that during development, Stendhal was underwhelming until they significantly boosted its damage in the final pre-release balance pass, inadvertently making it too powerful.
"We still want you to be able to break the game—and you absolutely still can—but Stendhal was making it a bit too easy," Sandfall Interactive stated. The changes to Stendhal will be part of their first full hotfix, set to go live on Steam today, with other platforms to follow shortly.
2 Million Copies in 12 Days
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved another remarkable milestone, selling 2 million copies within just 12 days of its launch, as announced in a May 6 Twitter (X) post. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Sandfall Interactive on Instagram for their success and for showcasing French creativity and audacity.
Given its rapid success and ongoing updates, Expedition 33 is a strong contender for this year's Game of the Year. Sandfall Interactive continues to enhance the game and considers the possibility of future DLCs.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest game news by clicking on our article below!
