Maelle's 2 Billion Damage Build Nerfed by Clair Obscur

Dive into the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 where Maelle’s nuke build can unleash over 2 billion damage. Discover the secrets behind this explosive power and learn how Sandfall Interactive is responding to this game-altering skill.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Stendhal Hurts, A Lot

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to captivate players with new discoveries every day, including a player who found a way to deal up to 2 billion damage using the Expeditioner, Maelle.

Once you've completed the main storyline, the game's endgame unfolds, offering more narrative depth and formidable bosses that challenge even the most seasoned players. With some bosses boasting massive HP bars and one-hit kill capabilities, players have turned to a nuke build for survival. Note: This article contains minor spoilers, so proceed with caution.

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Maelle's skill, Stendhal, packs a powerful punch. When combined with her Virtuose stance, the damage output can be boosted by 200%. To execute Maelle's nuke build effectively, players need two specific Luminas, unlocked via Pictos (equipable items with various effects).

The required Luminas for this devastating damage are Cheater, which grants an extra turn, and Shortcut, which provides another turn when Maelle's health drops below 30%.

Additionally, equipping Maelle with her weapon, the Medalum, is crucial as it allows her to start battles in Virtuose stance. Another essential skill is Last Stand, which also activates Virtuose stance but leaves Maelle with just one hit point.

To further enhance her damage, Maelle must equip any three of the following skills: Painted Power, which allows damage to exceed 9,999; Death’s Door, offering a 50% damage increase at low health; Confident Fighter, boosting damage by 30% but removing healing capabilities; Inverted Affinity, which increases damage by 50% but makes healing detrimental; and other skills that amplify damage percentages.

With the right combination of Pictos and Luminas, Maelle can unleash over 2 billion damage. To put this into perspective, the endgame boss Simon has around 45 million HP. Maelle’s nuke strategy could theoretically kill Simon 48 times over, showcasing the sheer power of this build.

As players continue to experiment, they're pushing the boundaries with various characters and strategies to tackle the challenging post-game content of Expedition 33.

Stendhal Getting Nerfed

Sandfall Interactive acknowledged that Stendhal was making the game too easy. In a May 8th post on Twitter (X), the studio announced upcoming changes to Maelle’s skill. Initially, they planned only bug fixes, but the extreme damage from Stendhal necessitated a balance adjustment.

During development, Stendhal was considered underwhelming, but a last-minute boost in the final pre-release balance pass resulted in its current overpowered state. "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, rolling out today on Steam and soon on other platforms.

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 Twitter (X) post on May 6.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the game on Instagram, saying, "Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity."

With its continued success and positive reception, Expedition 33 is a strong contender for this year's Game of the Year. The developers are committed to enhancing the game with updates and potentially expanding with DLC.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news by clicking on our article below!