The Rise of Maelle’s Stendhal in Expedition 33: An Overpowered Phenomenon

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has captivated players with its engaging narrative and enjoyable turn-based gameplay. However, for many enthusiasts, the thrill of combining powerful builds to obliterate in-game enemies has birthed its own sub-genre.

Since its launch, players of E33 have taken to social media, showcasing outrageous damage numbers that soar into the multi-billions, primarily through Maelle, particularly with one potent ability. This skill, known as Stendhal, costs eight ability points and has been a game-changer.

Maelle’s application of Stendhal has become so dominant that the game’s developers, Sandfall Interactive, have indicated they must nerf it in an upcoming update for Expedition 33.

“We hadn’t initially planned to implement balance changes so soon—just bug fixes, unless something glaringly stood out,” Sandfall stated. “Stendhal truly stood out. Initially, it was lackluster during development, and in our final pre-release balancing pass, we significantly improved its damage—clearly too much. It ended up overshadowing most other skills.”

For those who thrive on witnessing impressive damage figures, there’s no need to worry. Sandfall aims to maintain players’ ability to break the game, stating, “You absolutely still can—but Stendhal was making it a bit too uncomplicated.” Expect the change to roll out shortly.

If you seek to record record-breaking damage, act quickly! A hotfix scheduled for May 9 means today is the last chance to utilize Stendhal for surpassing damage numbers that can elevate your bragging rights and screenshot collection.

“Post-update, it will remain a formidable single-hit skill with excellent synergy potential… just more aligned with the rest of the game,” Sandfall confirmed. This news is reassuring for players who have transformed Maelle into a nuclear force, even in New Game Plus mode.

Maelle’s core identity revolves around amplifying her damage output to achieve spectacular one-hit eliminations. Thus, the recent developments may be disappointing—though likely essential for game balance. By combining various Pictos and attributes, she should still manage to achieve impressive damage outputs with her Virtuous Stance and high critical hit chances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Stendhal in Expedition 33?

Stendhal is a powerful skill used by Maelle in Expedition 33 that costs eight ability points and enables players to deal exceptional damage, making it a popular choice among players.

How did Stendhal become so overpowered?

Initially considered underwhelming, Stendhal received a significant damage boost in the final pre-release balancing pass, leading to its dominance in gameplay and overshadowing other skills.

When is the nerf for Stendhal expected?

A hotfix to nerf Stendhal is set to go live on May 9, so players looking to maximize their damage before the update should act quickly.

Will Maelle still be effective after the nerf?

Yes, Sandfall confirmed that while Stendhal will be adjusted, it will still function as a powerful single-hit skill with great synergy, though it will align more closely with other abilities.

What strategies can I use to maximize Maelle’s damage?

Combining different Pictos and attributes effectively while utilizing Maelle’s Virtuous Stance and critical hit opportunities can lead to impressive damage outputs even after the adjustment.