Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just dropped Patch 1.2.3, and one of the biggest shakeups was a major nerf to Maelle’s iconic ability, Stendhal. If you've been using her as your go-to burst damage dealer, you're probably wondering: Is Maelle still worth using? Here's a breakdown of what changed, what it means for your team, and how to adapt.
What Did the Patch Do to Stendhal?
In Patch 1.2.3, the devs cut Stendhal’s damage output by 40%. That’s not a typo—forty. Percent. Gone.
Before the patch, Stendhal was kind of busted. It could wipe out chunks of boss health in seconds, especially when paired with certain weapon effects (like the now-fixed Medalum glitch). It made Maelle a top-tier damage dealer from early to mid-game.
Why the Nerf?
Honestly? It makes sense.
Stendhal was way too good for how early you could unlock it. It pretty much invalidated other characters' abilities for a lot of fights. According to the patch notes, the devs wanted to preserve overall balance and encourage more diverse party builds. Stendhal was just blowing past everything.
How It Changes Maelle’s Role
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She’s less reliable as a pure nuker.
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You’ll need better setup (buffs, debuffs, paint synergies) to make her output feel strong.
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She works better as a hybrid character, weaving in utility and elemental setup instead of just spamming Stendhal.
Think of her more like a supportive DPS now—still capable, but not the “win button” she used to be.
Is Maelle Still Viable in Expedition 33?
Absolutely. If you’re building your team around elemental synergy or want a character with strong personality and narrative relevance, Maelle still delivers. You’ll just need to rethink your strategy:
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Focus on timing Stendhal with enemy vulnerabilities or after buffs.
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Pair her with high-support characters like Lune or status applicators like Monoco.
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Use her for setup combos rather than relying solely on burst.
Best Alternatives to Stendhal Post-Patch
If you’re looking for other strong options post-nerf:
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Blizzon-based builds are rising in popularity, especially with the reworked scaling.
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Virtuose Stance + Lumina builds (now working as intended) still offer great DPS.
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Paint Cage strategies with chain-triggered effects are seeing more love too.
The good news? The nerf opens the door for more variety in builds, especially in the mid-game.
What the Community Is Saying
Reactions are mixed, as you’d expect:
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On Reddit, players are split—some feel it’s balanced, others miss the easy clears.
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Some streamers are even doubling down on Maelle, using her as a precision tool in high-difficulty encounters.
So yeah, she’s still got it—just not in a faceroll way.
Final Verdict: Still Worth Using?
Yes—but with a strategy shift.
If you loved Maelle before, she’s still going to be a solid choice. Just don’t expect her to solo boss bars the way she used to. With the right build and smart play, she can still carry her weight and then some.
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