Discover the explosive power of Maelle's nuke build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which can deal an astounding 2 billion damage. Dive into the details of this game-changing strategy and learn about Sandfall Interactive's response to this overpowered skill.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to surprise and engage players, with new discoveries emerging daily. One such revelation is Maelle's ability to unleash up to 2 billion damage with her nuke build.

Upon completing the main storyline, the game unfolds its endgame content, offering additional narrative elements and formidable bosses that players have never faced before. These challenges can be overwhelming, given the bosses' immense health pools and potential one-hit kill capabilities. In response, players have devised the nuke build strategy to counter these threats. Note: This article contains minor spoilers, so proceed with caution.

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Maelle's skill, Stendhal, inflicts significant damage, which can be boosted by 200% when she enters her Virtuose stance. To maximize this nuke build, Maelle requires two specific Luminas, unlocked through Pictos (equipable items that enhance various effects).

The necessary Luminas for this devastating setup are Cheater, which grants an additional turn, and Shortcut, which provides another turn when Maelle's health drops below 30%. Additionally, players need Maelle's weapon, the Medalum, which starts her in Virtuose stance. The skill Last Stand is crucial as it places her in Virtuose stance while reducing her health to one hit point.

To further amplify her damage, Maelle should equip at least three of the following skills: Painted Power, which allows damage to exceed 9,999; Death’s Door, offering an extra 50% damage at low health; Confident Fighter, increasing damage by 30% but preventing healing; and Inverted Affinity, boosting damage by 50% but making healing harmful.

With the right combination of Pictos and Luminas, Maelle can achieve over 2 billion damage. For context, the endgame boss Simon has approximately 45 million HP. Maelle's nuke strategy could theoretically kill Simon 48 times over, showcasing the sheer power of this build.

Players continue to experiment with different characters and strategies, pushing the limits of damage output in Expedition 33's challenging post-game environment, making their adventures both easier and more enjoyable.

Stendhal Getting Nerfed

Sandfall Interactive has acknowledged that Stendhal's immense power was making the game too easy. In a May 8 Twitter (X) post, the studio announced upcoming adjustments to Maelle’s skill. Originally, no balance changes were planned this early in the game's lifecycle, only bug fixes.

However, the overwhelming damage caused by Stendhal prompted a reevaluation. Sandfall Interactive admitted that Stendhal was underwhelming during development but received a significant damage boost in the final pre-release balance pass, which proved excessive.

"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 necessary changes to Stendhal will be part of their first full hotfix set, rolling out today on Steam and soon after on other platforms.

2 Million Copies in 12 Days

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to set records, reaching 2 million copies sold within just 12 days of its launch, as announced in a May 6 Twitter (X) post.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the game on Instagram, congratulating Sandfall Interactive for their success and for showcasing French creativity and boldness. He said, "Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity."

With its ongoing success and frequent updates, Expedition 33 is a strong contender for this year's Game of the Year award. The developers are committed to enhancing the game, with potential DLC on the horizon if the game continues to perform well.

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