Summary:

  • Stendhal is a powerful single-target Void damage ability that belongs only to Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
  • Patch 1.2.3 nerfed Stendhal by 40% to balance, as it was getting too overpowered compared to the others.
  • It is still a top single-target damage ability, especially when combined with Maelle’s Medalum.

Not many abilities are as interesting and exciting as Maelle’s Stendhal in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Stendhal’s massive effect is a home run for a lot of players looking to take down their opponent with style. Stendhal not only has power potential, but if done right, it also is one of the most stunning skills in-game. Let’s look at the keys to harnessing the full benefits of this devastating ability so that you can start playing completely differently and leave your foes stunned.

What is Stendhal?

Stendhal is a heavy-hitting skill in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that is available to Maelle. It’s designed to deal high single-target Void damage, so there’s not much that can beat it when it comes to offensive abilities. This skill makes Maelle levitate and summon spectral spikes that she spins toward her enemy, then slams them down.

There’s a significant cost to the action: triggering Stendhal will remove ALL of Maelle’s shields. It will also apply the Defenceless state to her, increasing any damage she receives by 25%. This downtime further emphasizes timing since the action leaves Maelle extremely vulnerable right after using the attack.

Stendhal is known for streamlining a late-game build that can kill almost any enemy in one or two turns. With this, Maelle can take the first shot in battles, so most enemies are killed before they can fight back. However, the AP cost is very high at 8. To add, it must be unlocked in Maelle’s skill tree as she progresses through Act III of the main story. 

The Recent Nerf on Stendhal

So, Stendhal just got nerfed in the recent Patch 1.2.3 that went live May 9, 2025. Players’ reactions have been mixed, to say the least.  In Patch 1.2.3, the damage output from the skill was reduced by 40%. Developers remarked that when they were developing Clair Obscur, Stendhal was totally underwhelming. They changed the damage output before release, and now it was an overpowered skill. The nerf on Stendhal was so they could restore balance to the game experience and the challenge it requires.

Players are divided on the nerf, especially in the context of Expedition 33 being a single-player game. Players tend to treat their experience with these overpowered builds as optional fun, not a problem. Overall, the nerf drops the percentage of damage fully for Stendhal, but it’s still a strong option for single-target damage. Stendhal’s large damage loss is somewhat compensated for by Maelle’s Medalum sword; when upgraded, that sword now doubles all damage types, instead of just Burn damage.

Building Maelle for Maximum Stendhal Damage

Maelle’s special build revolves around her special weapon: Medalum. Medalum is important since it starts Maelle in the Virtuose stance (which increases her damage by 200%). The Stendhal can deal damage upwards of billions when used in conjunction with the Virtuose stance and specific buffs. 

Usually, players will heavily invest into Agility and Defense stats, often hitting the 99 cap to maximize the weapon scaling. Lots of people thread luck after it, but often hitting around 70 luck will yield critical hits that go beyond 68% critical chance, increasing your damage by 50% more. The build gets better with Equipping Luminas like Cheater and Shortcut, giving Maelle more turns to give her as many Stendhal attacks as she could in one turn.

Conclusion

In Expedition 33, nothing does the trick like Stendhal, which can disrupt battle with a single strike. It encourages players and alters combat across the board. The choice to practice and implement the skill presents itself as an active and kinetic playstyle that can only benefit accuracy, timing, and an analytical perspective to Maelle’s upside. If you keep an open mind and test things out, you’ll throw this skill like a master at any time.