Stendhal Expedition 33: The Ultimate Maelle Damage Guide

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the most talked-about combat skills is Stendhal, a single-strike powerhouse that can absolutely change how battles play out in the late game. Whether you’re searching for Stendhal Expedition 33 builds, how to unlock the Stendhal skill in Clair Obscur, or the best ways to maximize its damage, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.

What Is Stendhal in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?

Stendhal is a high-damage Void skill available to Maelle once she reaches Act III of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This technique delivers extreme single-target damage with one massive blow, making it one of the deadliest options in the game when built around correctly.

In practical terms, Stendhal:

Costs 8 Action Points (AP) to use
Consumes 4 Skill Points from Maelle’s skill tree
Removes all active self-shields
Applies the Defenceless condition to Maelle (making her more vulnerable after using it)
Switches her stance to Stanceless after execution

Because it hits only once, every damage bonus you stack applies fully to that strike, meaning the right setup can make Stendhal obliterate even powerful foes.

How to Unlock Stendhal in Expedition 33

You unlock Stendhal naturally as part of Maelle’s progression in Act III. It’s not hidden or tied to a secret quest, once you reach that chapter and have at least 4 Skill Points plus a prerequisite like Percee or Burning Canvas, you can take Stendhal off the skill tree and add it to your rotation.

Why Stendhal Is So Powerful

Stendhal stands out in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 because it takes advantage of multiplicative damage stacking. This means buffs like:

First-hit damage bonuses
Virtuose stance damage multipliers
Low-life effects
Critical hit multipliers
Mark synergy

…all apply at once to the single hit of Stendhal, letting it exceed the output of many multi-hit skills over time.

In other words, while skills that hit many times split those bonuses across each hit, Stendhal lets your entire damage boost land on one strike, a huge reason it’s a late-game favorite.

The Stendhal Nerf: What Changed

At launch, Stendhal was so overpowered that Maelle could routinely one-shot bosses throughout late-game content. Developers patched the game with Patch 1.2.3, reducing its raw damage by about 40% to help rebalance combat. Even with this nerf, Stendhal still remains incredibly strong and relevant in high-damage playstyles.

Best Ways to Use Stendhal in Expedition 33

Here are the key tips to make the most of Stendhal:

Get Into Virtuose Stance Before Using It
Virtuose stance multiplies damage for your next action. When Stendhal hits from Virtuose stance, the bonus becomes massive.

Stack First-Hit Amps and Critical Boosts
Buffs that boost your first attack or critical damage make Stendhal’s one hit hit even harder.

Balance Buffs With Survivability
Because Stendhal strips shields and makes Maelle Defenceless, pairing it with defensive Luminas or teammates who can heal is key.

Use With Support Characters
Another party member who helps build AP or apply buffs before your round lets Stendhal strike at peak efficiency.

Stendhal vs Other High-Damage Skills

Stendhal isn’t the only strong damage option in Expedition 33, but it’s fast and burst-oriented. Other skills like Phantom Strike or Sword Ballet can rival it under certain builds, but they either hit multiple times or require more setup to match Stendhal’s raw output in the right scenario.

When to Use Stendhal Best

Boss fights: Especially against big HP pools where a single huge attack can swing the fight.
Money or XP farming: If you can kill enemies in one turn, fights become super quick.
Build-centric play: When your Maelle build lies heavily in damage stacking and critical setups.

Conclusion: Is Stendhal Worth It?

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Stendhal is one of the most iconic and powerful skills you can unlock. Even after its nerf, it remains a cornerstone of late-game Maelle builds for players who love high risk, high reward combat. Whether you’re going for speed clears, boss hunts, or solo routes, Stendhal offers a dramatic increase in offensive power.

Try pairing it with defensive strategies and AP-buff Luminas, and you’ll see why so many players consider Stendhal Expedition 33 one of the most satisfying skills in the entire game.