Latest news with #Sciel
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' Is Nerfing Its Most Game-Breaking Build
Expedition 33 Sandfall You do not often see heavy nerfs in single player, PvE only games, but sometimes things get a little too crazy, and something has to be done. That's currently happening with the beloved GOTY contender Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has announced it will be addressing its problem child, Maelle. Sandfall has revealed that it will be nerfing an aspect of the most popular, strongest Maelle build that involves the high-damage move Stendhal and stacking a zillion buffs to rack up anywhere from 20 million to 3 billion damage in one hit, depending on how it's set up. With the hardest phase of the hardest boss of the game able to be one-shot with 50-60 million in damage, this erases the entire endgame's challenge if you choose to use it. I wrote up the build literally yesterday, but it's being nerfed tomorrow in a new series of hotfixes. I mean, yes, this is justified. We don't even know how strong this nerf is and cutting it down to 95% of what it was still could be overpowered. The goal, Sandfall says, is to make it in line with other big damage, single-hit skills, rather than be 1000% better than everything else. Players are still discovering more and more builds for all characters every day, and even perusing YouTube, you can see millions in damage from other characters from Sciel to Verso. But millions is not 50 million or 3 billion, and it's not clear if anything close to Maelle's nuke can be drafted in the game with other characters at this point. But I've played these games long enough to know that someone is probably going to figure other things out. Expedition 33 Sandfall Again, Maelle is no doubt still going to be strong. Even post-nerf Stendhal may still be overpowered. But you will be surprised how little even a few million damage can move at least some of the health bars really late in the game, and it seems you are going to have to actually…play. Well, I won't because I just beat everything with Maelle. I mean, it was just too tempting, I'm sorry. I'll start New Game+ and do it legally, I promise. So yes, you have one more day of this which may not be enough to fully craft the build depending on where you are, but this is entirely justified so I don't think players can be all that mad about it. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Best Maelle build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Weapons, skills, Pictos, and more!
Image via Kepler Interactive If you're looking to turn Maelle into an unstoppable force in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , you're in the right place. Maelle's combat style is all about smart stance switching, devastating Fire attacks, and stacking massive amounts of Burn damage. With the right setup, she can carry fights almost single-handedly — from early game all the way to the final act What Are Maelle's Stances? Maelle's combat revolves around three different stances that enhance her gameplay: Defensive Stance : Reduces damage taken and builds AP for dodges and parries. Offensive Stance : Increases both the damage Maelle deals and receives. Virtuose Stance : The real prize — boosts her damage output by a jaw-dropping 200%. Switching stances is key to keeping Maelle's buffs active. Choose your skills carefully to control her stance at all times. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Best Maelle Build Guide (+ Commentary) Best Weapon for Maelle When it comes to gearing Maelle, nothing beats the Medalum Saber. You can earn this beauty by beating Sciel in the Gestral Village Tournament. Medalum isn't just strong — it's game-breaking when built right. Here's why: Level 4 Medalum : Automatically places Maelle in Virtuose Stance at the start of each fight. Level 10 Medalum : Doubles Burn stacks while in Virtuose Stance. Level 20 Medalum : Doubles all Burn damage when in Virtuose Stance. Pair that with the fact that Medalum scales primarily with Defense and Agility, and you have a weapon that not only hits hard but also makes Maelle super tough and lightning fast. Focus on upgrading Defense first, then pour points into Agility and a little Might for extra damage. Best Skills for Maelle When building Maelle, focus hard on her Fire-based attacks to truly exploit the Medalum's bonuses: Rain of Fire Combustion Pyrolyse Burning Canvas (late-game unlock) Start fights strong by applying Burn immediately, especially when you open in Virtuose Stance. Adding Swift Stride to your skill set is a must — it keeps Maelle locked into Virtuose by refreshing it when she hits Burning enemies. Another great skill to slot is Fleuret Fury, which is perfect for smashing enemies with a full Break Bar while staying in Virtuose. Understanding Pictos & Luminas In Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Best Pictos & Luminas for Maelle Pictos and Luminas can supercharge this build if chosen correctly: Double Burn : Essential. Quadruple Burn stacks are possible when combined with Medalum's bonuses. Critical Burn: Boosts crit chance against burning targets. Burning Mark : Helps stack Burn even faster. Also, look for AP-boosting passives like Energising Start and Dead Energy to fuel your big attacks early. First Strike is another strong pick, ensuring Maelle always acts first. To add survivability, grab Healing Fire (heals Maelle when attacking Burning enemies) and Fueling Break (doubles Burn stacks when Breaking foes). Final Thoughts With this setup, Maelle becomes a Burn-stacking machine capable of melting enemies in seconds. Whether you're crushing story bosses or dominating in duels like the Gestral Tourney, this build turns her into one of the strongest characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 . Master the rhythm of her stances, stack that Burn, and watch everything go up in flames.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Can you romance in Clair Obscur Expedition 33?
(Image via Sandfall Interactive) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers some deep character relationships, but does it include characters' romance? While the game is focused on the bonds between the party members, it does or does not follow the traditional dating mechanics, which is a major question in the minds of the players. Here is what you need to know about the relationships in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and whether love remains in the game's cards. Is romance possible in Clair Obscur Expedition 33? Romance in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 does not seem to be the core feature of the game. Unlike other games, here, there remains no dating mechanics or overt love confessions. However, the relationships here matter. It deepens the bonds, unlocking some powerful abilities, trophies, and story moments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The closest thing to romantic characters in the game is Gustave backstory . It hints at the lost love. However, for the other party members, the interactions are platonic and yet meaningful. The dialogue choices strengthen the friendships instead of leading to romance. How do relationships work without romance in Clair Obscur Expedition 33? Instead of romance, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is focused on camaraderie and friendship. Talking to the characters at the camp raises their Relationship Levels while unlocking new dialogue (revealing the backstories), gradient attacks (some powerful combat skills), and cosmetic rewards (outfits and hairstyles). Each of the characters has 7 relationship tiers. They max out at Level 7. To reach the highest tier will grant Achievements/Trophies and their strongest abilities. Secret romance paths in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 While the game does not advertise romance between the 2 characters, Sciel and Lune, the characters have a subtle romantic undertone. However, both the characters cannot be romanced in 1 playthrough. The route to Sciel is easier to be triggered via natural dialogue choices. Lune's romance, on the other hand, is only available if you avoid Sciel's advances until Act 3, where Lune reflects upon some shared moments. The subtle mechanic mirrors the real-life relationship stakes. Choose wisely, as the commitments remain irreversible. Neither of the paths offers any explicit love scenes, but the dialogue shifts hint at deeper connections, rewarding the players who are attentive with the unique narrative threads. Why do relationships matter in Clair Obscur Expedition 33? Even without romance, relationships matter. To max out the bonds is not just about the story. It directly impacts the gameplay. Like, Gradient Attacks like Angel's Eyes and Phoenix Flames are important for late-game battles. Some exclusive cosmetics, like hairstyles and swimwear, reward the dedicated players. The character arcs feel rich when you uncover the personal struggles. If you skip the Camp conversations, you will miss some of the best storytelling in the game and some powerful combat tools, too. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 prioritizes friendship over romance The game gives priority to friendship, but bonds built by the players still feel rewarding. While you will not get the love confessions or the dating scenes, emotional connections, and the gameplay perks make the relationship-building worthwhile. For the players who are craving romance, Lune and Sciel will offer you the closest experience in the game. Just remember, you can pursue only one per playthrough. Also, the rest of the characters are loyal allies and not lovers.
