The character Maelle in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* breaks the mold of typical RPG protagonists. Instead of portraying a formidable hero like Cecil or Auron, players encounter a tiny, befreckled orphan wielding a fencing rapier. Despite her appearance, she is a powerhouse on the battlefield, particularly when her rapier is drawn. Her abilities are designed to inflict significant physical damage or set up allies for success, making her an essential character in any party.
Basic Kit
Maelle’s main weapon is her rapier, and her skill set primarily revolves around fencing maneuvers and strategies. Most of her skills focus on delivering substantial physical damage or applying effects that enhance her physical attacks. Notably, one of her skills, *Breaking Rules*, allows her to negate enemy shields, making her an invaluable asset against challenging foes.
Special Mechanic: Stance
Maelle’s unique mechanic, the Stance system, involves four different battle stances, each with distinct advantages and drawbacks:
- Stanceless: Default state at the start of every battle with no additional effects.
- Defensive Stance: Reduces incoming damage and provides extra Action Points (AP) for dodges or parries.
- Offensive Stance: Increases damage dealt by 50% but also increases damage taken by the same percentage.
- Virtuose Stance: Doubles the damage dealt, allowing for powerful attacks.
Understanding how to utilize these stances effectively is crucial, as each transition can grant additional AP and open avenues for strategic gameplay. The challenge lies in balancing offensive aggression with defensive tactics to maximize her combat effectiveness.
Recommended Builds/Synergy
Throughout much of the game, Maelle’s abilities will center around fire-based damage, with Void damage becoming available later. Unlocking skills that incorporate burning an enemy, such as *Swift Stride*, is essential as this facilitates access to her more powerful *Virtuose Stance*. Supporting her with companions who can inflict fire damage also enhances her effectiveness in battle. For example, starting with her skill *Spark* allows her to enter Defensive Mode, but players may want to hold off on casting until they can utilize the more impactful *Rain of Fire* skill later.
Once in Virtuose Stance, Maelle can unleash devastating damage, especially when paired with abilities that increase her critical hit chance against burning enemies. Planning the sequence of actions in battle is vital to ensure she capitalizes on her skills effectively. Moreover, maintaining a steady AP reserve is important, particularly as some of her more powerful skills, like *Fleuret Fury*, require significant Action Points.
To keep her AP replenished, consider tactics that maximize her survivability, such as using *Energising Pain*, which grants AP after taking damage, or keeping her in Defensive Mode to withstand blows longer. With careful management and a strategic approach, Maelle can dominate any encounter in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*.
*Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs.