Maelle is one of the strongest single-target damage dealers in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, excelling at stance-based combat and burn stacking. Whether you’re just starting or approaching Act 3, this guide will walk you through the best builds, skills, weapons, attributes, and rotations for Maelle.
Maelle Battle Stances Explained
Maelle revolves around stance switching and Burn-based DPS. Mastery of her stances is key to unlocking her full potential as a duelist and support hybrid. Each stance modifies her playstyle significantly:
| Stance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Defensive | Reduces damage taken, +1 AP on dodge/parry. Best used when anticipating enemy attacks. |
| Offensive | +50% damage dealt and received. Can be used situationally but often skipped. |
| Virtuose | +200% damage with no drawback. Her primary stance for maximizing DPS. |
Stance Tip: You cannot repeat the same stance back-to-back unless triggered by a passive (e.g., Lithum, Medalum). Efficient cycling is critical.
Attribute Priorities by Act
To maximize Maelle’s performance, it’s crucial to allocate attribute points based on the weapon scaling and combat demands of each act. Early game favors crit chance, while later phases focus on agility and defense to enhance her stance uptime and survivability.
| Act | Agility | Defense | Luck | Might | Vitality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 15 | 5 |
| 2 | 45 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | 99 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best Weapons for Each Phase
Each phase of the game introduces weapons with unique passives that synergize with Maelle’s skillset. Here’s a breakdown of her best weapons and how their traits support different builds.
| Weapon | When | Effect | Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brulerum | Act 1 | Crits apply Burn; 100% crit in Stanceless | Luck (S), Agility (A) |
| Medalum | Act 2 | Auto-Virtuose, doubles Burn stacks and damage | Defense (S), Agility (A) |
| Clierum | Act 3 | Refunds AP on crits, +50% crit in Offensive | Agility (S), Defense (A) |
| Jarum | Late | Enter Virtuose on counter; high parry scaling | Defense, Luck |
| Lithum | Endgame | Keeps Mark on hit; auto-Virtuose on counter; grants Shell | Luck (S), Agility (A) |
Best Skills by Build Phase
Maelle’s skill choices evolve as you progress through the game. Each build phase prioritizes different skill combinations that enhance her stance synergy and maximize Burn-related damage.
Read More: How to Fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Fatal Error
Early Game Build (Act 1): Burn & Crit Hybrid
This phase relies on crit chance and quick entry into Virtuose to deliver early-game nukes.
- Spark: Apply Burn
- Swift Stride: Enter Virtuose if target is Burning
- Percee: High single-target nuke
- Breaking Rules: Destroy Shields, gain AP
- Guard Down: Defenseless to all enemies
Mid-Game Build (Act 2): Burn Synergy DPS
With Medalum equipped, Maelle can double down on Burn stacking and sustain Virtuose longer.
- Rain of Fire: AoE Burn
- Combustion: Consume Burn for damage
- Degagement: Weakens enemies
- Fleuret Fury: Multi-hit, keeps Virtuose active
- Swift Stride: Still vital for stance cycling
Endgame Build (Act 3): Infinite AP Nuke
At this stage, Maelle transforms into a turn-looping machine capable of nuking bosses endlessly.
- Sword Ballet: Cap-breaking multi-hit nuke
- Momentum Strike: Marked enemy finisher
- Phantom Strike: AoE Void damage
- Payback: Lower AP cost on parries
- Breaking Rules: Shield shred and AP loop
Gradient Attacks
Maelle gains access to powerful Gradient Attacks in the late game. These allow her to deal with large groups or revive allies depending on the scenario.
| Attack | Effect | GC Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Virtuose Strike | 5-hit Physical damage to single target | 1 GC |
| Phoenix Flame | Apply 10 Burn to all + revive allies | 2 GC |
| Gommage | Kills weak targets or extreme Void damage | 3 GC |
Best Pictos & Luminas
Choosing the right Pictos and Luminas dramatically affects Maelle’s efficiency. Each phase of the game unlocks new synergies and bonuses that elevate her combat capabilities.
Early Game:
Focus on enhancing crit chance and AP generation.
- Critical Burn – +Crit vs burning foes
- Rewarding Mark – +2 AP on hit
- Dead Energy II – +3 AP on kill
- Energising Start II – +1 AP at battle start
Mid Game:
Burn synergy becomes critical; stack damage-over-time efficiently.
- Double Burn – Burn stacking synergy
- Burning Shots – Burn on Free Aim
- Augmented First Strike – Big openers
- SOS Power – Stat boost when HP is low
Late Game:
Maelle’s nuking potential depends on powerful Luminas that remove limits and support her AP loop.
- Painted Power – Removes 9,999 damage cap
- Augmented Counters I–III – Massive parry damage
- Healing Fire – Heal when attacking burning enemies
- Fueling Break – Doubles Burn on break
- Cheater – Extra turn once per battle
- Energising Turn – +1 AP every turn
Combat Rotations
Using skills in the correct sequence allows Maelle to dominate the battlefield. Below are sample combat rotations tailored to boss fights and late-game AP loops.
Boss Burn Opener (Mid Game):
Use this sequence to apply heavy burn, enter Virtuose, and explode damage quickly.
- Rain of Fire – Apply heavy Burn
- Swift Stride – Switch to Virtuose
- Combustion – Burst Burn damage
- Fleuret Fury – Maintain stance
Infinite AP Loop (Endgame):
This combo exploits every AP-generating mechanic Maelle has.
- Parry → Auto Virtuose (Lithum passive)
- Apply Mark (via Monoco/Lune)
- Use Sword Ballet → uncapped damage
- Regain AP with Rewarding Mark, Dead Energy, Cheater
Advanced Mechanics
Beyond the basic build structure, advanced players can explore these techniques for peak performance:
- Stance Lock Prevention: Avoid using skills of your current stance unless you plan to cycle out next turn.
- Mark Combo: Combine Swift Stride → Mark → Percee for early-game 9999 hits.
- Jarum Parry Build: Use Solo Fighter + Augmented Counters. Every parry = Virtuose Stance + huge counter damage.
Best Teammates for Maelle
Maelle functions best with allies who support Burn applications, Marking, and AP regeneration.
| Character | Role | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Lune | Burn Applier | Enables Swift Stride, powers Fire synergy |
| Monoco | Mark Support | Chapelier Slash applies team-wide Mark |
| Gustave | Support/Breaker | Powerful buff + Defenseless application |
Final Verdict
Maelle is Clair Obscur’s ultimate hybrid DPS unit. Her true strength lies in:
- Mastery of Virtuose stance
- Tactical Burn stacking
- Leveraging infinite AP engines and damage cap breaking
Build her right—and Maelle becomes a boss-melting, turn-looping powerhouse who dominates every phase of the game.
Ready to make enemies combust in style? Master her stances. Stack that Burn. Loop those nukes.
Maelle isn’t just strong—she’s unstoppable.
