Stendhal is the Skill that turns Maelle from strong to deadly in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. You unlock it later in her Skill Tree, and at first, it seems straightforward. But once you figure out how it works—its effect, what it costs, and how you can capitalize on it—you will know it completely warps the battle. Out of all the Skills in Expedition 33, Stendhal is the one that rewards you for thinking ahead and stacking up damage. Even after getting nerfed, it’s still the best pick for heavy damage in the endgame, whether you play solo or face down a tough boss.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Stendhal
Stendhal is a single-hit Void skill with an extreme damage modifier. It costs 8 AP, consumes 4 Skill Points, and lets Maelle go into Stanceless stance after its use. The trade-off is deliberate:
- Any active self-shields are removed.
- Maelle applies Defenceless to herself.
In isolation, that sounds like a lot to give up. In work, it barely matters because Stendhal is built for later fights before the downside becomes relevant. Maelle can rise, summon spectral spikes, then slam them down in one crushing strike to kill an enemy. That single, massive hit is why Stendhal’s damage scales out of control if you know what you’re doing.
The game’s damage descriptors, like low, high, and extreme, are ranges, not equal values. Single-target skills sit at the top of these ranges, and Stendhal is available at the very top of that group.
Multiplicative stacking breaks it open:
- First-hit damage bonuses
- Virtuose stance modifiers
- Low-life effects
- Mark synergy
- Critical multipliers
Because Stendhal deals a single attack, every buff applies to the full damage number. Skills that hit multiple skrikes, like Sword Ballet, spread the bonuses out, which looks good but doesn’t scale as much. Gommage does good damage right off the bat, but Stendhal’s synergy with first-hit and stance bonuses keeps it competitive and mostly the better choice.
How to Unlock Stendhal
Stendhal unlocks once you reach Act 3 and appears on Maelle’s Skill Tree. You don’t need to complete side content or hunt for a hidden trigger. To get the skill, you must have 4 Skill Points and one prerequisite path unlocked (Percee or Burning Canvas). It can’t be missed, but it’s easy to delay if you’ve already spent points somewhere else. To unlock it quickly, save points before you enter Act 3 or respec once it becomes available.
Stendhal Skill Nerf
Stendhal was broken on the game’s launch—way too strong. Sandfall admitted it and toned it down in Patch 1.2.3 released on May 9, 2025. The Skill’s damage is reduced by 40%, but its scaling, synergy with Virtuose stance, and role in top-tier builds remain the same. The nerf shaved off massive numbers, but the Skill is still very powerful. Before nerf, it was a one-hit KO for enemies, and now, you can still take down most bosses in one go, and usually finish off the rest with another turn if you don’t fully optimize.
Medalum and Virtuose Stance
Stendhal becomes very strong when paired with Medalum, especially in Virtuose stance. Early Medalum versions had multiplier issues that exaggerated damage even further. After fixes, Virtuoso’s stance is still very strong, which levels up single-hit damage, works well with first-strike Lumina, and makes the turn-one kills possible. That’s why many Stendhal builds revolve around the fight opening instead of carrying it. You can end the encounter before Maelle feels Defenceless.
The Skill can fall apart if you stack every offensive Lumina and strip away survivability, as you won’t be expecting a second turn. However, with a balanced build, it delivers heavy damage without being over the top. When you lean completely into first-hit damage, low-life bonuses, solo-fighter effects, and critical stacking, Stendhal performs great, and it leads to wild opinions about it. Casual builds find it a strong finisher, and players with optimized builds see a delete key.
Stendhal vs Other High-Damage Skills
Stendhal is not the only damage beast in the game, but it’s quicker than others to execute.
- Sciel can outdamage it with End Slice, but needs more turns.
- Monoco can surpass it with Lampmaster Light, but it requires sustained loops.
- Maelle’s Gradient Level 3 can eclipse Stendhal entirely with similar scaling.
Stendhal trivializes pattern-heavy fights and removes the need to engage with mechanics if you choose to lean on it. Either it can be interesting or boring, it depends on what you get from Expedition 33’s endgame.
