Maelle stands out as one of the most vital and cherished personalities in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not only does she feature a rich character background, but her prowess in combat makes her an essential member of any team. Thanks to her extensive skill set and diverse arsenal, Maelle outshines her fellow party members in damage output, making her invaluable when tackling the game’s most formidable foes.
Players can unlock Maelle after successfully navigating the Flying Waters segment, at which point she becomes available for the remainder of the game. Despite her young appearance, Maelle possesses devastating abilities that can eliminate opponents in a single strike. Moreover, her weapons cater to various player strategies, allowing for a customized combat experience.
One of Maelle’s defining mechanics revolves around her stance changes, which yield both Offensive and Defensive bonuses, significantly enhancing her effectiveness. In her impressive Virtuose stance, she can amplify her damage by an astounding 200%.
10 Sekarum
The Ultimate Shield-Smasher
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Switch to Virtuose Stance upon breaking any shield. |
|
10 |
Free aim shots can break two shields. |
|
20 |
In Virtuose Stance, all damage ignores shields. |
While Sekarum only inflicts Physical damage, it remains an incredibly powerful weapon, particularly advantageous in the early stages of the game. Its substantial damage and shield-breaking capabilities make it particularly effective against certain challenging bosses.
Although not every adversary utilizes shields, those who do can pose a significant challenge—especially when facing shield-regenerating foes like some Petanks. By leveraging the combination of Virtuose stance shifts and shield breaks, Maelle can unleash tremendous amounts of damage, and at maximum level, her attacks in Virtuose completely bypass shields.
To obtain Sekarum, players must find the Gestral Merchant, Eesda, located in a secluded alley near the main market.
9 Plenum
The Ideal Defensive Weapon
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Switch to Defensive Stance at the start of a turn if Stanceless. |
|
10 |
In Defensive Stance, double damage to Break. |
|
20 |
Support skills cost 1 less AP. |
To maximize Maelle’s effectiveness, it is crucial to keep her alive during battles, and Plenum is tailor-made for this purpose. It defaults to a defensive stance and provides numerous protective advantages at higher levels.
At level 20, all of Maelle’s support skills become less AP-intensive, leading to powerful synergies with skills like Verso’s abilities. Pairing these will significantly enhance both defense and offense, creating a robust party setup.
While I found Lune more suited to a support role, the advantages of using Maelle in this capacity with Plenum shouldn’t be overlooked. To acquire Plenum, players must travel to the Yellow Harvest area near the Red Woods and defeat the boss Glaise.
8 Lithum
A Brilliant All-Rounder
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
In Virtuose Stance, hitting a Marked enemy keeps the Mark. |
|
10 |
Switch to Virtuose Stance on Counter-Attack. |
|
20 |
Gain Shell when exiting Virtuose Stance. |
Lithum is arguably Maelle’s strongest weapon, although it requires skillful parrying to harness its full potential. Its Base Attack and Void element damage are formidable, but the real kicker lies in its ease of obtaining Virtuose Stance.
At level 10, a simple counter-attack can transition Maelle into her most potent offensive position, doubling damage nearly every turn. Furthermore, the Shell effect gained at level 20 provides a defensive advantage in any stance, further bolstering her capabilities on the battlefield.
Lithum can be found in The Reacher, an optional area located west of Visages Island. Players will require Esquie’s flying ability, which becomes available at the start of Act 3, to access it.
7 Facesum
For Sustained Burn Damage
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
In Offensive Stance, double break damage. |
|
10 |
Apply 50% increased Burn damage. |
|
20 |
Base Attack inflicts Burn. |
As one of Maelle’s top fire weapons, Facesum synergizes exceptionally with her skills like Rain of Fire and Pyrolyse. While lacking elemental damage, its various effects at higher levels ensure consistent and effective Burn damage over time.
Adding to its power, Facesum pairs exceptionally well with Lune’s fire abilities, creating a stacked Burn damage effect that progressively erodes enemy health during battles. Despite more powerful swords being available later in the game, Facesum serves as a strong mid-game choice that eases encounters with bosses, especially for players focused on Fire-based attacks.
Players can find Facesum on the Isle of the Eyes, located northwest of Visages Island, near The Reacher.
6 Weaving
Ideal For Breaking Enemies
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
In Defensive Stance, double break damage. |
|
10 |
Gain 9 AP upon breaking an enemy. |
|
20 |
Breaking an enemy delivers significant Earth damage. |
Tissenum ranks among the strongest Earth-element weapons in the game, boasting impressive base attack damage and exceptional Break Damage. Though it might not fit every strategy, it has excellent synergy with skills from Verso and Lune, while generating substantial AP for Maelle.
When leveraged correctly, Tissenum can decisively affect battle outcomes; however, timing is critical to maximize its potential, particularly given that many bosses possess resistance to being Broken or do not remain vulnerable long enough.
5 Apple trees
A High-Powered Silver Katana
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Allies regain 20% Health when switching to Virtuose Stance. |
|
10 |
Applies Shell when health exceeds 80%. |
|
20 |
Switch to Virtuose Stance when Health falls below 50%. |
Melarum is not only visually striking but also offers significant utility, making it a top choice following the Old Lumiere section of Act 2.
Similar to the even more formidable Glaisum, Melarum heals allies upon switching to Virtuose Stance, which can have a substantial impact given how frequently Maelle utilizes this stance.
This weapon enhances both Maelle’s attack capabilities while providing a solid defense, ensuring she maintains a formidable presence in battle. Players acquire Melarum by progressing through the story until facing Renoir outside the Old Lumiere mansion, at which point it is automatically added to Maelle’s inventory.
4 Medalum
For Virtuoso Performers
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Start in Virtuose Stance. |
|
10 |
In Virtuose Stance, every Burn is doubled. |
|
20 |
In Virtuose Stance, Burn damage is doubled. |
Medalum is undoubtedly one of the finest weapons available to Maelle during the early to mid-game, capable of carrying her through most of the main content with ease.
With its ability to trigger Virtuose stance without consuming AP, Medalum enhances Maelle’s combat abilities significantly. The doubled Burn damage and effect stacking work harmoniously with Maelle and Lune’s skill synergy, proving particularly effective against a wide array of enemies, as the Burn effect remains consistent over multiple turns.
Medalum is acquired by participating in the Gestral tournament and selecting Maelle to face the Stranger. If missed, it is also obtainable by defeating Golgra with Maelle on your team, a challenging endeavor.
3 Chalice
The Ultimate Weapon For Parrying
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Gain 1 Shield per Parry while in Defensive Stance. Shields reset at the start of each turn. |
|
10 |
20% increased Light damage with Skills. |
|
20 |
50% increase in counter damage per Shield. |
As perhaps the most versatile character in Expedition 33, Maelle thrives with Chalium, especially for players skilled in parrying techniques.
This saber not only delivers exceptional base damage but its capacity to generate shields enhances Maelle’s longevity in battle. If built defensively with her Skills and Pictos, Chalium becomes invaluable, significantly prolonging her effectiveness in fights.
Chalium can be acquired by defeating the Chromatic Chalier in the Sinister Cave located to the east of Sirene.
2 Barrier Breaker
For Those Annoying Shield-Generating Bosses
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Obtain Shields removed from enemies upon attack. |
|
10 |
Switch to Virtuose Stance when attacking shielded enemies. |
|
20 |
Attacking a Marked enemy breaks all its shields. |
The Barrier Breaker emerges as a formidable late-game weapon, requiring players to defeat both Visages and Sirène Axons to acquire it. Once obtained, confronting shielded enemies transforms from a frustration into a manageable task.
This weapon stands out for its focus on removing enemy shields and converting them to Maelle’s advantage, not only enhancing her defense but also synergizing with Verso’s skills centered around marking adversaries.
When combined with the Breaking Rules skill, the Barrier Breaker can strip all of an opponent’s shields in one move, effectively offering Maelle multiple opportunities to attack unencumbered.
As players progress to face tougher enemies and bosses, engagements can devolve into a battle of resource management. Fortunately, the Barrier Breaker significantly simplifies encounters with shielded enemies.
1 Glaisum
The Ultimate Stance Enhancer
|
Level |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
4 |
Allies recover 20% Health upon switching to Virtuose Stance. |
|
10 |
Gain Shell when switching out of Virtuose Stance. |
|
20 |
Cleanse self of Status effects when transitioning to Virtuose Stance. |
A frontrunner among Maelle’s arsenal is undoubtedly Glaisum, a weapon that dramatically enhances the capabilities of Virtuose Stance.
Beyond delivering impressive Base Attack power, Glaisum elevates the Virtuose Stance through added defensive benefits, making it even more formidable.
At its initial level, the capacity to restore allies’ health upon switching to Virtuose is an invaluable asset for enhancing squad sustainability without sacrificing Maelle’s damage potential.
As long as players effectively combine skills to activate Virtuose frequently, Glaisum becomes an indispensable tool during the toughest boss fights.
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