In the world of RPG balancing, developers often face the challenge of maintaining gameplay integrity while allowing players to feel powerful. Sandfall Interactive now finds itself in this position with its hit game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as an overpowered ability is about to receive its first significant adjustment since launch.
The Stendhal Phenomenon
Sandfall Interactive has announced plans to implement its first balance change to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, targeting the Stendhal skill that has allowed players to deal astronomical damage numbers reaching up to 4 billion. This damage output is so extreme that it can theoretically defeat the game's most challenging endgame superboss, Simon, over 45 times in a single hit. The developer explained that while they hadn't initially planned to make balance changes so soon after release, the Stendhal skill clearly stood out as needing adjustment.
Stendhal Skill Before Nerf:
- Damage potential: Up to 4 billion damage
- Can defeat endgame superboss Simon 45+ times over in one hit
- Described as "extreme single-target Void damage"
- Applies self-debuffs: removes self-shield and applies Defenceless debuff
- Works especially well with Maelle's Virtuose stance
Patch Timeline:
- Announcement: May 8, 2025
- Patch release: May 9, 2025
- Initial rollout on Steam, other platforms to follow
From Underwhelming to Overwhelming
According to Sandfall's statement on social media, the Stendhal skill was actually underwhelming for most of development. This led the team to give it a big damage boost during their final pre-release balance pass. Unfortunately, they clearly overdid it, resulting in a skill that ended up overshadowing most other options in the game. The skill has become particularly potent when combined with certain Pictos (equipment), Luminas (equipment passives), and other character abilities, allowing players to scale its damage to extraordinary levels.
The Balance Philosophy
While many players enjoy discovering overpowered builds in single-player RPGs, Sandfall Interactive believes the current state of Stendhal is detrimental to the overall gameplay experience. We still want you to be able to break the game—and you absolutely still can—but Stendhal was making it a bit too easy, the developer stated. This approach reflects a careful balance between allowing players to feel powerful while maintaining the integrity of the game's challenges and encouraging build diversity.
One More Day of Godlike Power
Players who want to experience Stendhal in its current form have been given notice: You've got one more day to enjoy it in its current form and set some wild records. The adjustment will be included in the game's first full hotfix set, scheduled to go live on Friday, May 9, 2025. The patch will roll out on Steam first, with other platforms following shortly after.
Post-Nerf Expectations
Sandfall has reassured players that even after the nerf, Stendhal will still be a strong single-hit skill with great synergy potential... just more in line with everything else. This suggests that while the skill will remain viable and powerful, it won't completely trivialize the game's most challenging content as it currently does. The change aims to preserve the complex build diversity that is part of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's appeal, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies rather than defaulting to a single overpowered option.
The Maelle Build Context
The Stendhal skill is particularly potent when used with the character Maelle in her Virtuose stance. Players have discovered ways to chain additional actions, apply buffs with other characters, and utilize various equipment combinations to maximize damage output. Some players have shared videos showcasing the build's power, with damage numbers climbing into the millions and even billions, allowing them to defeat the game's toughest encounters before enemies can even respond.
Community Response
While balance changes in single-player games often receive mixed reactions, many players understand the developer's reasoning. The extreme power of Stendhal has potentially undermined the satisfaction of mastering the game's combat mechanics, such as learning boss attack patterns and perfecting parry timings. As one commentator noted, while it's fun to feel strong, it's also kind of boring to just skip over carefully-designed challenges.
Looking Forward
As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to evolve, this early balance change demonstrates Sandfall Interactive's commitment to maintaining a diverse and engaging gameplay experience. Players will soon need to adapt their strategies, perhaps focusing more on the game's parry mechanics and exploring alternative builds. The developer's approach suggests a philosophy that values both player empowerment and meaningful challenge—a delicate balance that many RPG developers strive to achieve.