Best Maelle Builds in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – DPS, Support & Hybrid Setups
Looking to build Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Here’s the best early-game and endgame builds for Maelle, covering her DPS, support, and hybrid playstyles.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Best Maelle Builds (Early Game to Endgame)
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, teamwork is everything — and every character brings unique strengths depending on how you build them. When it comes to Maelle, she really shines as a single-target specialist, making her especially powerful in boss fights.
While her Area of Effect (AoE) impact is limited, Maelle’s potential in both damage-dealing and support roles makes her incredibly versatile. Below, we break down the best early-game build, and offer endgame DPS, support, and hybrid builds to bring out the best in her.
⚔️ Early-Game Maelle Build
At the start of the game, Maelle performs great as a hybrid damage dealer, thanks to her one-shot abilities and utility support skills.
🔧 Stat Focus
- Speed: Aim for 300–400
- Crit Rate: 25–35%
→ Add Critical Burn Lumina (+25%) to reach ~50% Crit Chance.
🗡️ Best Weapons (Early Game)
| Rank | Weapon | Effect | Attribute Priority |
| 1 | Medalum | Start in Virtuose Stance | Luck > Defense > Agility > Might > Vitality |
| 2 | Sekarum | Enter Virtuose Stance on Shield break | Luck > Agility > Vitality > Might > Defense |
🌟 Key Luminas (Early Game)
- Critical Burn (5): +25% Crit on Burning enemies
- Marking Shots (3): 20% chance to Mark on Free Aim
- Rewarding Mark (5): +2 AP when hitting a Marked enemy
- Dodger (1): +1 AP on Perfect Dodge
- Energising Start I (5): +1 AP at battle start
- Dead Energy II (2): +3 AP on enemy kill
🔥 Best Skills (Early Game)
- Spark: Applies Burn
- Swift Stride: Switch to Virtuose Stance if the enemy is Burning
- Percee: Big damage finisher
- Guard Down: Applies Defenceless to all enemies
- Guard Up: Applies Shell to all allies
- Egide: Redirect single-target damage from allies
🧠 Strategy: Early Game Rotation
- Start with Spark to Burn a target
- Follow with Swift Stride to switch into Virtuose Stance
- Finish with Percee for major burst damage
- Use Free Aim to apply Mark, and trigger Rewarding Mark + Dead Energy II to restore AP
- If using Medalum, another ally can apply Burn so Maelle can use Percee immediately
She can also open fights with Guard Down and Guard Up to prep both offense and defense, and use Egide for added protection.
💥 Maelle Endgame DPS Build
Once you hit late game, Maelle becomes a burst damage powerhouse, especially with her Sword Ballet skill and high Crit synergy.
🗡️ Best Weapons (DPS)
| Rank | Weapon | Effect | Attribute Priority |
| 1 | Barrier Breaker | Breaks Shields, switches to Virtuose | Defense > Might > Agility > Vitality > Luck |
| 2 | Clierum | 2 AP on Crit, +50% Crit in Offensive Stance | Agility > Defense > Might > Vitality > Luck |
| 3 | Medalum | Doubles Burn damage in Virtuose Stance | Defense > Might > Agility > Vitality > Luck |
| 4 | Sekarum | All damage pierces Shields in Virtuose | Vitality > Agility > Might > Defense > Luck |
| 5 | Brulerum | 100% Crit while Stanceless, applies Burn | Agility > Might > Luck > Vitality > Defense |
⚡ Top Luminas (DPS)
- Critical Burn (5)
- Critical Vulnerability (5)
- Painted Power (5): Damage exceeds 9,999
- Cheater (40): Take two turns in a row
- Energising Turn (20)
- First Strike (10)
- Greater Defenceless (15)
- Dodger (1)
- Energising Start I (5)
🧨 Key DPS Skills
- Spark or Rain of Fire (Burn source)
- Swift Stride
- Sword Ballet (huge single-target burst)
- Percee or Momentum Strike (fallback burst)
- Guard Down
- Breaking Rules (Destroys Shields + gains AP)
💡 DPS Strategy
Open fights by applying Burn, switching into Virtuose Stance, and activating Sword Ballet. Use Painted Power to bypass the damage cap, and Cheater to take back-to-back turns. Use Guard Down to enable your whole team to hit harder, and Breaking Rules when shields are in the way.
🛡️ Maelle Endgame Support Build
Support Maelle thrives with high Defense and Vitality, providing sustain, buffs, and tactical debuffs.
🧙 Top Support Luminas
- Faster Than Strong (10): Play twice, deal 50% less damage
- Longer Shell / Greater Shell (10): Extend and strengthen Shell
- Powerful on Shell / Longer Powerful (10)
- Dodger / Energising Start / Energising Turn / First Strike
- Greater Defenceless (15)
🛠️ Support Skills
- Guard Up → Cast Shell
- Egide → Redirect single-target damage
- Guard Down / Offensive Switch → Apply Defenceless
- Breaking Rules → Strip Shields, gain AP
- Swift Stride + Percee or Momentum Strike → Light backup damage
🧠 Support Strategy
Start with Egide, followed by Guard Up to prolong protection. Buff allies with Powerful on Shell, and debuff enemies with Guard Down or Offensive Switch. Use Breaking Rules to break through Shield-heavy enemies and switch Maelle into Virtuose Stance to pitch in with damage when needed.
If you’ve got Faster Than Strong, you can play Egide + Guard Up back-to-back for double coverage.
🔄The Best Way to Build Maelle
Maelle works best in a hybrid build, balancing hard-hitting skills like Sword Ballet with utility tools like Shell and Defenceless. She scales great with the right weapons and Lumina, and depending on your party comp, you can pivot her between DPS, Support, or both.
No matter how you build her, Maelle becomes one of the most reliable and impactful characters once she hits her stride.
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