6 Best Skills For Maelle in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

As the central character of Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Maelle brings a combat style unlike any other party member. She stands out with her ability to dish out elemental damage, amplify her attacks with damage buffs, or switch to a defensive stance when needed. In this guide, we'll break down the best skills for Maelle in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 so that you can build the most effective version of her for your playthrough.

6. Offensive Switch

Offensive Switch is one of Maelle’s default skills in the game, and it remains one of her best. Not only does it cost just 1 AP, but it’s also an excellent opening move in combat.

While the skill’s direct damage is low, it carries over any weapon affinity from Maelle’s weapon to the target. Even better, it inflicts the Defenceless status effect for 3 turns, lowering the enemy’s defenses and leaving them vulnerable to increased damage from the rest of the party members.

On top of these benefits, using Offensive Switch shifts Maelle into her offensive stance, boosting her damage output per hit. However, this also makes her take more damage in return.

5. Guard Up

Maelle has multiple attack and defensive stances, but one of her most valuable skills is Guard Up—a game-changer for reducing incoming party damage. While you might not need it much on the easiest difficulty, it becomes essential when facing tougher challenges.

Using Guard Up (3 AP) applies the Shell status to all three party members for 3 turns, significantly reducing damage taken. This is especially useful against bosses or enemies with fast, hard-to-dodge combo attacks, where blocking or parrying isn’t always reliable.

If you’re playing on higher difficulties, this skill can mean the difference between survival and a total party wipe, making it well worth the AP cost.

4. Swift Stride

Swift Stride might not hit hard, but it's easily one of Maelle's most valuable skills for setting up big damage. What makes it special is how it seamlessly shifts her into Virtuoso Stance while generating 2 AP. The real payoff comes next turn, when Maelle's enhanced stance lets her unleash significantly stronger attacks.

There's just one catch when you use the Swift Stride skill: your target must be burning for the stance switch to work. If they aren't affected by the Burn status, Swift Stride will simply deal its weak damage without changing Maelle's stance. So before using it, always check enemy debuffs to make sure you're getting the full benefit.

Before even using this skill, think of it as a strategic opener rather than a direct damage tool. The small initial hit is worth it when you consider the AP refund and the massive damage boost you'll get on follow-up turns. Against tough enemies, that quick transition into Virtuoso Stance can completely change the flow of battle.

3. Rain of Fire

Fire is the great equalizer in Clair Obscur Expedition 33, as most regular enemies and even many bosses share this elemental weakness. That's what makes Rain of Fire such a valuable addition to Maelle's skillset.

Beyond its raw damage potential, this move serves a crucial secondary purpose: applying the all-important Burn status that enables her Swift Stride technique. If no other party member can inflict Burn, this skill becomes absolutely essential.

While Rain of Fire comes with a hefty 5 AP cost, it delivers equally impressive results. Each hit applies 3 stacks of Burn, with an added bonus when used from Defensive Stance - you'll get 2 extra Burn stacks per hit (for a total of 5). This makes the defensive stance surprisingly effective for offensive fire strategies.

Remember that Burn isn't just about the initial damage - it creates a powerful damage-over-time effect. Every turn, burned enemies take passive damage, letting you chip away at their health even when it's not your active attacking turn. Against fire-vulnerable foes, this combination of immediate impact and sustained damage makes Rain of Fire one of Maelle's best offensive skills in Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

2. Percee

Percee stands out as one of Maelle's most powerful single-target skill attacks, especially when used against Marked enemies. While it normally carries a steep 5 AP cost (equal to Rain of Fire), activating it during Virtuoso Stance - whether through Swift Stride or other means - slashes the cost down to just 2 AP.

This creates an incredibly efficient damage combo. By timing your Virtuoso Stance properly, you can unleash Percee's full might while barely making a dent in your AP reserves. The strategy becomes even deadlier when coordinated with teammates - have another party member Mark your target before Maelle's turn, and you'll maximize both the skill's damage output and your AP efficiency.

Pro Tip: Percee should always be your go-to attack during Virtuoso Stance. You'll get the perfect balance of devastating damage and minimal AP expenditure. It's this combination of power and economy that makes Percee such a valuable part of Maelle's arsenal when you need to focus down priority targets, such as bosses.

1. Fleuret Fury

Fleuret Fury is by far the best skill of Maelle in Clair Obscur Expedition 33, delivering three powerful physical strikes to a single target. While its 6 AP cost is substantial, the damage output signifies its use during combat.

The true power of Fleuret Fury reveals itself when used against enemies with a full stance meter (visible as a golden bar beneath their health). Landing this skill at this critical moment breaks the enemy's stance entirely, leaving them vulnerable and unable to act, creating a perfect opening for your entire party to unleash attacks without retaliation.

While you can use Fleuret Fury outside these stance-breaking opportunities, you'll get significantly less value for your 6 AP cost. The skill truly shines when saved for these decisive moments.

Additionally, when activated during Virtuoso Stance, Maelle maintains her enhanced stance after execution rather than reverting to a stanceless position.

That is pretty much everything you need to know about the best Maelle skills in Clair Obscur Expedition 33. For more tips about the game, consider reading our best Lune skills in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 guide.

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