"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.2.3 Nerfs Maelle's Stendahl Build"

Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind the critically acclaimed role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has just released Patch 1.2.3, now available across all platforms. This update brings a comprehensive list of fixes and significant balance changes, including a crucial nerf to what was previously the game's most overpowered build. Below, you'll find the detailed patch notes.

Initially, Sandfall had planned to focus solely on bug fixes in this early stage, but the overwhelming power of one particular build necessitated immediate balance adjustments. "We hadn't planned to make any balance tweaks this early — just bug fixes, 'unless something clearly stood out,'" the developer stated. "Well, Stendhal did."

The problematic build centered around the character Maelle and her sword Medalum, which unlocked a Virtuose Stance capable of dealing 200% bonus damage. When combined with ability-stacking and the Stendhal skill, which inflicts massive single-target Void damage, players could deliver billions of damage, enough to defeat the final boss in a single strike. Sandfall acknowledged the issue, saying, "It was underwhelming for most of development, so in our final pre-release balance pass, we gave it a big damage boost — and clearly overdid it. It ended up overshadowing most other options."

While Sandfall still encourages players to experiment and "break the game," they aim to ensure that such feats require more strategy. The nerf to Stendhal, now reduced by 40%, aims to align it more closely with other skills while maintaining its strength and synergy potential. Additionally, a bug fix ensures that Medalum's third Lumina now correctly doubles only Burn damage within Virtuose Stance, rather than all damage.

Key Points from Patch 1.2.3 Notes:

• Fixed Medalum third Lumina doubling all damage in Virtuose Stance instead of doubling only Burn damage.
• Stendhal: Reduced damage by 40%.

Maelle Outfits and Haircuts - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged as a breakout hit for Sandfall, achieving over 2 million sales. It's noteworthy that this game, alongside Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, was launched as a day-one Game Pass title, making its sales success even more impressive. Despite the simultaneous release with Oblivion Remastered, both titles have managed to capture significant audiences, demonstrating the diversity of gamer preferences.

The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has even garnered praise from French President Macron for the development team. If you're planning to dive into this engaging RPG, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before starting.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Update 1.2.3 Patch Notes:

Steam Deck

• Fixed backgrounds of various menus not displaying properly on the Steam Deck.

Various Ultrawide Fixes

• Gameplay no longer becomes zoomed after a cutscene occurs in ultrawide resolutions.
• The Options menu image will no longer be stretched in ultrawide resolutions.
• Combat UI now adapts correctly to ultrawide resolutions.
• Game will no longer minimize upon changing settings in ultrawide resolution.
• Cutscenes won’t letterbox in 32:9 aspect ratio.
• Title screen now displays fullscreen when the game is launched in ultrawide resolution.

Mouse and Keyboard

• UI button prompts in Expedition Menu are now visible and fully able to be triggered with Keyboard.
• Mouse buttons do not become unresponsive after first use.
• With mouse cursor on screen, using 'WSAD' or directional arrows to navigate in UI or trigger any other functionality will no longer hide the cursor instead of doing the intended action.
• Left Mouse-button click will no longer block the player from using Keyboard to navigate menus.
• Mouse input is not lost after the first Jump counter attack if it is pressed only once.

Fixed areas of the world map where you can get stuck:

• Between lanterns scattered on the ground near Stone Wave Cliff portal.
• While walking on the ship wreck near the Forgotten Battlefield level entrance.
• Between lanterns on the ground near Bourgeon encounter next to Stone Wave Cliffs level.
• Between two small rocks located between Spring Meadows and Abbest Cave.
• Between vases and corals when jumping from rooftops.
• Between various rocks.
• In ruins behind Flying Manor level entrance.
• Near the bridge between Flying Waters and Spring Meadows.
• In the rocks on the World Map, near Flying Waters.
• Next to hardened land, close to the Flying Waters location exit.

Fixed situations where Esquie specifically would get stuck (poor guy):

• When taking off from paint bridges, making him fall through the bridge and restrict movement.
• When flying into bottom parts of levitating structures near Visages.
• Near the Flying Waters entrance level.
• Near a giant hammer when traversing close to Blades' Graveyard level.

Weapon and Skill Fixes and Tuning:

• Fixed Lithelim attribute scaling not working at high level. Reduced initial Vitality scaling from A to C (will still end at S at max level). Added Luck scaling starting at D.
• Fixed Blizzon attribute scaling not working at high level. Reduced initial Luck scaling from B to C (will still end at S at max level). Added Defense scaling starting at D.
• Fixed Medalum third Lumina doubling all damage in Virtuose Stance instead of doubling only Burn damage.
• Stendhal: Reduced damage by 40%.

Other Fixes

• Boss encounter in Stone Wave Cliffs can now be finished on NG+.
• You will no longer be blocked by the Journal UI window after opening the first Journal in the Spring Meadows.
• Fixed being unable to shoot in Free aim while exploring levels due to worn triggers.
• Lune and Monoco no longer spawn in same place during end of theirs Level 6 relationship quests if they are completed without going to camp.
• If at camp you pick “remember the objective”, then quickly choose to "go to sleep" and immediately after press "leave", the screen no longer goes black.
• You can no longer trigger the "Discovering the truth" cutscene in Old Lumière a second time in a row, splitting the party forever with only Verso and Maelle in it.
• Update to rolling credits.