Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – This Fan-Favorite Character Just Got a Major Nerf in Patch 1.2.3
The phenomenon Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to make waves—not just for its staggering sales figures or stunning artistic direction, but also for its updates that shake up the balance of power. The latest one, dated May 9, introduces changes that are bound to ruffle some feathers… or delight the most strategic minds.
With over two million copies sold in under two weeks, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become the breakout hit of the spring. Praised by critics and adored by players, this turn-based RPG by Sandfall Interactive keeps evolving thanks to feedback from its community. The freshly released patch 1.2.3 brings several technical fixes, but most notably, a dramatic nerf to a now-iconic character: Stendhal.
Image credit: Sandfall Interactive
Was Stendhal too powerful? A divisive nerf
He was the ultimate weapon, the key to lightning-fast victories: Stendhal could obliterate any enemy—including final bosses—with a single devastating combo blending void damage and brutal chain attacks. Too strong? Clearly, yes.
The studio decided to reduce his damage by 40%, sending shockwaves through the community. On X (formerly Twitter), the developers explained that they wanted to preserve the fun of overpowered builds without making the game trivial: “Stendhal was making things just a bit too easy.”
- Why nerf a solo game? Some players are questioning the move: in a purely single-player game, is it really necessary to limit an overpowered build?
- Too easy to access: Stendhal becomes available early and requires minimal effort to unleash his full destructive potential.
- Global gameplay balance: battles are designed around synergy between characters, weapons, and Pictos. Breaking this harmony too early can hurt the overall experience.
Maelle: a virtuoso at risk?
Another powerful figure mentioned in the update is Maelle. Though spared from a direct nerf, she still boasts formidable damage potential. Her synergy with the Virtuoso stance, the Percee weapon, and certain ally abilities makes the entire first act a breeze. By the end of that act, acquiring the Medalum turns this combo into a one-turn elimination machine.
Players who favor optimized builds should stay alert—this update might just be the first in a series of future tweaks.
A patch packed with technical fixes
Beyond Stendhal’s nerf, patch 1.2.3 addresses a variety of bugs that affected the gameplay experience, especially on Steam Deck and ultrawide setups. Here’s a quick overview of the key improvements:
- Improved compatibility with PS5 controllers on Game Pass PC
- Display issues fixed on ultrawide resolutions, including cutscenes and menus
- Keyboard/mouse interface now more stable and responsive
- Map areas where players could get stuck have been fixed (such as near the Stone Wave Cliff portal or around the Flying Manor)
Weapons and skills: time for balance
The developers also rebalanced several weapons and skills, including:
- Lithelim: initial Vitality scaling reduced (from A to C), still S at max. Added Luck scaling starting at D.
- Blizzon: Luck scaling lowered (B to C), Defense scaling added.
- Medalum: fixed a bug that doubled all damage instead of just burn damage.
To read the full patch notes, click here.
What’s next?
Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that this update is just the beginning of a series of fixes planned over the coming months. New features are being considered, along with potential additional content.
For players who enjoy breaking the game, don’t worry—there are still plenty of absurd builds to explore. Stendhal’s nerf isn’t the end, but rather a new balance. Strategic exploration in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is only just beginning…
