The Tool Desk
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Maelle’s four stance states
Guides describe four states: neutral, called stanceless, plus Offensive, Defensive, and Virtuose. Their reported effects make each stance suited to a different kind of turn.
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| State | Reported effect | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| Stanceless | Neutral; no stance modifier is listed in the guides. | A starting or reset state before choosing a stance-focused action. |
| Offensive | Gamer Guides reports “Damage Dealt +50%, Damage Received +50%.” | Trade greater incoming risk for stronger damage. |
| Defensive | Gamer Guides reports “Damage Received -50%” and “gain 1 AP per Parry or Dodge.” | Reduce incoming damage and gain AP when defensive timing succeeds. |
| Virtuose | Gamer Guides reports “Damage Dealt +200%”; Gamepressure describes it as “triple damage.” | A high-damage state worth pursuing when the setup and coming action justify it. |
These numerical modifiers come from secondary guides, not an official stance reference. The two Virtuose descriptions use different wording: +200% means 200% additional damage, or three times the base amount, if interpreted literally. Check the current in-game ability text if the exact modifier matters.
How skills and attacks change stance
Maelle’s skills can set or change her stance. Gamer Guides says she begins battles stanceless and that stance-setting skills normally apply their stance for one turn. Gamepressure describes ability and basic-attack stance changes as taking effect at the end of the turn. Because the guides phrase timing differently, use the in-game stance indicator to confirm the state associated with your next action.
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Before committing to a skill, inspect its displayed stance outcome and Maelle’s current stance. This helps avoid spending an action on a transition that does not support the follow-up you intend.
Basic attacks alternate Offensive and Defensive
According to Gamer Guides, a base attack while Maelle is in Offensive or Defensive switches her to the opposite stance. A base attack is therefore one way to move between those two options.
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Using a skill for the active stance returns Maelle to neutral
The same guide reports that using a skill associated with the stance already active sends Maelle back to stanceless. Treat that as a transition, not as a way to extend the same stance automatically.
Use stance-specific skills to build a turn
Some skills attach an extra condition or benefit to a stance. The examples below are effects reported in Gamer Guides’ skill database, not a complete build recommendation.
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Swift Stride: use Burn to reach Virtuose
The database reports that Swift Stride switches Maelle to Virtuose when the target is Burning and can regain 0–2 AP. If you want to follow with a high-damage action, the Burning condition makes this a potential setup route; account for the AP result as variable rather than guaranteed.
Rain of Fire: add Burn while Defensive
Rain of Fire applies additional Burn in Defensive stance, according to the database. That can make Defensive useful for more than damage mitigation when a Burn-related follow-up is part of your plan.
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Mezzo Forte: maintain a stance and restore AP
The database says Mezzo Forte reapplies Maelle’s current stance and grants 2–4 AP. Its reported effect makes it a maintenance option when you want to preserve the current stance while replenishing AP.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose a stance for the action that follows
- Choose Offensive when increased damage is worth accepting greater incoming damage.
- Choose Defensive when reducing incoming damage matters, or when you expect to earn AP through successful parries or dodges.
- Set up Virtuose when the skill sequence and target conditions support the high-damage action you plan to use next.
- Use neutral deliberately when a same-stance skill returns Maelle to stanceless and you want to plan the next transition from there.
Do not treat any one stance as universally best. The useful choice depends on the threat you face, your defensive timing, AP needs, setup cost, and the next action you want Maelle to take.
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What the current patch notes establish
Sandfall Interactive’s official Patch 1.4.0 notes, dated July 30, 2025, list some combat fixes but do not mention Maelle’s stance rules. They therefore do not confirm whether the guide-reported stance values persist in later versions.
Sources: Gamer Guides’ Maelle guide for stance effects and transitions; Gamepressure’s stance guide for state descriptions and turn-end wording; and Gamer Guides’ Maelle skill database for the listed skill examples.
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