Stelle is one of the most flexible and exciting heroes in The Bazaar. She thrives on adaptability, with her entire design revolving around the concept of flying items. This mechanic ties her builds together, but she also has unique archetypes that branch off into very different playstyles.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Stelle’s main build archetypes
- Her best early game options
- How to manage your economy and pivots
- What to look for by Day 6 and beyond
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for starting with Stelle and building toward her late-game payoffs.
Understanding Stelle’s Archetypes
Stelle’s identity comes from her interaction with flying and stopping items. Her builds can be grouped into several archetypes, each with its own playstyle and item synergies.
1. Airborne Builds
- Core Idea: You just need to make items fly once.
- Payoff Example: Skyliner (scales with the number of flying items).
- Why It Works: Simple to set up, doesn’t require cycling. You just solve the “get airborne” problem and let the payoff items carry.
- Difficulty: Easiest archetype for beginners.
2. Fly Cycling Builds
- Core Idea: Focuses on starting and stopping flight repeatedly.
- Payoff Example: Items that trigger haste every time something starts flying (e.g., Freefall Simulator).
- Nickname: “Start-Stop” builds.
- Strength: Very flexible and probably Stelle’s most common archetype.
3. Stop Cycling Builds
- Core Idea: Instead of starting flight, you profit when items stop flying.
- Payoff Example: Hang Glider (makes all items fly, then deals damage when they stop).
- Playstyle: Set up mass flight, then intentionally stop everything for huge payoffs.
- Notes: Still under-supported compared to others, but extremely fun and unique.
4. Stop Builds
- Core Idea: Targeted stops matter more than cycling.
- Payoff Example: Bombage (destroys itself after stopping with a 6-second fuse).
- Playstyle: You just need efficient stop effects to trigger high-value destruction or damage.
- Difference from Stop Cycling: You don’t loop it, you just need that one key stop.
5. Flight Proc Builds
- Core Idea: Care about speed and frequency of flying.
- Payoff Examples:
- Space Laser (charges when you use flying items).
- Vortex Cannon (gains damage whenever something flies).
- Playstyle: Get as many fast-flying items as possible to pump damage.
6. Flightless Tool Builds
- Core Idea: Don’t rely on flying much at all.
- Payoff Example: Molten Ball Blaster (tool-based scaling).
- Downside: Limited overlap with Stelle’s flying synergy.
- Upside: Still very playable and offers alternative routes.
7. Haste-Fly Hybrids
- Core Idea: Generate haste through flying, then profit off haste triggers.
- Payoff Examples:
- Stellar Swallowtail (charges on haste).
- Pill Buggy (gains shield when hastened).
- Playstyle: Basically Fly Cycling, but doubled down on haste payoffs.
8. Slow Builds
- Core Idea: Generate as many slows as possible.
- Payoff Examples: Steam Hose and Lightning Rod.
- Playstyle: Less tied to flight, but slowing often synergizes indirectly with flying items.
- Note: Niche but powerful if you pull the right setup.
Early Game Builds (Day 1–5)
Your first few days with Stelle are about finding a stable line while keeping economy strong. There are four early-game setups that work especially well:
1. Molten Ball Blaster (Tool Line)
- Core Item: Molten Ball Blaster
- Supporting Tools: Angler Drone, Box Cutter, Joystick.
- Why It’s Strong:
- Stelle’s early tools are plentiful.
- Synergizes with her level-up that gives gold per tool owned → amazing economy line.
- Playstyle: Build up your ball blaster while stacking tools and economy boosters.
- Con: Little overlap with flying builds later, so you may need to pivot.
- Best Use: Consistent, safe, and leaves you rich enough to buy strong golds later.
2. Balloon Engine (Start-Stop Burn Line)
- Core Item: Balloon Engine
- Key Support: Freefall Simulator, plus small burn items (Blowtorch, Fire Bomb).
- Why It’s Strong: Consistent burn damage and natural entry into Fly Cycling builds.
- Con: Weak economy compared to tools, and overcommitting makes it hard to pivot later.
- Best Use: Strongest PvP early game line for Stelle.
3. Aerial Turret (Weapon Line)
- Core Items: Kakara + Aerial Turret
- Supporting Items:
- Headset (haste)
- Joystick (charge)
- Juro (buff damage)
- Angler Drone (redundancy)
- Why It’s Strong: Scales down to 1-second cooldown with insane multicasts.
- Con: Very expensive and weak against aggro in early fights.
- Best Use: Go all-in if you find Turret or Kakara early. Gold Chocolate helps this line survive until turret ramps up.
4. Chicken Cannon (Shield Line)
- Core Item: Chicken Cannon
- Supporting Items: Security Drone (best buff target), shield items, small flyers.
- Why It’s Playable: Can scale decently if found early.
- Con: Weakest of the four; loses badly to poison/burn. Best treated as a temporary line until you pivot.
Day 6 and Beyond – The Gold Rush
Day 6 is critical because gold large items start appearing in shops, and Stelle’s strongest payoffs live here. You must have at least 24 gold saved up by this point to secure a game-winning line.
Strong Gold Payoffs to Look For:
- Skyliner (Airborne payoff)
- Dagger Wing
- Space Laser (Flight Proc scaling)
- Lightning Rod (Slow builds)
- Stellar Swallowtail (Haste hybrid payoff)
- Pill Buggy (scaling shield tank)
Tip: Choose payoffs that fit your current line. For example:
- Already running a flying build? → Skyliner slots in instantly.
- Running Slow items? → Lightning Rod is an option, but only if you can support it with scaling.
Stelle Beginner Tips
- Balance Power and Economy – Don’t tunnel vision on raw damage. Economy builds (like Tools) can set you up for easier pivots.
- Pivot Smart – Early builds like Chicken Cannon or Balloon Engine often won’t last into late game. Have gold ready to swap.
- Scout Payoff Items – Know your target items by Day 6 so you can pick the right archetype transition.
- Use Free Nodes – Stelle benefits heavily from nodes that give tools, burn, or flyers depending on your line.
Stelle is designed for flexibility. Whether you’re burning down opponents with Balloon Engine, farming gold with Tool builds, or blasting away with Space Laser, her kit rewards creativity and pivoting.
For beginners, the Tool Ball Blaster line and the Balloon Engine line are the safest and most consistent starts. From there, always keep your eye on Day 6, because the right gold item can completely reshape your game plan.
If you master when to pivot and how to balance economy with power, Stelle will quickly become one of your most reliable heroes in The Bazaar.