Directed energy deposition (DED) is a developing technology widely accepted by the manufacturing industries worldwide as a near-net shape method capable to fabricate relatively large components layer-by-layer. DED provides the required flexibility to repair and remanufacture parts as an important strategy to extend the lifetime of raw materials and products in the circular economy. The austenitic stainless steel 316L is the most widely used metal in industry owning its corrosion resistance, high strength and ductility at relatively low cost. Due to continuous remelting and thermal cycling, DED 316L may present a microstructure consisting of δ – ferrite dendrites within an austenitic γ – matrix, an epitaxially formed grain structure, porosity and a 3D complex distribution of phases and residual stresses (RS) within the bulk. These inherent features of fabrication lead to unpredictable structural behaviour and failures under mechanical stresses that are not fully understood and therefore cannot be captured in simulations. Load partition characterization between crystallographic planes and phases under the effect of external (thermo-) mechanical loads at relative high temperatures is crucial to unveil their particular contribution to the macroscopic deformation behaviour of alloys during service conditions and, to improve the printing conditions and/or the post-treatments tailored for a particular application.