It was a penalty after 15 minutes that got the Potters off and running.
Charlton were penalised by referee Bobby Madley for grappling at a corner – and Devenny confidently tucked away the resulting spot-kick.
Seven minutes later, Northern Ireland international Galbraith was at it again, pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the area to fire his third goal of the campaign low past Addicks keeper Arthur Okonkwo.
Then, on 25 minutes, it was 3-0 when Devenny spread a lovely pass out wide to Eric Bocat on the left and his great cross was met by the head of Hirst.
There was even time for another one before the break when Devenny got his second.
The second half could only really ever have been a comparative non-event after that, although Charlton were further inconvenienced when they were reduced to 10 men.
McNamara had only come on in the 26th minute for Tyreece Campbell in an attempted reshuffle after Stoke’s third goal had gone in – but he was sent off for a second yellow card.
And, although there have been celebrated occasions when teams have turned round a four-goal halfway deficit, no team has ever done it a man short.
Six points in successive home games have suddenly transformed the mood in the Potteries, lifting Stoke into the top half of the early table, ahead of the afternoon fixtures.
And are Charlton, despite their cracking start of three wins and a midweek comeback draw at West Bromwich Albion, suddenly back to the drawing board?