Dispatcher::createUrl() miss required parameter "sb_category" for route "module-ph_simpleblog-single" Clair Obscur Expedition 33: A Guide to the Key Characters - Gamerall
Gamerall
Clair Obscur Expedition 33: A Guide to the Key Characters

The RPG genre was riddled with action role-playing games for quite a while until a new gem came around to shake the landscape. That gem is none other than the turn-based RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Developed by Sandfall Interactive, Expedition 33 is a beautiful game—both in terms of its graphics and its story. Today, I am going to talk about the different playable characters in the game so that you will have an idea of what they are capable of.

If you decide to dive into this fascinating RPG, we offer Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Standard and Digital Editions at affordable prices in our Gamerall Store. Check it out as soon as you finish this guide!

Clair: Obscur Expedition 33—Cast of Playable Characters

Expedition 33 has six different characters that you can play with, though you can only have three active at a time. Because this is a turn-based RPG, the combination of party members can make the game harder or easier depending on the line-up.

With that said, let’s explore each character in the subsequent sections of this guide. Let’s start with a character that’s beloved by the community.

Gustave

Gustave is the resident engineer in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He is the one responsible for creating the Lumina Converter, which enables you to equip Pictos after you have learned them through combat.

He has a unique fighting style in that he uses a sword and a gun to kill his enemies. However, his most devastating attacks come from his mechanical arm. Why? This arm can be “overcharged” to unleash a powerful blow that can decimate enemies in one hit.

That said, Gustave only has a limited set of abilities (for reasons I can’t disclose due to spoilers). Be that as it may, there are some standouts that are worth mentioning, such as:

  • Lumiere Assault: One of his first two abilities, Lumiere Assault prompts Gustave to attack his enemies five times, making it the perfect opener to charge his arm for maximum damage.
  • Overcharge: Every time you parry, dodge, or hit enemies with your attacks, you “charge” Gustave’s mechanical arm. After 10 successful parries, dodges, and hits, you can unleash a fully charged attack that deals significant damage. This can destroy most enemies in one hit and is also quite effective against bosses.
  • Powerful: A temporary buff that increases the damage of affected party members by 25%. This is an incredible skill that should be used often if you want to defeat the most powerful enemies (no pun intended).
  • Strike Storm: This ability is the last one that you can unlock for Gustave. However, it is only fitting because Strike Storm is potent against bosses, especially since Gustave slashes enemies violently for a devastating six-hit combo.

In terms of stats, Gustave is well-balanced and has a decent amount of HP, attack power, and speed. He falls short on critical hit rate, but when he does land a critical blow, some of his abilities provide two charges for Overcharge instead of one.

Fun fact: Gustave is voiced by Charlie Cox. If you are not familiar with him, he voices Marvel’s live-action Daredevil TV series.

Maelle

At the beginning of the game, Maelle is Gustave’s foster sister. However, as the story progresses, you will find out that things are actually more complicated than they seem.

Now, each playable character in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has something unique to offer. For Maelle, she wields a Rapier and can change to several different stances depending on the skills used. These stances are:

  • Offensive Stance: Deals 50% more damage against enemies, though Maelle takes 50% increased damage as well.
  • Defensive Stance: Maelle receives 50% less damage. While in this stance, Maelle also gains 1 AP (Action Points) after a successful dodge or parry.
  • Virtuouse Stance: Deals 200% more damage.
  • Stanceless: No special bonuses. Maelle typically begins with no stances at all unless she equips certain weapons.

Maelle is one of the best characters in terms of sheer damage output in Expedition 33. In fact, the developers had to nerf her a couple of times because one of her abilities (this being Stendhal) was able to deal more than 100 million damage!

Even if you are not going to “cheese” the game with a one-hit ability, Maelle still performs really well, especially if she is in Virtuouse Stance. For example, Burning Canvas hits really hard, particularly when used against burning enemies.

If you want to use Maelle as your primary damage dealer, make sure to equip her with Medalum. This weapon can be obtained early on in the story by defeating the final boss in the Gestral Village Arena named “The Stranger.” Make sure that you are fighting as Maelle to be rewarded with the said weapon.

Why is Medalum so special? Remember that Maelle often begins a fight without any of the special stances. With the Medalum equipped, she immediately begins any bout in Virtuouse Stance, allowing her to deal a ton of damage right off the bat!

When playing Expedition 33, be mindful of what each ability can do since you can only have six at a time. The right combination of skills can make things a whole lot easier for you.

For instance, if you have the Medalum equipped but you don’t want to use Stendhal, you can go for Fleuret Fury on the first attack to preserve Virtuouse Stance for the second turn. This is an effective strategy because you can have the other characters apply burn and other status effects on the enemy before Maelle strikes again.

If you don’t have enough AP to use a certain ability, use Mezzo Forte to preserve Maelle’s current stance, while also gaining anywhere between two and four AP in the process. When you have the right amount of Action Points, you can unleash a high-AP ability like Phantom Strike to finish off all the enemies on screen.

All in all, Maelle is a powerhouse that is not difficult to build right. Just make sure to get your hands on the Medalum as soon as you can.

Another interesting tidbit: Maelle is voiced by Jennifer English. She is a well-known VA who also voiced other popular characters, including Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate III, Latenna in Elden Ring, and Leya in Divinity: Original Sin II.

Lune

Lune is the official spellcaster in your party. She can be developed as a powerful mage who is able to cast powerful elemental magic upon her foes. Alternatively, Lune can be built as a healer, with spells like Healing Light to heal and dispel negative status effects, Rebirth to revive fallen allies, and Revitalization to apply Regen on active party members.

You might think that Lune is easy to use, but she’s actually one of the more complicated characters in Expedition 33. This is mainly due to her main mechanic, where she has to get several elemental “stains” by using her abilities. That is why you should set a combination of spells that provide the right stains to unleash Elemental Genesis—her most devastating ability in the game.

Elemental Genesis is a powerful spell that hits all enemies eight times. Before you can use it, however, you have to get all elemental stains, including Lightning, Fire, Cold, and Earth. Fortunately, some of her other spells can provide two different stains at a time.

The quickest way to get the necessary stains for Elemental Genesis is to equip a level 10+ Betelim (weapon) and use Elemental Trick to gain a random set of stains. In most cases, this should be enough. If not, cast Ice Lance, Lightning Dance, Crustal Crush, or Fire Rage to gain an Ice, Lightning, Earth, or Fire Stain, respectively, as well as Light Stain.

Light Stain can act as any elemental stain that’s needed for a spell to be used. In this case, it helps you use Elemental Genesis immediately on the second turn, provided that you have the requirements met.

Betelim is a weapon that you can get early on in the story, though you have to rescue four Lost Gestrals first to get the ability to destroy a Paint Spike. When you’re able to destroy Paint Spikes, simply head to the Gestral Village and search for the Paint Spike situated near the houses from the Gestral Arena.

If you want to include Lune in your main party, it is important to note that she is powerful only after unlocking her late-game abilities. Hence, it’s best that you make her your designated healer at the beginning, and then slowly transition to a more offense-oriented character later on.

Sciel

On the surface, you might look at Sciel and think that she doesn’t bring anything noteworthy to the table. However, I’d argue that she’s actually one of the best characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 if you know what you are doing.

A lot of people are confused by her unique “Foretell” mechanic, so I will explain it in the simplest way possible in order for you to maximize Sciel’s abilities. Some of her skills can apply Foretell, while others will consume Foretell on the enemy (if any).

Skills that apply Foretell generate a Sun Charge when used. Conversely, any ability that consumes Foretell generates a Moon Charge. When Sciel has a Sun Charge and Moon Charge at the same time, she enters Twilight Mode, which grants the following effects:

  • Significantly increases Sciel’s damage (up to 100%) for two turns.
  • Gives Sciel the ability to apply twice the number of Foretell on the enemy.
  • Increases the maximum amount of Foretell that can be applied to the enemy, from 10 to 20.

Before you enter Twilight Mode, it is best that you apply 10 stacks of Foretell on the enemy using abilities that generate Sun Charges. Focused Foretell is a good ability to start with since it applies five Foretell against enemies that have zero Foretell. Card Weaver is also good because it propagates the Foretell stack of a single foe to all enemies.

Once your enemies have 10 stacks of Foretell, use a skill that grants a Moon Charge to enter Twilight Mode. I recommend Dark Wave if you want a skill that hits all enemies or Sealed Fate for a more powerful single-target ability.

When Sciel is in Twilight Mode, she has two turns to utilize this state before it ends. The general idea here is to use another ability that applies Foretell, and the next one should be reserved for a skill that consumes Foretell.

Most veteran Sciel players would use the Marking Card on the first turn (while in Twilight) to apply a Mark on the target, making them take 50% more damage on your next attack. For the second turn, go all out with Sealed Fate to destroy a boss or Dark Wave to defeat most enemies with a single skill.

Aside from that, Sciel is a competent support character as well. In Act 3, kill the Lumiere Citizen in the Central Plaza for a chance to receive the Litheson. This weapon allows Sciel to buff allies with Greater Rush and grant three AP every time she applies a buff.

As a support character, you can have Sciel use Fortune’s Fury to gain a Sun Charge and Intervention to get a Moon Charge. The former doubles an ally’s damage for one turn, while the latter allows an ally to play immediately.

Whether you are looking for a competent damage dealer or a dedicated character who can support allies and bring out the best in them, you can never go wrong with Sciel in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!

Monoco

A funny character who loves to fight, Monoco is a bloodthirsty Gestral with a heart of gold. Despite his tough demeanor, Monoco does have a soft spot that only one of the characters in Expedition 33 can unlock.

So, what is unique about Monoco? Well, Monoco is the only character in the game that can shapeshift into a Nevron at will. Before he can do that, though, he has to acquire the feet of his enemies. Hence, you have to put Monoco in your party if you want to collect all Nevron feet for his transformation.

On top of that, Monoco has the Bestial Wheel—a mechanic that allows him to deal more damage with his abilities or grant extra effects. Think of this as having a wheel of fortune, where each of Monoco’s skills turns the wheel a number of times depending on what was used.

There are several “masks” on the Bestial Wheel, including the Agile Mask, Balanced Mask, Caster Mask, and the Almighty Mask. These masks grant something extra to certain abilities. For example, Clair Enfeeble does more damage when the Bestial Wheel is on the Balanced Mask.

Another example is Potier Energy. If the pointer of the Bestial Wheel is on the Caster Mask, Potier Energy grants one additional AP to an ally as well.

While each individual mask is good in its own unique way, you want the pointer to land on the Almighty Mask. That is because the Almighty Mask buffs all of Monoco’s abilities.

That said, I highly recommend that you get the Joyaro, which is a weapon for Monoco that makes him begin the battle already on the Almighty Mask. This can be obtained by defeating the Ultimate Sakapatate boss in the Endless Night Sanctuary when you are at least level 25 and above.

Unlike the other Expedition 33 characters, Monoco is the only one with more than 24 skills (46, to be exact). That is why it’s understandable for beginners to have a hard time picking the right skills.

Don’t worry, I will give you a rundown of Monoco’s best abilities below:

  • Clair Enfeeble: This is a single-hit ability that also reduces the enemy’s damage output thanks to Powerless (which lasts for three turns).
  • Stalact Punches: This five-hit combo deals ice damage and can quickly fill the enemy’s “Break” bar for an easy stun.
  • Moissonneuse Vendange: Deals a considerable amount of physical damage to an enemy. However, what makes it awesome is that it can cause enemies to break, stunning them for a brief period.
  • Gault Fury: This skill only deals a low amount of damage. Despite that, Gault Fury is useful because it applies Mark on enemies, making them take 50% more damage as a result.
  • Hexga Crush: A skill that deals decent damage, Hexga Crush is ideal for tough enemies as it applies Defenseless that lasts for three turns. Defenseless reduces the enemy’s defenses, making them take 25% more damage.
  • Orphelin Cheers: This ability applies Powerful to allies, buffing up their damage for a few turns. When Monoco is in Caster Mask, Orphelin Cheers also gives three Action Points.
  • Pelerin Heal: A must-have skill if you want to use Monoco as a support character, Pelerin Heal applies Regen to all allies, allowing them to recover from their wounds in every turn.
  • Chevaliere Piercing: This is a potent physical damage skill that actually cuts through the enemy’s shield, dealing direct damage. Chevaliere Piercing is ideal against enemies with absurd amounts of shield.
  • Aberration Light: Deals Light damage to all enemies and applies four stacks of burn. Aberration Light is great if you also have Maelle in your party, as she can utilize those burn stacks to deal extra damage with some of her abilities.
  • Duallist Storm: This skill is your go-to if you want to delete a boss from existence. Make sure that Monoco’s in Almighty Mask to get the most out of the Duallist Storm.

If you are going to use Monoco, I highly recommend that you put at least one skill for every mask. This way, you can maximize their effects while also ensuring that he becomes well-balanced and not just a one-trick pony of a character in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Verso

Verso does not become playable until the latter parts of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He is actually one of the main characters as far as the story is concerned, though you don’t have to worry, as I won’t spoil anything.

Unlike Monoco (who happens to be his best friend, by the way), Verso is more straightforward. His main draw is his “Perfection” mechanic, where he gains a rank by successfully dodging, parrying, or attacking enemies. At Rank S, Verso deals so much damage that he can potentially one-shot foes with certain abilities.

Because of the way Verso’s Perfection mechanic works, he is best played when you improve his free aim shot. Use Pictos like Augmented Aim, Breaking Shots, Burning Shots, Energising Shots, Marking Shots, Piercing Shot, Sniper, and Powerful Shot so that he can shoot enemies more than nine times in a row (while doing considerable amounts of damage in the process).

Once he reaches the S Rank, it’s all about utilizing the best abilities for Verso to deal with the enemy in a prompt manner. Here is a list of his best skills if you are interested:

  • Powerful: As the name implies, this skill buffs the damage of all your allies by applying the “Powerful” effect on them.
  • Phantom Stars: Enemies don’t have much resistance against Light damage in Expedition 33. Because of this, Phantom Stars is appealing to use as it deals extreme Light damage to all enemies. Besides that, Phantom Stars can break the enemy, stunning them for a couple of turns.
  • Marking Shot: This ability is mainly used for applying a Mark on the target. If you are at least Rank C or higher, Marking Shot does a decent amount of damage as well.
  • Paradigm Shift: A low damage ability, Paradigm Shift is still a great addition to Verso’s kit as it grants one to three AP per use. On top of that, Paradigm Shift prompts Verso to hit enemies three times, which can help contribute to his Perfection mechanic.
  • Steeled Strike: Requires two turns to unleash and gets interrupted when you are hit. However, when it’s all systems go, Steeled Strike can destroy almost any enemy in the game, especially at Rank S.
  • Follow Up: When used on its own, Follow Up does not wow you with its damage capability. However, land at least 10 Free Aim Shots on the enemy, and you’ll see why it’s easy to recommend this skill to anyone who plans on playing Verso as their main character.

Between Maelle and Verso, the former is better in terms of overall damage output. After all, Maelle can unleash a fully buffed Stendhal in just a couple of turns.

However, if you are in for the long game, Verso is much better in that regard. By mastering his Perfection mechanic, you can decimate any monster stupid enough to get in your way!

Esquie

While not a character that you can use in combat, the lovable Esquie is still an important figure in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Esquie unlocks certain abilities by getting specialized rocks. There are three rocks that Esquie can use, and you can unlock them as you progress through the story.

The first thing that Esquie can do is destroy any land-based obstacles. In fact, Esquie is pretty much important to a particular part of the story, because without him, you cannot reach a certain dungeon.

Once Esquie gains the ability to fly, you can explore the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in any way you want. Of course, you still have to be cautious of the enemies that you’re going to face. And oh, be careful not to bump into the dreaded Serpenphare that’s hovering over the skies!

When Esquie gets all of his rocks, you can utilize his ability to swim underwater by interacting with the glowing parts of the sea. When you interact with them, you get five pieces of Color of Lumina, which you can use on your characters so that they can equip more Lumina.

Lastly, Esquie is needed to unlock Sciel’s final ability. Make sure to increase your companion level with him to Level 7.

The Characters of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—A Wrap-Up

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is such a beautiful game, complete with a cast of characters that make the story more interesting.

Personally, I love Verso for his pivotal role in the plot, as well as his straightforward playstyle. Maelle comes in a close second because I really like her ability to deal absurd amounts of damage.

Sciel is mostly misunderstood. However, if you are able to maximize her Foretell mechanic, she is actually an easy A-Tier character because of that. Sciel can also be built as a true support character who is able to give her allies some much-needed buffs to aid them in combat.

Monoco is an interesting one. Among the cast of characters in Expedition 33, he is the only one who is capable of transforming into 46 different Nevrons, each with its own unique attack or ability.

Personally, Lune is my least favorite character in the game. Sure, she is quite strong in the late game, and is certainly a lifesaver early on. But when you compare her to the other characters, she is somewhat mediocre at best in terms of offense.

But what do you think? Which of these characters do you like the most and why? Let me know in the comments! I would love to hear from you!

If you don’t have a copy of the game yet, go to our Gamerall Store right away and buy Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! I promise you that you won’t regret it!

Comments (0)

No comments at this moment

Shopping Cart

You didn't add any item in your cart yet. Browse the website to find amazing deals!

Search

You can try some popular tags here:

Profile

Don’t have an account?
Create an Account