Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 does not have side quests in the traditional sense. There are NPCs players can meet on the world map and in dungeons that will give players a vague request, but there is no tab in the menu to manage these objectives.
7 Beginner Tips For Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Get started in this beautifully dark RPG right with some safe guidelines and helpful early-game pointers to follow in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Side quests will mostly come in the form of optional areas within dungeons or the world map, along with a ton of strong boss-like entities just waiting to pummel players. For the early hours, it’s recommended not to miss these things in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Also, if bosses or areas seem too strong initially, it’s recommended to make notes in a notepad or phone to remember to backtrack Metroidvania-style.
6 Spring Meadows Optional Bosses
Fight Chromatic Lancelier And Mime
- Location: Spring Meadows
- Reward: Costumes For Gustave
There are two optional bosses that players can fight in Spring Meadows in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. First, there is the creepy Mime boss, which is hard since Gustave and Lune will be alone, and this thing will erect a big defensive wall. Pushing through will net players with a costume for Gustave.
Next, the party can take on Chromatic Lancelier, who has better rewards. They can get an early weapon for Gustave, Lanceram, which is okay. The better reward is Augmented Attack, a Picto that will make basic attacks 50% stronger.
5 Jar
Get The Resin
- Location: Spring Meadows
- Reward: Healing Tint Shard
Players will find a large white NPC toward the end of Spring Meadows. Players can decide to fight Jar in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but they should help him instead. Jar is looking for light and is not clear what he wants, like most NPCs in the game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - 7 Best Early Pictos
Pictos provide handy passive abilities to the party in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Here's which ones are best early on in the game.
Past him in the dungeon, players can find Resin to reignite his torch among some debris. As a reward, he will give players a Healing Tint Shard. Getting Shards for the three potions is how players can upgrade their amount.
4 Flying Waters Optional Bosses
Fight Bourgeon, Chromatic Troubadour, and Noco
- Location: Flying Waters
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Rewards:
Abysseram,
Augmented Counter I,
Exposing Attack, and
Troubadim
Flying Waters has three optional bosses to fight in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and they are significantly stronger, even with the addition of Maelle to the party. There is Bourgeon who can suck party members into its mouth. Players can get another okay weapon for Gustave, Abysseram, but the Augmented Counter 1 is better as it can Parry damage by 25%.
Next, there is the Chromatic Troubadour, who has the Troubadim weapon for Lune with some good level bonuses attached. Finally, players will meet the merchant Noco after rescuing Maelle. They can challenge him to a battle and then unlock the Picto in his shop called Exposing Attack, which will apply Defenceless to an enemy after a base attack.
3 Finding Demineur’s Lost Item
Get The Intact Mine
- Location: Flying Waters
- Reward: Deminerim
Demineur is a weird NPC like Jar in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, who can be found in Flying Waters. Like Jar, Demineur lost a weapon, and in this case, it’s called an Intact Mine. Players will have to do some tricky platforming nearby to get to this item.
After, Demineur will give players the lightning-infused weapon for Lune, Deminerim. It’s another good starter for her, and enemies in Flying Waters are mostly weak to lightning-based attacks, so perhaps it is wise to get to Demineur first before challenging bosses.
2 Fight In The Arena
Challenge Powerful Gestrals
- Location: Hidden Gestral Arena
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Rewards:
Last Stand Critical,
Accelerating Last Stand,
Protecting Last Stand, and
Solo Fighter
The next major area of the game is called Ancient Sanctuary in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Before that, players should head Northwest on the world map to find Hidden Gestral Arena. Here, players can challenge four optional bosses to a duel to get some Pictos that will increase a character’s abilities to fight solo.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - 8 Best Early Skills
Much like its RPG inspirations, characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have unique skill trees, with these early-game skills being critical unlocks
Players can fight Matthieu the Colossus, Bertrand Big Hands, Dominique Giant Feet, and Julien Tiny Head to get Last Stand Critical, Accelerating Last Stand, Protecting Last Stand, and Solo Fighter. There are many opportunities, both forced and optimal, that will have characters fight alone, which is why these Pictos are valuable.
1 Teach One-Puncho A Lesson
A Tricky Quest To Master
- Location: Gestral Village
- Reward: Costume For Maelle
Ancient Sanctuary will lead players to Gestral Village in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is quite obviously filled with strange little Gestrals. In the story, players have to go through an arena, and they should choose Maelle to compete. If they do, players can get her the Medalum weapon, which will start a battle in her Virtuose Stance. Close to the area is an NPC named One-Puncho, and players have to inflict 9,999 on him in one turn.
First, equip Maelle with the Marking Shots and Roulette Pictos and make sure she has learned the Last Chance. The party should consist of Maelle, Sciel, and Gustave. On Maelle’s turn, have her cast Last Chance. Next, Sciel should use Fortune’s Fury on Maelle, and then Gustave should cast Powerful, and these characters need the skills learned and equipped. Once players get to Maelle again, they should use Free Aim to apply Mark to One-Puncho. If successful, as there is a low chance Mark will happen, Maelle should cast Percee, and this should cause 9,999 damage.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
