There are hours of optional content included inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, and if you’re unsure exactly what side content to take on, there are certain things you should make time for before completing the game. Much of the optional content can be completed along the way, but if you happen to miss a few things, it’s possible to revisit just about any area in the game later on (with a few exceptions).
The following checklist items are entirely optional but highly recommended if you want to get the fullClair Obscurexperience. Some can be quite challenging, such as completing the Endless Tower or defeating Simon in the Abyss, but all are well worth your time. Completing most of these optional suggestions will also give you access to valuable resources, powerfulClair Obscurweapons, and more.
10Max Out Each Relationship
Advancing Every Relationship Unlocks Unique Skills
You’ll have the opportunity to advancethe relationship levelfor each character inClair Obscur, and doing so will actually unlock unique Gradient skills for the playable characters, as well as Esquie’s abilityto swim underwater. Doing so is completely optional, though choosing not to will miss out on some important details about their individual backstories that, while not essential,add quite a bit of depth to the overall plot.
Advancing each relationship typically involves completing a unique side quest, such as learning more about Lune’s parents orgoing to the Sacred Riverduring Monoco’s quest. Further,advancing relationships will give you the chance to romanceeitherSciel or Lune(but not both) in a single playthrough, and doing so gives you some unique and intimate dialogue with either character.
9Track Down The Lost Gestral Kids
Those Painted Barriers Blocking Your Way Can Be Broken
While it isn’t themostimportant side quest in the game, tracking down thelost Gestral childrenis well worth doing as you advance through each act, especially if you want to avoid backtracking later on.There are nine different lost Gestralsfound in various locations across the Continent, all of whom you can find and send back to camp to hang out with Sastro, who will give you rewards along the way.
Returning to areas like the Gestral Village will prove fruitful after unlocking the Paint Break ability.
Along with some fancy new haircuts for each character, finding Lost Gestrals will unlock the Paint Break ability once you’ve found four of them, while thePro RetreatPictos is awarded after finding them all.Paint Breaking is extremely useful to unlock early on, allowing you to smash through the large Painted Barriers in certain maps and on the Continent. I’d highly recommend finding the first four Lost Gestrals at minimum to get the Paint Break ability as soon as you can.
8Find The Hidden & Dark Gestral Arenas
There Are Two Optional Gestral Arenas Worth Visiting
While the first Gestral Arena in the Gestral Village is mandatory during the main progression of the game, there are actually two other optional Gestral Arenas that are well worth a trip. The first one, the Hidden Gestral Arena, can be found quite early after leaving Flying Waters in Act 1. Once inside, you’ll be able to face off in 1-v-1 duels against four tough Gestrals and receive a total of five different Pictos:Last Stand Critical,Accelerating Last Stand,Protecting Last Stand,Solo Fighter, andEmpowering Last Stand.
The Dark Gestral Arena is found later on in Act 3 after unlocking Esquie’s ability to fly, and the bosses are a bit more challenging. You’ll also want to be sure you’re fully prepared for a fight against Golgra. If you deny the final challenge,the Dark Gestral Arena will be destroyed,and you won’t be able to get Maelle’s White Gestral haircut.
7Take Out The Petanks & Mimes
These Optional Enemies Are Quite Mischievous
You’ll run into your fair share of Mimes and Petanks throughout your journey across the Continent. Both of these unique enemies are quite the tricksters and require a bit of know-how to defeat.Clair Obscur’s Petank enemiesare considered “puzzle” enemies thatrequire different tactics depending on their orb color.Petanks will typically flee if you don’t defeat them fast enough, but will respawn if you rest at a flag. Here’s a cheat sheet in case you’re struggling to defeat a certain type of Petank:
Break or bypass the Petank’s shields.
Purple
Defeat summons before attacking Petank.
Mimes, on the other hand, are a bit more straightforward, but depending on thespecific Mime location, they can be much more challenging.Mimes all have the same basic attacks,but they’ll sometimes be accompanied by other enemies. Mimes typically drop new haircuts, while Petanks will drop useful upgrade materials.
6Exploit The Chromatic Danseuse
Take Advantage Of An “Infinite” Colour Of Lumina Glitch In Old Lumiere
One useful optional encounter that you should definitely consider taking advantage of becomes available after defeating Renoir again at the Manor in Old Lumiere. After the fight, you’ll be able to access a new area by traveling back to the first Expedition flag. Nearby, there’s a Chromatic Danseuse enemy that has a unique mechanic thatcan be exploitedfora motherlode of Colour of Luminas and XP.
It works by continuously killing each of the cloned Danseuse enemies that the Chromatic Danseuse spawns every round. Each one you take out rewards 5x Colour of Lumina, and you can theoretically keep defeating them for as long as you want, though it will start to cause significant performance issues the more you do it, so be warned.You’ll only be able to fight the Chromatic Danseuse once, so be sure to kill as many clones as you can before defeating the Chromatic enemy.
5Complete The Gestral Games
Get Your Beach Volleyball On
TheGestral Games inClair Obscurare an optional set of challenges found in various locations across the Continent, and they’re essentially just mini-games with relatively low stakes. They can be quite challenging, however, especiallythe Ascension Tower and the Beach Volleyball challenge. There are five different Gestral Games in total, and each one will reward you with a different swimming suit outfit for individual characters.
The Gestral Games are all located on beaches around the Continent, and they include the Parkour Course, Beach Volleyball, The Ascension Tower, a Climbing Wall, and finally a foot race. Aside from the various swimsuit gear you get for completing each one, you’ll alsounlock the"Gestral Games"trophy/achievement.
4Ascend The Endless Tower
Unlock The Rest Of Monoco’s Skills At The Endless Tower
The Endless Tower is an optional Act 3 area that will put your skills to the test. This location includes nearly every majorChromatic Nevron enemyin the game and offers the perfect opportunity tounlock all of Monoco’s skills that you may have missed along the way. SinceMonoco’sClair Obscurskillsare unlocked by having him in your active party and defeating enemies to collect their feet, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the Endless Tower as soon as you’re certain you’ll be able to take out the enemies.
The Endless Tower is divided into 11 stages with three different encounters each, totaling 33 different challenges before completing the tower. You’ll unlock quite a few Pictos and outfits along the way, and you will face off against Painted Love, one ofthe “secret” bossesthat includes both the Curator and the Paintress, who share a combined health bar.
3Defeat Simon In The Abyss
Enter Renoir’s Drafts & Drop Into The Abyss
Simon is easily thehardest boss inClair Obscur,and you’ll need to dive into Renoir’s Drafts to find him. This is one of the toughest areas in the game, with infamously difficult enemies and even an extremely powerful merchant whose secret inventory is well worth unlocking if you manage to defeat him. Simon is located in The Abyss, which is found after passing through Renoir’s Drafts anddropping off a bridge into a literal abyss.
At the bottom, you’ll be able to fight Simon, who drops Simoso once defeated (thanks to themost recent patch, he can also be rematched now). Simon is considerably more challenging than any other enemy in the game by a long shot, with three different phases and an ability that will literallywipe out your active party from the Canvas. I’d save this for later in your journey, but it’s an optional fight that you shouldn’t miss out on.
2Fight Sprong & Serpenphere
These Gigantic Enemies In The Overworld Drop Excellent Pictos
Sprong and Serpenphere are both enemies found on the Continent overworld map. While you’ll want to fight them at different times based on how leveled up and upgraded your gear is, both of them are definitely worth taking on.Sprong can be defeated relatively early,and is found wandering around the middle of the ocean on the western side of the Continent on your way to the Forgotten Battlefield. Defeating Sprong rewards theCheaterPictos, which will come in extremely useful during your adventure.
“Serpenphere will consume the AP from your party, and if it takes in around 20 or so AP in a single turn, it will literally explode.”
Serpenphere is a much more powerful enemythat can be seen flying around in the sky above the Boat Graveyard, and there’s actually a trick to defeating it if you find yourself struggling. Serpenphere will consume the AP from your party, and if it takes in around 20 or so AP in a single turn,it will literally explode, making the fight much easier. Serpenphere drops theEnergy MasterPictos, arguably one of the best items in the game.
1Find Alicia In The Reacher
This Area Shouldn’t Be Optional
Mymost recommended side areato visit inClair Obscuris The Reacher, which is accessed as part of Maelle’s relationship quest. Not only is this area beautifully designed, it’shard to believe that it’s not a part of the main storylineconsidering how significant the final encounter is for Maelle. At the end of The Reacher, you’ll find Alicia and engage in a duel to the death, but the following cut-scene is what makes this optional encounter essential if you want to get the most out ofClair Obscur’sstory.
Defeating Alicia also rewards the Painted Me haircut as well as the Lithum weapon, one of Maelle’s top weapons in the game. The Reacher might be an optional area, but it’s absolutely something you’ll want to do for the additionalClair Obscur: Expedition 33story content and emotional cut-scenes with Maelle and Verso.
