How to Beat Renoir in Act 2 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has captivated players with its stunning visuals, emotional storytelling, and challenging turn-based combat, and few battles test your skills like the confrontation with Renoir in Act 2. As a pivotal antagonist voiced by Andy Serkis, Renoir is a formidable foe whose fight in Old Lumiere marks a significant hurdle in the game’s second act. This guide, informed by community insights and detailed strategies, provides a comprehensive roadmap to defeating Renoir in Act 2, covering party setup, his attack patterns, key tactics, and rewards. Whether you’re a seasoned RPG veteran or a newcomer to the Continent, these tips will help you triumph over this brutal boss and continue your expedition to defeat the Paintress.

Understanding the Renoir Fight in Act 2

Renoir, the white-haired man wielding a cane and light-based spells, is encountered at the end of the Old Lumiere region in Act 2, specifically at the Manor Gardens checkpoint. This battle, described by players on X as “difficult as hell” and “annoying,” is the first major test of your combat prowess, with no access to backup Expeditioners—if your active party is defeated, it’s game over. Unlike earlier bosses like Eveque, Renoir has no elemental weaknesses or resistances, relying instead on a mix of melee combos, ranged Chroma attacks, and a devastating Vanish move that can remove party members from the fight. His ability to summon healing petals and damaging masks at 50% health adds complexity, making preparation and execution critical.

The fight, which follows a dramatic cutscene after the Stone Wave Cliffs encounter in Act 1, pits your party against Renoir’s high HP and tricky attack timings. With a recommended level of 25–30, depending on your grinding, and a party of Verso, Maelle, and either Lune or Sciel, you’ll need to leverage buffs, debuffs, and precise parries to survive. The rewards—51,750 XP, 5,988 Chroma, a Level 10 Melarum Weapon, three Polished Chroma Catalysts, and two new skills for Esquie—make the battle worthwhile, but only if you can outlast Renoir’s relentless onslaught.

Preparation: Party Setup and Equipment

To defeat Renoir, your party composition, skills, and equipment must be optimized for damage, survivability, and crowd control. Here’s how to prepare:

Party Composition

Verso (Required): As the Act 2 leader, Verso is mandatory and excels as a damage dealer with light-based skills like Perfect Break or Purification, which deal significant damage without relying on elemental weaknesses. His ability to heal while attacking with Burn effects is crucial for sustainability. Equip him with the Second Chance Picto (unlocked after Act 2’s end), which revives him at full health once per battle.

Maelle (Required): Maelle is also mandatory, bringing high-damage skills like Momentum Strike and Percee, which capitalize on the Mark status effect. Her Virtuose Stance, activated via Swift Stride when an enemy is burning, boosts Fleuret Fury to deal 200% damage. Use her to stack Burn with Rain of Fire or Combustion for massive damage. Equip Rebirth to revive allies, as Vanish can decimate your party.

Sciel (Recommended): Sciel is preferred over Lune for his versatility, with skills like Marking Card and All Set applying Mark, Powerful, Shell, and Rush buffs in one turn. His Grim Harvest is a strong finisher, especially with Burn stacks. Lune, while a solid healer, is outclassed by your party’s self-sufficiency, and her healing can be negated by Renoir’s Vanish. Equip Sciel with Aegis Revival Picto (found in Spring Meadows) for +1 Shield on revival.

Equipment and Pictos

Weapons: Upgrade weapons to at least Level 8–10 using Chroma Catalysts from Act 1 and early Act 2. Maelle’s Melarum Weapon, earned post-fight, is a future goal, so prioritize her current weapon’s damage output. Verso’s light-based weapons and Sciel’s multi-hit weapons (e.g., Echassier Stabs) are ideal.

Armor and Accessories: Equip Colour of Lumina (found in Act 1’s Spring Meadows or Old Lumiere) for stat boosts. The Polished Chroma Catalyst (dropped by earlier bosses) enhances weapon upgrades. Use Pictos like Second Chance and Rebirth to counter Renoir’s high damage, and consider Combo Attack I from the Ancient Battlefield for extra basic attack hits.

Luminas: Slot Luminas that boost Strength and Magic for Verso and Maelle, and Agility for Sciel to improve parry timing. The Energy Master Picto, available later in Act 3, doubles AP gain but isn’t accessible yet—rely on basic AP-boosting Luminas from Act 1.

Pre-Fight Prep

Before entering Old Lumiere, rest at the Manor Gardens checkpoint to heal and upgrade. Boost relationship levels at camp to unlock skills: talk to Maelle and Lune for Level 2, and Esquie for Level 3, enhancing their combat abilities. Stock up on Recoat items (at least 5–10) to restore health and remove status effects, as Renoir’s attacks can inflict Burn or Defenseless. Complete side quests in Act 2’s Free Roam Zones, like Gestral Beach, to gain XP and reach Level 25–30, ensuring you’re not underleveled.

Renoir’s Attack Patterns and Counters

Renoir’s attacks are fast, varied, and punishing, requiring precise parries and Gradient Counters. Here’s a breakdown of his moves and how to counter them, based on community guides and player feedback:

Melee Combo (Five Hits): Renoir unleashes a five-hit cane combo with a long pause between the third and fourth hits. Listen for his grunts to time parries, parrying the first three hits rhythmically, waiting for the pause, then parrying the fourth and fifth (a spinning air strike). Missing parries risks heavy damage, so practice timing in earlier fights.

Chroma Waves (Five Waves): Renoir shoots five Chroma waves, with the first four coming quickly and the fifth delayed. Watch the Chroma accumulating around him and parry when it nearly vanishes. The delay before the fifth wave is tricky—listen for his grunt or watch his animation to avoid mistiming.

Puddle of Chroma: An area-of-effect attack requiring a jump dodge. When the jump symbol disappears, jump to avoid damage. This move is telegraphed but can catch you off guard if you’re focused on parrying.

Gradient Explosion of Chroma: Renoir gathers Chroma into an orb, launching a beam signaled by a sharp sound. Watch the ink lines in the orb align vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, then perform a Gradient Counter when they converge. Missing this deals massive damage.

Triple Chroma Explosion: Similar to the single explosion, but with three rhythmic blasts. Parry the first two when the ink lines align, and use a Gradient Counter for the third. Timing is critical, as the explosions are fast.

Vanish: Renoir’s most dangerous move, targeting one party member with a small Chroma sphere. He jumps, swings his cane twice (dodge these), then performs a gradient attack. Gradient Counter when he raises his cane to negate the move; if hit, the character is removed from the fight, with no backline replacements. Prioritize countering this to keep your party intact.

Petal Summons (Below 50% Health): At half health, Renoir summons two petals that heal him for 25% of his max health each if not destroyed. Use AoE attacks like Lune’s Gradient Attack or Maelle’s Fleuret Fury in Virtuose Stance to eliminate them quickly. Sciel’s All Set can set up powerful follow-ups.

Mask Summons (Below 50% Health): Renoir summons masks that fire seven quick Chroma shots, with the first six after two mask wiggles and the seventh delayed. Listen for the “shoom” sound and parry each shot, watching for the final delayed hit. These deal AoE damage and status effects, so prioritize them over petals if both are active.

Battle Strategy

With your party and knowledge of Renoir’s attacks, here’s a step-by-step strategy to win:

Early Phase (100%–50% Health):

Open with Sciel’s Marking Card or All Set to apply Mark, Powerful, and Rush, boosting damage. Follow with Verso’s Perfect Break and Maelle’s Momentum Strike to exploit Mark for high damage.

Stack Burn using Maelle’s Rain of Fire or Sciel’s Echassier Stabs (Balanced Mask pointer) to deal chip damage and enable Maelle’s Virtuose Stance.

Focus on parrying Renoir’s melee and Chroma wave attacks, using Gradient Counters for Vanish and explosions. Keep Maelle alive, as her revival skills are crucial.

Use Recoat to heal if health drops below 50%, and save Gradient Charges for petal phases.

Mid-Phase (50% Health):

When Renoir summons petals, immediately target them with AoE attacks. Maelle’s Fleuret Fury in Virtuose Stance or Sciel’s Grim Harvest can clear them in one turn if buffed.

If masks appear, prioritize them to avoid status effects, parrying their shots carefully. Use Sciel’s All Set to reapply buffs after clearing summons.

Continue stacking Burn and Defenseless with Maelle’s Breaking Rules for bonus attacks, maximizing damage while parrying Renoir’s intensified combos.

Late Phase (Below 50% Health):

Renoir’s attacks become faster, with more frequent Vanish attempts. Prioritize Gradient Counters to prevent party losses, as you have no backline.

Use Second Chance and Rebirth Pictos to revive Verso or Maelle if they fall, and maintain Burn stacks for consistent damage.

If you’ve built two Gradient Charges, unleash Maelle’s Phoenix Flame to revive allies and deal 10 Burn, shifting momentum. Be cautious, as it leaves her vulnerable in Offensive Stance.

Keep parrying and dodging, using audio cues (Renoir’s grunts, mask “shoom”) to time counters, and finish with high-damage moves like Verso’s Purification or Maelle’s Combustion.

Tips for Success

Practice Parry Timing: Renoir’s staggered attacks, especially the melee combo’s pause and mask shots’ delay, require precise parries. Practice on earlier enemies in Old Lumiere to master timing.

Manage Gradient Charges: Save Charges for petal/mask phases or Phoenix Flame, as they can turn the tide. Avoid wasting them on minor attacks.

Stay Calm: Players on X noted the fight’s emotional intensity due to story stakes, but panicking leads to missed parries. Take breaks if you die repeatedly, as Renoir demands focus.

Overlevel if Needed: If underleveled, grind in Act 2’s Yellow Harvest or Forgotten Battlefield for XP. Level 30 makes the fight smoother, as one player felt “overleveled” and found it “smooth sailing” once in rhythm.

Rewards and Aftermath

Defeating Renoir yields 51,750 XP, 5,988 Chroma, a Level 10 Melarum Weapon for Maelle, three Polished Chroma Catalysts, and Recoat x1. Esquie gains two skills: the ability to flow through coral reefs and set up camp at any flag, enhancing exploration. The victory unlocks the Second Chance Picto, vital for Act 3, and progresses the story, leading to a cutscene revealing key plot points about Maelle and Renoir’s daughter, Alicia. Rest at the camp post-fight to upgrade and prepare for Act 2’s remaining challenges, including the Paintress.

Community Insights and Challenges

Players on X have called Renoir’s Act 2 fight a “painful” and “tweaking” experience, with @ChristoDuPless6 noting it was tougher than the Paintress, and @HaydenWayne75 struggling with his “double turns outside the mansion.” The fight’s music, rated “100/10” by @MarkPl08, adds to its intensity, but its difficulty stems from no backline and Vanish’s threat. Community guides emphasize Maelle’s Burn synergy and Verso’s healing, with DualShockers recommending sticking to “what’s been working” rather than experimenting mid-fight.

Conclusion

Beating Renoir in Act 2 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a thrilling challenge that tests your mastery of the game’s turn-based combat. By building a party with Verso, Maelle, and Sciel, leveraging Burn and Mark effects, and mastering parries and Gradient Counters, you can overcome his brutal attacks and summons. Preparation—upgrading weapons, equipping Pictos, and grinding to Level 25–30—is key, as is staying calm under pressure. The rewards, from XP to new skills, propel you toward Act 2’s climax, while the fight’s narrative weight deepens your connection to the Expeditioners. With this guide, you’re ready to face Renoir in Old Lumiere and claim victory in one of Clair Obscur’s toughest battles. Raise your blade, summon your courage, and show Renoir the power of Expedition 33!