Guide to Unlocking the Secret Baguette Weapon in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the breakout turn-based RPG from Sandfall Interactive, has taken the gaming world by storm with its breathtaking visuals, gripping narrative, and innovative combat. Released on April 24, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the game has sold over 2 million copies and earned a 92.52% positive rating on Steam, outshining many genre giants. Set in the Belle Époque-inspired world of Lumière, players guide Expedition 33—a group of 32-year-olds tasked with stopping the Paintress, a godlike entity who erases people of a chosen age each year—through a journey of sacrifice and discovery. Amid its serious themes and challenging bosses, the game hides a delightful secret: the Baguette weapon, a whimsical yet functional armament for each playable character. This guide reveals how to unlock this elusive weapon, why it’s worth the effort, and what makes it a fan-favorite Easter egg.

Why the Baguette Weapon Matters

The Baguette weapon is more than a joke—it’s a testament to Clair Obscur’s blend of gravitas and humor. Each of the five playable characters—Gustave, Maelle, Lune, Sciel, and Monoco—can wield a unique Baguette, while Verso inherits Gustave’s due to story progression. These weapons deal Void damage, scale with character-specific attributes (e.g., Agility for Gustave, Luck for Sciel), and come maxed out at level 33 with no need for Chroma Catalyst upgrades. Their passive abilities mimic three powerful Pictos: Auto Death (die at battle start), Second Chance (revive once per battle), and First Strike (act first in combat). While these effects can save Lumina points for Picto allocation, the Baguette’s stats are underwhelming compared to late-game weapons like Simoso or Angerim, making it more of a collector’s item than a meta choice.

The weapon’s appeal lies in its absurdity and exclusivity. Unlocking it requires foresight, patience, and multiple playthroughs, turning it into a badge of dedication for completionists. Posts on X, like @WeLoveAspect’s enthusiastic claim that it makes the game “Game of the Decade,” reflect the community’s love for this quirky secret. However, some players, like a Reddit user lamenting the need for three runs to equip all characters, find the process daunting. Here’s how to navigate the challenge and arm your team with these crusty weapons.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking the Baguette Weapon

Unlocking the Baguette weapon hinges on Festival Tokens, a special currency available only during the game’s Prologue in Lumière. These tokens are easy to miss and even easier to spend, locking players out of the Baguette until New Game Plus (NG+). Follow these steps to secure the weapons:

Step 1: Collect Festival Tokens in the Prologue

During the Prologue, as Gustave explores Lumière’s festival, you can earn up to three Festival Tokens:

Token 1: Automatic Reward – Granted upon entering the festival after interacting with Sophie near the piano roundabout. This requires no extra effort.

Token 2: Antoine’s Trivia Challenge – Find Antoine, a Gestral NPC near the festival’s theater area, and answer his three trivia questions about Lumière’s history correctly. Questions cover topics like the Paintress’s cycle or past expeditions. If you fail, you can retry immediately. Correct answers yield the second token.

Token 3: Maelle’s Rematch Duel – After losing to Maelle in a scripted duel, challenge her again near the Expedition sign-up stage. Defeat her in this optional rematch to earn the third token. Use Gustave’s basic attacks and parries, as the fight is manageable at low levels.

Critical Tip: Do NOT spend these tokens at the festival. The festival offers three items—a haircut, a journal entry, and a cosmetic item—that tempt players to use tokens. Spending even one token reduces the number of Baguettes you can unlock in NG+. Save all three for the bakery.

Step 2: Complete the Main Game

After collecting the tokens, progress through the main story, which takes 28–35 hours for a standard playthrough. The Baguette weapons are inaccessible in your first run because the bakery interaction is NG+-exclusive. Focus on enjoying the story, leveling your party (aim for level 50–55 by the end), and defeating Renoir in Act 3. Avoid overexploring Act 3’s optional content, like the Endless Tower or superboss Simon, to maintain the final boss’s challenge, as noted in community advice on X.

Step 3: Start New Game Plus

Once you’ve completed the game, unlock NG+ from the main menu. NG+ retains your characters’ levels, weapons, Pictos, and items—including Festival Tokens—while resetting side quests and collectibles. The mode scales enemy stats and introduces new dialogue, making it ideal for tackling optional content like the Baguette weapons. Immediately after starting NG+, you’ll replay the Prologue in Lumière.

Step 4: Visit the Boulangerie in NG+

In the NG+ Prologue, after meeting Sophie near the piano roundabout, head to the nearby bakery marked by a “Boulangerie” sign, featuring a basket of baguettes and a small table. This bakery, located just before the festival entrance, is interactable only if you have Festival Tokens in your inventory. Select your active character (e.g., Lune for her Baguette, Maelle for hers) and trade one token per weapon. Each character’s Baguette is tied to who interacts with the bakery, except for Gustave’s, which transfers to Verso in Act 2. Note that Sophie cannot unlock a Baguette, as her interaction yields no reward.

With three tokens, you can equip three characters in your first NG+ run. For example:

Interact as Lune to get her Baguette (scales with Luck/Defense).

Switch to Maelle for her Baguette (scales with Agility/Might).

Switch to Sciel for her Baguette (scales with Luck/Power).

Step 5: Repeat for Remaining Characters

Since there are five playable characters (excluding Sophie) and only three tokens per run, you’ll need a second NG+ (NG++) to equip the remaining two. After completing your first NG+ run, save three new Festival Tokens in the NG+ Prologue by repeating the trivia and duel challenges. Start NG++, return to the Boulangerie, and equip the Baguettes for the remaining characters (e.g., Monoco and Gustave, whose Baguette transfers to Verso). This means at least two full playthroughs—around 56–70 hours total—are required to arm the entire team.

Step 6: Equip and Enjoy

Once unlocked, Baguette weapons are maxed at level 33 and equipped via the inventory menu. Their Void damage and Picto-mimicking passives (Auto Death, Second Chance, First Strike) make them viable for early NG+ battles, though they’re outclassed by endgame weapons like Lanceram or Chalium. Use them for fun, to save Lumina points, or to flex your completionist prowess in co-op lobbies or community discussions.

Challenges and Tips

Unlocking the Baguette weapons is no small feat, and players face several hurdles:

Token Management: Spending tokens in the first playthrough is a common mistake. One X user, @Colonel_Zuizui, lamented needing three runs due to spending tokens on a haircut and journal, highlighting the need for discipline.

Multiple Playthroughs: The requirement for NG++ frustrates some players, as noted on Reddit, where users called the weapons “joke items” due to their lackluster stats. Plan for 60+ hours if you’re aiming for all five.

Character Selection: Forgetting to switch characters at the bakery can result in unwanted Baguettes (e.g., two for Lune instead of one for Monoco). Double-check your active character before interacting.

Festival Timing: The bakery becomes inaccessible once you enter the festival, so act quickly after meeting Sophie. Save your game beforehand to avoid errors.

To streamline the process:

Use a guide or checklist to track tokens and bakery visits.

Focus on speedrunning the Prologue in NG+ and NG++ to minimize playtime.

Pair Baguettes with Burn-focused builds (e.g., Lune’s Angerim) to offset their modest damage, as suggested in a Reddit thread.

Why the Baguette Weapon Is a Fan Favorite

The Baguette weapon’s charm lies in its absurdity and the effort required to unlock it. Sandfall Interactive, a 30-person studio, infused Clair Obscur with French-inspired whimsy, from the Belle Époque aesthetic to Easter eggs like the Boulangerie. The Baguette joins other lighthearted elements, like the Baguette outfit (earned by defeating Mimes) and a beret “haircut,” creating a cohesive theme of Gallic humor. On X, @spooky_fairy celebrated the Baguette as a highlight of the game’s secrets, while @WeLoveAspect called it “the greatest thing ever,” reflecting its meme-worthy status.

Despite its modest combat utility, the Baguette resonates with players for its collectible value and the bragging rights it confers. Community guides on Steam and YouTube, like those from xGarbett, detail its stats and location, fostering a sense of shared discovery. The weapon also nods to RPG traditions of hidden items, like Final Fantasy IX’s Excalibur II, but with a distinctly French twist. For completionists chasing the Platinum Trophy (requiring 70 hours), the Baguette is a must-have, especially since NG+ is needed for other missables like Gustave’s Renoir cosmetics.

Is It Worth It?

The Baguette weapon’s value depends on your playstyle. For casual players, its stats don’t justify two playthroughs, especially when weapons like Simoso (Verso’s immortal sword) or Blizzon (Sciel’s Luck-scaling bow) outperform it. However, for collectors, lore enthusiasts, or those charmed by Clair Obscur’s humor, the Baguette is a delightful reward. Its Auto Death passive can be paired with Second Chance for risky builds, and its Void damage is versatile against non-resistant enemies. Most importantly, it’s a symbol of mastery over the game’s secrets, much like defeating superboss Simon or collecting all 33 music records.

Conclusion

The Baguette weapon is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s tastiest secret, blending humor, challenge, and RPG tradition into a single crusty package. By saving Festival Tokens, navigating NG+ and NG++, and carefully selecting characters at the Boulangerie, you can arm your team with this iconic weapon. Whether you wield it for laughs, Lumina savings, or bragging rights, the Baguette embodies the game’s ability to balance its grim narrative with moments of levity. So, grab your tokens, fire up NG+, and let the bakery’s aroma guide you to victory. The Continent’s strangest weapon awaits!