The Best Weapons for All Characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – From Early to Late Game

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the visually stunning turn-based RPG from Sandfall Interactive, has captivated players with its intricate combat system, deep character customization, and a hauntingly beautiful world. A critical component of mastering this game lies in equipping your party with the best weapons tailored to each character’s unique playstyle. From the early hours in Spring Meadows to the perilous endgame battles in The Abyss, choosing the right weapons can make the difference between victory and defeat. This comprehensive guide explores the best weapons for all playable characters—Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Monoco, and Verso—across the early, mid, and late game, ensuring your Expedition 33 is ready to face the Paintress and her creations.

Understanding Weapons in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Weapons in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are more than just tools for dealing damage. Each weapon is tied to specific elemental affinities (Physical, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Earth, Light, Dark, Void) and scales with character attributes like Might, Agility, Luck, Vitality, or Defense. Upgrading weapons with Chroma Catalysts enhances their attack power, attribute scaling, and unlocks passive abilities at key milestones (Levels 4, 10, and 20, with max level at 33). These passives can drastically alter a character’s combat effectiveness, synergizing with skills, Pictos, and Lumina abilities to exploit enemy weaknesses. Weapons can be obtained through exploration, defeating bosses, looting Paint Cages, completing side quests, or purchasing from merchants. With nearly 100 weapons across six characters, selecting the optimal ones requires careful consideration of playstyle and game progression.

Gustave: The Engineer’s Arsenal

Role: Gustave, the primary protagonist, is a versatile damage dealer who builds Overcharge with his sword and pistol to unleash devastating attacks. His weapons often scale with Might and Agility, making him ideal for marking targets and synergizing with party members.

Early Game: Lanceram

How to Get: Defeat Lancelier in Spring Meadows or purchase from the Cruler blacksmith in Coastal Cave for 21,275 Chroma.
Why It’s Great: Lanceram is Gustave’s go-to early-game weapon due to its solid base power and excellent attribute scaling (Might and Agility). Its passive prevents Gustave’s rank from dropping below C, allowing quick access to Paradigm Shift for triple damage. This makes it a reliable choice for early story bosses and Mimes.
Upgrade Strategy: Invest in Might and Agility for damage and speed. Upgrade Lanceram early, as its materials are a worthwhile investment for later use by Verso.

Mid-Game: Cruleram

How to Get: Defeat a group of monsters in Flying Waters.
Why It’s Great: Cruleram introduces ice elemental damage, ideal for dungeons with ice-weak enemies. Its high power and Might scaling ensure Gustave remains a heavy hitter through Act 2. While it lacks unique passives, its raw damage output is sufficient for mid-game challenges.
Upgrade Strategy: Focus upgrades on attack power to maintain relevance. Pair with Pictos like Combo Attack for sustained damage.

Late Game: Gaulteram

How to Get: Defeat Bourgeon north of Esquie’s lair after acquiring Esquie.
Why It’s Great: Gaulteram, an earth-based weapon, offers superior scaling with Might and Vitality. Its Level 20 passive boosts damage by 20% for each turn without taking damage, perfect for players with strong parry skills. It’s a powerhouse for late-game bosses and New Game Plus (NG+).
Upgrade Strategy: Max out to Level 33 for S-rank scaling. Equip Lumina like Cheater to enhance damage output.

Lune: The Elemental Mage

Role: Lune, the party’s spellcaster, excels at generating Elemental Stains (Fire, Ice, Lightning, Earth, Light, Dark) to amplify her skills. She can be built as a healer, DPS, or hybrid, with weapons scaling primarily with Luck and Agility.

Early Game: Lighterim

How to Get: Found among crates in Spring Meadows.
Why It’s Great: Lighterim’s fire affinity reduces the AP cost of fire-based skills like Immolation and Wildfire, making it ideal for early dungeons like Ancient Sanctuary. Its Level 10 passive boosts fire damage by 20%, and it generates an ice Stain at max level, adding versatility.
Upgrade Strategy: Prioritize Luck for Stain generation and Agility for turn frequency. Use Pictos like Burning Shots to enhance Burn application.

Mid-Game: Trebuchim

How to Get: Obtained in Ancient Sanctuary.
Why It’s Great: Trebuchim generates random Stains on Free Aim shots, enabling Lune to consume them for powerful skills like Mayhem. Its lightning affinity struggles mid-game but regains strength in Act 3. This weapon is a staple for hybrid DPS/healer builds.
Upgrade Strategy: Upgrade to Level 10 for enhanced Stain generation. Equip Energising Start to maintain AP for multi-hit attacks.

Late Game: Scaverim

How to Get: Found in the ruined state of Lumiere in Act 3.
Why It’s Great: Scaverim’s dark affinity synergizes with Lune’s Burn-stacking builds, especially when paired with Maelle and Verso. Its Level 20 passive grants a 20% chance for light damage to apply Burn, making it a versatile endgame choice. Lune’s hybrid DPS/healer potential shines with this weapon.
Upgrade Strategy: Max out for S-rank Luck scaling. Use Lumina like Energy Master for sustained casting.

Maelle: The Fencer’s Blade

Role: Maelle, a young fencer, thrives in Virtuose Stance for massive single-target damage and Burn application. Her weapons scale with Luck and Defense, emphasizing critical hits and survivability.

Early Game: Medalum

How to Get: Win the Gestral Village tournament with Maelle.
Why It’s Great: Medalum starts Maelle in Virtuose Stance, maximizing early damage. Its fire affinity boosts Burn damage, synergizing with skills like Percée and Fleuret Fury. This weapon is a must-have for early-game DPS builds.
Upgrade Strategy: Invest in Luck for critical hits and Defense for scaling. Upgrade to Level 10 for Burn application on critical hits.

Mid-Game: Brulerum

How to Get: Available from merchants in Act 2.
Why It’s Great: Brulerum’s high Luck scaling ensures consistent critical hits, and its passive applies Burn on critical hits. It’s perfect for mid-game bosses with Burn vulnerabilities, keeping Maelle as a top DPS.
Upgrade Strategy: Focus on Luck and Agility for frequent turns. Pair with Pictos like Critical Burn for enhanced damage.

Late Game: Lithum

How to Get: Defeat Alicia in The Reacher after reaching relationship level five with Maelle.
Why It’s Great: Lithum’s fire affinity and Level 20 passive (doubling Burn damage in Virtuose Stance) make Maelle an endgame powerhouse. Its Defense scaling boosts survivability, ideal for tough NG+ encounters.
Upgrade Strategy: Max out for S-rank scaling. Equip Lumina like First Strike for early burst damage.

Sciel: The Tarot Master

Role: Sciel, a farmer-turned-teacher, uses Sun and Moon cards to stack Foretell and enter Twilight Mode for massive DPS. Her weapons scale with Luck and Agility, focusing on critical hits and card generation.

Early Game: Scieleson

How to Get: Sciel’s default weapon.
Why It’s Great: Scieleson’s B-rank Agility and C-rank Luck scaling make it a strong early-game choice. Its high power compensates for lacking passives, supporting Sciel’s Lone Wolf build with multi-hit skills.
Upgrade Strategy: Prioritize Agility for turn frequency and Luck for critical hits. Use Pictos from the Last Stand series for DPS boosts.

Mid-Game: Algueron

How to Get: Purchase from Mandelgo’s Shop in Old Lumiere.
Why It’s Great: Algueron’s ice affinity enhances Free Aim damage and generates Foretell cards with basic attacks. Its Level 10 passive increases damage in Twilight Mode, making it ideal for mid-game DPS builds.
Upgrade Strategy: Upgrade to Level 10 for card generation. Equip Lumina like Critical Moment for burst damage.

Late Game: Chation

How to Get: Defeat Chromatic Ballet in Falling Leaves.
Why It’s Great: Chation’s dark affinity generates 10 Foretell with Sun Skills and doubles Burn damage in Twilight Mode. It’s Sciel’s best endgame weapon, balancing DPS and support for Burn-focused parties.
Upgrade Strategy: Max out for S-rank Luck scaling. Use Pictos like Breaker for enhanced Break damage.

Monoco: The Quirky Support

Role: Monoco, with his Bestial Wheel and Masks, is a versatile support or Break-damage dealer. His weapons scale with Agility and Defense, emphasizing speed and skill synergy.

Early Game: Nusaro

How to Get: Available early in Act 1.
Why It’s Great: Nusaro’s high Agility and Vitality scaling boost Monoco’s speed and survivability. Its passive rewards parrying by advancing the Bestial Wheel, increasing damage by 30% for matched skills. It’s ideal for early support builds.
Upgrade Strategy: Focus on Agility for turns and Defense for scaling. Upgrade to Level 10 for enhanced parry rewards.

Mid-Game: Ballaro

How to Get: Defeat Chromatic Glissando in Sirene’s Dress or purchase from Cribappa in Act 3.
Why It’s Great: Ballaro’s Level 10 and 20 passives grant additional AP to allies, making Monoco a stellar support. Its Agility scaling ensures frequent turns for buffs like Potier Energy.
Upgrade Strategy: Upgrade to Level 20 for maximum AP generation. Equip Pictos like Healing Share for team sustain.

Late Game: Joyaro

How to Get: Defeat Ultimate Sakapatate in Endless Night Sanctuary.
Why It’s Great: Joyaro starts Monoco in Almighty Mask, boosting all skill damage. Its Level 20 passive doubles Break damage in Almighty Mask, making Monoco a Break-damage beast in NG+.
Upgrade Strategy: Max out for S-rank scaling. Use Lumina like Energy Master for sustained support.

Verso: The Dual-Wielder

Role: Verso, joining in Act 2, specializes in a sword-and-dagger combo, building Perfection ranks for heavy Break damage. His weapons, shared with Gustave, scale with Might and Agility.

Early Game (Act 2): Lanceram

How to Get: Inherits Gustave’s Lanceram.
Why It’s Great: Lanceram prevents Verso’s rank from dropping below C and boosts Perfection on parries, making it ideal for mastering his Perfection mechanic. Its Might scaling ensures solid damage in Act 2.
Upgrade Strategy: Focus on Might and Agility. Upgrade to Level 10 for enhanced Perfection gains.

Mid-Game: Contorso

How to Get: Available in Act 2 from merchants or exploration.
Why It’s Great: Contorso’s high power and passive (increasing Break damage by 20% at Level 10) make it perfect for Verso’s Break-focused skills like Perfect Break. It’s a strong choice for mid-game bosses.
Upgrade Strategy: Upgrade to Level 20 for maximum Break damage. Equip Pictos like Exposing Attack for shield-breaking.

Late Game: Simoso

How to Get: Defeat Simon in The Abyss (requires Esquie relationship level five).
Why It’s Great: Simoso’s ethereal sword deals extra hits with attacks and skills, and its Level 20 passive makes Verso immortal at Rank A or above. Despite being a late-game acquisition, it’s unmatched for NG+ and superbosses.
Upgrade Strategy: Max out for S-rank scaling. Use Lumina like Cheater for massive damage.

General Tips for Weapon Management

Upgrade Wisely: Save Perfect Chroma Catalysts for mid-to-late game when all characters are unlocked. Early upgrades should focus on Lanceram and Medalum due to their longevity.
Attribute Synergy: Always check weapon scaling (D to S) and invest in corresponding attributes. Might and Luck are generally safe early-game investments.
Elemental Weaknesses: Match weapon elements to enemy weaknesses (e.g., fire for Ancient Sanctuary, ice for Frozen Hearts). Swap weapons for specific bosses.
Pictos and Lumina: Enhance weapons with Pictos like Double Burn, Critical Burn, or Combo Attack, and Lumina like Cheater, Energy Master, and First Strike for optimal builds.
Exploration: Regularly check Paint Cages, side quests, and merchants for new weapons. Defeating optional bosses like Chromatic Demineur or Ultimate Sakapatate yields top-tier gear.

Conclusion

Equipping the best weapons in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 transforms your party into an unstoppable force. From Gustave’s reliable Lanceram to Verso’s game-changing Simoso, each character has a progression of weapons that cater to their strengths and evolve with the game’s challenges. By strategically upgrading and pairing weapons with the right attributes, Pictos, and Lumina, you’ll conquer the Continent’s toughest foes, from early-game Mimes to NG+ superbosses. Experiment with these recommendations, adapt to your playstyle, and dive into the fractured world of Lumiere with confidence. The Paintress awaits—equip your Expedition and make history!