Dominate Expert Mode: Best Early Game Builds in Clair Obscur Expedition 33!

But before we start, let me tell you that from my own experience, the best defense is attack! Why? Well, a lot of Boss hits are super heavy and defense doesn't do much, but if you can Parry that attack properly, their attacks turn into opportunities for you to strike back.

Term definitions

In this Best Early Game Builds in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 guide, there are some terms we'll use a lot that you should know the meaning of:

• AP: The points each of your skills consumes to use.
• Pictos: Accessories that give you stats and unlock Lumina.
• Luminas: Permanent abilities that each character can activate with Lumina points.
• Break: Breaking the enemy's defense, which makes follow-up hits deal more damage.
• Burn and Mark: These make the enemy more vulnerable.

Best Builds for Gustave

Gustave's main job is breaking enemy defense and weakening them with Mark and Burn so the rest of the team can hit them hard. Since he doesn't have a special ability, it's better to use a weapon the enemy is weak to. If you don't have such a weapon, pick your highest level one. I suggest focusing your weapon's Scaling on Luck.

Gustave's skills include Lumière Assault, Overcharge, Powerful, Recovery, Marking Shot, and Shatter. Also, with these Pictos, you'll have a lot of AP on the first turn: Dead Energy II, Energising Start II, and Energising Start III.

Gustave's combat pattern

• On the first turn, apply Mark and Burn to the enemy with a few Free Aim shots.
• Use Lumière Assault to build up some Charge.
• Then Break the enemy with Shatter, or deal a massive hit with Overcharge.
• Use Powerful to support your teammates.

Luminas

My recommended Luminas are Critical Burn, Versatile, Staggering Attack, Augmented Aim, Burning Shots, Marking Shots, and First Strike.

Best Builds for Lune

The next character I'm covering in Best Early Game Builds in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is Lune. She's a mage who deals small but numerous hits, which is perfect for Roulette. The weapons I suggest for her are Deminerim, Lighterim, and Trebuchim.

Your skills are Electrify, Wildfire, Immolation, Rockslide, Earth Rising, and Lightning Dance, and your Pictos are First Strike, Breaker, and Roulette.

Lune's combat pattern

• First, hit the enemy with Immolation or Wildfire to trigger Critical Burn on them.
• After that, use Electrify a few times.
• Then you can Break the enemy with Rockslide.
• Finally, when you have enough AP, use Lightning Dance to hit the enemy hard.

Recommended Luminas

I suggest using Critical Burn, Dead Energy II, Augmented Counter I, SOS Shell, and Energising Start I and II. I recommend Critical Burn because Electrify and Lightning Dance can hit twice with Crit.

Best Builds for Sciel

This character, also called Lone Wolf, has a special thing: her stats shoot way up when she's alone, so it's better to keep her in reserve and bring her in when the others are down. The weapons I suggest for her are Scieleson or Chation.

Her skills are Focused Foretell, Sealed Fate, Marking Card, Phantom Blade, Bad Omen, and Harvest. The Pictos for her are Accelerating Last Stand, Last Stand Critical, and Protecting Last Stand.

Sciel's combat pattern

The best way to fight with Sciel is to start with Foretell. If there are several enemies in front of you, use Bad Omen, and if there's just one, use Marking Card. Then use Sealed Fate repeatedly. Use Phantom Blade when you need a Break.

Best Builds for Maelle

Maelle can deal the most single-target damage, especially in Virtuose Stance. Even in early builds, she can get close to the 9,999 damage cap. For a closer look at how to reach max damage with her, I suggest checking out the One-Shot Build in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 guide.

The weapons I suggest for playing her are Brulerum or Medalum. Her best skills are Spark, Swift Stride, Offensive Switch, Percée, Guard Down, and Fleuret Fury.

H3: Maelle's combat pattern

• Start with Guard Down since it makes the enemy take 25% more damage.
• Use Swift Stride to get into Virtuose Stance.
• Then use Percée. Early in the game, this is where you'll deal the most damage.
• Finish with Fleuret Fury to land three hits in a row. This also lets you stay in Stance.

Maelle's Pictos include Augmented First Strike, Auto Shell, and Augmented Counter I, and her Luminas include Dead Energy II, Critical Burn, Augmented Counter I, Energising Start I and II, and Energising Jump.

Summary of Best Early Game Builds in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Here's a quick summary of the tips from this Best Early Game Builds in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 in table form:

My final recommendation for new players is to use Maelle or Gustave. Everything I told you in this guide isn't a strict rule—it's just guidance to make the game easier for you. If you want more guides for this game, I suggest checking out the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Game Guide.