Summary
- Some Pictos in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are essential for every character, granting strong perks for a very small number of Lumina points to equip.
- Painted Power is an essential Picto for every active party member.
- Early-game Pictos like Dodger or Dead Energy can prove valuable to keep active for the rest of the game.
With so many Pictos options to choose from in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, every player will have their favorites for each character in the party, depending on the combat build or the type of combat encounter ahead. However, some Pictos in the game are truly invaluable for almost every scenario and should be equipped on every character at all times, as their perks will complement any playstyle.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Best Pictos For Defense, Ranked
Dealing massive damage is good, but surviving anything a boss might throw at players in Expedition 33 is even better.
Below, we'll take a look at some of the best must-have Pictos in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that all characters in the party should have equipped through the Lumina system at all times. Only the most flexible and powerful Pictos with a cost of no more than 5 Lumina points are considered, as anything more expensive would probably require tailoring one's combat build to afford equipping them.
1 Painted Power
Damage Can Exceed 9,999
- Lumina Cost: 5
- Passive Stat Boost: Health
- How to get: Drops as a reward for defeating the Paintress in the Monolith
If there's one best Picto in all of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that is an undeniable must-have for every party member, it would be Painted Power. Indeed, it's hard to imagine even finishing the game's Act 3 without this Picto, as, by the time players obtain it, they are likely well past 9,999 damage per hit.
With Painted Power equipped, it's time to unleash the full potential of character builds, reaching millions or even billions of damage with Maelle, Sciel, or Monoco. In truth, Painted Power should be a passive ability unlocked for every character upon reaching Act 3, but given its cost of just five Lumina points, it's not too bad as it is.
2 Energizing Start I
On Battle Start, Gain +1 AP
- Lumina Cost: 5
- Passive Stat Boost: Health
- Where to find: Found on the world map, on the beach behind Gestral Village
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Action Points (AP) are the bread and butter of every combat build, and each character should ensure a predictable flow of AP in combat to enable the use of the most effective skills at vital moments. Energizing Start Pictos are one way to achieve this, granting additional AP for each Picto tier.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Best Pictos For Attack, Ranked
Players aiming to craft the most devastating combat builds in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 should focus on these offensive Pictos.
Of course, there are plenty of Pictos in the game that give extra AP (up to four at once) to characters, but they usually require certain steps to trigger or are rather costly in Lumina points. This makes Energizing Start an essential choice, with its low cost and its ability to expand the array of skills that players can use right when the battle starts.
3 Augmented First Strike
50% Increased Damage On The First Hit, Once Per Battle
- Lumina Cost: 5
- Passive Stat Boost: Speed, Critical Rate
- How to get: Drops as a reward for defeating Francois at Esquie's Nest. A higher-level version is sold by Gestral Merchant Grour in Renoir's Drafts (must defeat them first)
Augmented First Strike is one of the best Pictos for increasing damage in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, even if it applies only to the first damage dealt. Nevertheless, for just five Lumina points, each character can receive an incredible damage buff that few other Pictos or abilities can match.
What's best is that Augmented First Strike affects any kind of damage, be it a free-aim shot, a base attack, or any skill. All that remains for players to do is to ensure they have enough AP to use a powerful skill with 50% increased damage right at the start of every combat encounter. An absolute must-have for any non-support build in the game.
4 Teamwork
10% Increased Damage While All Allies Are Alive
- Lumina Cost: 5
- Passive Stat Boost: Health, Defense
- How to get: Bought from Gestral Merchant Pinabby in the Yellow Harvest area (must defeat them first)
Teamwork's damage boost isn't groundbreaking by any means, but for its cost of five Lumina points, a 10% increase to all damage is nothing to complain about. While this Picto isn't compatible with Auto-Death builds or tactics, it is certainly useful for any other party combination or preferred playstyle and should be equipped on every character at all times.
All Pictos in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 (& Where to Find Them)
There are dozens upon dozens of Pictos to equip and turn into Lumina in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 --here's our list of all of them so far.
Additionally, Teamwork remains relevant when starting a battle solo, with a single character in a party, which allows for a further damage increase in vital battles, like duels with tough merchants or when completing certain endgame challenges.
5 Gradient Fighter
25% Increased Damage with Gradient Attacks
- Lumina Cost: 5
- Passive Stat Boost: Speed, Critical Rate
- Where to find: Found in Lumière (Act 3), when exploring Lumière's Garden
Gradient Attacks are definitely among the most powerful late-game skills for every character in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, capable of dealing truly devastating damage to the toughest bosses when used wisely. And Gradient Fighter is the best way to significantly increase the strength of such attacks, especially given the Picto's low cost in Lumina.
While some players might prefer specific Gradient Attacks performed only by certain characters (Monoco recommended), it's still worth equipping Gradient Fighter on everyone. Players never know when it can become a lifesaver when facing certain foes that can quickly eliminate characters with their long and deadly combo attacks, leaving little choice for who should use a Gradient Attack to save the day instead of wasting a turn reviving fallen allies.
6 Dead Energy
Gain +3 AP on Killing an Enemy
- Lumina Cost: 2
- Passive Stat Boost: Speed, Critical Rate
- Where to find: Dead Energy I is found on the world map, near the entrance to the Dark Shores area (requires Esquie's swim ability). Dead Energy II is found during the exploration of the Spring Meadows area
Dead Energy is a great Picto for intense combat scenarios against numerous foes in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or during fights where one elite enemy can summon additional enemies into the fight. With this Picto, a character gains a substantial addition to AP for each enemy defeated, as there's no such thing as too much AP.
How Do Pictos Upgrades Work In Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Some Pictos in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 have upgraded versions that make them even more useful; here's how it all works.
The only downside of the Dead Energy Picto is that it's useless during combat encounters with a single tough enemy or boss. Nevertheless, given that it costs just two Lumina points to equip, this isn't really a deal-breaker, so players should keep Dead Energy equipped at all times, as switching it back and forth isn't worth the hassle.
7 Healing Tint Energy
Healing Tints Also Grant 1 AP
- Lumina Cost: 1
- Passive Stat Boost: Health, Defense
- Where to find: Found during exploration of the Stone Wave Cliffs area
No matter how skilled players are in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, sometimes characters will take serious damage from bosses or elite enemies, requiring healing. There are numerous ways to heal in the game, but more often than not, the most reliable is to use healing tints that, once upgraded, can restore a character's full HP.
While not the strongest, given how cheap the Healing Tint Energy Picto is (a single Lumina point to equip), it is wise to keep it active for every party member at all times. This allows players to gain an additional AP whenever they use a healing potion and return to the fight refreshed and ready for casting.
8 Dodger
Once Per Turn, Gain 1 AP on Perfect Dodge
- Lumina Cost: 1
- Passive Stat Boost: Speed, Critical Rate
- How to get: Drops as a reward for defeating the mandatory Portier enemy in Spring Meadows
Dodger is among the first Pictos that players obtain in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and while it's more suited for early-game play, as players are encouraged to focus on parries rather than dodges later on, its perk remains valuable throughout the entire game, especially given that it costs only a single Lumina point.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Best Pictos For Support, Ranked
Support Pictos can make Expedition 33 much easier by providing extra AP and granting different buffs. Here are the strongest Pictos of this kind.
The best way to utilize Dodger later in the game is to dodge only during long enemy attack combos, as even a single missed parry will prevent countering, making parrying unnecessarily risky. Therefore, the best strategy is to parry if players are confident and rely on dodges; otherwise, gaining additional AP for every party member each turn for almost no Lumina cost.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
