When it comes to exploring the Continent in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there's always an ominous feeling about what you'll find in its deepest reaches and the furthest corners of the map. Sometimes they're small surprises; other times, they're entirely new locations that you may have otherwise overlooked in your travels.
One such location in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that dwells under the shadow of the Monolith is the Sinister Cave. If you're unfamiliar with this landmark and what it entails, here's a guide to walk you through all of its secrets and make sure you don't miss out on any treasures.
All Merchant Locations In Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Merchants serve as some of the best sources of items in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, so here is where to find them all.
How to Find the Sinister Cave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The Sinister Cave is an optional location that you can find about midway through Act 2 of the game's story, at the earliest. However, exploring this area is not recommended until your party is an average of Level 50 or higher, so prepare your gear and best weapons accordingly. Otherwise, you can save this location for your endgame exploration, at which point it will be far more manageable.
Sinister Cave is the sole landmark on a remote isle far east of Sirene island (as seen above). Once you arrive at this portion of the Continent as part of the storyline, it'll be easy to access, as you only need Esquie's swimming ability to reach it. The isle in question is covered in red trees, with not much else on it besides one random encounter with a Hexga and a couple of other Nevrons. When you're ready, interact with the Sinister Cave's main entrance.
How to Complete Sinister Cave in Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Once inside the Sinister Cave, feel free to save at the nearby Expedition Flag before moving forward. Make your way through the slightly claustrophobic tunnel ahead, where you can see a glowing item on a ledge to your right. Unfortunately, you can't reach it for now, so continue onward.
Upon reaching the main area ahead, you'll notice that it's unsettlingly dark everywhere, and you'll need to do your best to keep track of your steps while navigating the different routes. Also, make note of the Gestral Merchant on the raised platform (you can see its lantern) ahead, though you won't be able to reach them just yet.
Start by immediately taking the left path and follow it until it brings you to a small area with a collapsed, glowing Nevron (as seen above). Pick up the item in front of it to claim the Elerim weapon (Earth element) for Lune. Follow the path past the Nevron until it brings you to a fork. Go right, which will take you back to the entrance of the main area.
Now take the right path, which will eventually take you to a cliff face to grapple up to. (Ignore the lower path for now.) Do so, then look behind you to grapple across the gap, and follow the next path until it brings you seemingly to a dead end. Look for a hole in the ground just big enough for you to fall through. This will bring you down to the ledge where that unreachable item was. Pick it up to claim the Nocturne Pour Lumiere music record.
Make your way back to the main area once more, take the right path again, and grapple back up as you did before. Follow the same path until you see an opening to your right, before the dead end. Approach it carefully, and you should see the platform where the Merchant is standing below. Jump down and pick up the Corderon weapon (Dark element) for Sciel on the ground in front of it. If you interact with the Merchant, surprisingly nothing will happen as, it turns out, "it's dead."
Jump down from the platform and, once again, head right. This time, however, follow the lower path instead of the grapple jump. Keep running and around the corner will be your main adversary of this cave, the Chromatic Chalier. Engage it when you're ready to start a battle.
How to Beat The Chromatic Chalier
Like other Chromatic-tier Nevrons in the game, the Chromatic Chalier is essentially an enhanced version of the Chalier nevron (such as the one you find at the Floating Cemetery). Thus, its attacks will be more powerful and relentless. It is easy to approach, however, so make sure to get your First Strike bonus to start the battle on your terms.
This is especially important because this boss immediately starts with the Berserk status effect active, allowing it to buff its attack power by 5% each turn it gets. Its attacks are primarily melee combos for you to dodge and/or parry, so do your best to get as many counterattacks in as possible (remember to equip certain Pictos to buff your counterattack damage significantly!) While avoiding the brunt of its damage. Otherwise, this fight is quite straightforward.
The Chromatic Chalier does boast a hefty health bar, so make sure to have your best, most powerful skills equipped for each party member. Pile on Burn stacks when possible, especially with Lune and Maelle's fire-elemental skills. Focus on filling the boss's break gauge, which, when "broken," will lower their defense significantly and stun them for a brief period, allowing you to get an extra turn or so in before they can retaliate.
Once defeated, the Chromatic Chalier will drop the Chalium weapon (Light element) for Maelle, along with a Resplendent Chroma Catalyst (Grandiose if you're on NG+), and 5x Colour of Lumina.
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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
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
