S-Rank Builds for Every Paint Bearer in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Patch 1.2.3)

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Updated for Patch 1.2.3 | Best Attributes, Weapons, Skills & Synergy

Looking to dominate the battlefield in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Patch 1.2.3 brings key balance changes—especially to Maelle’s Stendhal build—and it’s more important than ever to optimize your Paint Bearers for S-Rank performance.

Below you'll find the best S-Rank builds for every Paint Bearer, featuring updated attributes, top weapons, best skills, and synergy tips to get the most out of your team in the current patch.

Gustave – Hybrid DPS & Overcharge Support

Role: Hybrid DPS / Support (Marking + Overcharge)
Best Attributes: Vitality (for survivability) + Agility (for speed)
Weapon: Abysseram (Scales with Vitality/Agility)

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Lumiere Assault – 5-hit Physical, generates Charge

  • Overcharge – High-damage Lightning nuke, scales with Charge stacks

  • Marking Shot – Applies Mark for ally synergy

S-Rank Builds for Every Paint Bearer in Clair Obscur
🎨 Best Pictos

  • Rewarding Mark – +2 AP when hitting Marked targets

  • Exposing Attack – Applies Defenceless (enemy debuff)

💡 Recommended Luminas

  • Burning Shots – Adds Burn chance to Free Aim attacks

  • Dead Energy II – +3 AP on kill

🔥 Synergy Tip: Stack Overcharge and Marks to enable burst turns for DPS allies like Verso or Maelle.

Maelle – Parry-Based DPS (Post-Nerf Viability)

Role: Stance-Dancing DPS (Parry / Virtuose)
Best Attributes: Defense (for stance-based survival) + Agility (to keep up with stance switching)
Weapon: Medalum

⚠️ Patch Fix: Now only doubles Burn damage in Virtuose stance.

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Stendhal – Still powerful despite 40% nerf; strong Void damage

  • Sword Ballet – 5-hit Crit-focused attack

  • Last Chance – Triggers Virtuose stance

🎨 Best Pictos

  • Inverted Affinity – +50% damage at the cost of healing

💡 Recommended Luminas

  • Empowering Attack – Boosts Base Attack

  • Tainted – +15% damage per self-debuff

🔥 Synergy Tip: Pair with Lune’s Burn stacking to boost Medalum’s bonus damage during Virtuose turns.

Lune – Elemental Mage & Burn Specialist

Role: Elemental Mage (Burn + Stain Stacker)
Best Attributes: Agility + Defense
Weapon: Choralim (High Burn synergy on Crits)

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Elemental Genesis – 8-hit nuke, random elements

  • Hell – High Burn output; risky due to self-damage

  • Lightning Dance – Multi-hit attack that consumes Stain

🎨 Best Pictos

  • Empowering Parry – Damage increases with successful parries

💡 Recommended Luminas

  • Double Burn – Doubles Burn stacks

  • Cheater – Guarantees double turns

🔥 Synergy Tip: Works best with Maelle to trigger Virtuose burst turns with Burn-based damage.

Sciel – Foretell-Based Dark DPS

Role: Critical Hit DPS (Foretell stacking)
Best Attributes: Luck (for Crit and Foretell) + Defense
Weapon: Charnon (Scales with Luck and Defense)

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Twilight Dance – Heavy Dark damage; extends Twilight

  • Sealed Fate – 5–7 hits; consumes Foretell for massive bonus damage

🎨 Best Pictos

  • Inverted Affinity – High-risk, high-reward damage boost

💡 Recommended Luminas

  • Roulette – 50% chance to deal either 50% or 200% damage

  • Dead Energy II – +3 AP on kill

🔥 Playstyle Tip: Stack Foretell, then unleash Sealed Fate for devastating results.

Verso – Speedy Light DPS & AP Battery

Role: Fast DPS with AP generation & Mark support
Best Attributes: Agility + Luck
Weapon: Chevalam (Scales with Agility/Luck)

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Phantom Stars – 5-hit Light AoE, excellent for mobs

  • Follow Up – Scales with Free Aim shots

  • Defiant Strike – Applies Mark to enemies

🎨 Best Pictos

  • Confident Fighter – +30% damage, disables healing

💡 Recommended Luminas

  • Powerful on Shell – Boosts buffs

  • Empowering Parry – Improves damage after parries

🔥 Utility Tip: Provides reliable AP and Marking for burst damage rotations from Gustave or Maelle.

Monoco – Adaptive DPS & AP Generator

Role: Transformation-based Utility / DPS
Best Attributes: Adaptive (based on enemy stats)
Weapon: Varies by enemy form

🗡️ Key Skills

  • Potier Energy – Generates AP for allies

  • Bestial Wheel – Transforms into enemy-based roles

🔥 Synergy Tip: While less reliant on static builds, Monoco thrives when adapted to enemies with high elemental or physical stats. Prioritize AP generation or high-damage transformation forms.

🛠️ Patch 1.2.3 Highlights & Build Impact

  • Maelle’s Stendhal nerfed by 40%, but remains viable with Burn/Virtuose synergy.

  • Medalum’s Lumina effect fixed – Now only boosts Burn damage in Virtuose stance.

  • No major nerfs to Gustave, Lune, or Sciel, solidifying their place in the meta.

🎨 Final Thoughts

Each Paint Bearer brings unique utility in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Patch 1.2.3 has shifted the meta just enough to reward smart synergy and optimized gear. Use this guide to build your perfect S-Rank team—whether you're aiming to melt enemies with Burn, stack Marks for bonus AP, or explode targets with Foretell combos.

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Want to swap build ideas, debate the Stendhal nerf, or flex your S-Rank run?

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