How to Unlock Verso’s Drafts in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.5.0 (Complete Guide)

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The award-winning world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just got a whole lot bigger. After its stunning Game of the Year win, developer Sandfall Interactive surprised players with the free "Thank You" update (Patch 1.5.0) — and at the heart of it lies a brand-new late-game zone: Verso’s Drafts.

This colorful, secret-filled area is one of the biggest additions to the game so far, but there’s a catch: it doesn’t unlock automatically. If you’re staring at the world map wondering where everyone else found it, you’re not alone.

This guide breaks down exactly how to unlock Verso’s Drafts, where to find the entrance, and how to prepare for what awaits inside — without missing a single requirement.

Unlocking Verso’s Drafts: The Two Mandatory Requirements

Before Verso’s Drafts even appears on your map, you must meet both of the following conditions. Missing either one will completely block access.

1️⃣ Reach Act III of the Main Story

Verso’s Drafts is late-game content only.

  • You must progress the main campaign into Act III

  • This is the final stretch of the story, where endgame exploration opens up

  • If you’re unsure, check your current main quest objective — anything pre–Act III won’t qualify

If you haven’t reached Act III yet, focus on the main storyline first. There’s no workaround for this requirement.

2️⃣ Unlock Esquie’s Diving Ability (Most Missed Step)

How to Unlock Verso’s Drafts in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.5.0

This is the single most important requirement, and the one most players overlook.

To enter Verso’s Drafts, you must unlock Esquie’s Underwater Diving ability.

Unlike Esquie’s other traversal skills, Diving is not unlocked through story progression. It’s tied entirely to his relationship questline.

How to Unlock Diving

Step 1: Raise Esquie’s Relationship Level to 6

  • Regularly return to your Camp

  • Choose “Spend Time” with Esquie whenever available

  • Continue until you reach Relationship Level 5

Step 2: Complete the “Urrie” Quest

  • At Relationship Level 5, Esquie will mention missing his rock, Urrie

  • This triggers a solo quest that sends you back to Esquie’s cave

  • You’ll face Francois in a one-on-one battle

  • Win the fight, retrieve Urrie, and return it to Esquie

Completing this quest raises Esquie to Relationship Level 6 and permanently unlocks the Diving ability.

⚠️ Without Diving, you cannot interact with the underwater vortex that leads to Verso’s Drafts.

How to Find the Entrance to Verso’s Drafts

Once Act III and Esquie’s Diving are unlocked, accessing the area is straightforward.

Step-by-Step Directions

  1. Open your World Map

  2. Locate Lumière in the southern region of the continent

  3. Look directly east of Lumière, out over the water

  4. You’ll see a new area icon appear

  5. Travel to that location

At the site, you’ll find:

  • A glowing, bubbling whirlpool on the water’s surface

  • Nearby rocks decorated with toys and candy

With Esquie in your party, approach the vortex and use Diving to submerge and enter Verso’s Drafts.

What Awaits You Inside Verso’s Drafts

Verso’s Drafts is far more than just another combat zone. It’s a whimsical, endgame playground inspired by a child’s imagination — packed with secrets and surprises.

Highlights of the Area

  • A Massive New Zone

    • Colorful environments

    • Brand-new enemies with unique mechanics

  • Puzzles & Minigames

    • Hopscotch puzzles

    • Timing-based Seesaw Challenge

    • A Diving Board minigame where you aim for rings in the water

    • Many puzzles reward exclusive character hairstyles

  • The Root of All Evil Sub-Area

    • A hidden region within Verso’s Drafts

    • Home to the powerful new boss Osquio

  • New Loot Everywhere

    • Over a dozen new Pictos

    • Powerful new weapons that can redefine late-game builds

Don’t Skip This: The Toy Boat Quest

Early in Verso’s Drafts, you’ll encounter Gestrals mourning a lost Toy Boat.

This is not just flavor dialogue.

  • Recovering the Toy Boat starts a quest chain

  • Completing it rewards a Piece of Cake (Birthday Cake)

  • This item is a key required to open a major sealed door in the zone

Missing this quest can lock you out of important rewards later, so make it a priority.

Recommended Preparation Before Entering

Verso’s Drafts is designed as true endgame content. Community experience shows that entering under-leveled can be punishing.

Suggested Readiness

  • Recommended Level: ~80 or higher

    • Some players report clearing it at level 89 while feeling slightly over-leveled

    • This suggests the zone is tuned for strong, optimized parties

  • Difficulty Comparison:

    • Similar challenge level to other late-game areas like Renoir’s Drafts

Pro Tip: Use Lumina Sets

Patch 1.5.0 introduced Lumina Sets, allowing you to save ability loadouts.

Before entering Verso’s Drafts:

  • Create a dedicated Lumina Set for boss fights

  • Swap builds easily without reconfiguring everything manually

This is especially useful for the tougher encounters hidden deeper in the zone.

Final Thoughts

Verso’s Drafts is one of the most generous post-launch updates in recent RPG memory — a heartfelt thank-you from Sandfall Interactive to dedicated players.

By meeting the two key requirements, unlocking Esquie’s Diving ability, and preparing properly, you’ll gain access to a vibrant, challenging, and deeply rewarding new area.

Dive beneath the waves, explore every corner, and uncover the secrets waiting inside Verso’s Drafts. 

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