Expedition 33 Best Teams: Synergy & Rotations Guide
Why This Party Synergy Guide Matters
After sinking dozens of hours into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, wiping to bosses like Paintress, and stalling out in the Endless Tower, I eventually realised my problem wasn’t “low damage” or “not enough healing” – it was bad synergy and messy turn order.
The breakthrough came when I started building around how Burn, Mark, and Break actually stack together, then tuning weapons, Pictos, and Lumina to push those mechanics to their limits. This guide distills that testing into concrete, ready-to-use party setups.
What you’ll get here:
The 7 best tested team compositions for DPS, balanced, and survival playstyles
Exact turn orders and rotations using Step → Action → Result
Recommended weapons, Pictos, and attribute priorities for each character
Patch 1.2 impact (Verso Mark buff, Maelle Burn cap) and what to change now
Act-by-Act advice so you aren’t running late-game comps with early-game tools
All of this assumes roughly level 50+ and reasonably optimized Lumina distribution (no one left 10 levels behind). Numbers below are based on level 60 testing.
Core Mechanics That Define Strong Teams
Every good Expedition 33 comp is built around three mechanics:
Burn – Damage over time that scales with stacks. With Maelle and the right weapon, 10+ stacks can turn one button press into a 300-500% weapon damage nuke.
Mark – A debuff that amplifies incoming damage and, post–patch 1.2, got a ~20% buff on Verso. Marks are what convert high Burn stacks into absurd boss melt potential.
Break – A stagger bar that, when filled, drops enemy defenses and opens them up. Monoco is your main Break engine and becomes crucial in long or add-heavy fights.
Patch 1.2 also raised Maelle’s Burn cap to 12 stacks, which quietly made Burn + Mark teams the best single-target DPS choice in the game when played correctly.
Pick Your Playstyle First, Then Your Party
I’ve found it much easier to build parties by deciding how I want to play first:
DPS (Burst) – Kill bosses in 2–4 turns, accept more risk. Best core: Maelle + Verso + Lune
Balanced – Comfortable story play, good AoE, decent sustain. Best core: Lune + Maelle + Monoco
Survival – Near-unkillable, slower clears, best for Endless Tower. Best core: Lune + Monoco + Sciel
From there, you just swap a character or two as acts and encounters change, instead of reinventing your team every time.
DPS Playstyle – High-Risk, High-Reward Burst Teams
1. Maelle + Verso + Lune – Burn–Mark DPS King
Availability: Fully online by Act 2–3 (once Verso and Lune are in your rotation).
This is the team I use whenever I want bosses to simply disappear. With good execution, Maelle + Verso + Lune can build 10+ Burn stacks in one cycle, turning Maelle’s Inferno Slash into a 200–500% damage bomb on a Marked target.
Strengths: Top boss DPS in the game, quick phase skips, excellent for Endless Tower single-target floors.
Weaknesses: Limited AoE, punishes sloppy turn order or missed timings.
Core Rotation (Boss Single-Target)
Step 1 → Action → Result Verso uses Marking Shot → Applies Mark, starts AP generation, sets up extra Burn scaling.
Step 2 → Action → Result Lune uses Fire Lash → Adds initial Burn stacks and often manipulates turn order in Maelle’s favor.
Step 3 → Action → Result Maelle uses Inferno Slash (or equivalent Burn-scaling heavy) → Consumes or leverages stacked Burn + Mark for a huge nuke.
Step 4 → Action → Result Verso triggers any available follow-up / free aim → Chips remaining HP and rebuilds resources for the next cycle.
On level 60 bosses, a well-executed cycle like this routinely reaches around 500% scaled damage in total output.
Build & Picto Recommendations
Maelle Attributes: Prioritize Agility (more turns) then Luck (crits). Weapon: Burn-scaling weapon like Medalum for up to ~5x Burn multiplier at high stacks. Pictos: Burn damage amplifier, crit/Burn synergy nodes.
Verso Attributes: Vitality first (tanking), then Strength for harder hits. Weapon: Mark-focused weapon such as Simoso to maximize Mark uptime and power. Pictos: Mark duration/strength extender; defensive/tank-enhancing picks.
Lune Attributes: Mind (heals & utility) then Vitality for safety. Pictos: Turn manipulation / AP regen; anything that makes Fire Lash cheaper or more frequent. Lumina: AP or MP sustain so she can keep enabling Maelle every cycle.
When to Use & Practical Tips
Best for: Act 2–3 bosses, Endless Tower floors with few adds, NG+ boss rushing.
Exploration rating: B – feels slow versus large trash waves.
Critical rule: Always act in the order Verso → Lune → Maelle. If Maelle goes before Mark/Burn are stacked, you lose most of your burst.
Execution tip: Aim to hit 8–12 Burn stacks before dropping your big hit; below that, it’s often better to set up another cycle than to force a low-value nuke.
2. Maelle + Monoco + Verso – Quick-Clear Burst
Availability: Act 3 onward, once Monoco joins.
When I need to farm, backtrack, or plow through nests quickly, this is my go-to. Monoco’s AoE Break into Maelle’s Burn-heavy attacks absolutely shreds packs.
Strengths: S-tier mob clearing, strong on multi-target bosses or adds.
Weaknesses: Slightly lower peak single-target DPS than the pure Burn–Mark comp.
Core Rotation (AoE / Mixed Packs)
Step 1 → Action → Result Monoco uses Break Hammer (or equivalent AoE Break tool) → Rapidly fills enemy Break bars and sets up a damage window.
Step 2 → Action → Result Verso uses a multi-target Mark / Follow-Up skill → Spreads Marks to key targets or finishes weakened ones while building AP.
Step 3 → Action → Result Maelle uses an AoE Burn attack (such as Blazing Combo) → Burn spreads through already-weakened enemies, often wiping the pack.
Build Focus
Monoco: Stack Strength, grab Pictos that boost Break generation and AoE damage. Consider Lumina that rewards overfilling Break bars with AP.
Verso & Maelle: Same priorities as in the DPS king setup.
Use this team: for Act 3 exploration, farming collectibles, and any content where 3–4 enemies spawn together. It’s also very comfortable for bosses that constantly summon adds.
This trio became my default “I don’t know what’s coming” party. You get damage, sustain, and strong AoE all in one package.
Strengths: High survivability, excellent against mixed waves and bosses with adds.
Weaknesses: Slightly slower boss kills than pure DPS comps.
Core Rotation (General Use)
Step 1 → Action → Result Lune uses Healing Flame or Fire Lash based on need → Either stabilizes HP while applying Burn or starts offensive pressure.
Step 2 → Action → Result Monoco uses Break Hammer → Softens everything and sets up for Maelle.
Step 3 → Action → Result Maelle uses Inferno Slash or another Burn-scaling attack → Capitalises on both Burn and Break for big swings.
Step 4 → Action → Result Monoco weaves in Team Buff-style skills → Adds up to ~30% party damage, which is huge over longer fights.
Build Tips
Lune: Focus Mind then Vitality; grab Pictos that enhance healing and turn manipulation.
Maelle: Keep investing in Agility; this comp gets better the more often she moves.
Monoco: Split Strength / Mind if you want him to both Break and support; pure Strength if you prefer brute force.
Colours of Lumina: Keep levels roughly even. If Lune falls behind in Mind, your sustain collapses in longer encounters.
4. Verso + Lune + Maelle – Act 2 Workhorse
Availability: Act 2 (once Verso and Lune are both available).
This is the party that carried most of my first playthrough through mid-game bosses. It’s a simpler version of the Burn–Mark engine with built-in safety from Lune.
Rotation skeleton: Verso Marking Shot → Lune Fire Lash → Maelle big hit. Verso soaks aggro and damage.
Boss rating: B+ – strong enough for mid-game without requiring sweaty optimization.
Exploration rating: A – plenty of sustain for optional areas and side content.
Build Verso fairly tanky (Vitality/Strength) and give him defensive/Mark-boosting Pictos; this comp shines when he can stay on the field soaking hits while Maelle ramps up.
5. Gustave + Lune + Maelle – Act 1 Fundamentals
Availability: Act 1 / early game.
This trio teaches you the basic Burn–Mark–DPS flow before Verso and Monoco arrive. Think of Gustave as “early Verso without the late-game ceiling”.
Use case: Early story, first big bosses, learning timing and positioning.
Flow: Gustave Marks → Lune Burns → Maelle finishes.
Long-term: Gradually retire Gustave once Verso joins, or keep him for NG+ nostalgia runs.
Survival Playstyle – Outlast Everything
6. Lune + Monoco + Sciel – Break-Sustain Wall
Availability: Act 3 onwards, once Sciel is recruitable.
When I first pushed deep into the Endless Tower, what finally got me over the hump wasn’t more DPS – it was this unkillable core. The damage is slower, but the combination of Break, healing, and turn recycling is incredibly forgiving.
Strengths: Near-constant buffs/debuffs, huge sustain, excels in attrition battles.
Weaknesses: Low peak burst; you’ll be in fights for 5–8 minutes instead of 1–2.
Core Rotation (Endurance Fights)
Step 1 → Action → Result Monoco uses Break Hammer → Keeps Break bars filling and enemies staggered.
Step 2 → Action → Result Lune uses Fire Lash or heals → Maintains Burn pressure and stabilizes HP.
Step 3 → Action → Result Sciel uses a Double Strike / turn-return skill on Lune → Gives Lune extra turns for more heals or Burns, effectively doubling her impact.
Repeat → Action → Result Rotate Sciel’s buffs and debuffs → Keep enemy damage down and your party damage up for 100% uptime.
Build Sciel for high Mind and grab Pictos that enhance turn return and buff potency. The more often Sciel can hand Lune another action, the safer you’ll feel.
7. Verso + Monoco + Maelle – Tanky Utility Core
Availability: Act 3.
If you want something tankier than the pure DPS trio but faster than the Sciel wall, this is a great middle ground. Verso tanks and Marks, Monoco Breaks and buffs, Maelle handles damage.
Strengths: High Vitality scaling, safe for blind runs and first attempts at harder bosses.
Weaknesses: Slower clears than the dedicated DPS king team.
Build note: Stack Vitality on Verso and Monoco, and pick Pictos that reward blocking and guarding so they can protect Maelle while she ramps Burn.
Advanced Optimization & Patch 1.2 Adjustments
Once your basic comps feel good, these are the optimizations that made the biggest difference for me.
Turn Order: The Hidden DPS Multiplier
Rule 1 – Setup → Amplify → Nuke Always lead with setup (Verso/Monoco for Mark/Break), follow with amplifiers (Lune’s Burn / buffs), then finish with nukes (Maelle).
Rule 2 – Respect Break windows Don’t drop Maelle’s big skills just before a Break happens. If a Break is imminent, delay the nuke so it lands inside the stagger window.
Rule 3 – Don’t waste extra turns When Lune or Sciel give bonus turns, feed them to whoever can extend stacks (Burn/Mark/Break) rather than throwing them on a low-scaling basic hit.
Weapons, Pictos & Lumina Priorities
Weapons Maelle: Burn-scaling weapon (e.g., Medalum) is non-negotiable for Burn comps. Verso: Mark-focused weapons like Simoso push his post–patch 1.2 kit to the top tier. Monoco: Invest in his Break Hammer line for more reliable AoE Break.
Pictos (general priority) 1) Burn Amplifier for Maelle / Burn users. 2) Mark Extender / Strengthener for Verso. 3) AP / MP Regen for Lune, Sciel, and Monoco so rotations never stall.
Colours of Lumina Try to keep characters within 2–3 levels of each other. Letting one lag far behind (usually a support) is one of the fastest ways to feel “underpowered” without realising why.
Act-by-Act Party Swaps
Act 1: Run Gustave + Lune + Maelle. Focus on learning Burn/Mark flow and basic timing.
Act 2: Transition to Verso + Lune + Maelle. Better Marks, sturdier tanking.
Act 3 & beyond: Flex in Monoco or Sciel depending on content:
Need speed / farming? Use Maelle + Monoco + Verso.
Need safety / towers? Use Lune + Monoco + Sciel.
Need boss melts? Use Maelle + Verso + Lune.
Common Pitfalls & How to Fix Them
Pitfall: AP starvation mid-rotation Fix: Move AP/Lumina regen Pictos onto supports (Lune, Sciel, Monoco) so damage dealers can stay pure offense.
Pitfall: “My damage feels low” with Maelle Fix: You’re probably nuking too early. Wait for higher Burn stacks (8–12) and a fresh Mark, or invest in a stronger Burn-scaling weapon.
Pitfall: Break bars constantly overflow with Monoco Fix: Don’t spam Break skills into already nearly-broken targets; weave in buffs or basic attacks to line the Break up with Maelle’s turn.
Pitfall: One character is 5–10 levels lower Fix: Rotate them into easier content or early floors of Endless Tower until Colours of Lumina catch up. A severely underleveled Lune or Sciel can undo an otherwise perfect comp.
TL;DR – Key Takeaways
Burn + Mark is king post–patch 1.2. Build at least one team around Maelle + Verso + Lune for bosses.
Monoco is your AoE and Break engine; pair him with Maelle for fast exploration clears.
Survival comps like Lune + Monoco + Sciel trade speed for near-infinite sustain; perfect for Endless Tower pushes.
Turn order matters as much as gear: Setup (Verso/Monoco) → Amplify (Lune) → Nuke (Maelle).
Weapons, Pictos, and Lumina can make or break a comp. Prioritize Burn/Mark amplifiers and AP/MP sustain on supports.
Act-specific teams: Gustave-era fundamentals in Act 1, Verso core in Act 2, flex Monoco/Sciel in Act 3+ based on whether you want speed or safety.
If you treat every fight like a small puzzle – setting up Burn, Mark, and Break in the right order rather than just pressing your biggest numbers first — these comps will carry you smoothly through the story and deep into endgame.
