How to Get and Optimize Simoso for Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Why Simoso Matters (and What Makes It So Tricky to Get)

After dragging myself through nearly 70 hours of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on my PS5, Simoso is the only weapon for Verso that genuinely changed how I approached endgame combat. The journey’s tough: you’ll need to go toe-to-toe with the game’s hardest boss, and unlock some late-game traversal features-stuff I wish I’d known sooner. If you’re set on fully unlocking Verso’s potential, Simoso is a must-have. This guide breaks down exactly how I got it, my optimization strategies, what mistakes nearly cost me victory, and how you can avoid the same frustrations.

What You Need Before Attempting to Get Simoso

Let’s set expectations: this isn’t a mid-game pickup. You’re going for Simoso late- after unlocking almost all areas, hitting at least level 85, and upgrading Esquie’s traversal abilities (specifically: underwater swimming). I lost hours wandering the wrong areas and trying to brute-force the boss before I was ready. Here’s a fast prep checklist:

• Verso at level 85+ (90+ recommended for more margin)
• Esquie’s underwater swimming unlocked (via repeated camp conversations with her)
• Healing items and boost tonics maxed out-Simon will grind you down if you’re underprepared
• Your main stats (Vitality and Agility) pushed as high as possible; I recommend at least 75 in each if you’re not min-maxing
• A team setup with strong synergy (I ran Maëlle with Medallum as a backup, more on this later)

Don’t make my mistake of thinking you can save time by skipping Esquie dialogues—her ability is essential to even reach the boss arena. I burned over 3 hours replaying camp nights I’d skipped.

Step 1: Unlocking the Path to Simon (Final Boss)

The Simoso weapon is locked behind Simon, the toughest boss in L’Abîme, a subzone buried “inside” the Esquisses de Renoir region, southeast of Visages. You need the swimming stone from Esquie. Here’s how I did it efficiently:

• Head to your main camp after clearing Renoir. Sit, rest, and talk to Esquie during multiple camp cycles until you trigger the underwater ability unlock.
• Fast travel to Esquisses de Renoir—look for a lake in the southeast. It’s not obvious on the map, so pan the camera once you’re in that region.
• Swim across, dive, and look for a submerged entrance. If you get a bounce-off animation, you’re missing the swimming unlock (repeat camp chats).
• The lead-in area, L’Abîme, is packed with high-level mobs. Use stealth where possible—there’s no point burning heals before Simon.

Pro-tip: If you find yourself out of stamina or boosts before the boss, just reload your last camp save. It saves a lot of frustration, especially if you’re low on items.

Step 2: Defeating Simon—What Worked (and What Nearly Broke Me)

Simon is a genuine skill check. My first three attempts ended in disaster because I underestimated his second phase and didn’t prioritize parries. After a lot of trial-and-error, here’s what cracked it for me:

• Master the parry window: Simon’s cleave and dark burst have predictable windups. Focus on dodging by default, but when you see a blue shimmer, parry with L1 (on PS5).
• Don’t get greedy after a successful parry—one or two hits, then back off.
• Bring status cleanses—Simon inflicts Corruption frequently. Keep two cleanses equipped (I kept forgetting and it cost me one run every time).
• When phase two begins (half HP), prioritize burst damage and extra healing, as Simon’s tempo becomes relentless. I found my strongest agility-based abilities did triple the damage early on.
• If using Maëlle, time her Virtuoso posture so her Medallum bonus doubles Verso’s burn chances (Simoso’s level 10).
• Don’t be afraid to use all your tonics and buffs—you won’t need them after, and a death means a long trek back.

My biggest lesson: Don’t rush—Simon’s patterns are learnable, but every stun or Corruption stack punishes eager attacks. If you’re losing repeatedly, farm another two levels and just try again. My final successful run took 18 minutes, and I finished with just two healing items left.

Step 3: Claiming Simoso—Stats, Perks, and What to Focus On

After the Simon fight, Simoso is yours. There’s no need to use Chroma or forge upgrades—the weapon comes at level 33, fully unlocked. Here’s what that gets you (and what to prioritize):

• Optimal stats: Simoso scales massively with Vitality and Agility. At 99 in both, its power is 8476. Aim to push those stats if you want game-breaking damage.
• Level 4: Each time Verso uses a skill that does “Clair” damage, Simoso triggers a bonus “Clair” hit. In practice, this means most of your attacks get a free, extra hit.
• Level 10: 20% chance to inflict Burn with Clair damage. This is huge in conjunction with Maëlle’s Medallum ability, which can double Burn stacks if you’re in Virtuoso posture.
• Level 20: Verso cannot die if you’re at Rank A or higher—this effect carried me through several nasty late-game encounters. Rank A is straightforward to maintain, especially in protracted battles.

Don’t miss out: It’s easy to overlook stat distribution once Simoso is equipped. I wasted early potential by focusing too much on Power and not enough on Agility—VIT and AGI are worth every point for this build. Respec if you have to; the damage jump is immediate.

Advanced Optimization: Making the Most of Simoso

Simoso opened up new playstyles for my Verso runs. Here’s what I wish I’d done sooner for optimization and synergy:

• Pair with Burn support: Run with Maëlle (Medallum) or load out support items that enhance Burn, taking advantage of the 20% proc. This consistently doubles damage on tanky enemies.
• Maintain Rank A: Don’t get sloppy in clean-up fights; use buffs and heals even on low-threat mobs to preserve the undying effect. I lost out on the “cannot die” bonus several times by getting lazy between big battles.
• Avoid enemy cleanse mechanics: A few endgame enemies remove buffs and Burn—if you notice this, save your big Burn attacks for moments when their cleanses are down or interrupted.
• Flexible ability use: With Simoso, don’t be afraid to trigger abilities that cost HP—you’re so much safer at Rank A that you can play aggressively, especially late-game.

For players who want absolute max DPS, time Verso’s burst skills to coincide with both Level 4 and Level 10 procs, and hit with Burn abilities while enemies are debuffed. This is especially effective versus multi-phase bosses.

Troubleshooting: Common Pitfalls (And How I Fixed Them)

• Not getting Esquie’s ability: If L’Abîme’s water entrance is blocked, go back to camp, rest, and repeat Esquie conversations until she mentions the underwater stone/grant.
• Under-leveled Verso: Simon will demolish you under level 80. Don’t throw yourself at the wall—do a few side missions or farm mobs near Renoir first.
• No synergy in party: If Maëlle is underpowered or you’re short on Burn boosts, Simon’s second phase will drag out. I found purposely swapping in support gear before the fight made the difference.
• Forgetting to maintain Rank A: An easy slip—keep track, and don’t get careless between major fights.

Quick Recap: Get to late game, talk to Esquie for swimming, head to L’Abîme, defeat Simon, then equip and stat-optimize Simoso for Verso. Use burn synergy, max VIT/AGI, and always maintain Rank A to unlock Simoso’s true potential. My only regret is not prepping for Simon a few levels earlier—it would’ve saved me at least five hours!

Next Steps and Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to push Verso to their absolute limits, there’s no better weapon in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 than Simoso. Grinding for it takes patience and some careful team building, but once you have it, your late-game fights become far simpler. Personally, the sense of reward from finally toppling Simon and wielding Simoso made the effort 100% worth it. Push your stats, practice the parry (seriously, it’s the most crucial boss skill), and leverage your party’s synergy to steamroll the rest of the game. Good luck—if I can do it, so can you.