How to Get the Energy Master Picto in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Why I Made This Guide: Unlocking the Energy Master Picto (After Many Tries)

After spending almost four hours figuring out how to get the Energy Master Picto in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I can confidently say this unlock is worth every second. Increasing every Action Point (AP) gain by +1 completely changed how flexible my party was in difficult battles-turning just-okay turns into game-winning combos. But getting this Picto means taking down the flying boss Serpenhare, and if you go in unprepared (like I did the first few times), you’ll waste hours banging your head against a wall.

What the Energy Master Picto Actually Does

Before you make the trek, know why it’s worth it. The Energy Master Picto adds 1 AP every single time you’d normally gain AP-at turn start, from perfect parries, or abilities. In practice, your entire team can pull off higher-level skills or recover faster from enemy debuffs. For me, it meant the difference between stalling out in boss fights and maintaining offensive tempo.

• Each AP gain (natural, ability, skill trigger) becomes +1
• Lets you hit advanced ability thresholds earlier in fights
• Costs 40 Lumina-meaning you’ll need to be selective about what you equip

Don’t make my mistake of underestimating how much this single Picto warps your strategy. Early on, I thought saving my Lumina was better; after using Energy Master on my main character, my battle flow completely changed.

Requirements: Don’t Rush in Unprepared

• Esquie’s flight unlocked (main story requirement)
• Party level 30+ (being underleveled is miserable here)
• Access to shield-breaking skills or items
• 40 Lumina available if you want to equip the Picto ASAP
• Basic understanding of turn order and AP management (pay attention to turn icons!)

It took me a couple failed trips to Serpenhare before I realized being able to fly isn’t enough. The game suggests you can attempt this once flight unlocks, but unless you’re at least level 30—and have real shield-breaking power—it’s just pain.

Step-By-Step: How to Track Down the Serpenhare Boss

Once you unlock air travel with Esquie, fly to the central continent zone where you’ll spot Serpenhare gliding above the clouds. The first time I arrived, I tried to trigger the fight by just flying into him—heads up: you need to actually land on his platform and interact.

• Activate flight with L1 + Left Stick (or the equivalent on your setup)
• Watch the wind currents—Serpenhare patrols in a loose circle, but will hover above a plateau when landable
• Land, then walk up and press Action/Interact (default is Square on PS controller)

My discovery moment: If he flies off as you approach, just wait a full cycle—he’ll eventually dip low and stay put a moment. Don’t chase him in the sky; you can waste several minutes doing nothing.

Serpenhare Boss Mechanics: What I Learned (the Hard Way)

The Serpenhare is punishing for two big reasons: he builds powerful shields and steals AP from your party if you let him get momentum. My first attempt, I tried brute-forcing my way through his health bar and got steamrolled after two AP-drain turns. Here’s what actually works:

Bring Shield-Breaking Abilities (Not Just Damage)

You need at least one party member (preferably two) with anti-shield skills. For me, Maëlle’s Saccage was essential. It destroys enemy shields and, if used well, grants you extra AP based on shields removed.

Don’t sleep on Monoco’s Chevalière Foot either: her Fente de Chevalière deals bonus damage based on the number of shields Serpenhare still has. You might be tempted to conserve AP for later, but burning your anti-shield moves early and often almost always stopped Serpenhare from rolling over me.

Manage Your AP—Don’t Get Baited

I learned the hard way that boosting your AP too high early on will cause Serpenhare to prioritize stealing it. Instead, stagger your AP gains and use skills that reset AP between turns. Predict the boss’s AP-steal tells: if you see him glowing, it’s almost always coming next turn, so burn AP with big moves or defensive skills instead of trying to bank it.

Use Timed Parries, But Only When Safe

Those perfect-timing parries are helpful (more so with Energy Master equipped later), but don’t always risk a parry versus his multi-hit barrage. I missed a few and got wiped out. Save counters for single, predictable attacks.

Common Pitfalls: Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier

• Don’t forget to heal often: Serpenhare’s AP-drain attack hits hard. I died a few times by holding out for a “perfect” heal turn instead of topping off proactively.
• Resist hoarding Lumina: If you save up exactly 40 Lumina for Energy Master, don’t forget other defensive upgrades too—complete Lumina refills are rare. Mix and match but have the 40 on deck.
• Not all allies help here: If you love a glass-cannon character, sub them out for someone sturdier with a shield-break ability. This boss punishes squishiness hard.

I wasted almost an hour refusing to tweak my lineup—sometimes brute force isn’t the answer. Experimenting with skills was what finally got me through.

Equipping the Energy Master Picto: What Changes in Combat

Once the boss is down, you’ll get the Picto automatically. To apply it, go to Main Menu → Pictos → Equip and slot it into a character with enough remaining Lumina (40 minimum). I highly recommend putting it on your main AP generator or parry specialist.

• Main DPS: Get explosive turns more often with AP boosts
• Support/Parry Build: Chain together status removes and support skills more frequently

You’ll feel a tangible difference in every fight—especially when you start pulling off major skills sooner in multi-phase encounters. For me, the Energy Master Picto went from a “maybe” passive to a core part of my team strategy.

Advanced Efficiency Tips (and What’s Next)

• Chain AP-boost skills: Combine the Energy Master Picto with any AP-generating passives or party-wide skills for exponential growth.
• Plan Lumina ahead: Use notepads or party build tools to simulate different slot combos—40 Lumina is a big ask, but worth it for your top character.
• Farm shield-break trials: Before reattempting Serpenhare, try shield mechanic battles in earlier biomes to tighten your anti-shield skill routine.

If you struggled with shield bosses or AP management before, the Energy Master Picto makes almost every battle easier—just budget that Lumina carefully. Use my stumbles as a roadmap for a smoother run.

Summary & Final Thoughts

Getting the Energy Master Picto was a real test, but honestly? It changed how I approached party building and boss fights. Beat Serpenhare with patient shield-breaking and smart AP planning, and you’ll open up way more flexible tactics for the rest of Expedition 33. Stick with it—you’ll see the results as soon as you start racking up those big AP turns yourself.

If it took you a few tries, don’t get discouraged. Take what worked for me, adapt it to your team and playstyle, and enjoy having what I think is one of the strongest passives in the game.