Weapon Properties: Overview

Understand weapon properties like Power, Element, and Attribute Scaling in clair obscur expedition 33. Learn about passive effects unlocking at Lv4, Lv10, and Lv20.

Every weapon in clair obscur expedition 33 has several properties that determine its effectiveness. These include Power, Element, and Attribute Scaling, which collectively influence the damage you deal.

Power

This property directly contributes to how much damage your weapon deals with each hit.

Element

Weapons deal different types of damage based on their innate element. While this usually doesn't affect skill damage, some enemies may be weak or resistant to certain elements. The innate element is generally less important unless an enemy negates or absorbs it, or the weapon provides a bonus to a specific element (e.g., +20% dark damage).

Attribute Scaling

Similar to Souls-like games, weapons have attribute affinities that boost their Power based on your invested points in specific attributes. For example, Gustave’s Demonam weapons have Defense and Agility scaling, meaning they gain bonus damage as you invest more points into Defense and Agility. Most weapons have two attribute affinities, which scale in potency from C-rank (least benefit) to B-rank and A-rank (most benefit). This bonus is often a minor damage increase, more of a nice-to-have than a necessity for much of the game.

Weapon Passive Effects

Passive effects are arguably the most important weapon properties, often outweighing Power, Element, and Attribute Scaling. Almost all weapons have three passive effects that unlock at Lv4, Lv10, and Lv20. These can significantly alter a character’s playstyle by modifying core gameplay elements, enhancing character-specific gimmicks, or boosting specific attacks or damage types.

For instance, Lune can gain stains when performing Base Attacks or Free Aim Shots, or when her turn comes up, or she uses specific skills. Her Potierim weapon can reward frequent healing skill usage by generating light stains, creating a positive feedback loop. Maelle’s weapon, Medalum, can start her in Virtuose Stance for immediate damage combos. Sciel’s weapon, Corderon, curses him at the start of battle but boosts damage by 50% while cursed, incentivizing him to enter his Twilight state. Other passive effects focus on boosting specific damage types. Passive effects cannot be upgraded or modified; they are only unlocked by leveling up the weapon.