You've probably spent hours staring at the level-up screen in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, wondering if you’re actually making Gustave stronger or just throwing points into a void. Honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of explaining how the "inner gears" of its math work. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. You see Vitality, Might, Agility, Defense, and Luck, and your brain says, "Okay, put it all in Might so I hit like a truck."
That’s a trap.
Gustave isn't just a guy with a sword and a pistol. He’s an engineer. His whole kit is built around technical precision and building up that massive Overcharge meter. If you aren't building his attributes to feed that specific mechanic, you're basically playing with one hand tied behind your back. Let's break down how to actually build him so he doesn't feel like dead weight by the time you hit the mid-game.
The Overcharge Problem: Why Luck is Actually King
Everyone thinks Might is the go-to. It makes sense, right? Higher Might equals higher numbers. But Gustave is unique because his strongest moves—like Lumiere Assault or Strike Storm—are multi-hit attacks.
Here is the secret: Each individual hit in those chains can crit.
When you dump points into Luck, you aren't just fishing for a lucky big number. You are ensuring that every single tick of his five-hit combos is doing maximum damage. More importantly, Luck in this game isn't just about crits; it subtly influences your speed too.
If you ignore Luck, Gustave’s Overcharge builds up way too slowly. You want that meter full. Fast. By the time you’re halfway through Act I, a Gustave built with high Luck will be triggering his massive "kaboom" almost every other turn. If you went full Might? You're still waiting for the bar to move while the rest of the party is doing the heavy lifting.
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The Agility vs. Might Debate
Agility is the other weird one. In most RPGs, speed is just about turn order. In Expedition 33, Agility also gives you a bump to Defense.
- Agility: Boosts speed and defense.
- Might: Just raw damage.
Basically, if you find Gustave is getting flattened by bosses before he can even get his buffs off, you need Agility. It lets him set the tempo. He can drop his supportive buffs or start his multi-hit chains before the enemy can disrupt him. Honestly, a dead engineer does zero damage.
I’ve seen some players swear by a "Might only" build, and sure, it works if you’re a parry god. But for most of us? Mixing in Agility ensures you actually get a turn in the first place.
How Attributes Scale With Weapons
This is where it gets kinda crunchy. You've probably noticed those little letters (A, B, C, D) next to your weapons. That is the scaling.
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If you’re using a weapon that has an 'A' rank in Luck, every point you put into the Gustave attributes Expedition 33 menu is worth double or triple what it would be otherwise. Don't just auto-pilot your stats. Every time you find a new sword-pistol combo, check the scaling.
Sometimes it’s better to use an "inferior" weapon with lower base stats if it scales better with the attributes you've already invested in. It’s all about the synergy between the gear and the points.
The Act II Shift
There’s a huge moment at the end of Act I. No spoilers, but the way Gustave plays changes. His role shifts from a primary damage dealer to something much more complex.
In Act II, you'll find skills like Defiant Strike. This move is insane. It hits twice and can easily hit the damage cap (9999), but it costs 30% of his health instead of AP. Suddenly, Vitality—a stat you probably ignored for ten hours—becomes your best friend.
If you don’t have the health pool to tank your own attacks, you can’t use your best moves. It's a risk-reward system that feels very different from the early "just hit them" gameplay.
The "Perfect" Attribute Spread (Sorta)
There is no "perfect" build because the game lets you respec fairly often with certain items. However, if you want a solid baseline to stop yourself from struggling, try this:
- Early Game (Levels 1-15): Aim for a 1-1-1 split between Might, Luck, and Agility. This keeps him balanced while you learn the parry timings.
- Mid Game (Act I Peak): Start leaning heavily into Luck. You want your crit rate around 30-35% before you start seeing the real benefits of his multi-hit skills.
- Late Game/Act II: Max out the stats your primary weapon scales with (usually up to 99). If you have leftover points, dump them into Vitality so you can spam those health-consuming nukes without dying.
Don't Forget the Pictos
Attributes are only half the battle. Your Pictos—the accessories you equip—are what actually unlock the potential of your stats.
For example, there’s a Picto that increases your crit chance specifically on burning targets. If you have Lune in your party applying Burn, and Gustave has high Luck, you are basically guaranteed a critical hit every single time.
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Mastering a Picto takes four battles. Once it's mastered, that passive buff becomes part of your "Lumina" library, and you can equip it regardless of what accessory you actually have on. This is how you stack modifiers to make Gustave a monster. You could have 99 Might, but without the right Lumina passives, you'll still feel weak.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
- Check your weapon scaling right now. If your attributes don't match your weapon's highest letters, find a way to respec or swap the gear.
- Prioritize Luck over Might for the first 20 levels. The multi-hit consistency is better than a slightly higher base attack.
- Focus on mastering Pictos. Don't just leave one "good" accessory on Gustave forever. Cycle through them to unlock more passive slots.
- Save your Vitality points for when you unlock the health-consuming skills in the later chapters.
The beauty of the Gustave attributes Expedition 33 system is that it’s flexible. You aren't locked into a "bad" build forever. But if you stop treating him like a generic warrior and start treating him like a high-crit, technical fighter, the game gets a whole lot easier.
Go into your menu, look at your scaling letters, and make sure your points are actually going where they'll do the most work.
To get the most out of Gustave, head to your equipment menu and verify his current weapon scaling; if your Luck or Might doesn't align with his 'A' or 'B' rank stats, use a Rebirth item to reallocate your points and maximize his Overcharge potential before the next boss fight.