You’ve finally reached the Gestral Village in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The art is breathtaking. The music is haunting. Then you meet him. A pink and lilac creature tucked away in an alcove near the arena. This is Ono Puncho, and he’s about to humiliate your entire party.
Honestly, it looks like a joke. He’s a Gestral—those weird, mannequin-like beings with paintbrush hair. He doesn't attack you. He doesn't scream. He just stands there and asks you to hit him. One hit. That’s the catch. You have exactly one "hit instance" to deal exactly 9,999 damage.
Fail, and you get nothing but a bruised ego and a polite dismissal. Succeed, and you walk away with the Sakapatate outfit for Maelle. But here is the thing: most people try this too early and realize they aren't even hitting for four digits yet.
Finding Ono Puncho in the Gestral Village
Finding the guy is the easy part. Once you're in the village, head toward the Training Arena. Most players just run straight into the tournament, but if you turn around and look for a destroyed archway, you’ll find a hidden path.
Ono Puncho is chilling back there.
The game world of Clair Obscur is built on the concept of chiaroscuro—the French term is actually the game's title—which means the play of light and shadow. You see it in the character designs and the high-contrast environments. Ono Puncho fits this "art-come-to-life" vibe perfectly, but his quest is pure mechanical brutality. It is a mathematical puzzle disguised as a fight.
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The 9,999 Damage Wall
Why 9,999? Because for a huge chunk of the early game, that is the hard damage cap. It’s the developers' way of saying, "Show us you actually understand how the combat systems layer together."
You can’t just grind levels to beat this. Well, you can, but it’s the slow way. The real way involves Maelle and a very specific setup.
The Maelle Strategy
If you want that outfit, Maelle is your MVP. Most high-level players, like those on the Expedition 33 subreddits, swear by the Medalum weapon. You get it by either winning the Arena tournament with Maelle or taking down Golga.
Why this weapon? It forces Maelle into the Virtuose Stance immediately.
This stance grants a staggering 200% damage bonus. That is the foundation. Without it, hitting the cap is almost impossible when you first encounter him. But you need more. You need Sciel in the party for her Fortune’s Fury skill.
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Basically, the turn order should look like this:
- Sciel goes first and drops Fortune’s Fury on Maelle.
- Use Intervention to give Maelle extra AP and an immediate turn.
- Use Maelle’s Marking Shot (via the right Pictos) to try and proc a Mark on Ono Puncho.
- Once marked, let loose with Piercee.
If the stars align—and your Pictos are set to Energizing Start—you’ll see that glorious 9,999 pop up.
Beyond the Meme: What "Ono Puncho" Actually Means
It’s easy to dismiss him as a "One Punch Man" reference. And yeah, the name is a dead giveaway. But in the context of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, every character name carries weight. The "Gestrals" themselves are named after gestural painting—a style where the brushstrokes are visible and expressive.
The music that plays during this encounter, composed by Lorien Testard, is even titled "Fight for the Win (Ono Puncho)." It’s a bonus track on the massive 154-song OST. It’s upbeat, weirdly intense, and completely at odds with the calm, painterly atmosphere of the rest of the game.
It highlights the duality of the game. On one hand, you have a tragic story about an expedition trying to stop a Paintress from erasing humanity. On the other, you have a purple mannequin asking you to punch him as hard as you can for a new dress.
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Actionable Tips for the Sakapatate Quest
Don't just rush in. Prepare.
- Wait until Level 25+: You can technically do it earlier, but why suffer?
- Check your Pictos: You need damage multipliers. "Critical Marking Shots" and "Augmented First Strike" are non-negotiable.
- The Weapon Matters: If you don't have the Medalum, go finish the Arena first. It makes the math so much friendlier.
- Don't ignore Sciel: She is the best buffer in the game for single-hit threshold challenges.
The Sakapatate outfit itself is... unique. Some players think it looks a bit "strange" compared to the elegant default gear, but it’s a status symbol. It says you mastered the mechanics. It says you understood the light and the dark of the combat system.
Once you’ve cracked the 9,999 code, you’re ready for the much harder late-game bosses that require the same level of buff-stacking. Go find Maelle some new threads.
Next Steps: Check your inventory for the Medalum weapon; if you haven't completed the Arena tournament yet, prioritize that before attempting the Ono Puncho challenge to ensure you have the necessary 200% damage bonus from the Virtuose Stance.