Best Gustave build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Gustave is the tactical backbone of Clair Obscur Expedition 33. He’s a battle-hardened engineer who balances raw physical power with calculated control. He specializes in building Charges through multi-hit attacks and strategic support skills, then cashing them in with Overcharge, his devastating Lightning finisher.

His rhythm is what makes him dangerous. Stack Charges with Lumière Assault and Strike Storm, apply team buffs with Powerful, and unleash Overcharge when the enemy’s Break bar is ready. Patience and timing turn Gustave into your most reliable spike damage deale. When played right, he doesn’t just end turns; he ends fights.

Best character build for Gustave

How to play Gustave

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To play Gustave right, you must focus on building Overcharge to unleash devastating attacks. To do so, attack with his sword or pistol.

Once filled, you can spend it on powerful, high-damage skills. Gustave can also Mark enemies, making them more vulnerable to damage, which synergizes with allies like Maelle and Lune, who can exploit Marked targets.

To maximize his effectiveness, focus on hitting weak points to build Overcharge quickly, apply Marks early, and save your Overcharge for big, powerful moves.

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Best Attributes for Gustave

To optimize Gustave’s Charge loops and survivability, invest in crit-scaling, defense, and early damage output.

• Vitality: Give your tank some extra health by boosting his Vitality attribute.
• Defense: He’s up front in most fights. Defense keeps him standing through the turns it takes to build Charges.
• Might: Boosts his raw attack output. Strong in the early game before Charge-based damage takes over.

If you want a comprehensive list of the best attributes in general, we’ve got you covered.

Best Skills & Rotation for Gustave

Skill Name	What It Does in Short Words
Lumière Assault	Multi-hit skill; quickly builds Charges (6–7 average).
Overcharge	Massive single-target nuke at 10 Charges; often Breaks enemies.
Powerful	Buffs the party’s damage for 3 turns; builds 2 Charges.
Marking Shot	Marks target for increased damage; low AP cost.
Shatter	AoE Break skill; great setup or finisher.
Strike Storm	High damage + solid Charge gain; expensive but efficient.

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Rotation

1. Start with Marking Shot to mark your target and set up bonus damage.
2. Use Powerful to buff your entire team and build 2 Charges.
3. Follow with Lumière Assault to generate more Charges quickly.
4. Cast Strike Storm for big damage and additional Charges.
5. Fire off Overcharge once you hit 10 Charges to Break or burst the target.
6. Use Shatter if fighting groups or if you need another Break option.

Best Pictos & Lumina for Gustave

Focus on Charge efficiency, early AP boosts, and durability:

Pictos

Lumina

Best Weapons for Gustave

Early Game

Weapon	Effect	Why it works
Cruleram	• Level 4: Don’t lose rank when taking damage from powerless enemies • Level 10: Gain 1 perfection when hitting a powerless enemy • Level 20: Apply powerless when counterattacking	Found early and scales well with Luck and Defense. Ideal for a crit-heavy Charge strategy.

Late Game

Weapon	Effect	Why it works
Laneram	• Level 4: When hit, lose 1 perfection instead of 1 rank • Level 10: Apply rush at rank S • Level 20: Gain 2 perfection at the start of your turn	Excellent Might scaling and reliable for closing fights with Overcharge.