After a relentless start to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, your journey takes an unexpected turn in Gestral Village-a lively haven built by quirky automatons with a passion for combat. Here, the only way forward is through the village’s mysterious arena, where the champion you choose to fight with determines the rare weapon or upgrade you’ll claim as your prize. Ready to test your mettle and uncover the secrets-and rewards-hidden within the heart of the Gestral arena?
In this Expedition 33 guide, we’ll give you a brief walkthrough of the Gestral Village arena walkthrough plus explain which weapons you’ll get depending on who you complete the fight as.
Gestral Village arena walkthrough in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
After arriving in Gestral Village in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you’ll be tasked by the village chief, Golga, to participate in the local arena as a requirement to progress the story. To enter, speak with Golga and then approach Limonsol, the yellow Gestral by the arena gate, to begin the tournament. The arena features a series of one-on-one battles where you must select a single party member for each fight, with the option to switch characters between matches. The first three battles are straightforward, but the final showdown against The Stranger is pivotal-whichever hero you use to win this last fight will determine the unique weapon or enhancement you receive as a reward. It’s recommended to be at least level 15 before attempting the arena, and you can revisit town to swap party members if needed. Completing the arena not only advances the plot but also grants powerful rewards tailored to your chosen champion.
When you reach Gestral Village, you’ll find that Gestrals are aggressive little automatons, and love to settle their disagreements (and build friendships, it seems) through the thrills of combat. The chief, Golga, located in the center of the village, will tell you that you need to enter into a tournament to earn a password to progress to the next part of the story. This tournament culminates in a fight against The Stranger.
Tell Golgra you want to enter the arena and you’ll be automatically transported to that part of the village. Speak to the yellow Gestral, Limonsol, near the gate to enter the tournament.
When you enter the tournament, you’ll be asked to choose one fighter, as all battles are one-on-one. However, you can freely swap party members between battles if you’d like, or use a different one if you fail and get kicked back to town.
We’d recommend being at level 15 before starting the tournament battles. It doesn’t matter who you select for the first three fights, but the fourth and final fight against the Stranger will determine which weapon you get from the quest. The battle with The Stranger comes right after Matthieu the Colossus.
[Ed. note: The following section includes spoilers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.]
Gestral Arena weapon rewards in Expedition 33
The Gestral Village arena in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers unique weapon rewards based on which hero you use to defeat the final opponent, known as the Stranger. After progressing through the tournament’s four one-on-one battles, the character who lands the finishing blow on the Stranger will receive a special weapon or an upgrade to an existing one. The available rewards are: Gustave receives the Sakaram, a non-elemental sword and pistol; Lune gets the Trebuchim, an electric weapon with special effects at higher levels; and Maelle is awarded the Medalum, a sword that enhances burn effects as it levels up. If you already possess the weapon for your chosen hero, the arena reward will upgrade it by one level instead. Notably, Maelle is often recommended for this challenge due to her strong solo combat abilities and the power of the Medalum sword.
The battle against the Stranger – who you’ll learn is actually Sciel, a fellow member of Expedition 33 – isn’t terribly more challenging than the previous battles. However, the character that you defeat her with will get a weapon when the encounter ends.
Here are the weapons you can get from beating Sciel, including their special effects:
- Gustave –Sakaram: A non-elemental sword and pistol that has no leveling effects at this point in the game, like the rest of Gustave’s arsenal
- Lune – Trebuchim: An electric weapon that generates a random Stain on a free aim shot at level 4, gives 1 AP after consuming a Stain at level 10, and generates 2 random stains on a base attack at level 20
- Maelle – Medalum: A non-elemental sword that starts you in Virtuose Stance at level 4, doubles burn applied in Virtuose Stance at level 10, and causes burn to deal double damage at level 20
It’s actually possible for you to already have some of these weapons – at least for Gustave and Lune, as we had both – by finding them out in the world before the arena battle with Sciel. If you already have the weapon when you get the reward from the quest, that weapon will simply gain a level.
If you’re just looking for a recommendation on who to pick, Maelle is both very good at one-on-one combat – making the fights a little simpler, in our experience – and the Medalum sword has some very powerful effects on it that’s worth picking up.
What secrets does the Gestral Village arena hold for brave explorers in Clair Obscur
The Gestral Village arena in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 holds several secrets and unique opportunities for brave explorers:
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Mandatory Tournament for Story Progression: To advance in the main story, you must participate in the Gestral Village arena tournament. The village chief, Golgra, requires you to win this tournament to obtain a password needed for the next stage of your journey. The tournament is a series of one-on-one battles culminating in a fight against the enigmatic Stranger. The hero you select for the final match determines which unique weapon or enhancement you receive as a reward.
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Hidden Gestral Arena (Secret Fight Club): Beyond the main arena, there is a secret underground arena west of the village, accessed via a portal near a yellow-colored field. This Hidden Gestral Arena is a challenging optional area where you can face four legendary Gestral warriors-Matthieu the Colossus, Bertrand Big Hands, Dominique Giant Feet, and Julien Tiny Head-in 1v1 battles.
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Exclusive Rewards and Farming Opportunities: Each opponent in the Hidden Gestral Arena drops a unique Picto (special upgrade item), and defeating all four grants the Empowering Last Stand Picto. The arena is also an excellent place to farm XP and rare weapon upgrade materials like Polished and Resplendent Chroma Catalysts, making it valuable for early and mid-game progression.
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Choice and Strategy: Both arenas require careful selection of your fighter for each battle, as the rewards and the difficulty can vary based on your choices. The Hidden Arena, in particular, allows you to select which boss to challenge and which character to use, adding a layer of strategy and replayability.
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Other Village Secrets: The village itself contains merchants with rare upgrade items, journals from previous expeditions, and side paths with hidden lore, making exploration worthwhile beyond just the arena battles.
In summary, the Gestral Village arena and its hidden counterpart reward explorers with powerful items, rare materials, and lore-provided they have the courage and skill to claim victory.
What legendary fighters await in the Hidden Gestral Arena for brave explorers
The Hidden Gestral Arena in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 challenges explorers to face four legendary fighters in intense one-on-one battles. The renowned opponents awaiting you are:
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Matthieu the Colossus: Known as the weakest of the group, Matthieu uses powerful blade-arm attacks but has less health and more predictable moves, making him an ideal first challenge.
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Bertrand Big Hands: A formidable combatant with a reputation for overwhelming strength.
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Dominique Giant Feet: Recognized for their unique fighting style and imposing presence.
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Julien Tiny Head: Notable for agility and cunning tactics.
Each victory against these champions rewards you with a unique Picto, powerful items that enhance your abilities in solo combat. Defeating all four unlocks an additional Empowering Last Stand Picto, making the arena a prime destination for those seeking to maximize their strength and uncover rare upgrades.
