Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - How To Break Enemies

One of the biggest swings in your favor that you can manage during a battle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Breaking an enemy. Not only does this Stun them, canceling their next turn, but for many foes it also removes critical defenses, allowing you to finish them off before they can fully recover.

Best JRPG Combat Systems

Having enjoyable combat in a lengthy JRPG can be the difference between finishing the game and not. Here are best combat systems of the genre.

Unlike many RPGs, though, there's a bit more to Breaking your enemies in Clair Obscur than simply hitting them enough to fill their meter. If the gauge is filled but the enemy still won't Break, there's probably a key component that you're missing.

How To Fill The Break Meter In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Each enemy's Break Meter is shown in gold below their health bar. It's empty at the start of combat, and fills as the enemy takes damage. The more damage the enemy takes, the faster the meter fills.

The "Breaking" series of Pictos and Lumina (Breaking Counter, Breaking Attack, etc.) increase the amount by which their associated attack fills the Break Meter. There are also Skills that deal additional Break Damage, filling the bar much quicker.

An enemy's Break Meter stops charging once it's filled. However, an enemy won't actually Break unless you hit them with specific Skills, Gradient Attacks, or other powers.

11 Best JRPG Summons Of All Time

Why summon a god when this sentient airplane will do?

How To Break An Enemy

A handful of attacks available to each character have the phrase "Can Break" in their description. If the damage from these powers would cause an enemy to meet or exceed the limit of their Break Meter, then the enemy will Break.

Only attacks that can Break will have this effect - any others will simply leave the foe with their meter filled. You should make sure each party member has at least one Breaking attack equipped at all times for this reason.

A Broken enemy is automatically Stunned, forfeiting their next turn. Some Skills get bonuses against Stunned enemies, so be on the lookout for opportunities to exploit this weakness. Enemies like Mimes with powerful defenses also lose their protection when Broken, so filling their meter is often the only reliable way to defeat them.

All Breaking Attacks For Each Character

Character

Skill(s)

Gustave

Overcharge

Lune

Mayhem, Rockslide, Sky Break

Maelle

Fleuret Fury, Payback, Revenge

Sciel

Phantom Blade, Final Path, Doom

Verso

Radiant Slash, Perfect Break, Phantom Stars, Striker

Monoco

Bruler Bash, Portier Crash, Rocher Hammering, Ramasseur Bonk, Moissonneuse Vendange

The Breaking Attack Lumina allows equipped characters to Break enemies with their Base Attack, making it a very good use of 10 Lumina Points. Sniper fills a similar role with Free Aim shots, but only the first one of a character's turn.

20 Best Short JRPGs You Need To Play

In the mood for a JRPG but lack the time needed to play one? Then these short, excellent JRPG experiences are exactly what you need!