When playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you’ll find many hidden secrets inside the game.
Among these secrets, one of the most intriguing quests involves finding nine lost gestrals – small, precocious creatures scattered across the game’s expansive continent.
So, in this article, I’ll help you find these lost gestrals quest, its rewards, and the additional secrets it unlocks.
The Quest for Lost Gestrals
The lost gestrals quest is an important side mission in Expedition 33 that makes the game’s world even more interesting. You can find all nine gestrals after unlocking flying ability near the end of the game.
However, it’s a good idea to find at least four of them earlier. By doing this, you’ll unlock a special ability that doesn’t involve fighting.
This ability is super helpful throughout your adventure in the game.
Finding the First Four Gestrals
- The First Gestral: You’ll find this one on the way to Esier’s nest. It introduces you to the quest system. After finding it, go back to Sustro at your camp to get rewards for each gestral you find. For this first one, you get the gestral hairstyle for Maelle.
- The Second Gestral: Look for this one just east of Stonewave Clips. A big Burgon enemy guards it. After you beat the enemy, you’ll find the gestral on the right side of the path. Go back to Sastro to get the gestral hairstyle for Lun.
- The Third Gestral: This one is on an island west of the first area of the continent. You need Esier’s swimming ability to get there. The gestral is hanging out on the southwest side of the island. Your reward is the gestral hairstyle for Seiel.
- The Fourth Gestral: You’ll find this one southeast of Monokco Station. You can only get to it after you finish the forgotten battlefield part of the main story. Find this gestral and go back to Sastro to unlock a super important ability called paint break. This ability isn’t for fighting, but it’s really useful.
The Paint Break Ability
Paint break is a an ability that changes the game.
It lets you use your right bumper first strike to break down special pylons (tall structures) all over the world. These pylons often block items and secret paths, so paint break helps you explore and move forward in the game.
Getting paint break early opens up lots of chances for you. Here are some important places where you can use paint break to find cool items and paths:
- Spring Meadows: Behind the white jar Nevron, break a pylon to find a new path. It leads to the Picto Aegis Revival, which gives a character an extra shield when they come back to life.
- Ancient Sanctuary: Near the sanctuary maze flag, a hidden path leads to the Picto Piercing Shots. This makes your free aim shots 25% stronger and lets them go through all shields.
- Jesteral Village: On the left side, past Golgress Hut, break a pylon to reach a small hut. Inside is the Picto Powerful Shots, which gives you a 20% chance to make any free aim shot powerful.
- Stonewave Cliffs: At the old farm flag, breaking a pylon reveals the chromatic Ga, a tough enemy. Beat it to get the tainted picto, which makes a character 15% stronger for each status effect on them.
- Northwest Map: Near Visiges island, use paint break on a small piece of land to find the Critical Break picto. This makes your break damage 25% stronger on critical hits.
- Painted Sanctuary: Inside the monolith, use paint break to open a paint cage. You’ll find the Random Defense picto, which does something weird: it changes all damage a character takes by a random amount between 50% and 200%, but also gives them a 34% better chance of landing critical hits.
- West of Ast Cave: Breaking pylons here reveals the Breaking Slow picto. This makes your break damage 25% stronger on slowed enemies.
The Remaining Gestrals
While you can find the first four gestrals pretty early in the game, the other five need more advanced skills or story progress to reach
5th Gestral:
- Where: North beach of a peninsula west of Ast cave
- How to get there: Use SKA’s coral swimming ability
- Reward: Verso gets a new hairstyle
6th Gestral:
- Where: An island past the double mimes
- How to get there: Just travel there
- Reward: Three colors of luminina
7th Gestral:
- Where: Far east side of the map in a red area
- How to get there: Use SKA’s flying ability
- Reward: Three colors of luminina
8th Gestral:
- Where: West of Visages island, northeast of the Reacher
- How to get there: Use flying ability
- Reward: Five colors of luminina
9th Gestral:
- Where: Floating island southwest of the Endless Tower
- How to get there: Fly really high (it’s tough!)
- Reward: Nothing by itself, but…
Additional Secrets and Rewards
If you find all nine gestrals, you get the Picto Pro Retreat. This lets you escape any fight right away!
Picto Rejuvenating Revive:
- Where to find it: Near the chromatic Ga battle area
- What it does: When a character comes back to life, they also heal over time
Chromatic Ga Battle:
- Where to find it: In Stonewave Cliffs, after using paint break
- How tough is it: Very challenging!
- Rewards for winning:
- Lots of experience points
- The tainted picto (a special item)
Hidden Pathways:
- What they are: Secret areas in the game
- How to find them: Use paint break ability
- What’s inside: Powerful pictos and other valuable items
Remember:
- ‘Paint break’ is a special ability in the game
- ‘Pictos’ are important items you collect
Building Strategies and Character Development
The lost gestrals quest and exploring the game world give you lots of pictos and abilities. These help you build different types of characters and fight in different ways.
Here are some examples:
Big Damage Dealers:
- Use items like the Critical Break picto
- Combine with other things that increase critical hits
- Result: Characters that can do huge amounts of damage
Status Effect Masters:
- Use the tainted picto
- Try out builds that focus on status effects
- Result: You might be able to do a lot more damage over time
Tough Defenders:
- Use items like Picto Aegis Revival and Picto Rejuvenating Revive
- Result: Characters that can survive longer in tough fights
Risky but Rewarding:
- Use the Random Defense picto
- This adds chance to your fights
- Good for players who like taking risks for big rewards
Remember:
- Pictos are special items in the game
- A ‘build’ is a way of setting up your character’s skills and equipment
- Status effects are things that happen to characters over time, like poison or healing
Final Thoughts
The lost gestrals quest in Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 is more than just a collectible hunt.
It’s a key part of the game that enhances your understanding of the world and gives you powerful abilities and items. The paint break ability, in particular, changes how you interact with the environment and find secrets.
As you search for lost gestrals, you’re not only improving your character but also finding the game’s rich history. This quest fits well with the main story and rewards exploration and creative thinking.
