What are the best Pictos to prioritize in early game?

Prioritize Dodger (grants 1 AP on Perfect Dodge), Burning Shots (adds 20% chance to inflict Burn on Free Aim Shot), and Dead Energy II (+3 AP on kill). These Pictos help with fast skill rotations and clear speed during the Spring Meadows and early expedition paths.

Should I return to old areas to get missed Pictos?

Yes. Several early game Pictos are located behind cave paths, ziplines, or post-boss unlocked routes. After recruiting Lune or unlocking new traversal options, revisit flagged zones like the Meadows Corridor or Abandoned Expeditioner to claim hidden Pictos from elite mobs and side routes.

All Pictos & Where to Get Them – Part 1: Early Game

Welcome to Part 1 of our 3-part Picto compendium for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This guide focuses on all early-game Pictos, how to obtain them, and why they matter. Pictos play a core role in optimizing your characters’ combat potential and synergy with Luminas. This guide will help you collect every early Picto to power up your team right from the start.

If you’re new to the system, make sure to check out our Pictos & Luminas Synergy Guide for a full explanation of how these systems interact.

Early Game Picto Collection – Full Table (49 Pictos)

Picto Name	Effect	Health	Defense	Speed	Critical Rate	Map and Nearest Flag	How to Get
Dodger	Gain 1 AP after Perfect Dodge. Once per turn.			12	3%	Spring Meadows (Meadows Corridor)	Defeat the Portier after Lune joins the party.
Critical Burn	25% increased Critical Chance on Burning Enemies			8	6%	Spring Meadows (Meadows Corridor)	After getting Lanceram, look for a path on the right that leads to a small cave.
Augmented Attack	50% increased Base Attack damage		8	10		Spring Meadows (Meadows Corridor)	Defeat the Chromatic Lancelier after learning about flying enemies.
Burning Shots	20% Chance to burn on free Aim Shot			15	25%	Spring Meadows (Abandoned Expeditioner)	From the campsite, go through the cave path until you’re outside, and then head left towards the cliff.
Dead Energy II	+3 AP on killing an enemy			4	9%	Spring Meadows (Abandoned Expeditioner)	From the campsite, go through the cave path. When you’re outside, turn right and follow the path.
Cleansing Tint	Healing Tints also remove all Status Effects from the target	778	319			Spring Meadows (The Indigo Tree)	Defeat Eveque, the boss of the area, to get this Pictos.
Empowering Attack	Gain Powerful for 1 turn on Base Attack			12	3%	Spring Meadows (The Indigo Tree)	Instead of leaving Spring Meadows after the Eveque fight, turn around and follow the path on the right.
SOS Shell	Apply Shell when falling below 50% Health		13	14		Flying Waters (Before Any Flag)	Immediately upon loading the map, enter the path to the left of the anchor. The Pictos is on the ground at the end of the path.
Marking Shots	20% Chance to apply Mark on Free Aim shot			26	2%	Flying Waters (Before Any Flag)	Follow the path beyond the Paint Cage to reach a fork that is marked with several lanterns on the ground. Head left at the fork and defeat the two enemies at the end of the path. The Pictos is on the ground just past those enemies.
Exposing Attack	Base Attack applies Defenceless for 1 turn			20	4%	Flying Waters (Noco’s Hut)	After Gustave and Lune extract Maelle from the Manor, speak with the Gestral Merchant who appears in front of the hut. Fight and defeat that merchant to add this Pictos to their wares.
Staggering Attack	50% Increased Break Damage on Base Attack			21	4%	Flying Waters (Coral Cave)	Pass the Flag and immediately look to the right to find this Pictos on the ground.
Rewarding Mark	+2 AP on dealing damage to a Marked target. Once per turn.		20	7		Flying Waters (Coral Cave)	(1) Players will encounter a mass from which several lanterns extend just past the Expedition Flag. After passing that mass, players should look for a short ramp on their left, which leads to an alcove with this Pictos. (2) Buy from Merchant for 53,880 Chroma from Sacred River.
Augmented Counter I	25% increased Counterattack damage	563			7%	Flying Waters (Coral Cave)	Players can now climb the aforementioned two-handhold wall and follow the path forward. Before reaching the buildings on this path, players should enter a small corridor on their right and fight the Bourgeon that they encounter to obtain the Pictos, weapon, and quest item.
Energising Break	+3 AP on Breaking a target.			14	7%	Flying Waters (Lumieran Street)	This Pictos is on the ground just past the Chromatic Troubadour.
Versatile	After a Free Aim hit, base attack damage is increased by 50% for 1 turn.			21	4%	Flying Waters (Lumieran Street)	Players who head straight forward from the Flag will find that there are two buildings emerging from the ground. Players should get on top of those buildings and then use their grappling hooks to reach the buildings on the side of the area. Players should then go right and grab this Pictos from the ground.
Energising Jump	+1 AP on Jump Counterattack	44		29		Ancient Sanctuary (Entrance)	Find this Pictos on the ground to the left of the illuminated spot that was used to trap the local Petank.
Burning Mark	Apply Burn on hitting a Marked enemy	44	32			Ancient Sanctuary (Entrance)	Players should follow the stream in the area with the Petank to reach a wall with handholds, which they can shimmy across. This action will lead players to a small area with this Pictos.
Energising Start II	+1 AP on battle start	175				Ancient Sanctuary (Sanctuary Maze)	After passing the Sanctuary Maze Expedition Flag, players should go right at the fork and look for a small alcove on their right. There is a low gap in this alcove through which players can crawl, and they should go right when they emerge. Players should then make their way to the far end of the area and use the two handholds on the left to climb a small wall. There is a path at the top that leads directly to this Pictos.
Attack Lifesteal	Recover 15% Health on base attack	88			8%	Ancient Sanctuary (Sanctuary Maze)	Players should now descend the handholds that they used to reach the Energising Start II Pictos and enter the tunnel that is ahead. This tunnel leads to a Catapult Sakapatate, who is guarding this Pictos in a small alcove.
Piercing Shot	25% increased Free Aim damage. Free Aim shots ignore Shields					Ancient Sanctuary (Sanctuary Maze)	In the area just before the area with the blue statues, use paint break to destroy a root. Head forward to the Gestral Totem expedition flag. Jump into the water and follow it into an alcove with the Pictos.
Breaker	25% Increased Break Damage			26	9%	Ancient Sanctuary (Giant Bell Alley)	Players will encounter the Ultimate Sakapatate, the map’s final boss, not long after passing the Giant Bell Alley Expedition Flag, and they will receive this Pictos upon besting the foe in combat.
Stun Boost	30% increased damage on Stunned targets			35	2%	Ancient Sanctuary (Giant Bell Alley)	There is a tunnel through which players can crawl next to the Energy Tint Shard, and the path that is beyond that tunnel leads directly to this Pictos.
Critical Moment	50% increased Critical Chance if Health is below 30%.			26	9%	Gestral Village	Buy from the Bazaar
Roulette	Every hit has a 50% chance to deal either 50% or 200% of its damage		34		9%	Gestral Village	Speak to the Gambler
Healing Mark	Recover 25% Health on hitting a Marked enemy. Once per turn.		65			Gestral Village	In the Bazaar, enter the alcove to trigger a duel with a black market Gestral. Defeat to unlock in shop.
Last Stand Critical	100% Critical Chance while fighting alone.	168	50			Hidden Gestral Arena	Beat Matthieu
Accelerating Last Stand	Gain Rush if fighting alone.	168		34		Hidden Gestral Arena	Beat Bertrand
Protecting Last Stand	Gain Shell if fighting alone.	168	50			Hidden Gestral Arena	Beat Dominique
Solo Fighter	Deal 50% more damage if fighting alone.	168	50			Hidden Gestral Arena	Beat Julien
Empowering Last Stand	Gain Powerful if fighting alone.	168			10%	Hidden Gestral Arena	Beat all opponents
Augmented Aim	50% increased Free Aim damage.			39	5%	Gestral Village	Speak with Merchant in Bazaar after completing Forgotten Battlefield.
Augmented First Strike	50% Increased damage on the first hit. Once per battle			51	5%	Esquie’s Nest	Defeat Francois.
Energising Start III	+1 AP on battle start	320				Esquie’s Nest	Leave the cave after Esquie makes the path for you, and the Pictos will be outside in the front entrance.
Defensive Mode	On receiving damage, consume 1 AP to take 30% less damage, if possible.					Stone Wave Cliffs	Enter through the portal on the beach. Look forward and to the left.
Confident	Take 50% less damage, but can’t be healed			75	13%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Rest Point)	Defeat the big rock monster ‘Hexga’ on the path after the entrance rest point.
Breaking Counter	50% Increased Break damage on Counterattack			43	10%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Rest Point)	Look to the left of the rock monster to find an old ship. Inside the ship is the Pictos
Energising Pain	No longer gain AP on Parry. +1 AP on getting hit	1166	160			Stone Wave Cliffs (Rest Point)	After beating the rock monster, Hexga, continue forward to find some more monsters in the next area. Beat the enemy on the left side of the area to find the Pictos.
First Strike	Play first			41	10%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Paintress Shrine)	Before using the grappling point that leads to the Paintress Shrine rest area, hop on the platforms to the right to find a side area with an enemy and a secret Pictos.
SOS Power	Apply Powerful when falling below 50% health			43	10%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Paintress Shrine)	When a monster jumps out at you, hug the right wall to find a slope leading to the Pictos.
Breaking Shots	50% increased Break damage with Free Aim shots			43	10%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Tide Caverns)	When you’re looking for the three rock crystals in a cave, you need to jump across some tall platforms with careful timing.
Perilous Parry	+1 AP on Parry, but damage received is doubled.			280	23%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Tide Caverns)	Defeat the enemy on the bottom level of the caverns.
Auto Shell	Apply Shell for 3 turns on battle start.	411				Stone Wave Cliffs (Tide Caverns)	Give three crystals to Hexga.
Healing Tint Energy	Healing Tints also give 1 AP	216	71			Stone Wave Cliffs – Flooded Buildings	Grapple back across, return to the bottom of the building, and use the grapple point to the left to cross the gap. Continue along the path to encounter two Nevrons. The Healing Tint Energy Pictos is on the ground just past those enemies.
Enfeebling Mark	Marked Targets deal 30% less damage		102	21		Stone Wave Cliffs – Flooded Buildings	Descend through the structure and follow the path to enter yet another building. Climb to the top and look left upon exiting the building to find a grapple point that can be used to reach an area with the Enfeebling Mark Pictos.
At Death’s Door	Deal 50% more damage if health is below 10%		96		11%	Stone Wave Cliffs (Basalt Waves)	Defeat the Lampmaster boss
Dead Energy I	+3 AP on killing an enemy			?	?	The Continent	Found on the Continent, in front of the entrance to Dark Shores, about 100 feet away is a cluster of crates you can break apart, containing the Picto.
Healing Parry	Recover 3% health on parry	127	34			The Continent	There is a Bourgeon between Esquie’s Nest and Stone Wave Cliffs. There is a Lost Gestral just past it, and this Pictos is in a camp nearby.
Energising Start I	+1 AP on battle start.	320				The Continent	Beach north of Gestral Village
Protecting Heal	Healing an ally also applies Shell for a turn	395		78		Esoteric Ruins/Continent (Near Old Lumiere Entrance)	Find the Wood Boards and give it to the spirit by the entrance

Tips for Finding Pictos

Return to old areas: After gaining new movement skills like swimming or double jump, backtrack to flagged areas for hidden Pictos.
Look for “abandoned” or “forked” paths: These often lead to minibosses that drop strong combat Pictos.
Unlock shortcuts: Many maps contain zipline or rope routes that connect different sides of the map — explore thoroughly.

Picto Combinations – Early Game Synergy

Below are the most effective combinations grouped by build purpose and matched to characters who benefit most from them.

Offense-Focused Combinations

1. Critical Burn Core

Burning Shots + Critical Burn + Burning Mark
- Effect: Burn chance + crit bonus on burning enemies = snowball crit-damage output
- Best for: Lune, who naturally applies elemental damage and debuffs

2. Free Aim Burst

Augmented Aim + Piercing Shot + Marking Shots
- Effect: Supercharges Free Aim with increased damage, armor penetration, and Mark utility
- Best for: Sciel or Verso, especially when exploiting weaknesses on marked enemies

3. Mark Exploitation Loop

Marking Shots + Rewarding Mark + Healing Mark
- Effect: Mark enemies → gain AP and heal when hitting them
- Best for: Sciel (multi-target), or Monoco if copying Mark abilities

Defensive & Sustain Combinations

4. Parry Sustain

Augmented Counter I + Healing Parry + Perilous Parry
- Effect: Counterattack harder, heal on parry, and gain AP on success
- Best for: Verso, the parry king; this trio rewards perfect timing

5. Shell Survival Build

SOS Shell + Protecting Heal + Auto Shell
- Effect: Shell triggers automatically or via healing actions
- Best for: Maelle, Gustave, or a support-tinted Lune

6. Defensive Mode Chain

Defensive Mode + Confident + Healing Tint Energy
- Effect: Mitigate hits and convert heals into AP; riskier but sustainable
- Best for: Monoco in tank mask, or frontliners like Maelle

AP Generation Combos

7. Battle Opener (Turn 1 Setup)

Energising Start I/II/III + First Strike + Augmented First Strike
- Effect: Start the fight with extra AP and boosted opening damage
- Best for: Verso, Sciel for alpha strikes

8. Sustain Loop

Dead Energy I/II + Energising Break + Energising Pain
- Effect: Gain AP on kills, breaks, and even getting hit
- Best for: Monoco (fast attack/transform build) or Verso for AP-heavy skill chaining

9. Dodge-Based Economy

Dodger + Energising Jump + Perilous Parry
- Effect: Rewards good reaction play with constant AP refill
- Best for: Verso (again), or any hybrid melee/finesse build

Niche/Situational Combos

10. Last Stand Package

Last Stand Critical + Empowering Last Stand + Solo Fighter
- Effect: Massive power boost if you’re the last one alive
- Best for: Monoco or Verso in high-risk solo carry situations

11. Break Damage Stack

Breaker + Staggering Attack + Breaking Shots
- Effect: Maximize Break meter pressure
- Best for: Gustave (for break setups), or Maelle with Base Attacks

12. At Death’s Door

At Death’s Door + Critical Moment + Roulette
- Effect: Wild, high-risk set for glass cannons
- Best for: Hardcore players using Sciel or Lune with backup heal support

Be sure to explore our full Pictos & Luminas Synergy Guide for tips on equipping the right Pictos per character.

Final Thoughts

Pictos are more than just passive boosts — they form the backbone of your tactical loadout in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The early game offers a diverse range of Pictos that enhance defense, status control, and elemental synergy. Make sure to seek them all out as you prepare for tougher foes in the mid and late stages.

Stay tuned for the next installment, and optimize your build one Picto at a time!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Guides & Tips

All Pictos & Where to Get Them – Part 1: Early Game