The Ancient Sanctuary in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents a labyrinthine environment filled with aggressive Gestral enemies piloting ramshackle wooden mechs known as Sakapatate. This guide details how to traverse this area, defeat its formidable foes, and uncover all hidden items.
Entering the Ancient Sanctuary
To reach the Ancient Sanctuary, proceed north from the Flying Waters area until you encounter red and white trees. Upon entering, activate the Expedition Flag at the entrance. Shortly after, you will encounter a Pétank, a spherical enemy that rolls away and initiates combat when approached on a specific blue pattern. This enemy begins with six Shields and summons more on subsequent turns. It will also flee after three turns, necessitating a swift offensive to deal maximum damage. The most effective strategy involves inflicting Burn for damage over time and utilizing high-damage skills such as Maelle's Percée or Gustave's Overcharge. Breaking its Shields grants an extra turn, and parrying its sole attack—a forward dash with a rock projectile—allows for counterattacks. Defeating the Pétank yields valuable rewards including Chroma Catalyst, a Recoat, and Colour of Lumina. If it flees, resting at the nearby flag will respawn it.
After the Pétank encounter, explore the vicinity to find the Energising Jump Pictos across a wooden bridge. Descend to a lower path near a brook to reach a cliffside; handholds on the right wall lead down to the Burning Mark Pictos, which applies Burn to marked enemies. This is particularly useful against Gestral foes vulnerable to fire.
The Sanctuary Maze
The Sanctuary Maze is a disorienting area with interconnected pathways and numerous collectibles. As a general rule, taking the right path at forks is often more direct, as left paths frequently loop back. Upon entering the maze, you'll encounter a fork; proceed right towards a rocky wall with a crawl space.
Emerging from the crawl space presents another fork. Again, take the right path, leading to a clearing with a patrolling Sakapatate. Before engaging, collect the hidden Chroma. This combat encounter involves a Ranger Sakapatate and a Catapult Sakapatate. Both are weak to fire and possess glowing weak points. Prioritize eliminating the Ranger Sakapatate due to its area-of-effect cannon attack that inflicts Burn. The Catapult Sakapatate fires lightning projectiles that can inflict Stun, and its catapult can be destroyed by targeting its wheels. Successfully defeating these enemies rewards the Trebuchim weapon.
Continue into the clearing and ascend the handholds on the left to find the Energising Start II Pictos. Return to the clearing and enter the adjacent dark cave. Here, you will find another Catapult Sakapatate and the Attack Lifesteal Pictos. A Rope in the opposite direction leads to a Colour of Lumina and a ledge offering a view of the Sanctuary's beginning.
Exit the cave and return to the clearing. Follow the path leading back towards the crawl space, but this time, take the route marked by a torch. This leads to a new clearing with a Colour of Lumina on a ledge, a Revive Tint Shard under a tent, and the Ancient Sanctuary Mime. The Mime, while visually distinct, is a formidable opponent. Employing Burn and high-damage skills like those from Maelle's Virtuose Stance or Gustave's Overcharge is effective. Defeating it grants the Baguette outfit and hairstyle for Lune.
Sanctuary Maze 2 and the Final Boss
To achieve 100% completion, backtrack from the Mime's location. Drop down and turn left to find more Chroma. At another fork, the left path loops back towards the maze entrance, while the right path progresses forward. The right path leads to a Catapult Sakapatate and several Gestral statues. Follow the lefthand route past a torch and around a cliff, veering left at the next split to find a Healing Tint Shard under a statue.
Opposite the Healing Tint Shard are more statues, a domed structure, and both a Robust and a Catapult Sakapatate. After defeating them, a three-way fork appears. The path sloping downhill leads to an Expedition Journal, and the narrow path into the trees leads to a Paint Cage. Both paths converge. Take the downhill path first to find the Journal. Afterward, return to the fork and take the tree path to find a Rope. Shimmy down and use platforms to reach higher ground, granting access to the Paint Cage and its three locks, which yield a Chroma Elixir Shard upon breaking.
Return to the three-pronged fork and take the lamppost path towards Expedition Flag - Great Bell Alley. The path to the right of the flag contains a golden swirl that unlocks a shortcut back to the Sanctuary Maze. Proceed towards the large bell to confront the final boss, the Ultimate Sakapatate.
Defeating the Ultimate Sakapatate
The Ultimate Sakapatate shares weaknesses and resistances with other Sakapatate enemies: it is weak to fire and resistant to lightning. Its attacks are more potent, including enhanced versions of previous moves like the 'dead partner' swings, a ground pound, and cannon fire. When its shield is raised, it performs shield slams and fires its cannons more rapidly. Its shoulder weak spot is crucial; breaking its Break bar exposes this point. Free Aim shots can shatter the arm, dealing significant damage and disabling its cannon. Applying Burn and utilizing high-damage skills remains effective. Successfully breaking the shoulder weak point is key to mitigating its powerful cannon attacks.
After the battle, collect the Colour of Lumina on the left side of the arena and the Energy Tiny Shard on the right. A crawl space near the shard leads to a hidden area containing the Stun Boost Pictos. With these items collected, exit the Ancient Sanctuary and prepare to proceed to the Gestral Village. Players may wish to visit Camp to upgrade weapons and characters before advancing.