If you're enjoying Act 3 and exploring some side content in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you've likely noticed the giant pink flying dragon enemy in the sky near the Boat Graveyard. This is an Axon called Serpenphare, an optional boss with a unique move set that can be very challenging if you don't know what to expect. If you're eager to test your skills against this endgame boss, you don't necessarily need to be at a very high level, and a proper strategy going into the fight can go a long way.

Serpenphare is one of the most challenging bosses in Clair Obscur if you don't understand its unique ability or don't have a sound strategy going into the encounter. While leveling up might help somewhat, the best approach is to use one of Serpenphare's abilities to your advantage, particularly by boosting each party member's AP as much as possible. With adequate AP buffs from Luminas and player skills, you may likely defeat Serpenphare at a much lower level than expected. Crucially, you should have the Painted Power ive equipped on all characters.

It's Possible To Defeat Serpenphare Much Sooner Than You Think

Clair Obscur Serpenphere with Esquie in the air

Your character levels in Clair Obscur are not nearly as important as the ive effects you have on each party member. That said, players tend to have an easier time defeating Serpenphare when they are in the Level 70 range, though I would argue that is way too high if you understand Serpenphare's mechanics. The key to defeating Serpenphare is letting it defeat itself, and this can be done by buffing your party's AP as much as possible with various Lumina ives, such as Energising Turn , the Energising Starts , Energising Parry , or any of the other various "Energising" Luminas.

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Further, there are some excellent skills available that generate AP, such as Verso's Monoco's skills, Potier Energy , and of course Sciel's Plentiful Harvest . If you enter the Serpenphare encounter fully decked out in AP-boosting buffs and are confident in your dodging/parrying abilities, you can take Serpenphare on well before you reach Level 70. In my view, it's worth taking Serpenphare on sooner rather than later, as it drops one of the best Pictos for the endgame, Energy Master , which increases all AP gained by 1.

How To Beat Serpenphare In Clair Obscur (Resistances, Weaknesses, & Best Strategy)

Serpenphare Is Weak To Lightning, And Can Overload Itself On AP

Serpenphare is much easier with AP buffs in place, and you'll want to focus on defending rather than dealing damage for this one. Serpenphare is weak to Lightning damage, so when you do use particular attacks, opt for skills such as Lune's Lightning Dance . Serpenphare is resistant to fire and ice, so if you're leaning into those elements too heavily, you will need to respec with the above AP-boosts in mind. However, the best strategy for defeating Serpenphare is to have full AP at the start of each turn on all of your active party .

Even after the recent nerf to Maelle's Stendahl skill, it's possible to one-shot enemies as tough as Serpenphare if you have the appropriate Luminas equipped.

This is because Serpenphare's featured skill absorbs all the AP from every party member, which can make this fight feel way harder than it is. The trick to overcoming this is to let it absorb 20 or so total AP at the start of your turn, which will "overload" Serpenphare and cause it to explode. Watch out for this explosion and do your best to parry it, as you can drain most of Serpenphare's health bar in a single counter.

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While Serpenphare may seem like an impossible side boss if you go in unprepared, understanding its basic AP-overload mechanic is essential in draining its health in a reasonable time. Taking down Serpenphare at any level will be slow and arduous. As with many of the difficult bosses in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, overcoming Serpenphare simply requires understanding its moveset and unique weaknesses.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Turn-Based RPG
Fantasy
Systems
Released
April 24, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Sandfall Interactive
Publisher(s)
Kepler Interactive