Summary
Among allthe playable charactersinClair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monoco is undoubtedly the most unique, and not just because he’s the only Gestral in the party. Unlike other characters, players can’t choose which skills to unlock when leveling him up andmust search for Nevron feetin the world toshapeshift into them and use their powerful skills. On top of that, Monoco has a unique Bestial Wheel mechanic that boosts various Nevron skills depending on their mask alignment (Agile, Caster, Balanced, Heavy, or Almighty).
Compared to other characters, Monoco has the fewest unique weapons thatplayers can find and upgradeinClair Obscur: Expedition 33, with strong perks unlocking at Levels 4, 10, and 20, buteach weapon brings something newand powerful to the table. While some weapons focused solely on one specific Mask type have limited potential, locking players into just a fraction of what Monoco is capable of, others, especially those that grant bonuses for reaching and capitalizing on the Almighty Mask (boosts all skills), are among the best and strongest options for this powerful Gestral. Below, we’ll rank the best weapons for Monoco inClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Reverse Bestial Wheel Order
Level 10
Using an Upgraded Skill (with a proper Mask active) gives 1 AP to all other allies
Level 20
Almighty Mask gives 2 AP to all allies
Aside from Monoco weapons focused on one specific Mask type that limits their utility, such as Boucharo, Chromaro, Grandaro, and Monocaro, Ballaro is a somewhat ‘okay’ weapon for Monoco, yet it shouldn’t be the main focus for players unless they have no stronger option. The reason Ballaro ranks last here is that it doesn’t directly boost any of Monoco’s abilities, instead serving as a potent tool toenhance other party members in the squad, rendering Monoco a supporter rather than the fierce fighter this Gestral naturally is.
Ballaro’s reverse Bestial Wheel order perk doesn’t change things drastically, while the additional AP (action points) for all allies might sound appealing, as playing any skill in the Almighty Mask grants three AP to everyone in the party. This allows players to use powerful skills with other members more often but doesn’t enhance their damage in any way. Additionally, Ballaro’s base power is notably weaker compared to Monoco’s other armaments.
Switch to Almighty Mask on Breaking an enemy
50% increased Break damage
Urnaro offers a way to reach the Almighty Mask for Monoco more often while alsosignificantly increasing Break damagedealt to enemies. To make the most of this weapon inExpedition 33, players should focus on Heavy Mask skills, many of which deal Break damage, and equip Break Pictos and Luminas to Monoco. With the right setup, this fierce Gestral becomes one of the best at Breaking enemies, allowing him to use the Almighty Mask more frequently with Urnaro — and, in many cases, deal substantial damage to already stunned enemies.
Additionally, reaching the Almighty Mask with Urnaro grants two AP to all allies, which is always good to have. The only downside of Urnaro is that it doesn’t provide any damage boost to Monoco’s attacks and skills, whichsomewhat limits its combat potential.
Gestrals Can Be Really Good at Shooting
Level 4
Free Aim shots spin the Bestial Wheel to a random value
Free Aim shots deal 100% more damage with all Masks except Almighty
100% Critical Chance while in Almighty Mask
Right off the bat, Fragaro offers some of the highest Power values among Monoco’s weapons, which may be enough for players aiming to create a high-damage build inClair Obscure: Expedition 33. However, Fragaro isn’t primarily a melee weapon — it’s a tool to enhance Monoco’s shooting capabilities. Not only does this weapon spin the Bestial Wheel with Free Aim shots, allowing players to reach the Almighty Mask more often, but shots also deal double damage unless players reach their destination with this revolver roulette.
When in Almighty, Monoco gains a 100% Critical Hit Chance, eliminating theneed to equip critical Pictosand Luminas, freeing up slots for Free Aim shots enhancements, and allowing players to focus on attributes like Agility for extra Speed and more frequent turns. Overall, Fragaro isn’t groundbreaking but is a very fun Monoco weapon to use.
Unserious Looks for Some Serious Results
Parries increase the Bestial Wheel by 1, taking damage resets the Bestial Wheel
Upgraded Skills deal 30% more damage
+1 AP on Mask change
Despite this weapon’s weird looks (though some players might enjoy wielding a frying pan in combat), Nusaro is among the best and strongest weapon choices for Monoco inExpedition 33. This stems from Nusaro’s exceptionally high raw Power output on its own, as well as its Level 10 perk, which directly boosts upgraded skills by 30% without any prerequisites for this decent bonus.
Nusaro’s other perks are equally strong, as each Mask change grants Monoco an extra action point. While somewhat parry-demanding to keep the Bestial Wheel predictable, Level 4 perk isn’t the most defining feature Nusaro offers, soplayers who struggle with parryingneedn’t worry too much — they still get a highly effective weapon.
Play by the Rules and Be Rewarded Generously
30% increased damage per Upgraded Skill used, resets upon using a non-Upgraded Skill
Base Attack spins the Bestial Wheel to a random value
Using an Upgraded Skill gives 1 AP to all other allies
Sidaro is an excellent choice for players aiming to directly boost Monoco’s skill damage, as this weapon allows damage to increase throughout the entire fight without restrictions, provided players have active skills for each Mask type to use when needed. With this approach, by turn four, players can achieve a whopping 120% increased damage on any skill. Of course, this is easier said than done, as it requires a highly flexible build with strong AP management,which Pictos and Lumina can support. For players wondering about Upgraded versus non-Upgraded skills, this refers to using Agile Skills with the Agile Mask, for example.
Given its perks, Sidaro shines in scenarios against tough opponents, where battle is dragged on. While Sidaro has a lower Power output than many other Monoco weapons, resulting in weaker base damage, it offers a unique Might scaling to partially compensate, allowing players to significantly boost damage byheavily investing in Might. Last but not least, like many other Monoco weapons, Sidaro grants extra AP to other characters when adhering to the weapon’s rules by using only Upgraded Skills, which can be invaluable during prolonged fights as well.
Replay instantly when in Almighty Mask
+3 AP when in Almighty Mask
Once per battle, revive instantly with full Health if dead while in Almighty Mask
Brumaro is among the most unique weapons for Monoco, offering a combination of special life-saving and combat-enhancing perks not found elsewhere. Once again, players must tailor their skills to reliably reach the Almighty Mask, as once the Bestial Wheel lands there, nothing will stop Monoco.
Upon reaching Almighty, the battle Gestral gains an extra turn with three additional AP to cast any skill players desire. Additionally, Brumaro can revive Monoco with full Health, effectively granting an extra move to any ally who doesn’t need to waste their turn reviving Monoco during tough encounters. While not as strong for raw damage builds, Brumaro is still an excellent choice for any creative Monoco builds players can devise.
Start battle in Almighty Mask
20% increased damage for each consecutive turn without taking damage, stack up to 5 times
Break damage is doubled while in Almighty Mask
While most of Monoco’s weapons are designed to help players reach the Almighty Mask sooner, Joyaro simply bypasses all that, starting Monoco in Almighty with no strings attached. This alone makes it one of the best weapons for Monoco inClair Obscur:Expedition 33, but there’s much more to it. Joyaro also boosts all of Monoco’s damage by up to 100%, provided players have reliable strategies for avoiding damage, such as parrying, dodging, orusing Shields from allies or Pictos.
Another compelling perk Joyaro offers is doubled Break damage during the Almighty state, which applies on the first turn. Here’s a simple, viable strategy: equip AP and Break Luminas to Monoco and use the Portier Crash skill (cost 8 AP) right at the battle’s start to destroy, break, or stun every enemy at once. For all these strengths, one might expect Joyaro to have lower damage compared to other options, but surprisingly, its Power is remarkably high. With all these benefits, it’s hard to choose anything elseonce players get and upgradeJoyaro to wreak absolute havoc on enemies and bosses, as it’s a joy to use.
