Simon represents the pinnacle of challenge in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This encounter, hidden deep within the optional layers of the game, serves as the ultimate test for any player who has mastered the core mechanics of parrying, character builds, and party synergy. Defeating the Sword of Lumiere requires more than just high levels; it demands an intimate understanding of rhythmic patterns and a high-risk, high-reward approach to combat.

Finding Simon: From the Abyss to the Endless Tower

There are two primary versions of the Simon encounter, each located in a distinct hidden area. To find the initial version of Simon, the party must first unlock Esquie’s underwater diving ability. This is achieved by progressing Esquie’s relationship quest to level 6. Once this capability is acquired, players can access Renoir’s Drafts, a submerged dungeon located in the sea southeast of Visages. Navigating through this area leads to a slope flanked by statues and a golden light source. Entering this structure reveals the Abyss. Descending into the darkness of the Abyss leads directly to the first encounter with Simon.

For those seeking the ultimate version, Simon the Divergent Star resides within the Endless Tower. This area becomes accessible in the late-game and requires traversing the Gauntlet Canvas. Upon reaching the upper platforms of the tower, a massive canvas allows entry into the battle with the enhanced form of the fallen hero. This version features significantly higher HP pools and more complex afterimage attack patterns.

Essential Party Preparation

Attempting the Simon expedition 33 fight with an underleveled party is a recipe for immediate failure. Every character in the active and reserve slots should be at least level 90. Renoir’s Drafts serves as an excellent location to grind for Lumina points and experience prior to the engagement.

Character Roles and Synergies

A balanced lineup is critical. A highly effective composition for the initial phases includes Lune, Monoco, and Verso, with Maelle and Sciel held in reserve for the final execution phase.

  • Lune: Acts as the elemental specialist. Her Ice Lance skill is indispensable for inflicting the Slow status, which reduces Simon's turn frequency. Her Elemental Genesis move provides massive multi-hit damage once multiple elemental stains are applied.
  • Monoco: Essential for utility. Skills like Hex Ga Crush and Glaise Earthquake apply Defenseless and Power buffs, respectively. Marking Simon with Gault Fury ensures that subsequent physical attacks from other party members deal significantly higher damage.
  • Verso: The primary physical engine. Equipped with the Chevalam weapon, Verso starts the battle at S-rank, allowing for immediate access to high-damage skills like End Bringer and Steeled Strike.
  • Maelle & Sciel: This duo is designed for a "nuke" strategy. Sciel’s Fortune’s Fury doubles the damage of Maelle’s next turn, while Maelle uses Virtuose Stance to unleash Stendhal for millions of points of damage.

Understanding the Core Combat Mechanics

Simon utilizes several unique mechanics that override standard RPG tactics. Mastery of these is non-negotiable.

The Anti-Revive Policy

Any party member who is in a fallen state at the beginning of Simon’s turn is permanently removed from the canvas. This prevents the use of resurrection items or skills once a character is fully defeated. Consequently, maintaining health and utilizing Revive Tints immediately after a knockdown is the highest priority. In the Divergent Star variant, certain hits from the Lumiere Strike can vanish a character instantly, bypassing even invincibility perks.

The Shield Steal

Applying shields to the party is counterproductive in this fight. Simon possesses an innate ability to steal all active shields from the players and apply them to himself. Relying on damage mitigation via shields will only increase the total HP the party must deplete. Strategies should focus on HP recovery and perfect parrying instead.

Chroma Gathers (HP to 1)

Simon frequently uses an unavoidable move that gathers Chroma around a target, reducing their HP to exactly 1. This move cannot be blocked or dodged. It places the character in extreme danger, as even a minor missed parry on the next turn will lead to their removal from the fight. Equipping Lumina like "At Death’s Door" allows characters to capitalize on this low HP by increasing their damage output while in this vulnerable state.

Phase 1: Learning the Rhythms

In the first phase of the Abyss encounter, Simon has approximately 7.5 million HP. The focus here is learning his four primary combos.

  1. The Short Combo (4 hits): A standard sequence ending in a jump-dodge requirement. The rhythm is steady, making it the best opportunity to build AP.
  2. The Powerful Combo (3 hits): Heavily telegraphed by a sword swing. Parrying should occur just as the sword begins its forward arc.
  3. The Sword Plant (5 hits): Simon strikes the ground, following up with a punch-kick sequence. The pauses between the hits are the key; the rhythm is slow-fast-slow.
  4. The Long Combo (5 hits): Includes a feint on the final strike. Waiting an extra half-second before the final parry is necessary to avoid being caught by the delayed blow.

Phase 2: The Evolution of Complexity

Once the first health bar is depleted, Simon enters his second form, boasting roughly 25 million HP. All his previous combos return but are enhanced with shockwaves. This requires a "double parry" rhythm—one for the sword strike and a secondary parry approximately 0.5 seconds later for the following shockwave.

Light Speed Attack

Simon opens this phase with a party-wide light speed assault. This involves nine rapid strikes followed by a final overhead smash. The visual indicator for the number of strikes is found in the pillars of light behind him. Parrying the final strike is mandatory; failing to do so will result in the entire party being removed from the canvas immediately.

The Removal Threshold

When Simon’s HP drops below 33%, he will attempt to cast "Canvas Removal." This is an unavoidable party-wipe attack. The only way to win is to deal enough burst damage to skip the final third of his health bar or finish him before he completes the stomp animation.

Simon the Divergent Star: Pillar Mechanics

The Endless Tower version introduces the most complex mechanic: colored pillars of light (White, Green, Red, Yellow). These pillars appear behind Simon before he launches a combo, indicating the rhythm and quantity of afterimages.

  • White: Indicates a standard strike.
  • Green: Indicates a rapid follow-up.
  • Red: Usually signifies a longer delay or a beat skip in the sequence.
  • Yellow: Indicates the final heavy afterimage.

If the pillars show White, Green, and Yellow (with Red missing), the player must parry the initial hit, the immediate second hit, then wait through a gap where the Red strike would have been, before parrying the final Yellow strike. Understanding these visual cues is the only way to survive the 24-hit Long Combo variant used by the Divergent Star.

Optimal Lumina and Pictos Loadout

To maximize survival and damage, the following Pictos and Lumina are highly recommended for every active party member:

  • Cheater: Grants an extra turn. In a fight where action economy is everything, having an extra window to heal or buff is vital.
  • Second Chance: Provides a one-time automatic revival. This prevents immediate removal from the canvas if a parry is missed.
  • Shortcut: Automatically gives the character a turn when their HP drops below 30%. Since Simon constantly reduces HP to 1, this effectively gives the party constant free turns to react.
  • Painted Power: Essential for the late-game. This Picto allows damage to exceed the 9,999 cap, which is necessary to burn through Simon’s 25 million HP.
  • Energising Jump: Since the Short Combo contains a jumpable sweep, this Lumina restores AP and builds the gauge quickly.

The Maelle Nuke Strategy

For players struggling with the rhythmic complexity of Phase 2 or Phase 3, the Maelle strategy is the most reliable "shortcut." This involves building Maelle specifically for Void damage and Virtuose Stance.

  1. Preparation: Build up AP and Style ranks using Lune and Verso during Phase 1.
  2. Buffing: When Phase 2 begins, bring in Sciel and use "Fortune’s Fury" on Maelle. Ensure Monoco has applied the "Defenseless" status to Simon and "Marked" him.
  3. Execution: Maelle enters "Virtuose Stance" (potentially using the Last Chance skill to force the stance at 1 HP). Utilizing the Medalum weapon (obtained from the Gestral Tournament), she executes the "Stendhal" skill followed by her Gradient attack "Gommage."
  4. Result: With the damage cap removed via Painted Power and the double-damage buff from Sciel, Maelle can hit for several million damage in a single sequence, effectively bypassing the dangerous final phase of the fight.

Reward for Victory

Defeating Simon is not merely for bragging rights. The rewards are significant for completionists and those looking to maximize their characters. Rewards include:

  • Simon Haircuts: A unique cosmetic available for Lune, Sciel, Maelle, Monoco, and Verso.
  • Chroma Catalysts: Specifically, Grandiose and Perfect catalysts used for final-tier weapon upgrades.
  • Experience: A massive payout of approximately 24.75 million XP (increasing to nearly 30 million for a no-damage run).
  • Lumina: 20 Colors of Lumina to further fill out the skill trees of the entire expedition party.

Winning the Simon expedition 33 encounter is a matter of patience and pattern recognition. While the health pools are daunting, Simon is a fair boss who follows strict rhythmic rules. Once the pillars of light and the double-parry timings are internalized, the fallen hero of Expedition Zero can finally be laid to rest.