In the opening hours of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, players face off against some truly bizarre foes—but few are as strangely menacing as Ultimate Sakapatate. This hulking golem, stitched together from wood and burlap, enters combat wielding his deceased partner—now reanimated as a massive living paintbrush—and it’s every bit as brutal as it sounds. Underestimating him is a fast-track to defeat.
Despite being labeled the “Ultimate Creation” by his kin, Sakapatate isn’t as intimidating as he looks—provided the team comes in well-prepared and plays smart.
Preparation: Set the Battlefield on Fire
Ultimate Sakapatate lives up to his name—he’s as roastable as a literal potato. Fire-based attacks are the most effective way to whittle down his health, and the right elemental setup will make the difference between a close call and a confident win.
Ideal Loadout for Each Character
- Lune should be your main firestarter. Her default weapon, Lighterim, along with several flame-aligned Skills, makes her ideal for applying persistent Burn effects.
- Gustave can ramp up damage through his Overdrive system. Equip him with Critical Burn and Burning Shots to enhance fire output and keep the pressure high.
- Maelle is your ace in the hole. While she won’t be initiating the burns, she can capitalize on them. Equip her with Spark as a backup fire source, remove Degagement, and focus on getting her into Virtuose stance quickly.
Marking Shot synergizes well with Maelle’s playstyle, so it’s worth setting up via Gustave to boost her effectiveness.
Strategy: Control, Burn, and Break
Reading Sakapatate’s Patterns
This boss shares traits with the burlap enemies encountered in shrine regions but comes with significant upgrades—including a shield shaped from a tree trunk and embedded with cannons. One of his most damaging moves happens right out the gate: a two-swing combo using his partner-weapon followed by a powerful ground slam. Dodge the side swings, jump over the final slam, and counterattack with R2/RT when safe.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Opening Moves:
Have Gustave launch into Lumiere Assault to gain Overdrive points. Lune should follow up with any fire-based ability, or if healing is needed, combine Free Aim shots to apply Burns while saving enough AP to patch up the team. - Empowering Maelle:
Once Burns are active on Sakapatate, use Swift Stride to push Maelle into Virtuose stance. If she’s managed to dodge well enough to stack AP, use Fleuret Fury next to chunk off a significant portion of the boss’s health. - Mid-Battle Attack Shift:
Watch for a secondary attack where Sakapatate fires electric projectiles from his shield. These are the easiest to dodge—just time your movement right after the muzzle flash. - Breaking the Shield:
With consistent Burn pressure and Gustave’s Overdrive (activated at 10 charges), Sakapatate will eventually Break. This is when his shield drops, exposing a glowing weak spot on his shoulder. Switch to Free Aim and unload on it as fast as possible to eliminate the shield permanently.
Final Phase: Power Surge and Finishing Blow
After the shield is gone, the team can begin dealing real damage. Keep the same general strategy—rotate Burns, Overdrive, and support—but be cautious of a power surge ability Sakapatate may use. This will amplify his main attacks for the rest of the fight.
The good news? Activating this state consumes his turn, giving you an opening. If the team maintains pressure and doesn’t falter on dodges, the golem will fall soon after—rewarding players with valuable XP and the Breaker Picto for their efforts.
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