Expedition 33: How to defeat Visages, the first Axon, and the Mask Keeper?

Visages is the seventh mandatory boss in Expedition 33. Visages is one of the two Axons (the weaker one) that you need to eliminate before reaching the Monolith. After defeating it, you will immediately face its true form: the Mask Keeper. On this guide page, we describe where to find the boss, what their weak points are and what they're vulnerable to, as well as what the rewards are for winning the encounter.

• Where is Visages, the first axon?
• Visages's attacks (first phase)
• Mask Keeper's attacks (second phase)
• How to defeat the first axon, Visages, and the Mask Keeper?
• Rewards for defeating Visages and the Mask Keeper

Where is Visages, the first axon?

You will find the first axon at the end of the Visages area, right after reaching the Peak flag. The boss is mandatory and fighting him is required to make progress in the game.

Visages's attacks (first phase)

1. Determination Mask - the boss summons a red mask and deals three area strikes with a huge sword. You have to jump over the second blow. Listen to the boss - right before each hit, you will hear a very characteristic sound.
2. Anxiety Mask - the boss summons a purple mask and creates two area explosions. Parry when you hear a sharp, metallic sound.
3. Doubt Mask - the boss summons an orange mask and deals five area attacks. Listen to the boss - right before each blow, you will hear a very characteristic sound.
4. Peace Mask - the boss summons a blue mask and creates four area explosions. Each hit gives him a shield point. Parry four times in a row, quickly and rhythmically, shortly after the mask flies towards you.
5. Confidence Mask - the boss summons a green mask and performs one area attack. Listen for the distinctive sound and parry just before the mask hits the ground. If the boss hits you with this attack, it will heal itself.
6. Final attack - the boss uses this attack only if you destroy all its masks. It immediately reduces the health of all your characters to one point. After that, the boss dies. You cannot block this attack.

Mask Keeper's attacks (second phase)

1. Area attack - the boss performs a combination of four strikes, and in the second half of the fight, six strikes. Observe the boss carefully - just before each blow, the air in front of the boss gets slightly distorted.
2. Swipes combo - the boss approaches you and deals three blows, and in the second half of the fight, six blows. The first two are very quick blows; parry twice just before the boss finishes doing a pirouette. Parry for the third time right after the boss jumps into the air. Wait a second and parry two quick thrusts, and after that, a slightly delayed blow.
3. Attacks like a storm / chaotic combo - the boss approaches you and deals four strikes, and in the second half of the fight, eight strikes. Be sure to parry twice right after the boss kneels on one knee, then parry again with a slight delay. Wait a moment and parry for the fifth time when the boss swings their sword in one hand. After a second, parry twice and then parry the final blow when the boss jumps into the air, at the peak of his jump.
4. Burning sword - the boss ignites the sword and deals four strikes. Perform three quick, rhythmic parries shortly after the boss ignites the sword, and finish with a gradient counter.

How to defeat the first axon, Visages, and the Mask Keeper?

The first phase of the fight is not overly difficult. Your goal is not the giant standing in the background, but the mirror at the edge of the cliff. Boss attacks are easy to parry thanks to accompanying sound effects. Since the active mask is constantly changing, the boss's weaknesses and resistances also change with every turn. As you've probably noticed, each mask emerging from the mirror has glowing eyes. If you destroy these eyes with a shot from a ranged weapon, the mask will not be able to hide in the mirror and will be destroyed at the beginning of the boss's turn - Visages will no longer be able to use it.

We recommend destroying all masks except for the purple Anxiety Mask - it is the easiest boss attack to avoid. Destroying all masks immediately ends the first phase of the fight, but it reduces your entire team to one health point, which will prove to be very problematic in the second phase of the fight.

In the second phase, you will deal with the Mask Keeper, who is a much more demanding enemy. Mask Keeper is weak to Fire and Dark, but is resistant to Ice. It resembles Dualliste; the encounter tests your parrying skills but is devoid of any more complicated mechanics, and you can defeat the boss only by learning its attacks. If you haven't completed all three valleys in the Visages location, the boss will be much stronger and more dangerous - we recommend going back to the beginning of the location with the flag, destroying all three masks at the end of the side areas, and only then returning to the boss fight.

When the Mask Keeper has half of their health left, their combos will become longer, and the boss themselves will gain a shield with each hit from a team member. Beware especially of the swiping and chaotic combos, which are not preceded by any obvious visual signs and a steady rhythm of parrying.

Rewards for defeating Visages and the Mask Keeper

For defeating the Mask Keeper, you will receive:

1. 123,195 XP;
2. 11,760 Chroma;
3. Picto - Immaculate - you deal 30% more damage until you are hit by an enemy;
4. Resplendent Chroma Catalyst x6;
5. Recoat x1.

See also:

1. Game guide
2. All bosses
3. All enemies

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

April 24, 2025

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