Clair Obscur 100% Guide: Stone Wave Cave + Chromatic Hexga Strategy ~ HaploGamingChef

Get ready to deep dive into one of the most critical areas in Clair Obscur Expedition 33. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to explore Stone Wave Cave from start to finish, collect every item, and defeat the unique boss — Chromatic Hexga. Whether you're aiming for the platinum trophy or just trying to collect every Pictus and Luminina color, we’ve got your back.

This walkthrough includes every collectible location, mini-boss fight, merchant interaction, and hidden mechanic so you won't miss a thing. With a focus on casual gameplay and helpful explanations, you'll be able to clear this section with confidence and efficiency. Let’s jump into the full cave route and see what makes this zone so essential for completionists.

💠 Getting Started – Leaving Stone Wave Cliffs

After finishing Act One in Clair Obscur Expedition 33, your next major stop is the Stone Wave Cave. When you exit from the back side of Stone Wave Cliffs, you’ll spot a merchant nearby. Don’t skip this NPC — they have two unique hairstyles (braids) you’ll want to grab. This is your first chance to load up on style collectibles that count toward 100% progress.

Once you’ve traded, swim across to the next small island. Open your map if needed — it’ll guide you to another merchant. Here, purchase two more wigs (short curls and another braid). Every hairstyle matters when you're going for platinum, so don’t miss out.

💠 Entering Stone Wave Cave – Map Location & First Collectibles

Now you're officially at Stone Wave Cave. Inside, your priority is to grab the Pictus upgrade, especially useful for support or healer builds. Walk in, swing across the gap using your grappling hook, and collect the first Color of Luminina.

From there:

Grapple again across the ledge.
Look for a narrow gap on the right.
Inside, you’ll find a magical rope that gets you closer to the upcoming boss.

Before that, there's a simple puzzle you’ll need to solve to claim a Chroma Catalyst and a Chroma Elixir Shard. Here’s how:

Climb the upper area.
Shoot the glowing orb in the corner.
Rotate, reposition, and shoot again to activate the platform.
Collect your rewards, then backtrack using the rope.

💠 Boss Fight Strategy – Chromatic Hexga Mechanics Explained

Once you're geared up, it’s time to face Chromatic Hexga, the cave’s boss with a tricky hidden mechanic. At first glance, the fight seems standard — until you realize your attacks stop dealing damage halfway through.

What’s going on? Hexga has a bright red crystal on its back that acts as a shield.

Here’s how to break it:

Watch the crystal’s color: Red = invincible, White = vulnerable.
Use AP-boosting items (like Energy Color or Energy Drinks) to sustain your offense.
Target the crystal directly to push its hue from red → white.
Once it’s white, unleash a high-combo barrage or use Null attacks to stun him.

Pro Tip: Always have a character that can consistently land multi-hit combos to drop the shield faster.

💠 Post-Boss Rewards – What You Get from Chromatic Hexga

After you’ve taken down Chromatic Hexga, you’re rewarded with two highly useful Pictus upgrades:

Revitalizing Resurrection (Tier 3): When a team member is revived, every ally gets +3 AP. This is massive in drawn-out fights or tough boss encounters.
Damage Booster Pictus: Increases damage dealt by 50%. Ideal for your main DPS character or during burst phases against mini-bosses.

These aren’t optional — they’re essential for later encounters. Make sure you equip them before leaving the cave.

💠 Next Steps – Island Hopping and Bonus Collectibles

After leaving the cave, head toward the next island zone via swimming. Here’s what to do next:

Stop by the Meadows Area: This zone includes a collectible music album. These are scattered throughout the game and add to your 100% tracker.
Check the glowing corner behind the meadow — if something’s shimmering, loot it. If not, that album is your main prize here.

Before heading out, return briefly to the cave island to check the back-right section. You’ll find the Expedition Diary 64 — required for the diary collection objective.

💠 Optional Enemy Encounter – Skin, Shield, and Weapon Upgrades

While on your way to the next zone, look for a large enemy on the right side of the map — you can’t miss it. He hits hard, but his pattern is predictable.

Tips for this fight:

Use Break attacks to interrupt him and recover allies if swallowed.
Watch for his power charge animation and burst him during his cooldown.
After the fight, you’ll collect:
- Enhanced Counter+1
- Weapon upgrade materials
- His unique monster skin

There’s also a Luminina color orb nearby, just around the right-hand corner — collect that too.

💠 Diary Entry & Setup – Gustaf’s Journal and Camps

Before moving on, take a moment to save and rest at a campfire. This will allow you to write in Gustaf’s Diary, unlocking another piece of lore and progress toward diary completion. If this doesn’t trigger automatically, double-check that you haven’t missed a previous camp note.

After writing the diary entry, head toward Gestral Beach. There’s a fun side activity waiting.

💠 Gestral Beach Minigame – Flow’s Volleyball Challenge

At Gestral Beach, you’ll find a mini-game zone. Here’s what to know:

Mini-game: Flow’s Volleyball
Objective: Win across all levels to unlock a swimsuit outfit for your main character
Tips:
- Time your volleys well; precision matters more than speed.
- Winning all rounds earns you exclusive clothing rewards.

After completing the challenge, grab any nearby collectibles and prepare to move to the next small island, located left of Radiant Beach.

💠 Side Caves & More Collectibles – Shadowed Cave Boss Fight

This new island has a hidden cave called the Shadowed Cave, located on the right-hand side. Go in once you hit the checkpoint.

Inside:

Encounter a creepy, glowing-eyed boss.
It’s visually intense but mechanically simple.

Defeat it to unlock:

Pictus of Stabilization: Grants +2 shield when any character drops below 50% HP.
Two collectible items, including another expedition journal and a Color of Luminina.

Use the magic rope near the back to access higher ground and more hidden loot.

💠 Island Loot – More Journals and a Music Album

On your way out of the cave:

Collect Expedition Journal 45
Gather the Color of Pictus
Grab an additional Color of Luminina

You’re now officially done with the cave, and it’s time to move forward. Swim over to the next destination island, which contains a small bay.

Inside:

Loot the Color of Luminina in the bay.
Beat the group of enemies to unlock new items.
Behind them, collect the Revitalizing Healing Pictus: Whenever an ally is healed, they gain 2 AP.

💠 White Tree Island – Music Album and Lost Gesrtal

Head over to the White Tree island next. This place is packed with important story-related and collectible content. Here’s what to collect:

Music Album: White Tree Theme
Lost Gestal collectible
Expedition Diary 36
Luminina Color orb located before entering the tree gate

Be sure to enter through the large glowing portal to access the album, and check around corners and under structures for shiny orbs — they’re often hidden in crates or barrels.

💠 Side Enemies and Bonus Loot

Before you move into the story area, explore the small forest nearby. On a small island just to the left:

Fight another overworld enemy. These enemies drop rare upgrades, so it’s worth your time.
Grab an additional music album hidden in the same area.
You’ll also pick up a Pictus upgrade, though the type may vary depending on RNG (random drops). Common drops include bonus AP or resistance traits.

💠 Final Prep – Blade Cemetery and Last Music Album

As your last stop before continuing to the main mission, swim toward the Blade Cemetery. This zone contains:

Final Music Album for this region
The entrance to the next main quest, called Forgotten Battlefield

Explore thoroughly. One last Luminina color orb is hidden near the cart at the left of the map. Look behind crates and rocks — it’s easy to miss if you rush through.

💠 What’s Next – Preparing for Forgotten Battlefield

You’re now fully prepared to enter the next major zone. But before you jump into the Forgotten Battlefield, make sure you’ve:

Collected all Luminina Colors
Found every Pictus upgrade
Completed the Flow’s Volleyball mini-game
Acquired all music albums and diary entries

This puts you on track for 100% completion and Platinum progress in Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

💠 Wrapping It Up – 100% Cleared Stone Wave Cave and Beyond

You’ve done it! From navigating the tricky Stone Wave Cave and defeating the Chromatic Hexga to grabbing every Pictus, Luminina Color, and music album, you’re now fully caught up on the game’s progress. This segment of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now 100% completed.

You should now have:

All hairstyles and gear from merchants
All important Pictus upgrades
Flow’s Volleyball mini-game cleared with outfit rewards
Essential boss mechanics understood and beaten
Side areas explored for journals, albums, and buffs

You’re ready for what lies ahead at the Forgotten Battlefield. Stay sharp and don’t forget to rest at every camp to ensure your progress is saved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I defeat Chromatic Hexga in Clair Obscur Expedition 33?
A: Focus your attacks on the red crystal on his back. When it turns fully red, he becomes immune to damage. Break the crystal using characters with multi-hit combos and energy color skills. This will stun him and make him vulnerable to attacks again.

Q2: Where can I find all the Luminina Colors in Part 9?
A: Luminina Colors are hidden across various islands and caves, often behind bosses or in narrow gaps. Check near merchant spots, in the Stone Wave Cave, and near music album locations.

Q3: What are the best Pictus upgrades in this section?
A: Key upgrades include:

Revitalizing Resurrection: Grants AP to all party members when one is revived.
Stabilization: Boosts shield when HP drops below 50%.
Revitalizing Healing: Gives extra Calam when healing an ally.

Q4: How do I get Flow’s Swimsuit outfit?
A: Win all levels of the volleyball mini-game located at Gestral Beach. It's a short but fun challenge with a unique reward.

Q5: What should I not miss before entering the next main area?
A: Make sure to collect:

All music albums
Expedition journals (like Expedition 36 and 45)
Hidden items behind crates and cliffs
Pictus color near the cart before heading to the main portal

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