Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Chroma Catalyst Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide
Every Weapon in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 scales from base to maximum power through a five-tier upgrade system, and every tier has its own material: Chroma Catalysts.
Finding them across the world, earning them from Bosses, and buying them from Merchants is the primary driver of combat power throughout the game.
All confirmed Chroma Catalyst locations — floor pickups, boss drops, and merchant stock — are tracked on MapMaster's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 interactive maps, including every location across the 30 hand-drawn exclusive area maps unavailable anywhere else.
What Chroma Catalysts Do in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Chroma Catalysts are the upgrade materials for weapons. Bring them to The Curator at your camp or any Rest Point, select "Upgrade Weapon," and each application raises the weapon's level — increasing base Attack Power and improving how much the weapon scales with your characters' attributes.
The higher the weapon's level, the stronger the contribution of relevant stats (Agility, Might, Luck, and so on) to its damage output.
Weapon upgrades are unavailable until you complete Flying Waters and meet The Curator. Until that point, Catalysts found in Spring Meadows and early Flying Waters carry over and can be applied immediately after the unlock.
Five Catalyst Tiers and Their Weapon Level Caps
Each tier covers a specific level range. A Catalyst from a lower tier cannot be applied outside its range — Polished Catalysts are useless on a Level 2 weapon, and Resplendent Catalysts won't apply until the weapon reaches Level 9:
- Chroma Catalyst — Levels 1–3
- Polished Chroma Catalyst — Levels 4–9
- Resplendent Chroma Catalyst — Levels 10–19
- Grandiose Chroma Catalyst — Levels 20–32
- Perfect Chroma Catalyst — Level 33 (maximum)
Catalyst costs per upgrade scale within each tier — going from Level 7 to Level 8 costs more Polished Catalysts than Level 4 to Level 5, but the counter resets when you move into the next tier.
The total cost to take one weapon from Level 0 to Level 33 is approximately 6 standard Catalysts, 12 Polished, 27 Resplendent, 35 Grandiose, and 1 Perfect.
Three milestone bonuses also unlock at Levels 4, 10, and 20 — additional passive bonuses specific to each weapon that don't appear until those thresholds are reached.
In New Game+, every standard and Polished Chroma Catalyst found in the world becomes a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst — the most significant upgrade resource shift in the game, dramatically accelerating endgame weapon progression on a second playthrough.
How to Get Chroma Catalysts: Three Sources
- World floor pickups — standard Catalysts appear as ground loot across Spring Meadows and Flying Waters, with Polished Catalysts appearing in Ancient Sanctuary, Stone Wave Cliffs, and Forgotten Battlefield. Resplendent Catalysts appear as floor pickups in mid-to-late areas. Every position is marked in the guide.
- Boss and enemy drops — Bosses are the most reliable source of higher-tier Catalysts. The Goblu story boss in Flying Waters drops 3 Chroma Catalysts plus a Polished. Petank optional bosses in Ancient Sanctuary, Stone Wave Cliffs, Esquie's Nest, and Forgotten Battlefield each yield 5 Polished Catalysts. The Chromatic Abbest in Abbest Cave drops 2 Resplendent Catalysts. The Giant Sapling in Crushing Cavern drops 1 Resplendent. The Dualliste story boss in Forgotten Battlefield drops 3 Polished. The Lampmaster story boss in Stone Wave Cliffs drops 3 Polished.
- Merchant purchases — several Merchants sell Catalysts directly for Chroma. Eesda and Jujubree in Gestral Village sell standard and Polished Catalysts. Pinabby in Yellow Harvest sells 10 standard and 5 Polished. Jerijeri in Stone Wave Cliffs sells 10 standard and 5 Polished. Kasumi in Forgotten Battlefield sells 10 standard and 5 Polished. Grandis in Monoco's Station sells 10 standard and 5 Polished. Noco in Flying Waters sells 5 standard. All positions are marked in the Merchant guide.
When to Upgrade: Milestone Bonuses and First-Playthrough Warnings
Prioritise the weapons your main damage dealers use — Maelle's, Verso's, and Sciel's — before spreading Catalysts across the full party.
The Level 4, 10, and 20 milestones unlock passive weapon bonuses that change how the weapon plays, making it worth pushing key weapons to those thresholds ahead of other upgrades.
Several bosses in the checklist are flagged "not recommended during the first playthrough": Demineur in Flying Waters, the Bourgeon in The Small Bourgeon, the Benisseur in Red Woods, and the Hexga in Stone Wave Cliffs.
All are optional and significantly harder than the surrounding content. Their Catalyst rewards are worth returning for later — each position is marked so you can revisit without replaying the area from scratch.
Non-Standard Catalyst Sources Worth Knowing
Three unique Catalyst sources fall outside exploration or boss combat.
- In Stone Quarry, help the Troubadour with his music challenge to earn 2 Resplendent Chroma Catalysts — a side interaction rather than a fight.
- In Gestral Beach Rafting Club, defeating The Weakest Gestral in a volleyball match rewards 1 Resplendent Catalyst.
- In Lumière - Act 1, finding the Trash-can Man inside a trash can near the stairs gives 1 standard Catalyst — easy to miss in the prologue.
Perfect Chroma Catalysts — the single material needed to reach Level 33 — come exclusively from high-end late-game encounters: Flying Manor bosses (Lampmaster, the Eveque variants, Dualliste, Clea), 2 from Simon in The Abyss, 1 from Endless Tower Stage 11 Trial 3, and rare endgame drops on The Continent. All positions are cross-linked from the Boss guide.
| Name | Map Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chroma Catalyst x2Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x2 | Flying Waters | Two Chroma Catalysts are earned by dealing with the Cruler and Bruler in the Flying Waters cave. |
| Chroma CatalystLumiere - Act 1Chroma Catalyst | Lumiere - Act 1 | It can be obtained from the Trash-can Man when you find him inside the trash can by the stairs. |
| Chroma Catalyst x2Spring MeadowsChroma Catalyst x2 | Spring Meadows | Obtained by defeating the Chromatic Lancelier in Spring Meadows. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x2. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystFlying WatersPolished Chroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | By defeating Goblu, you will be rewarded with a Polished Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | A Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by killing Demineur in Flying Waters (not recommended during the first playthrough). |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2Ancient SanctuaryPolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Ancient Sanctuary | Two Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the Catapult Sakapatate in Ancient Sanctuary. |
| Chroma Catalyst x5Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x5 | Flying Waters | You can purchase 5 Chroma Catalysts from Noco in Flying Waters. |
| Chroma CatalystSpring MeadowsChroma Catalyst | Spring Meadows | Found next to some broken crates and barrels behind a large rock. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystSpring MeadowsChroma Catalyst | Spring Meadows | Found on the ground floor of the house. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma Catalyst x2Spring MeadowsChroma Catalyst x2 | Spring Meadows | The two Chroma Catalysts are obtained by defeating the Volesters. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x2. |
| Chroma CatalystSpring MeadowsChroma Catalyst | Spring Meadows | Found inside the crates behind the enemies on the upper ledge. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | Found by the mines on the upper side of the mined plateau. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | Found on the ground at the end of the mined clearing. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | Found in the small puddle on the right side of the canyon. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | Found behind the large anvil in the cave. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | Found at the edge of the mountain path. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma Catalyst x3Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x3 | Flying Waters | Three Chroma Catalysts are dropped by Goblu in Flying Waters. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x3. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2ContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Continent | Two Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the group of three enemies east of Gestral Village. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst | Continent | One Polished Chroma Catalyst is earned by defeating the three Nevrons north of The Small Bourgeon. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x3Gestral VillagePolished Chroma Catalyst x3 | Gestral Village | Three Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Kararom's Ultimate Sakapatate in battle. |
| Resplendent Chroma Catalyst x2ContinentResplendent Chroma Catalyst x2 | Continent | Two Resplendent Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the Frost Eveque. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystStone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalyst | Stone Wave Cliffs | Found next to the breakable crates behind the rock formation. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystStone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalyst | Stone Wave Cliffs | Found between the slope and the windmill. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Resplendent Chroma CatalystContinentResplendent Chroma Catalyst | Continent | One Resplendent Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by defeating the Grosse Tete. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystForgotten BattlefieldPolished Chroma Catalyst | Forgotten Battlefield | Found on the wooden platform shortly after passing by the Main Gate. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2ContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Continent | Two Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the three enemies on the mountain path. |
| Resplendent Chroma CatalystContinentResplendent Chroma Catalyst | Continent | One Resplendent Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by defeating the three enemies near the camp. |
| Chroma Catalyst x3Spring MeadowsChroma Catalyst x3 | Spring Meadows | The Chroma Catalysts are obtained after defeating Eveque. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x3. |
| Chroma Catalyst x2Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x2 | Flying Waters | The Catalysts can be obtained after defeating the 2 Demineurs in the mined clearing of the Flying Waters. |
| Chroma Catalyst x2Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x2 | Flying Waters | The Catalysts can be obtained after defeating the 2 Demineurs in the mined clearing of the Flying Waters. |
| Chroma CatalystFlying WatersChroma Catalyst | Flying Waters | A Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by defeating the Flying Waters Bourgeon. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma Catalyst x2Flying WatersChroma Catalyst x2 | Flying Waters | Two Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the Flying Waters Chromatic Troubadour. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x2. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x5Ancient SanctuaryPolished Chroma Catalyst x5 | Ancient Sanctuary | Five Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Petank, the optional boss in Ancient Sanctuary. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x5. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x3Ancient SanctuaryPolished Chroma Catalyst x3 | Ancient Sanctuary | Three Polished Chroma Catalysts are earned by defeating the Ultimate Sakapatate boss in Ancient Sanctuary. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x3. |
| Chroma Catalyst x3Gestral VillageChroma Catalyst x3 | Gestral Village | You can purchase 3 Chroma Catalysts from Eesda in Gestral Bazar. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2Gestral VillagePolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Gestral Village | You can purchase 2 Polished Chroma Catalysts from Eesda in Gestral Bazar. |
| Chroma Catalyst x3Gestral VillageChroma Catalyst x3 | Gestral Village | You can purchase 3 Chroma Catalysts from Jujubree in Gestral Bazar. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2Gestral VillagePolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Gestral Village | You can purchase 2 Polished Chroma Catalysts from Jujubree in Gestral Bazar. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2ContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Continent | Two Polished Chroma Catalysts are earned by defeating the Chromatic Bruler boss north of Gestral Village. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystThe Small BourgeonPolished Chroma Catalyst | The Small Bourgeon | Obtained by attacking and defeating the Bourgeon (not recommended during the first playthrough). Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Esquie's NestPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Esquie's Nest | Five Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Petank, an optional boss in Esquie's Nest. Note: In NG+, you obtain Grandiose Chroma Catalyst x5. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst | Continent | A Polished Chroma Catalyst can also be obtained by defeating the Bourgeon boss east of Stone Wave Cliffs. |
| Resplendent Chroma Catalyst x2Abbest CaveResplendent Chroma Catalyst x2 | Abbest Cave | Two Resplendent Chroma Catalysts are earned by defeating the Chromatic Abbest boss. Note: In NG+, you obtain two Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Grandiose Chroma CatalystRed WoodsGrandiose Chroma Catalyst | Red Woods | Obtained by attacking and defeating Benisseur (not recommended during the first playthrough). |
| Chroma Catalyst x10Yellow HarvestChroma Catalyst x10 | Yellow Harvest | You can purchase ten Chroma Catalysts from Pinabby. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x5Yellow HarvestPolished Chroma Catalyst x5 | Yellow Harvest | You can purchase five Polished Chroma Catalysts from Pinabby. |
| Chroma Catalyst x3Yellow HarvestChroma Catalyst x3 | Yellow Harvest | You obtain three Chroma Catalysts by defeating the Jar and the two Potiers in Yellow Harvest. Note: In NG+, you obtain three Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x3Yellow HarvestPolished Chroma Catalyst x3 | Yellow Harvest | Three Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Glaise in Yellow Harvest. Note: In NG+, you obtain three Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x6Yellow HarvestPolished Chroma Catalyst x6 | Yellow Harvest | Six Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Chromatic Orphelin in Yellow Harvest. Note: In NG+, you obtain six Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x1ContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst x1 | Continent | A Polished Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by defeating the Bourgeon boss east of The Meadows. |
| Chroma Catalyst x10Stone Wave CliffsChroma Catalyst x10 | Stone Wave Cliffs | You can purchase 10 Chroma Catalysts from Jerijeri in Stone Wave Cliffs. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Stone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Stone Wave Cliffs | You can purchase 5 Polished Chroma Catalysts from Jerijeri in Stone Wave Cliffs. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Stone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Stone Wave Cliffs | Five Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Petank, an optional boss in Stone Wave Cliffs. Note: In NG+, you obtain five Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystStone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalyst | Stone Wave Cliffs | A Polished Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by killing Hexga in Stone Wave Cliffs (not recommended during the first playthrough). Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x3Stone Wave CliffsPolished Chroma Catalyst x3 | Stone Wave Cliffs | Three Polished Chroma Catalysts are dropped by Lampmaster, the Stone Wave Cliffs boss. Note: In NG+, you obtain three Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Resplendent Chroma CatalystCrushing CavernResplendent Chroma Catalyst | Crushing Cavern | The Resplendent Chroma Catalyst is earned by defeating the Giant Sapling boss. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Resplendent Chroma CatalystGestral Beach Rafting ClubResplendent Chroma Catalyst | Gestral Beach Rafting Club | Obtained by defeating The Weakest Gestral in volleyball. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Forgotten BattlefieldPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Forgotten Battlefield | Five Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating Petank, an optional boss in Forgotten Battlefield. Note: In NG+, you obtain five Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x2Forgotten BattlefieldPolished Chroma Catalyst x2 | Forgotten Battlefield | Two Polished Chroma Catalysts can be obtained by defeating the Forgotten Battlefield Chromatic Luster. Note: In NG+, you obtain two Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Chroma Catalyst x10Forgotten BattlefieldChroma Catalyst x10 | Forgotten Battlefield | You can purchase 10 Chroma Catalysts from Kasumi in Forgotten Battlefield. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Forgotten BattlefieldPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Forgotten Battlefield | You can purchase 5 Polished Chroma Catalysts from Kasumi in Forgotten Battlefield. |
| Polished Chroma Catalyst x3Forgotten BattlefieldPolished Chroma Catalyst x3 | Forgotten Battlefield | Three Polished Chroma Catalysts are dropped by Dualliste, the Forgotten Battlefield boss. Note: In NG+, you obtain three Grandiose Chroma Catalysts. |
| Resplendent Chroma Catalyst x2Stone QuarryResplendent Chroma Catalyst x2 | Stone Quarry | Two Resplendent Chroma Catalysts can be obtained from the Troubadour in Stone Quarry, after helping him with his music. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystMonoco's StationPolished Chroma Catalyst | Monoco's Station | One Polished Chroma Catalyst can be obtained by defeating the Stalact in Monoco's Station. Note: In NG+, you obtain a Grandiose Chroma Catalyst. |
| Polished Chroma CatalystContinentPolished Chroma Catalyst | Continent | By defeating the Bourgeon boss southwest of Esoteric Ruins, you will obtain a Polished Chroma Catalyst. |
| Chroma Catalyst x10Monoco's StationChroma Catalyst x10 | Monoco's Station | You can purchase 10 Chroma Catalysts from Grandis in Monoco's Station. |
| Polished Chroma Catalysts x5Monoco's StationPolished Chroma Catalysts x5 | Monoco's Station | You can purchase 5 Polished Chroma Catalysts from Grandis in Monoco's Station. |
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