Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Should You Attack Troubadour?

Should You Attack Troubadour in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?

Sparing this sad musician might just pay off in the long run

Not all characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are enemies. Some—like the melancholic musician Troubadour—offer you challenges rather than combat. But like other Nevrons in the game, you’ll have a choice: help them, or strike them down for a reward. So what should you do?

Let’s break down what Troubadour offers and why your decision could affect a far greater payoff later in the game.

🎺 Where to Find Troubadour

You’ll encounter Troubadour in the Stone Quarry, an optional area northeast of the Forgotten Battlefield. You'll need Esquie’s swimming ability to access it. Troubadour appears as a trumpet-playing Nevron and offers a short but demanding parry-based mini-game.

🛡️ The Mini-Game: Test of Timing

Once you engage with Troubadour, you’ll be dropped into a special battle instance using the party leader you had active. The game involves parrying red orbs while absorbing green ones—a twist that requires precision and focus.

• The mini-game is split into three rounds.

• A single mistake—such as parrying green orbs or missing a red one—will reset the round.

• Progress is saved between rounds, so failure doesn’t mean starting over entirely.

💡 Tip: If you're struggling, switch the difficulty to Easy. This widens the parry window, making the challenge more forgiving.

🎁 Reward for Completing Troubadour's Challenge

If you complete the mini-game successfully, Troubadour will gift you the Healing Parry Picto. This ability is invaluable in battle, as it restores HP when a character successfully parries an enemy attack—a must-have for players mastering combat timing.

⚔️ Should You Attack Troubadour Afterwards?

Technically, yes—you can attack Troubadour after completing their quest. If you do, you’ll receive a Resplendent Chroma Catalyst, used for upgrading weapons to level 19.

But here's why you shouldn't.

🪂 Why Sparing Troubadour Is Worth It

In Act Three, you’ll gain the ability to fly with Esquie. Use this to reach a floating island called The Fountain near Spring Meadows, where you’ll meet Blanche, another Nevron.

Blanche will assess your actions throughout the game. If you’ve spared Troubadour—along with other quest-giving Nevrons like Jar and Demineur—you’ll be rewarded with a massive prize:
🪙 100x Colour of Lumina

However, if you’ve killed any of these characters, Blanche will instead challenge you to an intense boss fight. You'll need to be at least level 80 to stand a chance, and the reward is significantly less:

• 10x Colour of Lumina

• 2x Grandiose Chroma Catalyst

Alternatively, some players choose to collect Blanche’s reward first, then backtrack to kill Nevrons like Troubadour to maximize loot.

🧠 Verdict: Mercy First, Blood Later (Maybe)

The Healing Parry Picto is a critical combat enhancer, and sparing Troubadour ultimately nets you a far greater cumulative reward from Blanche in Act Three. Unless you’re short on catalysts or chasing 100% combat encounters, it’s smart to let the sad musician live—for now.

More Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Coverage:

• 🔹 [A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Lune]

• 🔹 [How to Defeat the Grown Bourgeon and What Happens If You Spare It]

• 🔹 [Everything You Need to Know About The Fountain in Act Three]

As you explore the haunting beauty and philosophical depth of Clair Obscur, remember: compassion sometimes leads to greater power than conflict. Troubadour may not be a great musician—but helping them proves to be music to your future.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for the latest strategy guides, hidden rewards, and lore breakdowns from the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.