Upon delving deeper into Act 2 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, players will encounter numerous optional areas ripe for exploration before advancing the primary storyline. One of the key locales is Frozen Hearts, which becomes accessible after recruiting Monoco to your team and defeating the Stalact. While it’s not mandatory to explore Frozen Hearts, doing so is highly advisable for those seeking to obtain some of the best loot available from the Grandis Merchant at Monoco’s Station.
Once Monoco has joined your party and the Stalact has been defeated, you’ll face the choice of progressing with the main narrative or taking a detour into Frozen Hearts. This region is teeming with unique adversaries, valuable rewards, and essential upgrade materials that justify the journey. Furthermore, exploring Frozen Hearts will enable you to secure a crucial quest item that unlocks the comprehensive inventory of the Grandis Merchant in Monoco’s Station, where you can acquire top-tier weapons and Pictos necessary for your adventure.
Exploring Frozen Hearts: What You Need to Know
Unlock Unique Gear & Dance with the Danseuse Teacher
While Frozen Hearts is classified as an optional area, it is crucial for those aiming to enhance their gear at this segment of the game. Players can unlock a variety of unique weapons by completeing the Frozen Hearts side quest, where you will retrieve the Eternal Ice and deliver it to the Grandis Merchant at Monoco’s Station. Additionally, you’ll gain valuable loot from the diverse enemies and Chromatic Nevrons encountered in the region, including the Glaceso weapon—one of the top choices for building your Verso character.
Furthermore, your adventure in Frozen Hearts includes the opportunity to engage in another side quest involving a White Nevron, specifically the Danseuse Teacher. This challenge will rigorously test your parrying skills, culminating in a crucial counterattack to complete the quest. Rewards for this quest include a stylish new outfit for Lune, and players are advised against fighting the Danseuse Teacher again if they wish to collect numerous Colour of Luminas from Blanche later on. To achieve this, you’ll need to leave some White Nevrons intact.
Among the other bonuses found in Frozen Hearts are a Mime that grants Lune a trendy short haircut, a Petank that drops common rewards, and two Paint Cages that unlock the Anti-Freeze Pictos and Revive Tint Shard. Moreover, you can find a Manor Door that allows access to the “Clea! Don’t Pull Your Sister’s Hair!”record in Clair Obscur.
Acquiring Eternal Ice in Frozen Hearts
Defeat the Gargant for the Eternal Ice
To access the Grandis Merchant’s inventory at Monoco’s Station, players must complete a side quest rather than simply defeating foes. Upon speaking with the Grandis Merchant, you’ll learn that you need to obtain the Eternal Ice, which is dropped by the Gargant, the final boss located deep within Frozen Hearts. After retrieving the Eternal Ice, the Grandis Merchant will offer a range of valuable items.
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To acquire the Eternal Ice, players must confront the Gargant, a formidable giant enemy that shifts its elemental resistances and weaknesses depending on its current stance. If it’s in Ice Stance, prepare for less success with Ice attacks but an advantage with Fire attacks, and vice versa in Fire Stance. Successfully defeating the Gargant will grant you the much-coveted weapon for Lune, the respective Pictos, and, naturally, the Eternal Ice, allowing you to unlock the Grandis Merchant’s full inventory.
The Case for Exploring Frozen Hearts
Experience the XP & Loot, Plus Parry Practice from the Danseuse Teacher
While exploring Frozen Hearts is technically optional, skipping this area means missing out on a full Clair Obscur experience. The unique enemies and outstanding rewards present an enticing opportunity. Not only will you gain access to the entire inventory of the Grandis Merchant, but you’ll also discover a Mime and an annoying Petank that will provide useful upgrade materials. Additionally, the area offers exquisite new outfits and hairstyles available from characters like the Danseuse Teacher and the merchant Verogo.
It’s beneficial to keep Monoco in your active party during your Frozen Hearts adventure to unlock his unique abilities in Clair Obscur.
If you’re not solely focused on rushing through the game, I highly encourage you to explore Frozen Hearts thoroughly. The stunning design of this location, combined with the plethora of rewards available, makes it an invaluable part of your journey. The gear obtained from the Grandis Merchant at Monoco’s Station is among the finest available at this point in the game, making the retrieval of Eternal Ice a worthwhile endeavor during your exploration of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.