After the immense success of the game, the developers of the game, Sandfall Interactive, gave the fans a free “Thank You” update, commonly known as the GOTY update, which included the surreal and beautiful new area known as Verso's Drafts. This new expansion comes packed with new bosses, secrets, and cosmetics. Now if you have got your Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Steam key from LootBar, then surely it is time for you to enter this new area.
One of the first skill-based optional puzzles you will encounter in this watery realm is the Diving Board Minigame. While it looks simple, landing the perfect jump into the smallest rings can be quite frustrating without the right approach. This guide will take you through what to do to reach the minigame, the mechanics for hitting every target successfully, and the rewards that can be unlocked for your party.
Prerequisites: Getting to Verso's Drafts
Before you can show off your diving skills, you need to ensure you have progressed far enough in the main story. This mini-game isn't available right from the very beginning of the game.
- Complete Act 2: You have to complete the second act of the main story. This is mandatory because it will unlock Esquie's flying and diving skills, which are required to navigate the aquatic environment around Lumiere.
- Locate New Area: Open your map and look to the right (east) of the city of Lumiere. A new area of water flows into Verso's Drafts, symbolized by the glowing blue vortex and colorful ornaments of lollipops.
- Find the Flag: After entering the area and follow the path leading down to the second pond, you should find the Gestral Baths Expedition Flag. This is your main checkpoint. From the checkpoint, proceed straight ahead to the water. Look for the Esquie statues on your right. Beyond them, you can spot a wooden diving platform that hangs over the abyss.
Starting the Minigame
When you first enter the board, you'll see a small, grumpy Gestral standing right at the edge, blocking your way. Do not wait for him to move, you can simply use a basic attack on him, and he'll fly off, clearing your way to a jump.
Pro Tip: Before you make the first leap, walk to the end of the board. There is Esquiaro, a level 33 weapon for Monoco that you can use. Make sure to get this first so you won’t need to come back later.
The Three Targets: Strategies and Tips
The goal of the minigame is to jump from the board and land inside three different-colored lifebuoys - rings floating in the water down below. After every successful land, you must speak to the Half-baked Gestral (the one wearing glasses) standing nearby to claim your prize. So, grab your LootBar game key and get ready to jump into the three targets of different colors in the minigame.
1. The Yellow Ring: The Easy Start
The yellow ring is the biggest and nearest target. Once you jump forward, it is nearly impossible to miss.
- Method: You don't have to sprint. Walk towards the end of the board and do a regular jump off left side.
- Reward: 1x Colour of Lumina (a valuable crafting and upgrade material).
2. The Blue Ring (The Intermediate Jump)
The blue ring is smaller and also at a different angle to the yellow one.
- Method: Follow the same strategy as the yellow ring, except this time aim to the right-hand side of the board. If you miss, don't swim all the way back around, instead look for the vertical zipline rope that's act as a short cut back up to the top of the diving board.
- Reward: Double Bun Hairstyle for Maelle.
3. The Red Ring (The Ultimate Challenge)
This is where most players struggle. The red ring is very small, and the timing must be perfect. If you land on the edge instead of the center water, it does not count.
- Character Choice Matters: Although character models may not have extreme physics in this RPG, the community generally recommends a certain technique rather than a certain character.
- The "Last Second" Trick: Don't jump early. Run towards the leftmost corner of the board. The most consistent way of doing this is by walking to the far-left end, then aiming at the nose of the left duck using Free Aim, then backing up so the red ring is visible at the bottom of the screen, and finally running and jumping off the edge at absolute last millisecond.
- Aerial Control: The main problem is looking down. At the same time, the best approach is to look straight ahead while running and jumping; the trajectory is mostly fixed if your starting position and timing are correct.
- The Secret Hack: A hotfix actually nerfed this specific challenge, as the red lifebuoy was moved slightly to make the quest easier, reducing the original launch difficulty.
Reward: French Bob Hairstyle for Monoco.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. "I keep landing on the rim of the red ring!"
This happens most often when you are jumping too early, or trying to adjust your trajectory too much in the air. Just consider the late jump technique off the far left of the board, as previously described.
2. "The Gestral isn't giving me the reward!"
Make sure you are not just hitting the water near the ring, you have to land cleanly inside the circle. Often, you get a specific sound cue or a visual splash effect to confirm you have done it correctly. Also, make sure you are talking to the correct Gestral with the glasses, near the yellow ring by the water's edge.
3. "I can't find the rope to go back up."
The rope (zipline) is immediately behind the landing site. If you are facing the rings from the water, turn around 180 degrees and look for a line that is slightly lit up vertically against the rocky face to get back up quickly to the top.
Conclusion
The Diving Board Minigame in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 provides a fun break from the main combat, even though it may appear challenging at first. Primarily, most of the rewards are cosmetic, but look great particularly for Maelle's and Monoco's hairstyles, and the Esquiaro weapon is generally useful in the middle of the game. Use precise aiming and jump from left corner late. Be patient, especially the red ring, where timing matters most.
