Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Guide | The Small Bourgeon Quest

In this guide, you'll learn how to complete the side quest located in the Small Bourgeon area of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This quest involves helping a non-combative monster grow into a full-sized Bourgeon by feeding it a specific item, after which you can choose to fight it for a reward.

Before starting this quest, make sure you've completed the story section at Gestal Village. You must have access to free roam on the overworld map. It isn't necessary to have SK unlocked or in your party at this point.

To begin the quest, travel to the location of the Small Bourgeon. Once you arrive, access the nearby rest point and speak with the Small Bourgeon. He'll tell you he needs to eat Bourgeon Skin to grow like his brother. You can also collect a journal entry here.

Getting Bourgeon Skin

The item you need, Bourgeon Skin, is dropped by full-sized Bourgeons. If you haven't fought one yet, you likely missed the encounter in the Flying Waters. To get there, go to the Flower Field rest point. From there, proceed to the next rest point or fast-travel to the Lumieran Streets rest point. Then, follow the route to reach the Bourgeon.

When you arrive at the Bourgeon, prepare for battle. Your best strategy is to use Gustave's Overcharge ability as often and as early as possible. Use Lumiere Assault and have your other characters support him with energy tints to charge his Overcharge quickly.

The Bourgeon is weak to lightning and is susceptible to burn, so equip weapons or use attacks that exploit these weaknesses. Apply mark and burn status effects to maximize your damage.

Be aware that the Bourgeon can eat one of your team members. You must be able to continue the fight with just two characters. If you manage to break the Bourgeon while it has consumed someone, it will spit them back out.

Pay attention to its attack patterns, which are easy to dodge once you're familiar with the timing. Use audio-visual cues for dodging, especially the miasma spit attack—wait until the attack is about a foot and a half above your character's head before dodging.

After defeating the Bourgeon, collect the skin and return it to the Small Bourgeon.

Alternative Bourgeon Location

Once you've unlocked SK, you'll find another Bourgeon on the map. This one is much stronger and is accompanied by two smaller enemies. It shares the same weaknesses, attack patterns, and timing as the one in Flying Waters, but it inflicts more damage and can consume up to two party members. Make sure you're at least level 20 before attempting this encounter.

Completing the Quest

After handing over the Bourgeon Skin, the Small Bourgeon will thank you and ask you to return later. To progress, rest at a camp in the open world. Although the exact required wait time is unclear, resting once appears to be enough.

When you return, you'll find that the Small Bourgeon has grown. He will offer you a gift, and you'll also have the option to attack him. If you choose to fight, he drops five Luminas, one Polish Catalyst, and one Recode.

However, it's not recommended that you kill him. While there's no confirmed consequence, previous games have shown that harming non-combative NPCs can negatively impact your progress later on.