Strategy
Weapons mode: what a weapon's name gives away
The 107 weapons of Weapons mode were not named at random. Their ending almost always gives the owner away, and their root often points to an enemy, a place or an idea from the game.
Published · 4 min read
How the mode works
Weapons mode shows you a weapon icon, exactly as it appears in the game's menus, and asks for its name. The 107 weapons belong to the expedition's six fighters, split into five arsenals: 26 for Gustave and Verso, who share their swords, 23 for Lune, 24 for Maelle, 22 for Sciel and 12 for Monoco.
The suggestion list deliberately shows no thumbnails, otherwise you could simply match the pictures. It does, however, show each weapon's owner ("Weapon of Lune", "Weapon of Monoco"…). Combined with the naming rules below, that label is often enough to find the answer in two or three guesses.
One ending per character
Expedition 33's weapon names are portmanteaus: a root followed by an ending specific to the wielder. The table below is computed directly from the mode's weapon list:
| Owner | Weapons | Ending | Examples | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gustave / Verso | 26 | -am (13) or -so (12) | Abysseram, Blodam, Corpeso, Chevalam | Chalium |
| Lune | 23 | -im (22) | Saperim, Benisim, Betelim, Bonbim | Dualiso |
| Maelle | 24 | -um (22) | Jarum, Battlum, Brulerum, Chantenum | Barrier Breaker, Troubadim |
| Sciel | 22 | -on (22) | Algueron, Blizzon, Bourgelon, Charnon | — |
| Monoco | 12 | -ro (12) | Ballaro, Boucharo, Brumaro, Cannaro | — |
The pattern is remarkably consistent:
- Lune: nearly everything ends in -im (Benisim, Potierim, Chapelim…). One exception.
- Maelle: -um (Glaisum, Stalum, Volesterum…), with two exceptions.
- Sciel: always -on (Garganon, Gobluson, Ramasson…), no exceptions at all.
- Monoco: always -aro (Boucharo, Brumaro, Chromaro…).
- Gustave and Verso: two families share their swords, -am (Lanceram, Gaulteram, Chevalam…) and -eso or -so (Danseso, Glaceso, Simoso…).
One trick follows straight from this table. The game's search is not limited to the start of a name: it looks for the letters anywhere. Typing "aro" therefore brings up Monoco's weapons, while "um" mostly lists Maelle's. Suggestions are capped at eight at a time, but that is often enough to spot the right one.
The root: an enemy, a place, an idea
Strip off the ending and you are left with a root. Very often it recalls a Nevron or a boss you have fought:
| Weapon | Owner | Root it recalls |
|---|---|---|
| Glaisum | Maelle | Glaise |
| Stalum | Maelle | Stalact |
| Jarum | Maelle | Jar |
| Volesterum | Maelle | Volester |
| Potierim | Lune | Potier |
| Chapelim | Lune | Chapelier |
| Garganon | Sciel | Gargant |
| Gobluson | Sciel | Goblu |
| Ramasson | Sciel | Ramasseur |
| Lanceram | Gustave / Verso | Lancelier |
| Gaulteram | Gustave / Verso | Gault |
| Boucharo | Monoco | Boucheclier |
Other roots describe a material or an idea rather than an enemy: Glaceso and Coldum for the cold, Snowim for snow, Seashelum for seashells, Battlum for battle. Keep that reading in mind when you look at the picture: a weapon's appearance often echoes its root. A blade that looks carved from stone or ice already puts you on the right track.
Recognising the wielder from the silhouette
Before you even read a name, the icon itself often betrays its owner, because each character fights with a distinctive kind of weapon:
- Lune: compact objects with no blade, which she uses to channel her magic. Rosettes, stars, clusters of gears: if the icon looks like a piece of jewellery or a mechanism, it is almost certainly one of Lune's.
- Sciel: a long haft ending in a curved blade at each end, like a double scythe.
- Monoco: a long staff with something hanging from it, a bell, a lantern or a mask.
- Gustave, Verso and Maelle: blades, straight or curved, broad or slender. Their silhouettes are similar enough that the picture alone will not settle it. That is where the ending becomes essential: -am or -eso for Gustave and Verso's swords, -um for Maelle.
English or French?
Most weapon names are identical in both languages. The French version adapted 26 of them:
- sometimes by translating the root: Coldum becomes Froiddum, Snowim becomes Neigim, Battlum becomes Bataillum, Seashelum becomes Coquillum;
- sometimes by using the enemy's French name: Jarum becomes Amphorum (the Jar is called Amphorien in French), Scaverim becomes Charorim (from Charognard, the Scavenger);
- sometimes by simply adding an accent: Demonam becomes Démonam, Sireso becomes Sirèso;
- and twice with a full translation: Barrier Breaker becomes Brise-barrière and Dreameso becomes Songeso.
You do not have to choose: the game accepts both spellings whatever the site's language, and it ignores accents. The weapon codex lists both names side by side for all 107 weapons.
A four-step method
- Look at the silhouette to identify the wielder, or at least narrow it down to two.
- Type that wielder's ending ("im", "um", "on", "aro", "am" or "eso") to list their weapons.
- Look for a root that matches the picture: an enemy, a material, a colour.
- Practise in free mode: after a few games, the most common roots become second nature.
Did you know?
Two small series run through the whole arsenal. Every fighter owns a weapon named after Esquie: Esquiso for Gustave and Verso, Esquim for Lune, Esqium for Maelle, Esquion for Sciel and Esquiaro for Monoco. And the three masks you meet on the island of Visages, anger, joy and sadness, each inspired a weapon for a different character: Angerim for Lune, Joyaro for Monoco and Sadon for Sciel.
To go further, the Enemy mode guide introduces the enemies who lent their names to so many weapons, and the glossary lists the game's terms in English and French.
