Ten Newcomer Tips to Understand Before Diving Into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the complex nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of magical influencers, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It fuses turn-based RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of action RPGs, all cloaked in a unique visual style.

It has become one of the biggest releases of the season, having garnered a huge player base and won Game of the Year recognition. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a rich and captivating RPG that differentiates itself from contemporary titles. Here are are 10 essential starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, characters who participate in a encounter gain a sizable bonus to experience versus those in reserve. Furthermore, the story will periodically force you to field certain characters. The easiest solution to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and aim to keep your roster at a comparable power level.

The good news is that farming experience is relatively quick. Encounters award a sizable amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a level up after just a few. You can reset an zone's monsters by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these points are located throughout each area. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Rotate Items Regularly

The game features two main ways to grant constant buffs to your allies: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos function as gear that grant stat boosts and include a constant effect. Each character can slot up to three Pictos. When equipped, finishing four fights with a Picto grants access to its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to skill tree nodes. Every ally has a pool of LP (which can be increased via items). Each Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has sufficient LP, multiple characters can benefit from the same skill, allowing you to stack useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient tactic is to make sure a party member has equipped every new Picto and completes four battles to gain its Lumina. This ensures you gain access for later builds.

Should you not have unleveled accessories to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s key feature is its combination of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. That said, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on any mode. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, prioritize dodging.

Even though a successful parry grants Action Points and inflicts a huge damage spike, failing to parry yields no benefit. The good news is there are a number of accessories and abilities that restore Action Points on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, focus on those evasion-based options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge charges beneath their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their damage resistance by a fifth and prevents them from acting for an entire round. It is the single most powerful debuff in the game, but only specific skills can apply it.

Allocate Points With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate attributes and skills using a scarce resource called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to consider your path instead of committing your stat investments. Experiment with a party member's role and plan a progression route first.

Don't Forget to Rest At the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an checkpoint fully heals your all characters and restocks your supply of consumables, including healing potions and phoenix down equivalents. Develop the routine to use each flag you see!

These flags also function as the primary method to quick traversal in the game. You won't find a overworld map, GPS, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a identifier. By resting, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that zone under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Always Worth the Effort

Glowing chests are basically sealed loot boxes that demand you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the immediate vicinity before getting the loot. The treasure inside is always valuable, such as respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are typically within the same area. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Absolutely, Battle the Shopkeeper

Every merchant stocks a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This proves to be a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The first merchant you meet, for instance, provides a Picto that applies the vulnerability status, which boosts damage against the target by a quarter.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

There is no {manual saving