Ten Starter Pointers to Learn Before Diving Into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of social media mages, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It merges turn-based RPG encounters with timed defensive moves drawn from challenging titles, all presented with a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has become one of the biggest games of the season, having sold millions and secured Game of the Year recognition. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll uncover a deep and fascinating RPG that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Below are a collection of beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Team Members Often

In Expedition 33, characters who take part in a encounter earn a sizable bonus to XP compared to those not fighting. Furthermore, the narrative will at times require you to field certain characters. The easiest method to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and strive to keep all characters at a similar power level.

The good news is that leveling up is not too tedious. Encounters grant a sizable amount of XP, frequently enough for a level up after just two or three. You can respawn an area's enemies by resting at an expedition flag—these flags are located across each zone. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Swap Gear Often

There are two primary ways to provide bonus effects to your party members: Pictos and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and include a special ability. A character can slot a maximum of three Pictos. After being worn, winning four battles with a Picto grants access to its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. A party member has a pool of skill points (which grows via consumables). A Lumina has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can equip the identical ability, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your whole party.

The most efficient approach is to always a party member has equipped any new accessory and completes four encounters to unlock its Lumina. That way you gain access for later builds.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of RPG systems with twitch-based defenses. However, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on every setting. Instead of breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize evading.

Although a perfect guard refunds a resource and causes a huge damage spike, failing to parry gives you nothing. The good news is there are several Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, focus on those roll-centric perks instead.

Break Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a game-changing state that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a special bar fills up below their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their defense by 20% and prevents them from acting for one full turn. It is the most impactful status effect in the game, but only specific skills can trigger it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a scarce resource called a Recoat item. Given its scarcity, it's wise to plan your build before committing your stat investments. Experiment with a character's playstyle and chart a skill tree path in advance.

Make Sure to Stop At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an checkpoint fully heals your whole team and restocks every healing items, including healing potions and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also act as the closest thing to quick traversal in the game. There is no traditional map, compass, or quest indicators. But, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can access a log of every flag you've found in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Always Rewarding

Glowing chests are basically locked treasure chests that need you to locate and shoot three concealed seals in the surrounding area before getting the loot. The contents is consistently valuable, such as Recoats or strong equipment. The required seals aren't in plain sight, but they are usually near the cage. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Yes, Challenge the Shopkeeper

All vendors stocks a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed in their standard shop. To unlock it, you must choose one character and win a duel in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably rewarding, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, offers a Picto that causes the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the target by a quarter.

Trust In the Automatic Saving

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