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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the complex nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a team of magical influencers, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to reverse a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It fuses turn-based RPG encounters with real-time parries inspired by action RPGs, all wrapped in a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has emerged as the major games of the season, having sold millions and won top honors recognition. The game can feel a bit off-putting initially, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a deep and engrossing RPG that is quite unique from many others. Here are are a collection of beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, characters who participate in a encounter earn a hefty increase to Experience Points versus those not fighting. Additionally, the narrative will at times mandate you to use specific characters. The easiest method to these mechanics is to switch members often and aim to keep everyone at a similar power level.

The positive aspect is that farming experience is not too tedious. Fights provide a sizable amount of XP, sometimes enough for a level up after just two or three. You can reset an area's enemies by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these points are located across each area. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply fight enemies near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Swap Accessories Frequently

The game features two primary ways to provide constant buffs to your party members: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos function as gear that give numerical bonuses and also feature a constant effect. Every party member can equip three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but essentially act as unlocked abilities. Every ally has a pool of skill points (which can be increased via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a required LP amount. As long as a character has enough points, there is no limit can benefit from the identical ability, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your whole party.

The smartest approach is to always one of your characters equips any new accessory and fights through four battles to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for later builds.

When you aren't have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. However, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. In place of frustrating yourself trying to land parries, focus on dodging.

While a well-timed block restores one AP and inflicts massive extra damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Luckily there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, equip those evasion-based perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Greatest Advantage

Break is a game-changing mechanic that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a special bar fills up below their HP bar. When full, you can stun the enemy, which slashes their defense by a fifth and stuns them for their next action. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only specific skills can cause it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You are able to re-spec your build using a rare item called a Recoat. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to think ahead before using your stat investments. Experiment with a character's playstyle and chart a skill tree path in advance.

Don't Forget to Stop At the Save Flag

Using your tent at an save point completely restores your entire party and restocks your supply of potions, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Remember to use each flag you see!

These flags also act as the primary method to fast travel in the game. You won't find a mini-map, waypoint system, or quest indicators. But, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can access a log of your progress in that zone under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Rewarding

Glowing chests are basically locked treasure chests that require you to locate and shoot three scattered mechanisms in the immediate vicinity before opening them. The reward is without fail worthwhile, often containing respec items or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are almost always located close by. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Absolutely, Challenge the Merchant

All vendors carries a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and win a duel in a solo battle. This proves to be rewarding, as these pieces of gear are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for instance, provides a Picto that inflicts the vulnerability status, which amplifies attacks against the foe by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

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