Ten Newcomer 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 in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a group of social media mages, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a worldwide curse that halts the natural aging process. It fuses turn-based RPG combat with real-time parries drawn from Soulslike games, all presented with a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the most successful releases of the year, having garnered a huge player base and won top honors accolades. The experience can feel slightly intimidating in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll find a rich and engrossing experience that differentiates itself from contemporary titles. Below are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Regularly

In Expedition 33, characters who take part in a fight earn a hefty increase to XP relative to those in reserve. What's more, the story will at times mandate you to use specific characters. The simplest method to both issues is to switch members often and try to keep everyone at a similar level.

The upside is that leveling up is relatively quick. Fights provide a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a character progression after just several. You can respawn an area's enemies by taking a break at an save point—these flags are placed across each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Rotate Gear Often

There are a couple of key ways to provide passive perks to your party members: Pictos and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that grant numerical bonuses and also feature a special ability. A character can slot three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to skill tree nodes. Every ally has a number of skill points (which grows via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a required LP amount. As long as a character has the required amount, multiple characters can benefit from the identical ability, allowing you to layer powerful passives across your entire team.

The optimal approach is to ensure someone is wearing every new Picto and wins the required fights to gain its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for when needed.

If you don't have new Pictos to level up, simply slot the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. That said, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on every setting. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on evading.

Even though a well-timed block grants one AP and deals massive extra damage, not blocking gives you nothing. The good news is there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, focus on those roll-centric abilities instead.

Break Is Your Greatest Advantage

The Break status effect is a battle-altering condition that can secure victory. As you whittle down health, a special bar charges under their HP bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their defense by a significant amount and stuns them for their next action. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only specific attacks can trigger it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Because it's rare, it's prudent to think ahead before spending your attribute points. Experiment with a party member's role and map out a skill tree path beforehand.

Always Rest At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point refills the health of your entire party and replenishes your supply of potions, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Develop the routine to stop and heal up!

Expedition flags also function as the primary method to quick traversal in the game. There is no mini-map, waypoint system, or quest indicators. Instead, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can view a list of your progress in that area under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Rewarding

Glowing chests are essentially puzzle caches that require you to locate and shoot three hidden locks in the surrounding area to getting the loot. The contents is consistently high-tier, including items like Recoats or strong equipment. The required seals aren't in plain sight, but they are typically near the cage. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Absolutely, Fight the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper has a hidden special good that won't show up in their normal inventory. To unlock it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a solo battle. This is invariably rewarding, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, offers a Picto that inflicts the vulnerability status, which amplifies attacks against the target by a significant margin.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

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