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A fun fact: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of glamorous spellcasters, spearheaded by the daring British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It fuses strategic role-playing encounters with timed defensive moves reminiscent of challenging titles, all presented with a distinctive visual style.

It has proven to be the major titles of the period, having achieved massive sales and won top honors accolades. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll find a rich and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from many others. Below are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Team Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who take part in a encounter earn a sizable bonus to Experience Points compared to those not fighting. What's more, the story will at times force you to field certain characters. The most straightforward approach to these mechanics is to switch members often and aim to keep your roster at a comparable level.

The upside is that grinding is not too tedious. Battles award a sizable amount of XP, frequently enough for a stat increase after just two or three. You can respawn an area's enemies by resting at an save point—these flags are placed in each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply battle monsters near a flag, refresh, and continue the cycle.

Change Items Regularly

The game features two primary ways to provide bonus effects to your characters: Pictos and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are items which provide stat boosts and also feature a unique passive skill. Each character can wear up to three Pictos. When equipped, finishing four fights with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a amount of skill points (which can be increased via consumables). A Lumina has a required LP amount. If a character has the required amount, multiple characters can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to combine useful effects across your entire team.

The most efficient tactic is to make sure one of your characters has equipped every new Picto and completes four battles to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for future use.

Should you not have new Pictos to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Blocking Is Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of strategic battles with real-time parries. However, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on all difficulty levels. Instead of breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.

Even though a perfect guard grants a resource and causes a huge damage spike, failing to parry gives you nothing. Luckily there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a successful dodge. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those evasion-based perks instead.

Break Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a game-changing state that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge charges below their life bar. Once charged, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their defense by a significant amount and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only specific skills can apply it.

Level Up With a Plan

You are able to re-spec attributes and skills using a scarce resource called a Recoat item. Given its scarcity, it's smart to think ahead before committing your skill points. Experiment with a party member's role and chart a build strategy first.

Make Sure to Stop At the Save Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag completely restores your all characters and restocks every potions, including HP restoratives and revival items. Develop the routine to rest at every flag!

Expedition flags also serve as the only means to fast travel in the game. The game lacks a overworld map, waypoint system, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a name and number. By resting, you can see a menu of every flag you've found in that level under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Consistently Rewarding

Paint Cages are essentially puzzle caches that need you to find and hit three hidden locks in the immediate vicinity before opening them. The reward is always worthwhile, often containing Recoats or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are usually located close by. If you can't find one, try breaking objects or checking elevated spots.

Go Ahead and, Battle the Vendor

Every merchant carries a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their regular wares. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The earliest vendor you meet, for instance, provides a special accessory that causes the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the target by 25%.

Rely On the Autosave

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