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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the initially cryptic nature of the in-game systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a group of magical influencers, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a global affliction that prevents aging. It fuses turn-based RPG battles with action-game reflexes reminiscent of action RPGs, all presented with a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has become one of the biggest releases of the year, having achieved massive sales and won top honors praise. The game can feel slightly intimidating in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a rich and fascinating role-playing game that stands apart from other games. Listed here are a collection of beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Often

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a battle receive a hefty increase to XP versus those not fighting. Furthermore, the narrative will periodically mandate you to include particular characters. The easiest method to both issues is to rotate your team and strive to keep everyone at a comparable strength.

The good news is that farming experience is not too tedious. Encounters provide a substantial amount of XP, sometimes enough for a stat increase after just two or three. You can respawn an area's enemies by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these markers are located throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, use the flag, and do it again.

Change Items Regularly

The game features two main ways to provide bonus effects to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that provide attribute increases and come with a special ability. Every party member can equip a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, winning four encounters with a Picto grants access to its linked Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. A party member has a number of LP (which can be increased via items). A Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has the required amount, you are not restricted can equip the same skill, allowing you to stack useful effects across your whole party.

The smartest strategy is to always a party member equips any new accessory and fights through the required fights to unlock its Lumina. That way you gain access for future use.

Should you not have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its marriage of turn-based combat with action-oriented blocks. But, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on every setting. In place of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, focus on rolling.

Even though a well-timed block grants Action Points and inflicts a huge damage spike, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are multiple gear and skills that grant AP on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, equip those dodge-focused options instead.

Break Is Your Greatest Advantage

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can turn the tide. As you whittle down health, a special bar fills up under their health bar. Once charged, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their defense by a significant amount and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the most impactful condition in the game, but only specific abilities can trigger it.

Build Characters With a Plan

You can reset stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to consider your path before committing your stat investments. Experiment with a character's playstyle and plan a skill tree path beforehand.

Always Stop At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point completely restores your entire party and restocks every consumables, including healing potions and phoenix down equivalents. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

These flags also function as the only means to fast travel in the game. There is no overworld map, GPS, or floating icons. But, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can access a log of every flag you've found in that level under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are effectively locked treasure chests that demand you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the surrounding area to opening them. The treasure inside is always high-tier, such as rare resources or strong equipment. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are typically within the same area. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or looking up.

Absolutely, Fight the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper has 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 beat them in combat in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably worth doing, as these items are truly unique. The earliest vendor you meet, for instance, offers a Picto that inflicts the vulnerability status, which boosts damage against the foe by 25%.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

There is no {manual saving