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A fun fact: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the daring British Daredevil, on a journey to halt a global affliction that prevents aging. It merges turn-based RPG encounters with timed defensive moves inspired by action RPGs, all presented with a unique artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the biggest games of the year, having garnered a huge player base and won Game of the Year praise. The game can feel a bit off-putting at first, but when it clicks, you’ll find a deep and engrossing experience that stands apart from many others. Listed here are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a fight earn a hefty increase to Experience Points compared to those in reserve. Furthermore, the story will periodically mandate you to use specific characters. The most straightforward solution to these mechanics is to rotate your team and try to keep all characters at a comparable level.

The upside is that leveling up is not too tedious. Encounters provide a sizable amount of XP, sometimes enough for a level up after just several. You can refresh an local foes by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these points are scattered across each area. If you need to power level, simply fight enemies near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Items Often

There are two main ways to provide passive perks to your party members: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and come with a unique passive skill. Each character can wear up to three Pictos. After being worn, completing four encounters with a Picto will unlock its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but essentially act as skill tree nodes. Each character has a pool of Lumina Points (which can be increased via level-ups). A Lumina has a required LP amount. If a character has the required amount, there is no limit can equip the identical ability, allowing you to stack useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient approach is to ensure a party member equips every new Picto and fights through four encounters to gain its Lumina. This ensures the ability will be available for future use.

If you don't have fresh gear to work on, simply slot the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Blocking Is Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of RPG systems with real-time parries. That said, the opportunity to deflect is notoriously tight on all difficulty levels. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, focus on rolling.

While a well-timed block refunds Action Points and deals massive extra damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you find parrying difficult, equip those dodge-focused perks instead.

Break Is Your Greatest Advantage

The Break status effect is a decisive condition that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a gold meter increases below their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which lowers their defense by 20% and stuns them for an entire round. It is the single most powerful condition in the game, but only certain abilities can cause it.

Allocate Points Deliberately

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

Make Sure to Use the Save Flag

Stopping at an save point fully heals your all characters and refreshes all of your consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Remember to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also serve as the only means to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, GPS, or floating icons. However, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of all discovered flags in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to see how far you've come.

Glowing Cages Are Invariably Worth It

Glowing chests are basically locked treasure chests that demand you to find and hit three hidden locks in the nearby environment prior to getting the loot. The reward is without fail high-tier, often containing respec items or powerful weapons. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are almost always near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try breaking objects or looking up.

Absolutely, Challenge the Shopkeeper

Every merchant carries a hidden special good that isn't listed in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must select a party member and defeat the merchant in a single combat. This is always worth doing, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The first merchant you meet, for example, sells a special accessory that applies the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the foe by 25%.

Trust In the Autosave

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