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A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the initially cryptic nature of the game's menus and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of glamorous spellcasters, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a global affliction that prevents aging. It fuses turn-based RPG battles with action-game reflexes reminiscent of challenging titles, all cloaked in a unique visual style.

It has proven to be the most successful games of the season, having garnered a huge player base and won Game of the Year accolades. The game can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a layered and fascinating role-playing game that stands apart from other games. Listed here are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, characters who are active during a fight earn a significant 50% bonus to experience versus those in reserve. What's more, the story will sometimes mandate you to field certain characters. The most straightforward approach to both issues is to change your lineup frequently and try to keep your roster at a comparable strength.

The upside is that farming experience is not too tedious. Battles award a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a level up after just two or three. You can refresh an area's enemies by taking a break at an expedition flag—these flags are scattered throughout each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Change Accessories Regularly

There are two primary ways to provide passive perks to your party members: Pictos and Luminas.

• Pictos are accessories that give attribute increases and come with a constant effect. A character can wear three different Pictos. After being worn, finishing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of Lumina Points (which can be increased via items). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. Provided that a character has enough points, multiple characters can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your entire team.

The optimal strategy is to ensure someone equips each fresh Picto you find and wins four battles to reveal its Lumina. That way you gain access for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to level up, simply equip the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your current build.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of turn-based combat with real-time parries. That said, the parry window is extremely brief on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, focus on rolling.

Although a well-timed block refunds a resource and deals massive extra damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those dodge-focused options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Greatest Advantage

The Break status effect is a battle-altering condition that can swing a fight. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up beneath their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their armor by a significant amount and stuns them for an entire round. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only certain abilities can trigger it.

Allocate Points Deliberately

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's smart to plan your build before committing your attribute points. Get a feel for a party member's role and map out a progression route beforehand.

Make Sure to Rest At the Save Flag

Resting at an save point fully heals your whole team and refreshes your supply of potions, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Develop the routine to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also act as the primary method to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, waypoint system, or objective markers. Instead, each flag has a name and number. 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.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth the Effort

These special containers are effectively locked treasure chests that demand you to discover and activate three scattered mechanisms in the nearby environment to claiming the prize. The reward is without fail worthwhile, including items like respec items or unique gear. The required seals aren't always obvious, but they are almost always within the same area. If you are missing a lock, try breaking objects or looking up.

Yes, Battle the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a single combat. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for example, offers a special accessory that causes the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by 25%.

Have Faith in the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving