🔗 Share this article

A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the interface systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a mission to halt a global affliction that stops people from growing old. It blends traditional RPG battles with timed defensive moves drawn from Soulslike games, all presented with a distinctive visual style.

It has become one of the major titles of the season, having garnered a huge player base and earned Game of the Year recognition. The game can feel a bit off-putting at first, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a deep and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from contemporary titles. Listed here are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a encounter gain a hefty increase to Experience Points relative to those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will at times force you to include particular characters. The simplest approach to these mechanics is to change your lineup frequently and strive to keep everyone at a similar strength.

The good news is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles award a generous amount of XP, sometimes enough for a stat increase after just a few. You can reset an zone's monsters by taking a break at an expedition flag—these points are scattered in each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Items Regularly

You have a couple of key ways to provide constant buffs to your allies: Picto gems and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and include a unique passive skill. Each character can slot up to three Pictos. When equipped, finishing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but essentially act as equippable passives. A party member has a pool of skill points (which can be increased via consumables). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. As long as a character has the required amount, there is no limit can benefit from the same skill, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The optimal approach is to ensure one of your characters is wearing each fresh Picto you find and fights through the required fights to reveal its Lumina. That way you gain access for when needed.

If you don't have fresh gear to level up, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of RPG systems with twitch-based defenses. However, the timing for a perfect block is notoriously tight on any mode. In place of struggling endlessly trying to hit perfect blocks, focus on evading.

Although a well-timed block restores 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 provide resources on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those roll-centric options instead.

Break Is Your Greatest Advantage

Break is a game-changing mechanic that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a special bar increases beneath their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can stun the enemy, which lowers their defense by a fifth and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the single most powerful condition in the game, but only specific attacks can trigger it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a limited consumable called a Recoat. Given its scarcity, it's wise to think ahead instead of spending your attribute points. Try out a character's playstyle and plan a skill tree path beforehand.

Make Sure to Stop At the Save Flag

Resting at an expedition flag refills the health of your entire party and restocks your supply of healing items, including Chroma Elixirs and phoenix down equivalents. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to navigation in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, GPS, or objective markers. Instead, each flag has a name and number. At a flag, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that zone under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Locked Chests Are Consistently Worth It

Paint Cages are effectively sealed loot boxes that demand you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the surrounding area prior to opening them. The reward is consistently valuable, such as rare resources or strong equipment. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are almost always within the same area. If you are stuck, try breaking objects or looking up.

Yes, Battle the Shopkeeper

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a one-on-one fight. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, provides a special accessory that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by 25%.

Rely On the Automatic Saving

The game lacks {manual saving