🔗 Share this article

A curious piece of trivia: The name “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, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It blends strategic role-playing encounters with timed defensive moves reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a distinctive artistic lexicon.

It has become one of the most successful titles of the year, having achieved massive sales and secured Game of the Year accolades. The game can feel somewhat dense initially, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a rich and engrossing experience that stands apart from other games. Listed here are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Characters Often

In Expedition 33, party members who take part in a encounter earn a hefty increase to XP relative to those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will at times force you to include particular characters. The most straightforward approach to these challenges is to rotate your team and strive to keep everyone at a comparable power level.

The positive aspect is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles grant a sizable amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a level up after just a few. You can respawn an area's enemies by taking a break at an expedition flag—these flags are placed in each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Rotate Gear Frequently

There are a couple of key ways to grant constant buffs to your allies: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that give stat boosts and come with a special ability. Each character can equip up to three Pictos. Once slotted, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of skill points (which grows via consumables). A Lumina has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, multiple characters can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your full roster.

The optimal approach is to ensure one of your characters is wearing every new Picto and wins four battles to unlock its Lumina. That way you’ll have it for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of turn-based combat with real-time parries. But, the timing for a perfect block is notoriously tight on all difficulty levels. In place of frustrating yourself trying to land parries, focus on dodging.

Although a well-timed block grants a resource and causes a huge damage spike, not blocking leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, use those evasion-based options instead.

Break Is Your Key Tactic

Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a special bar increases under their life bar. Once charged, you can inflict break, which reduces their defense by 20% and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only specific abilities can apply it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You have the option to reallocate your build using a scarce resource called a Recoat. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to consider your path instead of using your attribute points. Try out a character's playstyle and map out a build strategy first.

Don't Forget to Use the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point refills the health of your whole team and refreshes your supply of consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Develop the routine to stop and heal up!

Checkpoints also serve as the primary method to fast travel in the game. The game lacks a overworld map, GPS, or objective markers. Instead, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that area under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth It

These special containers are essentially locked treasure chests that need you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the immediate vicinity to getting the loot. The reward is without fail valuable, including items like rare resources or powerful weapons. The required seals aren't easy to spot, but they are usually near the cage. If you are stuck, try exploring thoroughly or looking up.

Yes, Fight the Vendor

Each shopkeeper carries a secret, unique item that doesn't appear in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a single combat. This proves to be rewarding, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for example, offers a special accessory that causes the Defenseless debuff, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Rely On the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving