🔗 Share this article

A curious piece of trivia: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a group of social media mages, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to halt a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It fuses traditional RPG combat with timed defensive moves reminiscent of action RPGs, all wrapped in a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has emerged as the biggest titles of the period, having garnered a huge player base and secured Game of the Year accolades. The game can feel slightly intimidating at first, but when it clicks, you’ll discover a layered and captivating experience that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Below are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Often

In Expedition 33, party members who take part in a encounter gain a hefty increase to XP relative to those in reserve. Additionally, the story will sometimes require you to field certain characters. The most straightforward approach to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and try to keep everyone at a comparable level.

The good news is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles grant a sizable amount of XP, frequently enough for a stat increase after just a few. You can reset an local foes by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these flags are placed throughout each level. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Rotate Gear Frequently

You have two main ways to grant passive perks to your party members: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and include a unique passive skill. Every party member can slot up to three Pictos. When equipped, completing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its associated Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of skill points (which you can raise via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. As long as a character has sufficient LP, multiple characters can equip the identical ability, allowing you to stack useful effects across your full roster.

The smartest tactic is to make sure someone is wearing any new accessory and completes four battles to gain its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for future use.

When you aren't have new Pictos to work on, simply equip the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. That said, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on any mode. Rather than breaking controllers trying to master the timing, prioritize dodging.

While a well-timed block refunds one AP and inflicts significant bonus damage, failing to parry yields no benefit. Luckily there are several accessories and abilities that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, use those dodge-focused perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a decisive state that can swing a fight. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up below their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their damage resistance by 20% and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only particular skills can cause it.

Allocate Points Deliberately

You can reset stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's wise to think ahead prior to spending your attribute points. Try out a hero's kit and chart a skill tree path first.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an checkpoint refills the health of your all characters and replenishes all of your healing items, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also act as the primary method to fast travel in the game. You won't find a overworld map, waypoint system, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can view a list of your progress in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth It

These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that need you to discover and activate three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area to opening them. The treasure inside is without fail valuable, often containing Recoats or strong equipment. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are almost always within the same area. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Absolutely, Challenge the Merchant

All vendors carries a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a one-on-one fight. This is always worth doing, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The first merchant you meet, for example, offers a Picto that inflicts the Defenseless debuff, which increases damage dealt against the foe by a significant margin.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving