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A curious piece of trivia: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the complex nature of the game's menus and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a team of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to reverse a global affliction that halts the natural aging process. It blends traditional RPG encounters with real-time parries inspired by Soulslike games, all cloaked in a unique artistic lexicon.

It has become one of the biggest titles of the period, having sold millions and secured top honors recognition. The game can feel slightly intimidating in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll find a rich and captivating experience that stands apart from contemporary titles. Here are are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who take part in a battle earn a significant 50% bonus to XP versus those not fighting. Furthermore, the story will periodically force you to use specific characters. The most straightforward approach to both issues is to change your lineup frequently and aim to keep all characters at a roughly equal level.

The positive aspect is that leveling up is not too tedious. Encounters award a substantial amount of XP, often sufficient for a stat increase after just several. You can reset an area's enemies by taking a break at an expedition flag—these points are located in each zone. If you need to power level, simply fight enemies near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Change Gear Often

There are two primary ways to provide passive perks to your allies: Pictos and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that provide attribute increases and include a special ability. A character can wear three different Pictos. After being worn, finishing four fights with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but essentially act as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a amount of Lumina Points (which grows via items). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. If a character has enough points, there is no limit can use the same Lumina, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your whole party.

The most efficient strategy is to make sure someone is wearing any new accessory and completes the required fights to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for when needed.

Should you not have unleveled accessories to level up, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its marriage of turn-based combat with action-oriented blocks. But, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on every setting. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, concentrate on evading.

Even though a well-timed block refunds Action Points and deals significant bonus damage, missing the timing yields no benefit. The good news is there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you find parrying difficult, use those roll-centric options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering state that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up below their HP bar. When full, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their damage resistance by a fifth and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the most impactful status effect in the game, but only specific abilities can apply it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate your build using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to plan your build before using your skill points. Get a feel for a party member's role and chart a build strategy beforehand.

Make Sure to Rest At the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an checkpoint completely restores your all characters and restocks all of your healing items, including healing potions and phoenix down equivalents. Remember to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also serve as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. You won't find a overworld map, compass, or objective markers. But, each flag has a identifier. At a flag, you can access a log of your progress in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Always Rewarding

These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that demand you to locate and shoot three concealed seals in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The treasure inside is without fail worthwhile, including items like Recoats or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are typically near the cage. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Absolutely, Battle the Vendor

Each shopkeeper stocks a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that doesn't appear in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for example, provides a Picto that applies the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

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