🔗 Share this article

A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of social media mages, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It blends turn-based RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of challenging titles, all presented with a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the year, having achieved massive sales and earned Game of the Year praise. The adventure can feel slightly intimidating initially, but when it clicks, you’ll discover a rich and captivating experience that is quite unique from many others. Here are are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Often

In Expedition 33, party members who are active during a encounter earn a hefty increase to Experience Points relative to those in reserve. What's more, the story will at times mandate you to use specific characters. The most straightforward method to these challenges is to switch members often and aim to keep all characters at a similar level.

The upside is that farming experience is relatively quick. Encounters grant a substantial amount of XP, frequently enough for a level up after just a few. You can refresh an local foes by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these points are placed in each area. If you need to power level, simply battle monsters near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Change Items Regularly

You have two primary ways to grant passive perks to your allies: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos are accessories that give attribute increases and come with a constant effect. Every party member can equip a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, winning four fights with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of LP (which you can raise via items). Every Lumina ability has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can use the same skill, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your whole party.

The optimal approach is to always someone is wearing every new Picto and completes the required fights to unlock its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for future use.

When you aren't have unleveled accessories to level up, simply slot the Pictos with the best stats for your current build.

Parrying Isn't Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of RPG systems with action-oriented blocks. That said, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. Instead of breaking controllers trying to land parries, focus on evading.

Although a successful parry refunds one AP and inflicts massive extra damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those roll-centric options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a game-changing mechanic that can secure victory. As you whittle down health, a special bar increases beneath their HP bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their armor by 20% and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only specific abilities can cause it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You have the option to reallocate attributes and skills using a rare item called a Respec token. Given its scarcity, it's smart to consider your path before committing your skill points. Get a feel for a party member's role and chart a progression route beforehand.

Make Sure to Rest At the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag refills the health of your whole team and restocks all of your potions, including Chroma Elixirs and Revive Tints. Remember to stop and heal up!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to fast travel in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of all discovered flags in that zone under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Consistently Worth the Effort

These special containers are essentially sealed loot boxes that need you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the surrounding area before claiming the prize. The reward is always high-tier, such as respec items or unique gear. The required seals aren't always obvious, but they are almost always near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Go Ahead and, Fight the Merchant

All vendors carries a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed 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 invariably rewarding, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The earliest vendor you meet, for reference, provides a Picto that applies the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the target by a significant margin.

Trust In the Automatic Saving

You cannot perform {manual saving