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A curious piece of trivia: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of glamorous spellcasters, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to halt a global affliction that halts the natural aging process. It fuses strategic role-playing encounters with timed defensive moves reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a unique visual style.

It has proven to be the biggest releases of the season, having sold millions and secured the premier award praise. The experience can feel slightly intimidating initially, but once you lock in, you’ll find a rich and engrossing role-playing game that stands apart from other games. Below are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, characters who take part in a battle gain a hefty increase to XP relative to those on the bench. Additionally, the campaign will at times require you to field certain characters. The simplest approach to these mechanics is to switch members often and try to keep all characters at a similar level.

The upside is that farming experience is fairly fast. Encounters grant a substantial amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a stat increase after just several. You can refresh an local foes by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these markers are placed across each level. If you need to power level, simply battle monsters near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Rotate Accessories Frequently

There are two primary ways to provide constant buffs to your party members: Pictos and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and include a special ability. Each character can wear up to three Pictos. When equipped, winning four encounters with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a pool of Lumina Points (which you can raise via level-ups). Each Lumina has a set cost. As long as a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can equip the same skill, allowing you to combine useful effects across your whole party.

The most efficient approach is to ensure someone has equipped each fresh Picto you find and completes the required fights to unlock its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for future use.

Should you not have unleveled accessories to level up, simply slot the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of turn-based combat with real-time parries. But, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on any mode. Instead of breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.

Even though a successful parry restores Action Points and deals a huge damage spike, not blocking gives you nothing. The good news is there are several Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those dodge-focused options instead.

Break Is Your Key Tactic

The Break status effect is a game-changing condition that can secure victory. As you whittle down health, a gold meter charges beneath their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their defense by 20% and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only certain skills can trigger it.

Build Characters With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to think ahead prior to using your skill points. Get a feel for a character's playstyle and map out a build strategy beforehand.

Make Sure to Rest At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point refills the health of your entire party and replenishes all of your consumables, including healing potions and phoenix down equivalents. Make it a habit to stop and heal up!

Checkpoints also act as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. You won't find a traditional map, compass, or floating icons. But, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can view a list of all discovered flags in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Glowing Cages Are Consistently Rewarding

These special containers are effectively puzzle caches that need you to locate and shoot three scattered mechanisms in the nearby environment before getting the loot. The treasure inside is consistently valuable, often containing rare resources or strong equipment. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are typically near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try exploring thoroughly or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Fight the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper carries a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their normal inventory. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a solo battle. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are game-changing. The first merchant you meet, for example, sells a special accessory that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by a quarter.

Trust In the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving