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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a group of magical influencers, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to halt a worldwide curse that halts the natural aging process. It merges turn-based RPG combat with action-game reflexes reminiscent of Soulslike games, all presented with a unique visual style.

It has emerged as the major games of the period, having sold millions and secured Game of the Year praise. The adventure can feel somewhat dense initially, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a layered and engrossing experience that stands apart from many others. Listed here are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Characters Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who are active during a encounter gain a hefty increase to XP compared to those on the bench. Additionally, the campaign will at times force you to field certain characters. The simplest approach to these challenges is to rotate your team and aim to keep all characters at a similar strength.

The upside is that farming experience is relatively quick. Battles provide a generous amount of XP, often enough for a stat increase after just several. You can reset an area's enemies by stopping at an expedition flag—these flags are located throughout each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply fight enemies near a flag, rest, and repeat.

Rotate Gear Often

You have two main ways to provide passive perks to your allies: Pictos and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which grant stat boosts and come with a unique passive skill. A character can wear three different Pictos. When equipped, finishing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to unlocked abilities. Each character has a amount of skill points (which can be increased via consumables). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. Provided that a character has the required amount, there is no limit can benefit from the identical ability, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The optimal approach is to make sure someone equips each fresh Picto you find and fights through four battles to unlock its Lumina. This ensures you gain access for future use.

When you aren't have new Pictos to work on, simply use the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its marriage of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. However, the opportunity to deflect is notoriously tight on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.

Even though a successful parry refunds one AP and causes massive extra damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are multiple gear and skills that restore Action Points on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those roll-centric options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a decisive state that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a special bar charges under their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which lowers their defense by a significant amount and stuns them for one full turn. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only particular skills can cause it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You have the option to reallocate your build using a rare item called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to think ahead prior to committing your attribute points. Try out a character's playstyle and plan a build strategy first.

Don't Forget to Stop At the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an checkpoint refills the health of your entire party and refreshes every healing items, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Remember to rest at every flag!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to quick traversal in the game. There is no overworld map, compass, or quest indicators. However, 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 simple but effective way to track your progress.

Paint Cages Are Consistently Rewarding

These special containers are effectively puzzle caches that need you to discover and activate three scattered mechanisms in the nearby environment to getting the loot. The treasure inside is always high-tier, such as rare resources or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are usually located close by. If you are missing a lock, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Go Ahead and, Fight the Vendor

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that doesn't appear in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must choose one character and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This proves to be worth doing, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, offers a special accessory that applies the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the foe by a quarter.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving