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An interesting tidbit: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the complex nature of the interface systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a group of magical influencers, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a quest to reverse a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It blends traditional RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of action RPGs, all wrapped in a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has proven to be the biggest releases of the year, having achieved massive sales and secured the premier award recognition. The game can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll find a layered and engrossing RPG that stands apart from other games. Here are are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who are active during a battle receive a sizable bonus to Experience Points compared to those on the bench. What's more, the narrative will periodically mandate you to field certain characters. The most straightforward solution to these challenges is to rotate your team and strive to keep your roster at a comparable power level.

The good news is that leveling up is not too tedious. Fights provide a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a level up after just several. You can refresh an local foes by resting at an save point—these flags are scattered throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and do it again.

Rotate Accessories Frequently

There are two primary ways to grant constant buffs to your characters: Pictos and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos function as gear that give stat boosts and come with a constant effect. A character can slot a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, winning four battles with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to unlocked abilities. Each character has a number of skill points (which you can raise via level-ups). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. If a character has sufficient LP, multiple characters can equip the same skill, allowing you to stack powerful passives across your whole party.

The optimal tactic is to always one of your characters has equipped every new Picto and wins four encounters to reveal its Lumina. Doing this the ability will be available for later builds.

If you don't have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its combination of RPG systems with real-time parries. However, the timing for a perfect block is notoriously tight on every setting. In place of breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on dodging.

Even though a perfect guard grants one AP and inflicts a huge damage spike, failing to parry yields no benefit. The good news is there are multiple gear and skills that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you can't get the block down, equip those roll-centric perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

The Break status effect is a battle-altering state that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a special bar fills up under their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their damage resistance by 20% and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the most impactful status effect in the game, but only certain skills can trigger it.

Allocate Points Intentionally

You can reset attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to think ahead prior to using your attribute points. Experiment with a character's playstyle and map out a skill tree path in advance.

Don't Forget to Rest At the Save Flag

Stopping at an checkpoint refills the health of your entire party and refreshes every healing items, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

These flags also function as the only means to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, waypoint system, or quest indicators. However, each flag has a name and number. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of your progress in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to track your progress.

Glowing Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are basically sealed loot boxes that need you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The reward is always high-tier, including items like rare resources or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are typically within the same area. If you are stuck, try exploring thoroughly or looking up.

Go Ahead and, Challenge the Merchant

Every merchant carries a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their standard shop. To unlock it, you must choose one character and beat them in combat in a single combat. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, sells a Picto that applies the Defenseless debuff, which boosts damage against the affected enemy by 25%.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving