Ten Newcomer Pointers to Understand Before Diving Into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the complex nature of the interface systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of social media mages, led by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It blends traditional RPG encounters with timed defensive moves reminiscent of action RPGs, all cloaked in a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has emerged as the most successful games of the period, having sold millions and secured Game of the Year recognition. The game can feel slightly intimidating at first, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a deep and fascinating experience that stands apart from other games. Listed here are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who are active during a encounter receive a hefty increase to XP versus those in reserve. Additionally, the story will periodically mandate you to include particular characters. The most straightforward method to both issues is to switch members often and try to keep your roster at a comparable power level.

The positive aspect is that grinding is fairly fast. Encounters provide a substantial amount of XP, often sufficient for a stat increase after just two or three. You can respawn an area's enemies by resting at an checkpoint banner—these flags are scattered throughout each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Rotate Items Often

There are a couple of key ways to grant bonus effects to your characters: Pictos and Lumina skills.

  • Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and include a constant effect. Each character can slot three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
  • Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. A party member has a amount of Lumina Points (which you can raise via items). Each Lumina has a specific point cost. Provided that a character has the required amount, you are not restricted can benefit from the same Lumina, allowing you to combine useful effects across your full roster.

The optimal strategy is to always someone is wearing each fresh Picto you find and wins the required fights to unlock its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for later builds.

When you aren't have unleveled accessories to unlock, simply slot the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. However, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to master the timing, prioritize rolling.

While a successful parry refunds one AP and causes massive extra damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are several accessories and abilities that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those roll-centric options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a decisive condition that can secure victory. As you whittle down health, a special bar charges beneath their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can stun the enemy, which slashes their armor by a significant amount and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only specific abilities can apply it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a scarce resource called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's smart to think ahead prior to committing your stat investments. Experiment with a party member's role and plan a skill tree path beforehand.

Make Sure to Rest At the Expedition Flag

Resting at an expedition flag refills the health of your entire party and replenishes all of your potions, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Remember to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also act as the only means to fast travel in the game. The game lacks a overworld map, compass, or floating icons. However, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of every flag you've found in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a simple but effective way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth It

Glowing chests are basically locked treasure chests that demand you to locate and shoot three concealed seals in the nearby environment to claiming the prize. The treasure inside is consistently valuable, including items like Recoats or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are almost always located close by. If you can't find one, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Challenge the Vendor

All vendors stocks a secret, unique item that won't show up in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a single combat. This proves to be rewarding, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for reference, sells a special accessory that applies the vulnerability status, which amplifies attacks against the foe by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Autosave

There is no {manual saving

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith

A gaming technology analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine design and industry regulation, passionate about innovation.