10 Starter Tips to Understand Before Starting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

An interesting tidbit: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to 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 bold British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a global affliction that halts the natural aging process. It blends traditional RPG combat with real-time parries drawn from challenging titles, all presented with a unique visual style.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the season, having sold millions and won Game of the Year praise. The experience can feel a bit off-putting at first, but when it clicks, you’ll find a rich and engrossing RPG that differentiates itself from other games. Here are are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who take part in a encounter earn a hefty increase to Experience Points compared to those on the bench. Additionally, the narrative will at times force you to include particular characters. The easiest method to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and aim to keep everyone at a comparable level.

The positive aspect is that farming experience is relatively quick. Encounters award a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a level up after just two or three. You can respawn an zone's monsters by taking a break at an save point—these markers are located throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and continue the cycle.

Change Items Often

The game features two main ways to provide passive perks to your party members: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

  • Pictos are items which provide stat boosts and also feature a unique passive skill. Every party member can slot a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, completing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
  • Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a number of Lumina Points (which grows via items). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. As long as a character has enough points, there is no limit can use the identical ability, allowing you to stack key bonuses across your whole party.

The optimal tactic is to make sure a party member equips each fresh Picto you find and completes the required fights to unlock its Lumina. Doing this you gain access for later builds.

If you don't have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of turn-based combat with action-oriented blocks. However, the parry window is notoriously tight on any mode. Rather than breaking controllers trying to land parries, focus on rolling.

Although a successful parry grants Action Points and causes massive extra damage, not blocking leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are several accessories and abilities that restore Action Points on a successful dodge. If you can't get the block down, focus on those roll-centric perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a decisive state that can swing a fight. As you whittle down health, a yellow gauge increases beneath their HP bar. Once charged, you can inflict break, which lowers their armor by 20% and prevents them from acting for an entire round. It is the single most powerful condition in the game, but only particular attacks can cause it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Recoat. Because it's rare, it's wise to consider your path instead of using your stat investments. Try out a party member's role and map out a skill tree path in advance.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag fully heals your all characters and restocks every potions, including Chroma Elixirs and phoenix down equivalents. Make it a habit to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also function as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. You won't find a traditional map, waypoint system, or quest indicators. But, each flag has a name and number. When you interact with one, you can view a list of your progress in that area under a teleport list. It's a simple but effective way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are essentially locked treasure chests that need you to locate and shoot three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area prior to getting the loot. The treasure inside is always high-tier, often containing respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are typically near the cage. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Absolutely, Battle the Shopkeeper

All vendors stocks a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their regular wares. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a single combat. This proves to be worth doing, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for instance, sells a Picto that inflicts the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the target by 25%.

Rely On the Autosave

There is no {manual saving

Mark Torres
Mark Torres

Elara is a passionate gaming enthusiast with years of experience in reviewing online slots and sharing expert insights for players.

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