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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of magical influencers, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a quest to halt a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It merges turn-based RPG combat with timed defensive moves inspired by action RPGs, all cloaked in a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has emerged as the most successful games of the period, having garnered a huge player base and won the premier award praise. The adventure can feel somewhat dense initially, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll find a deep and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from other games. Here are are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Often

In Expedition 33, party members who are active during a battle gain a sizable bonus to XP versus those in reserve. What's more, the story will sometimes require you to use specific characters. The most straightforward solution to these mechanics is to rotate your team and try to keep all characters at a similar power level.

The good news is that leveling up is not too tedious. Fights provide a sizable amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a level up after just two or three. You can respawn an local foes by taking a break at an expedition flag—these flags are scattered across each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Gear Regularly

The game features two primary ways to grant bonus effects to your allies: Pictos and Luminas.

• Pictos are accessories that provide stat boosts and also feature a constant effect. A character can slot three different Pictos. When equipped, completing four fights with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but essentially act as equippable passives. Every ally has a amount of skill points (which can be increased via items). Every Lumina ability has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to combine useful effects across your entire team.

The most efficient tactic is to always a party member equips each fresh Picto you find and completes four encounters to reveal its Lumina. Doing this the ability will be available for when needed.

Should you not have new Pictos to unlock, simply slot the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of RPG systems with real-time parries. But, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on every setting. Rather than breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on dodging.

Although a perfect guard grants Action Points and inflicts significant bonus damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are multiple gear and skills that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those evasion-based options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a game-changing state that can turn the tide. As you whittle down health, a special bar fills up beneath their HP bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their armor by 20% and prevents them from acting for an entire round. It is the most impactful debuff in the game, but only certain attacks can trigger it.

Level Up Intentionally

You can reset stat points and abilities using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to plan your build instead of committing your skill points. Try out a party member's role and chart a build strategy beforehand.

Make Sure to Stop At the Expedition Flag

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

These flags also serve as the only means to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. But, each flag has a identifier. By resting, you can access a log of all discovered flags in that zone under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Glowing chests are essentially sealed loot boxes that demand you to find and hit three concealed seals in the nearby environment before claiming the prize. The reward is without fail valuable, including items like rare resources or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't always obvious, but they are usually located close by. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Go Ahead and, Battle the Vendor

All vendors carries a secret, unique item that won't show up in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a single combat. This is invariably worth doing, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for instance, sells a special accessory that causes the vulnerability status, which boosts damage against the target by a quarter.

Rely On the Autosave

There is no {manual saving