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

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a group of social media mages, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to reverse a global affliction that halts the natural aging process. It fuses turn-based RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of Soulslike games, all wrapped in a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has emerged as the major titles of the year, having garnered a huge player base and secured Game of the Year accolades. The experience can feel a bit off-putting at first, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll discover a rich and fascinating experience that differentiates itself from many others. Here are are ten crucial beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who are active during a battle gain a hefty increase to experience relative to those on the bench. What's more, the story will sometimes mandate you to field certain characters. The simplest method to these challenges is to switch members often and strive to keep all characters at a roughly equal level.

The positive aspect is that grinding is relatively quick. Encounters award a sizable amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a level up after just several. You can reset an area's enemies by taking a break at an expedition flag—these markers are placed across each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Swap Accessories Regularly

You have a couple of key ways to bestow passive perks to your allies: Picto gems and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and include a unique passive skill. Every party member can equip a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. A party member has a number of skill points (which you can raise via level-ups). Each Lumina has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can equip the same skill, allowing you to stack key bonuses across your whole party.

The optimal tactic is to ensure someone has equipped every new Picto and fights through four encounters to unlock its Lumina. That way you’ll have it for when needed.

Should you not have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your current build.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its marriage of RPG systems with real-time parries. However, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on dodging.

Although a perfect guard grants one AP and deals significant bonus damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you find parrying difficult, equip those dodge-focused options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a decisive mechanic that can swing a fight. As you attack a foe, a special bar fills up beneath their life bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which lowers their defense by 20% and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the single most powerful condition in the game, but only particular attacks can apply it.

Level Up With a Plan

You are able to re-spec stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to consider your path prior to spending your attribute points. Experiment with a character's playstyle and map out a build strategy first.

Make Sure to Rest At the Save Flag

Resting at an checkpoint fully heals your entire party and replenishes your supply of healing items, including Chroma Elixirs and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to rest at every flag!

These flags also function as the only means to quick traversal in the game. The game lacks a overworld map, waypoint system, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a designation. By resting, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that area under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to track your progress.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are essentially locked treasure chests that require you to find and hit three concealed seals in the surrounding area to claiming the prize. The reward is consistently valuable, including items like Recoats or strong equipment. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are typically located close by. If you can't find one, try breaking objects or looking up.

Yes, Challenge the Vendor

Every merchant carries a hidden special good that won't show up in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The first merchant you meet, for example, offers a Picto that causes the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the foe by 25%.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

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