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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the initially cryptic nature of the game's menus and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the daring British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a worldwide curse that halts the natural aging process. It fuses turn-based RPG battles with timed defensive moves reminiscent of challenging titles, all cloaked in a unique aesthetic language.

It has proven to be the biggest titles of the year, having achieved massive sales and won Game of the Year accolades. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll find a deep and captivating experience that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Here are are a collection of beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, characters who participate in a encounter gain a significant 50% bonus to Experience Points compared to those in reserve. What's more, the story will sometimes mandate you to include particular characters. The simplest approach to both issues is to rotate your team and aim to keep your roster at a similar strength.

The upside is that leveling up is relatively quick. Battles grant a substantial amount of XP, often enough for a stat increase after just a few. You can respawn an area's enemies by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these flags are placed in each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Accessories Regularly

You have two primary ways to grant passive perks to your allies: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are accessories that give numerical bonuses and come with a constant effect. Each character can wear three different Pictos. After being worn, winning four battles with a Picto will unlock its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to skill tree nodes. Each character has a pool of Lumina Points (which grows via items). Every Lumina ability has a required LP amount. If a character has enough points, multiple characters can use the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your entire team.

The smartest approach is to make sure a party member equips each fresh Picto you find and completes four battles to reveal its Lumina. This ensures you gain access for later builds.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to work on, simply slot the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. However, the timing for a perfect block is notoriously tight on any mode. Instead of breaking controllers trying to master the timing, prioritize evading.

Even though a perfect guard restores Action Points and causes significant bonus damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. Luckily there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those evasion-based perks instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Key Tactic

Break is a battle-altering state that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a special bar increases under their HP bar. Once charged, you can inflict break, which slashes their damage resistance by a fifth and stuns them for one full turn. It is the most impactful debuff in the game, but only particular abilities can trigger it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to plan your build instead of committing your attribute points. Try out a character's playstyle and map out a build strategy in advance.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Stopping at an save point refills the health of your entire party and refreshes every consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and phoenix down equivalents. Develop the routine to use each flag you see!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to quick traversal in the game. You won't find a mini-map, GPS, or quest indicators. But, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of your progress in that level under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Rewarding

These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that demand you to locate and shoot three hidden locks in the surrounding area to opening them. The contents is consistently worthwhile, including items like Recoats or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are typically located close by. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Challenge the Shopkeeper

All vendors has a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must select a party member and defeat the merchant in a solo battle. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are game-changing. The first merchant you meet, for instance, offers a Picto that inflicts the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the target by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Automatic Saving

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