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An interesting tidbit: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the interface systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a band of social media mages, led by the audacious British Daredevil, on a mission to reverse a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It fuses turn-based RPG battles with action-game reflexes inspired by action RPGs, all wrapped in a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the season, having achieved massive sales and earned top honors accolades. The game can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a layered and engrossing RPG that stands apart from other games. Here are are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, party members who take part in a fight receive a sizable bonus to experience compared to those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will at times mandate you to field certain characters. The most straightforward solution to these challenges is to rotate your team and strive to keep everyone at a similar strength.

The good news is that leveling up is not too tedious. Fights grant a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a character progression after just a few. You can reset an local foes by resting at an expedition flag—these markers are scattered throughout each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, rest, and continue the cycle.

Rotate Gear Regularly

You have two main ways to bestow passive perks to your party members: Picto gems and Luminas.

• Pictos are accessories that grant attribute increases and also feature a special ability. Every party member can slot three different Pictos. After being worn, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. Every ally has a pool of Lumina Points (which can be increased via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a set cost. If a character has enough points, there is no limit can equip the same skill, allowing you to combine key bonuses across your full roster.

The optimal strategy is to always a party member is wearing every new Picto and wins the required fights to reveal its Lumina. That way you gain access for when needed.

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

Blocking Is Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of turn-based combat with real-time parries. However, the parry window is extremely brief on every setting. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, prioritize evading.

While a successful parry grants a resource and deals massive extra damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, use those dodge-focused abilities instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Greatest Advantage

Break is a battle-altering state that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up under their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their armor by 20% and stuns them for their next action. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only certain skills can apply it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to plan your build prior to using your attribute points. Experiment with a hero's kit and map out a progression route first.

Always Stop At the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag refills the health of your all characters and replenishes all of your consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and phoenix down equivalents. Make it a habit to stop and heal up!

These flags also function as the closest thing to quick traversal in the game. The game lacks a traditional map, waypoint system, or objective markers. But, each flag has a name and number. When you interact with one, you can access a log of every flag you've found in that area under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to track your progress.

Glowing Cages Are Always Worth It

Paint Cages are essentially sealed loot boxes that need you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area prior to opening them. The reward is always valuable, such as respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are almost always located close by. If you are stuck, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Yes, Fight the Vendor

Each shopkeeper stocks a secret, unique item that doesn't appear in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must choose one character and win a duel in a single combat. This is invariably worth doing, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for example, provides a special accessory that causes the Defenseless debuff, which increases damage dealt against the target by a significant margin.

Trust In the Automatic Saving

The game lacks {manual saving