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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the complex nature of the in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a band of glamorous spellcasters, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a journey to halt a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It blends traditional RPG combat with action-game reflexes drawn from Soulslike games, all presented with a unique artistic lexicon.

It has become one of the most successful titles of the period, having sold millions and earned Game of the Year accolades. The adventure can feel slightly intimidating in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll find a deep and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from other games. Below are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a fight earn a sizable bonus to XP compared to those not fighting. What's more, the story will periodically require you to field certain characters. The simplest approach to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and strive to keep all characters at a similar level.

The upside is that leveling up is not too tedious. Fights provide a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a stat increase after just two or three. You can refresh an local foes by resting at an expedition flag—these markers are located throughout each area. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and continue the cycle.

Change Accessories Regularly

The game features two primary ways to grant constant buffs to your party members: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are accessories that provide stat boosts and also feature a unique passive skill. Each character can equip three different Pictos. When equipped, completing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to skill tree nodes. Every ally has a amount of Lumina Points (which can be increased via items). A Lumina has a required LP amount. If a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to stack key bonuses across your entire team.

The smartest tactic is to make sure one of your characters is wearing any new accessory and wins four encounters to unlock its Lumina. This ensures the ability will be available for later builds.

Should you not have new Pictos to work on, simply slot the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s key feature is its marriage of turn-based combat with action-oriented blocks. However, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on every setting. Rather than breaking controllers trying to master the timing, concentrate on rolling.

Even though a successful parry restores a resource and deals a huge damage spike, missing the timing yields no benefit. Luckily there are several Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, use those roll-centric perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a game-changing mechanic that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a special bar charges below their HP bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which slashes their damage resistance by 20% and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the most impactful condition in the game, but only particular abilities can apply it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a limited consumable called a Recoat. Given its scarcity, it's smart to plan your build before spending your skill points. Get a feel for a party member's role and plan a skill tree path in advance.

Make Sure to Use the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an save point fully heals your entire party and replenishes every consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and phoenix down equivalents. Remember to rest at every flag!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to navigation in the game. You won't find a overworld map, waypoint system, or objective markers. However, each flag has a designation. By resting, you can access a log of every flag you've found in that level under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are effectively puzzle caches that demand you to locate and shoot three hidden locks in the surrounding area before opening them. The contents is always worthwhile, often containing respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are typically near the cage. If you are stuck, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.

Go Ahead and, Challenge the Shopkeeper

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that doesn't appear in their standard shop. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably rewarding, as these rewards are game-changing. The first merchant you meet, for example, sells a Picto that applies the damage-increasing condition, which amplifies attacks against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

There is no {manual saving