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A curious piece of trivia: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a team of social media mages, spearheaded by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a global affliction that prevents aging. It blends strategic role-playing battles with real-time parries drawn from action RPGs, all presented with a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has become one of the biggest releases of the season, having sold millions and earned top honors recognition. The adventure can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll find a rich and captivating experience that is quite unique from other games. Below are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a fight receive a sizable bonus to XP versus those in reserve. Furthermore, the campaign will at times force you to use specific characters. The easiest solution to these challenges is to switch members often and strive to keep everyone at a similar power level.

The positive aspect is that farming experience is relatively quick. Encounters award a sizable amount of XP, often sufficient for a level up after just several. You can reset an area's enemies by resting at an checkpoint banner—these flags are placed in each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Rotate Items Regularly

You have two main ways to bestow constant buffs to your characters: Picto accessories and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos function as gear that give attribute increases and also feature a unique passive skill. Every party member can slot a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, completing four fights with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but essentially act as unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of LP (which you can raise via level-ups). A Lumina has a specific point cost. If a character has the required amount, you are not restricted can benefit from the same skill, allowing you to combine useful effects across your entire team.

The smartest strategy is to always a party member has equipped any new accessory and fights through four encounters to gain its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for future use.

Should you not have fresh gear to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your current build.

Parrying Isn't Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of RPG systems with real-time parries. But, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on every setting. In place of frustrating yourself trying to land parries, concentrate on evading.

Even though a well-timed block refunds Action Points and inflicts significant bonus damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. The good news is there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, use those evasion-based perks instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Greatest Advantage

Inflicting Break is a decisive condition that can turn the tide. As you whittle down health, a gold meter increases beneath their health bar. When full, you can stun the enemy, which lowers their armor by 20% and prevents them from acting for an entire round. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only particular attacks can trigger it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec attributes and skills using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to think ahead instead of using your stat investments. Get a feel for a hero's kit and chart a build strategy beforehand.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an checkpoint completely restores your entire party and restocks every potions, including HP restoratives and Revive Tints. Remember to use each flag you see!

Expedition flags also serve as the only means to navigation in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, compass, or quest indicators. Instead, each flag has a designation. By resting, you can view a list of your progress in that level under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

These special containers are essentially puzzle caches that require you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area before getting the loot. The reward is always worthwhile, including items like rare resources or strong equipment. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are typically near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or looking up.

Go Ahead and, Challenge the Vendor

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed in their standard shop. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for example, sells a special accessory that inflicts the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the target by a significant margin.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

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