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A fun fact: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of social media mages, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to halt a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It blends traditional RPG combat with timed defensive moves reminiscent of action RPGs, all presented with a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the major titles of the period, having garnered a huge player base and won top honors accolades. The experience can feel slightly intimidating initially, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a deep and fascinating experience that is quite unique from many others. Here are are ten crucial beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Often

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a battle gain a hefty increase to XP relative to those in reserve. Additionally, the story will sometimes force you to field certain characters. The easiest solution to these mechanics is to change your lineup frequently and aim to keep all characters at a roughly equal strength.

The upside is that farming experience is fairly fast. Encounters grant a generous amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a character progression after just two or three. You can respawn an local foes by stopping at an save point—these points are placed across each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply battle monsters near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Change Gear Frequently

There are two main ways to grant bonus effects to your allies: Picto gems and Luminas.

• Pictos function as gear that provide numerical bonuses and include a constant effect. A character can equip up to three Pictos. After being worn, completing four fights with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but can be thought of as equippable passives. Every ally has a pool of LP (which grows via consumables). A Lumina has a specific point cost. As long as a character has the required amount, multiple characters can use the identical ability, allowing you to combine key bonuses across your whole party.

The most efficient approach is to always a party member has equipped every new Picto and wins the required fights to unlock its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for later builds.

When you aren't have unleveled accessories to work on, simply slot the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of RPG systems with action-oriented blocks. However, the parry window is incredibly short on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to master the timing, prioritize evading.

Even though a perfect guard restores a resource and deals a huge damage spike, failing to parry yields no benefit. The good news is there are several gear and skills that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those roll-centric abilities instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Greatest Advantage

Break is a game-changing mechanic that can swing a fight. As you attack a foe, a special bar fills up below their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which lowers their defense by 20% and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the most impactful condition in the game, but only specific attacks can cause it.

Build Characters With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's smart to consider your path prior to committing your skill points. Experiment with a hero's kit and map out a skill tree path in advance.

Don't Forget to Rest At the Expedition Flag

Resting at an expedition flag refills the health of your whole team and refreshes your supply of consumables, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also act as the only means to navigation in the game. There is no overworld map, compass, or objective markers. However, each flag has a designation. By resting, you can see a menu of all discovered flags in that area under a navigation option. It's a simple but effective way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Always Rewarding

Paint Cages are effectively locked treasure chests that require you to find and hit three concealed seals in the surrounding area prior to getting the loot. The reward is without fail high-tier, such as respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are typically located close by. If you are missing a lock, try breaking objects or checking elevated spots.

Go Ahead and, Challenge the Vendor

Each shopkeeper stocks a hidden special good that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This is invariably worth doing, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, sells a Picto that causes the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the foe by a quarter.

Trust In the Automatic Saving

There is no {manual saving