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A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the complex nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a band of magical influencers, spearheaded by the daring British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a global affliction that halts the natural aging process. It merges strategic role-playing battles with real-time parries reminiscent of Soulslike games, all presented with a distinctive artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the major games of the season, having garnered a huge player base and secured top honors praise. The experience can feel a bit off-putting initially, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll find a rich and fascinating role-playing game that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Below are a collection of early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Team Members Often

In Expedition 33, party members who take part in a fight gain a significant 50% bonus to XP compared to those not fighting. Furthermore, the campaign will periodically force you to use specific characters. The easiest approach to these challenges is to switch members often and aim to keep all characters at a comparable power level.

The positive aspect is that farming experience is relatively quick. Fights award a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a character progression after just a few. You can respawn an local foes by stopping at an expedition flag—these markers are placed across each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, rest, and repeat.

Rotate Gear Frequently

You have a couple of key ways to provide bonus effects to your allies: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are accessories that give numerical bonuses and include a unique passive skill. Every party member can equip up to three Pictos. After being worn, completing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. A party member has a amount of skill points (which grows via consumables). A Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can use the same skill, allowing you to layer useful effects across your whole party.

The smartest tactic is to make sure one of your characters is wearing any new accessory and fights through the required fights to gain its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for when needed.

When you aren't have unleveled accessories to work on, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its combination of RPG systems with real-time parries. But, the timing for a perfect block is notoriously tight on any mode. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to master the timing, focus on dodging.

Although a perfect guard restores a resource and inflicts significant bonus damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Luckily there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those roll-centric options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

Break is a battle-altering condition that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a yellow gauge fills up under their health bar. Once charged, you can inflict break, which reduces their damage resistance by 20% and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the most impactful debuff in the game, but only certain abilities can apply it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to consider your path prior to committing your skill points. Experiment with a hero's kit and plan a build strategy in advance.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Stopping at an save point completely restores your entire party and replenishes every potions, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Expedition flags also function as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. There is no overworld map, waypoint system, or objective markers. But, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can access a log of all discovered flags in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to track your progress.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth It

These special containers are basically puzzle caches that require you to discover and activate three concealed seals in the nearby environment to claiming the prize. The treasure inside is always valuable, often containing respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are typically located close by. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or checking elevated spots.

Absolutely, Battle the Merchant

All vendors stocks a hidden special good that isn't listed in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must select a party member and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for instance, offers a special accessory that inflicts the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the target by 25%.

Have Faith in the Automatic Saving

The game lacks {manual saving