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A fun fact: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the initially cryptic nature of the interface systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a quest to reverse a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It fuses turn-based RPG encounters with action-game reflexes reminiscent of action RPGs, all cloaked in a unique artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the season, having achieved massive sales and secured the premier award accolades. The experience can feel a bit off-putting initially, but when it clicks, you’ll find a layered and fascinating experience that stands apart from contemporary titles. Below are a collection of early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a fight gain a hefty increase to XP compared to those on the bench. Furthermore, the story will sometimes mandate you to field certain characters. The easiest solution to both issues is to change your lineup frequently and strive to keep your roster at a roughly equal level.

The good news is that leveling up is relatively quick. Fights grant a substantial amount of XP, sometimes enough for a level up after just two or three. You can reset an local foes by resting at an checkpoint banner—these markers are located throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, use the flag, and do it again.

Swap Accessories Frequently

The game features a couple of key ways to grant bonus effects to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos function as gear that grant numerical bonuses and include a unique passive skill. Every party member can slot three different Pictos. Once slotted, winning four fights with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to equippable passives. A party member has a amount of Lumina Points (which you can raise via items). Each Lumina has a specific point cost. If a character has enough points, there is no limit can benefit from the same Lumina, allowing you to combine useful effects across your whole party.

The optimal approach is to make sure one of your characters has equipped every new Picto and completes four battles to unlock its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for future use.

If you don't have fresh gear to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of RPG systems with real-time parries. However, the parry window is incredibly short on all difficulty levels. Instead of breaking controllers trying to master the timing, focus on dodging.

While a successful parry grants a resource and causes massive extra damage, missing the timing yields no benefit. Luckily there are a number of accessories and abilities that restore Action Points on a successful dodge. If you can't get the block down, focus on those dodge-focused perks instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Key Tactic

Break is a battle-altering state that can swing a fight. As you damage an enemy, a gold meter increases below their health bar. When full, you can inflict break, which reduces their defense by a significant amount and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only certain skills can apply it.

Allocate Points With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate your build using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to think ahead prior to using your attribute points. Experiment with a character's playstyle and map out a skill tree path first.

Always Stop At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag completely restores your whole team and refreshes your supply of consumables, including HP restoratives and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

These flags also act as the only means to quick traversal in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, GPS, or quest indicators. However, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can view a list of your progress in that zone under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Glowing Cages Are Always Worth the Effort

These special containers are effectively puzzle caches that demand you to find and hit three concealed seals in the immediate vicinity before getting the loot. The treasure inside is consistently high-tier, such as Recoats or strong equipment. The required seals aren't in plain sight, but they are almost always within the same area. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or looking up.

Absolutely, Battle the Vendor

Every merchant has a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and defeat the merchant in a single combat. This proves to be a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are truly unique. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, sells a Picto that causes the damage-increasing condition, which amplifies attacks against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

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