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A curious piece of trivia: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the complex nature of the in-game systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a group of glamorous spellcasters, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It fuses traditional RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a idiosyncratic aesthetic language.

It has emerged as the major titles of the year, having sold millions and secured top honors recognition. The experience can feel slightly intimidating initially, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll uncover a layered and captivating experience that differentiates itself from many others. Below are a collection of beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, characters who take part in a battle receive a sizable bonus to experience relative to those not fighting. Additionally, the campaign will periodically require you to field certain characters. The simplest method to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and aim to keep everyone at a similar level.

The upside is that leveling up is relatively quick. Fights provide a sizable amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a stat increase after just a few. You can refresh an area's enemies by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these flags are scattered in each zone. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and repeat.

Rotate Accessories Frequently

There are two main ways to grant passive perks to your party members: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are accessories that provide attribute increases and include a constant effect. Every party member can slot up to three Pictos. After being worn, winning four encounters with a Picto grants access to its associated Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to skill tree nodes. Each character has a amount of skill points (which grows via items). Each Lumina has a set cost. If a character has enough points, you are not restricted can benefit from the identical ability, allowing you to layer useful effects across your whole party.

The optimal strategy is to ensure someone has equipped each fresh Picto you find and fights through four encounters to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for when needed.

Should you not have new Pictos to work on, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its combination of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. But, the parry window is incredibly short on all difficulty levels. Rather than breaking controllers trying to master the timing, concentrate on rolling.

Even though a perfect guard grants one AP and causes significant bonus damage, not blocking gives you nothing. The good news is there are several accessories and abilities that restore Action Points on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, use those evasion-based options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering condition that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up under their health bar. When full, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their defense by 20% and skips their turn for their next action. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only certain skills can cause it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You are able to re-spec stat points and abilities using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to consider your path before committing your attribute points. Experiment with a hero's kit and plan a progression route first.

Don't Forget to Rest At the Save Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag completely restores your entire party and restocks your supply of consumables, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Remember to stop and heal up!

These flags also act as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. You won't find a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. But, 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 navigate the world.

Glowing Cages Are Invariably Rewarding

Glowing chests are effectively locked treasure chests that demand you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the nearby environment before claiming the prize. The contents is without fail worthwhile, including items like rare resources or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are usually within the same area. If you can't find one, try smashing crates or looking up.

Go Ahead and, Fight the Vendor

Every merchant has a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their standard shop. To gain access to it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This proves to be rewarding, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for example, offers a Picto that applies the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the foe by a significant margin.

Rely On the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving