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An interesting tidbit: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of glamorous spellcasters, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a worldwide curse that stops people from growing old. It blends strategic role-playing encounters with real-time parries reminiscent of challenging titles, all presented with a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has become one of the major titles of the season, having garnered a huge player base and secured Game of the Year recognition. The game can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a rich and engrossing experience that is quite unique from many others. Below are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Often

In Expedition 33, characters who take part in a battle receive a significant 50% bonus to XP versus those not fighting. Additionally, the narrative will at times mandate you to use specific characters. The most straightforward approach to both issues is to change your lineup frequently and try to keep all characters at a similar power level.

The upside is that grinding is relatively quick. Encounters provide a substantial amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a level up after just two or three. You can refresh an local foes by stopping at an expedition flag—these points are scattered in each zone. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, rest, and do it again.

Swap Items Regularly

There are two primary ways to bestow bonus effects to your characters: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which give attribute increases and also feature a special ability. A character can wear a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, completing four encounters with a Picto will unlock its associated Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to skill tree nodes. A party member has a number of LP (which can be increased via level-ups). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. If a character has enough points, multiple characters can use the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient tactic is to always one of your characters equips every new Picto and wins the required fights to reveal its Lumina. That way you gain access for later builds.

Should you not have unleveled accessories to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its marriage of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. However, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on every setting. Rather than struggling endlessly trying to land parries, focus on dodging.

Although a well-timed block grants Action Points and deals massive extra damage, missing the timing yields no benefit. Luckily there are multiple accessories and abilities that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, use those evasion-based perks instead.

Break Is Your Secret Weapon

The Break status effect is a decisive state that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge increases below their HP bar. Once charged, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their damage resistance by 20% and stuns them for their next action. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only certain skills can apply it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You are able to re-spec your build using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to consider your path before spending your attribute points. Experiment with a party member's role and map out a build strategy in advance.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag completely restores your whole team and replenishes your supply of consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Make it a habit to rest at every flag!

These flags also act as the only means to fast travel in the game. There is no overworld map, GPS, or objective markers. But, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of all discovered flags in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a simple but effective way to see how far you've come.

Paint Cages Are Consistently Worth It

These special containers are basically locked treasure chests that need you to discover and activate three concealed seals in the immediate vicinity to claiming the prize. The contents is without fail worthwhile, including items like respec items or powerful weapons. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are typically located close by. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or looking up.

Yes, Battle the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a single combat. This is always worth doing, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for instance, offers a Picto that causes the vulnerability status, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by a quarter.

Trust In the Automatic Saving

There is no {manual saving