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A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the interface systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a group of glamorous spellcasters, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It fuses traditional RPG encounters with action-game reflexes inspired by action RPGs, all presented with a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the season, having garnered a huge player base and won Game of the Year accolades. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll discover a layered and fascinating RPG that differentiates itself from many others. Here are are 10 essential early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Characters Regularly

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a fight earn a significant 50% bonus to Experience Points versus those on the bench. Furthermore, the campaign will periodically force you to include particular characters. The most straightforward approach to these challenges is to rotate your team and aim to keep all characters at a similar power level.

The good news is that leveling up is relatively quick. Encounters provide a generous amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a character progression after just two or three. You can reset an area's enemies by taking a break at an expedition flag—these flags are located across each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, rest, and continue the cycle.

Change Accessories Frequently

There are two main ways to grant bonus effects to your characters: Pictos and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are accessories that provide stat boosts and come with a constant effect. A character can wear a maximum of three Pictos. When equipped, completing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. A party member has a amount of Lumina Points (which can be increased via consumables). Each Lumina has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can equip the identical ability, allowing you to stack useful effects across your whole party.

The most efficient tactic is to ensure a party member is wearing any new accessory and completes the required fights to reveal its Lumina. That way you gain access for when needed.

Should you not have unleveled accessories to level up, simply equip the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your current build.

Parrying Isn't Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its marriage of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. That said, the opportunity to deflect is notoriously tight on every setting. In place of breaking controllers trying to land parries, focus on rolling.

While a well-timed block grants Action Points and inflicts significant bonus damage, missing the timing gives you nothing. Fortunately there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, equip those evasion-based options instead.

Break Is Your Key Tactic

The Break status effect is a battle-altering mechanic that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a special bar increases below their health bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which slashes their damage resistance by 20% and stuns them for an entire round. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only particular abilities can cause it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You can reset stat points and abilities using a limited consumable called a Recoat. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to think ahead before spending your stat investments. Get a feel for a party member's role and chart a skill tree path first.

Always Rest At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point fully heals your entire party and refreshes your supply of healing items, including HP restoratives and revival items. Remember to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also function as the only means to quick traversal in the game. You won't find a overworld map, waypoint system, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can see a menu of your progress in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth It

Glowing chests are effectively sealed loot boxes that require you to discover and activate three concealed seals in the nearby environment prior to claiming the prize. The reward is without fail worthwhile, often containing respec items or strong equipment. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are usually within the same area. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or checking elevated spots.

Absolutely, Battle the Merchant

Every merchant has a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their standard shop. To unlock it, you must pick a champion and defeat the merchant in a solo battle. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for instance, provides a special accessory that inflicts the Defenseless debuff, which amplifies attacks against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Autosave

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