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A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the interface systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of glamorous spellcasters, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to reverse a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It merges turn-based RPG encounters with timed defensive moves inspired by Soulslike games, all cloaked in a unique aesthetic language.

It has become one of the most successful releases of the year, having achieved massive sales and earned top honors praise. The adventure can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll find a rich and captivating RPG that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Below are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Party Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, characters who participate in a fight earn a hefty increase to XP versus those on the bench. What's more, the narrative will sometimes force you to include particular characters. The simplest approach to these mechanics is to rotate your team and strive to keep everyone at a similar power level.

The good news is that leveling up is fairly fast. Battles grant a generous amount of XP, often enough for a level up after just two or three. You can respawn an zone's monsters by stopping at an expedition flag—these points are located in each zone. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Gear Often

There are two main ways to grant bonus effects to your allies: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which grant attribute increases and come with a special ability. A character can equip three different Pictos. When equipped, finishing four battles with a Picto unlocks its linked Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but essentially act as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a pool of skill points (which you can raise via consumables). A Lumina has a required LP amount. Provided that a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can use the same Lumina, allowing you to combine key bonuses across your entire team.

The optimal approach is to always one of your characters has equipped any new accessory and wins four battles to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you’ll have it for later builds.

If you don't have new Pictos to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the best stats for your current build.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of turn-based combat with twitch-based defenses. But, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on any mode. Instead of breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on dodging.

Even though a perfect guard restores one AP and deals massive extra damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Fortunately there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a successful dodge. If you can't get the block down, use those roll-centric perks instead.

Break Is Your Key Tactic

The Break status effect is a battle-altering state that can swing a fight. As you damage an enemy, a special bar charges under their life bar. When full, you can inflict break, which reduces their armor by a significant amount and stuns them for an entire round. It is the single most powerful condition in the game, but only certain abilities can apply it.

Level Up Deliberately

You have the option to reallocate your build using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to consider your path prior to spending your attribute points. Get a feel for a hero's kit and chart a skill tree path in advance.

Always Use the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag completely restores your all characters and replenishes your supply of consumables, including healing potions and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Expedition flags also act as the closest thing to quick traversal in the game. There is no traditional map, GPS, or quest indicators. However, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can access a log of all discovered flags in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Consistently Worth It

These special containers are essentially sealed loot boxes that need you to discover and activate three concealed seals in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The contents is without fail worthwhile, such as Recoats or strong equipment. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are typically located close by. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Battle the Vendor

All vendors carries a hidden special good that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To gain access to it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This proves to be rewarding, as these items are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for reference, sells a Picto that causes the vulnerability status, which boosts damage against the foe by a quarter.

Rely On the Autosave

There is no {manual saving