10 Starter Pointers to Know Prior to Diving Into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a group of glamorous spellcasters, spearheaded by the daring British Daredevil, on a mission to reverse a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It merges traditional RPG battles with action-game reflexes reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a unique artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the major games of the year, having achieved massive sales and earned the premier award praise. The game can feel a bit off-putting at first, but once you lock in, you’ll find a deep and captivating RPG that stands apart from many others. Listed here are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a fight receive a hefty increase to experience relative to those on the bench. Additionally, the story will periodically require you to include particular characters. The easiest method to both issues is to rotate your team and strive to keep all characters at a roughly equal level.

The good news is that grinding is fairly fast. Battles grant a substantial amount of XP, often enough for a character progression after just several. You can refresh an area's enemies by stopping at an expedition flag—these points are located in each level. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Change Gear Frequently

The game features a couple of key ways to grant passive perks to your allies: Pictos and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are items which give attribute increases and include a constant effect. Every party member can wear up to three Pictos. When equipped, finishing four battles with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as equippable passives. Each character has a pool of skill points (which can be increased via level-ups). Each Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has enough points, you are not restricted can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient tactic is to make sure one of your characters has equipped every new Picto and fights through four battles to reveal its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for later builds.

If you don't have fresh gear to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your playstyle.

Blocking Is Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its fusion of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. That said, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. In place of breaking controllers trying to master the timing, prioritize dodging.

While a successful parry refunds a resource and inflicts significant bonus damage, not blocking yields no benefit. Luckily there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, use those evasion-based abilities instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a game-changing mechanic that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a special bar fills up below their HP bar. When full, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their armor by a fifth and stuns them for one full turn. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only particular abilities can cause it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a limited consumable called a Recoat. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to consider your path before spending your stat investments. Experiment with a character's playstyle and map out a build strategy first.

Don't Forget to Use the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag fully heals your all characters and replenishes your supply of potions, including healing potions and revival items. Remember to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also act as the primary method to navigation in the game. There is no overworld map, compass, or quest indicators. Instead, each flag has a name and number. By resting, you can view a list of your progress in that level under a navigation option. It's a simple but effective way to navigate the world.

Glowing Cages Are Always Worth the Effort

Glowing chests are basically sealed loot boxes that need you to find and hit three concealed seals in the surrounding area prior to opening them. The contents is consistently high-tier, often containing Recoats or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are typically located close by. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Absolutely, Challenge the Merchant

Each shopkeeper stocks a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must choose one character 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 instance, offers a Picto that causes the vulnerability status, which amplifies attacks against the foe by a quarter.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving