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An interesting tidbit: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the complex nature of the game's menus and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a group of social media mages, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a worldwide curse that stops people from growing old. It blends turn-based RPG battles with timed defensive moves drawn from action RPGs, all cloaked in a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the biggest games of the year, having garnered a huge player base and won Game of the Year praise. The experience can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll uncover a rich and fascinating experience that differentiates itself from many others. Below are a collection of starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who are active during a fight earn a hefty increase to XP versus those on the bench. Additionally, the story will at times require you to use specific characters. The simplest solution to both issues is to switch members often and strive to keep your roster at a similar strength.

The upside is that leveling up is fairly fast. Battles provide a generous amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a character progression after just a few. You can reset an local foes by stopping at an save point—these markers are located throughout each level. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply battle monsters near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Rotate Gear Often

The game features a couple of key ways to provide constant buffs to your party members: Picto gems and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and come with a constant effect. Each character can equip up to three Pictos. Once slotted, finishing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but essentially act as unlocked abilities. Each character has a number of Lumina Points (which can be increased via items). Each Lumina has a specific point cost. If a character has enough points, multiple characters can equip the same skill, allowing you to layer powerful passives across your entire team.

The optimal approach is to always one of your characters is wearing each fresh Picto you find and completes the required fights to reveal its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your current build.

Blocking Is Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of strategic battles with real-time parries. But, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on every setting. In place of frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on rolling.

While a well-timed block grants one AP and causes massive extra damage, missing the timing leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are multiple accessories and abilities that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you struggle with the timing, equip those dodge-focused options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

The Break status effect is a game-changing mechanic that can swing a fight. As you whittle down health, a special bar increases below their HP bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their defense by a fifth and stuns them for an entire round. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only specific skills can trigger it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate stat points and abilities using a scarce resource called a Recoat. Because it's rare, it's prudent to plan your build instead of using your attribute points. Experiment with a character's playstyle and plan a skill tree path in advance.

Always Use the Save Flag

Using your tent at an save point completely restores your entire party and refreshes every healing items, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Develop the routine to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also serve as the primary method to fast travel in the game. You won't find a overworld map, compass, or quest indicators. However, each flag has a designation. When you interact with one, you can view a list of all discovered flags in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth It

These special containers are basically puzzle caches that require you to find and hit three concealed seals in the immediate vicinity before getting the loot. The contents is consistently valuable, often containing rare resources or unique gear. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are usually located close by. If you are missing a lock, try exploring thoroughly or looking up.

Absolutely, Fight the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper stocks a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that doesn't appear in their regular wares. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a single combat. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for example, sells a special accessory that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the target by a quarter.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving