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A curious piece of trivia: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the initially cryptic nature of the in-game systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a team of social media mages, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to halt a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It merges strategic role-playing battles with action-game reflexes drawn from challenging titles, all wrapped in a unique artistic lexicon.

It has emerged as the biggest games of the season, having achieved massive sales and secured top honors accolades. The experience can feel a bit off-putting initially, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a layered and fascinating experience that is quite unique from other games. Listed here are 10 essential starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Characters Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who take part in a fight earn a significant 50% bonus to Experience Points relative to those not fighting. What's more, the narrative will at times mandate you to field certain characters. The most straightforward solution to both issues is to change your lineup frequently and try to keep all characters at a comparable level.

The good news is that leveling up is fairly fast. Battles provide a generous amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a stat increase after just several. You can refresh an area's enemies by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these markers are scattered throughout each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply battle monsters near a flag, refresh, and do it again.

Change Accessories Regularly

There are two primary ways to provide constant buffs to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and also feature a unique passive skill. Each character can wear up to three Pictos. Once slotted, completing four encounters with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to equippable passives. Every ally has a number of skill points (which you can raise via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. As long as a character has the required amount, there is no limit can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to combine key bonuses across your entire team.

The most efficient tactic is to always someone equips any new accessory and wins four encounters to unlock its Lumina. That way you’ll have it for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to level up, simply use the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your current build.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of turn-based combat with action-oriented blocks. But, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on any mode. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to land parries, focus on dodging.

While a well-timed block restores a resource and deals massive extra damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Luckily there are multiple accessories and abilities that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, focus on those evasion-based options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

The Break status effect is a battle-altering mechanic that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a yellow gauge charges under their health bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their damage resistance by a significant amount and skips their turn for their next action. It is the most impactful condition in the game, but only certain skills can trigger it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You are able to re-spec attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Given its scarcity, it's prudent to consider your path instead of using your attribute points. Experiment with a character's playstyle and plan a progression route in advance.

Don't Forget to Use the Save Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag completely restores your entire party and restocks every healing items, including healing potions and revival items. Make it a habit to stop and heal up!

Checkpoints also act as the closest thing to quick traversal in the game. You won't find a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. Instead, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of every flag you've found in that level under a navigation option. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Paint Cages Are Always Worth It

These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that require you to discover and activate three concealed seals in the nearby environment before getting the loot. The contents is consistently worthwhile, often containing respec items or unique gear. The required seals aren't easy to spot, but they are typically near the cage. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Yes, Challenge the Merchant

All vendors carries a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a one-on-one fight. This proves to be worth doing, as these pieces of gear are exceptionally powerful. The first merchant you meet, for instance, sells a Picto that inflicts the Defenseless debuff, which increases damage dealt against the target by a significant margin.

Trust In the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving