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An interesting tidbit: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a team of magical influencers, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a journey to combat a global affliction that stops people from growing old. It merges strategic role-playing battles with action-game reflexes inspired by action RPGs, all cloaked in a unique visual style.

It has proven to be the biggest games of the season, having garnered a huge player base and earned Game of the Year praise. The game can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a rich and engrossing RPG that is quite unique from many others. Below are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a battle earn a hefty increase to experience compared to those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will periodically force you to field certain characters. The easiest method to these mechanics is to switch members often and aim to keep all characters at a roughly equal level.

The upside is that leveling up is fairly fast. Fights award a sizable amount of XP, often sufficient for a character progression after just a few. You can respawn an area's enemies by resting at an save point—these flags are placed across each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Swap Items Frequently

The game features two main ways to bestow bonus effects to your allies: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that give numerical bonuses and also feature a unique passive skill. A character can wear up to three Pictos. Once slotted, finishing four battles with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but can be thought of as unlocked abilities. Every ally has a amount of LP (which grows via level-ups). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. As long as a character has enough points, there is no limit can equip the same Lumina, allowing you to combine powerful passives across your whole party.

The most efficient approach is to always someone has equipped every new Picto and wins the required fights to unlock its Lumina. That way you gain access for when needed.

When you aren't have unleveled accessories to work on, simply slot the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its combination of RPG systems with real-time parries. But, the opportunity to deflect is notoriously tight on all difficulty levels. Rather than struggling endlessly trying to master the timing, concentrate on evading.

Even though a well-timed block refunds Action Points and inflicts significant bonus damage, not blocking yields no benefit. Luckily there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, focus on those roll-centric abilities instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a game-changing condition that can turn the tide. As you whittle down health, a yellow gauge increases under their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which lowers their defense by 20% and stuns them for their next action. It is the most impactful condition in the game, but only certain attacks can cause it.

Build Characters Intentionally

You have the option to reallocate attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Because it's rare, it's wise to consider your path prior to using your stat investments. Get a feel for a hero's kit and map out a build strategy in advance.

Don't Forget to Use the Checkpoint Flag

Using your tent at an expedition flag refills the health of your entire party and refreshes your supply of healing items, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Remember to rest at every flag!

Expedition flags also function as the only means to quick traversal in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, compass, or objective markers. Instead, each flag has a name and number. By resting, you can access a log of your progress in that level under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Glowing Cages Are Always Rewarding

These special containers are basically sealed loot boxes that require you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area prior to claiming the prize. The reward is consistently worthwhile, including items like Recoats or powerful weapons. The associated mechanisms aren't in plain sight, but they are almost always within the same area. If you are stuck, try breaking objects or checking elevated spots.

Absolutely, Fight the Vendor

All vendors stocks a hidden special good that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To get them to sell it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This proves to be a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for instance, offers a Picto that causes the vulnerability status, which boosts damage against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving