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A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a group of magical influencers, led by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It blends traditional RPG encounters with action-game reflexes reminiscent of action RPGs, all presented with a idiosyncratic artistic lexicon.

It has emerged as the most successful games of the year, having garnered a huge player base and earned Game of the Year accolades. The adventure can feel slightly intimidating at first, but once you lock in, you’ll discover a layered and fascinating RPG that differentiates itself from many others. Below are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Rotate Characters Often

In Expedition 33, characters who are active during a battle earn a sizable bonus to experience versus those not fighting. What's more, the story will periodically force you to include particular characters. The easiest method to these challenges is to rotate your team and aim to keep all characters at a comparable level.

The upside is that grinding is not too tedious. Fights award a substantial amount of XP, often sufficient for a character progression after just a few. You can respawn an local foes by taking a break at an expedition flag—these points are placed in each area. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Rotate Items Regularly

The game features a couple of key ways to provide bonus effects to your characters: Pictos and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are items which give numerical bonuses and come with a special ability. Every party member can equip three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to unlocked abilities. Every ally has a pool of Lumina Points (which can be increased via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a required LP amount. As long as a character has enough points, multiple characters can use the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your entire team.

The smartest strategy is to ensure someone has equipped every new Picto and completes four encounters to reveal its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for when needed.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to unlock, simply slot the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your current build.

Blocking Is Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of RPG systems with real-time parries. However, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on any mode. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to master the timing, focus on dodging.

Even though a well-timed block grants one AP and deals significant bonus damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. The good news is there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a perfect roll. If you find parrying difficult, equip those dodge-focused abilities instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Greatest Advantage

Inflicting Break is a decisive condition that can swing a fight. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge increases below their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their armor by 20% and prevents them from acting for an entire round. It is the top-tier status effect in the game, but only specific skills can cause it.

Level Up Deliberately

You can reset attributes and skills using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to consider your path before using your attribute points. Try out a hero's kit and map out a build strategy in advance.

Don't Forget to Rest At the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an save point refills the health of your whole team and refreshes every consumables, including Chroma Elixirs and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

These flags also function as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. There is no mini-map, GPS, or objective markers. Instead, each flag has a name and number. When you interact with one, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that area under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to track your progress.

Paint Cages Are Consistently Rewarding

Glowing chests are essentially sealed loot boxes that need you to find and hit three concealed seals in the immediate vicinity to getting the loot. The reward is without fail valuable, including items like respec items or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are usually near the cage. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Challenge the Merchant

Each shopkeeper stocks a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a single combat. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these pieces of gear are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, offers a Picto that causes the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the affected enemy by 25%.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

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