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A curious piece of trivia: The name “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 band of magical influencers, fronted by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to reverse a worldwide curse that prevents aging. It merges strategic role-playing battles with action-game reflexes inspired by action RPGs, all presented with a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has emerged as the most successful games of the period, having achieved massive sales and secured the premier award praise. The experience can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a deep and engrossing experience that is quite unique from other games. Below are 10 essential early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a encounter earn a sizable bonus to XP versus those not fighting. Additionally, the narrative will sometimes mandate you to include particular characters. The simplest approach to both issues is to rotate your team and strive to keep your roster at a comparable power level.

The upside is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles award a generous amount of XP, often sufficient for a character progression after just several. You can refresh an zone's monsters by resting at an checkpoint banner—these points are placed in each area. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and do it again.

Rotate Accessories Regularly

You have two primary ways to bestow passive perks to your allies: Picto accessories and Luminas.

• Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and also feature a special ability. Each character can equip three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four battles with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but are similar to unlocked abilities. Each character has a number of LP (which can be increased via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a required LP amount. Provided that a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can equip the identical ability, allowing you to layer key bonuses across your full roster.

The most efficient strategy is to ensure a party member is wearing every new Picto and completes the required fights to gain its Lumina. Doing this you gain access for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to work on, simply use the Pictos with the best stats for your needs.

Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of turn-based combat with real-time parries. That said, the timing for a perfect block is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. Rather than struggling endlessly trying to hit perfect blocks, concentrate on dodging.

Even though a successful parry restores a resource and deals significant bonus damage, not blocking leaves you vulnerable. Luckily there are a number of Pictos and Luminas that provide resources on a perfect roll. If you can't get the block down, focus on those dodge-focused abilities instead.

Break Is Your Greatest Advantage

Break is a battle-altering state that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a special bar charges beneath their health bar. Once charged, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their defense by a fifth and stuns them for one full turn. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only particular attacks can trigger it.

Allocate Points With a Plan

You are able to re-spec stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to consider your path before committing your skill points. Get a feel for a hero's kit and chart a progression route first.

Don't Forget to Use the Save Flag

Stopping at an checkpoint fully heals your all characters and replenishes all of your potions, including healing potions and phoenix down equivalents. Develop the routine to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also function as the primary method to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. However, each flag has a identifier. By resting, you can access a log of all discovered flags in that level under a fast travel menu. It's a basic yet helpful way to track your progress.

Glowing Cages Are Consistently Rewarding

Paint Cages are essentially puzzle caches that require you to find and hit three hidden locks in the immediate vicinity prior to getting the loot. The treasure inside is without fail valuable, including items like respec items or unique gear. The required seals aren't easy to spot, but they are almost always near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Fight the Shopkeeper

All vendors stocks a secret, unique item that won't show up in their regular wares. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a solo battle. This is always rewarding, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for reference, offers a Picto that causes the Defenseless debuff, which boosts damage against the foe by 25%.

Have Faith in the Autosave

There is no {manual saving