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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the somewhat obscure nature of the game's menus and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a team of glamorous spellcasters, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to halt a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It blends strategic role-playing combat with timed defensive moves inspired by Soulslike games, all wrapped in a unique artistic lexicon.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the period, having sold millions and secured the premier award praise. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but when it clicks, you’ll discover a deep and fascinating RPG that is quite unique from contemporary titles. Listed here are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Characters Frequently

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a encounter receive a hefty increase to Experience Points relative to those in reserve. Furthermore, the narrative will at times force you to use specific characters. The most straightforward solution to these mechanics is to rotate your team and strive to keep all characters at a comparable strength.

The upside is that grinding is fairly fast. Battles grant a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a stat increase after just a few. You can respawn an zone's monsters by taking a break at an checkpoint banner—these flags are placed in each zone. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and do it again.

Swap Items Frequently

You have a couple of key ways to provide passive perks to your party members: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are items which give stat boosts and come with a constant effect. Every party member can slot three different Pictos. Once slotted, finishing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to skill tree nodes. A party member has a amount of skill points (which you can raise via items). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. If a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can benefit from the same skill, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The smartest tactic is to ensure one of your characters equips any new accessory and wins four battles to gain its Lumina. That way you’ll have it for future use.

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

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s key feature is its combination of turn-based combat with twitch-based defenses. But, the parry window is notoriously tight on every setting. Instead of breaking controllers trying to land parries, prioritize evading.

Even though a successful parry grants a resource and causes massive extra damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are a number of accessories and abilities that grant AP on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those dodge-focused abilities instead.

Break Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up beneath their health bar. Once charged, you can apply the Break status, which reduces their armor by 20% and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the single most powerful debuff in the game, but only particular skills can apply it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec your build using a scarce resource called a Respec token. Because it's rare, it's prudent to plan your build prior to spending your skill points. Get a feel for a character's playstyle and map out a progression route in advance.

Always Stop At the Checkpoint Flag

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

These flags also serve as the closest thing to navigation in the game. You won't find a mini-map, compass, or quest indicators. But, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can access a log of your progress in that area under a teleport list. It's a basic yet helpful way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Always Rewarding

These special containers are essentially sealed loot boxes that demand you to discover and activate three hidden locks in the immediate vicinity prior to getting the loot. The contents is consistently worthwhile, including items like respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are almost always located close by. If you can't find one, try breaking objects or scanning the environment vertically.

Go Ahead and, Fight the Merchant

Every merchant carries a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their normal inventory. To unlock it, you must select a party member and beat them in combat in a single combat. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are truly unique. The first merchant you meet, for example, provides a special accessory that applies the vulnerability status, which amplifies attacks against the target by a significant margin.

Trust In the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving