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

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a group of magical influencers, spearheaded by the bold British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a worldwide curse that halts the natural aging process. It blends turn-based RPG combat with real-time parries reminiscent of challenging titles, all cloaked in a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has proven to be the biggest games of the year, having sold millions and earned the premier award accolades. The experience can feel slightly intimidating at first, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll uncover a deep and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from other games. Here are are ten crucial starting pointers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Regularly

In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a encounter gain a hefty increase to experience compared to those on the bench. Furthermore, the narrative will periodically force you to include particular characters. The easiest method to both issues is to switch members often and strive to keep your roster at a roughly equal strength.

The upside is that leveling up is relatively quick. Battles award a generous amount of XP, frequently sufficient for a stat increase after just two or three. You can respawn an zone's monsters by stopping at an save point—these flags are placed throughout each zone. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, use the flag, and continue the cycle.

Rotate Gear Frequently

There are two primary ways to bestow passive perks to your party members: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are accessories that give attribute increases and come with a constant effect. Each character can wear a maximum of three Pictos. Once slotted, winning four fights with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas function differently but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a amount of LP (which grows via level-ups). Each Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has the required amount, you are not restricted can equip the same skill, allowing you to layer useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient strategy is to ensure someone is wearing every new Picto and completes four encounters to unlock its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for when needed.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to level up, simply slot the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your current build.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s key feature is its fusion of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. However, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on any mode. In place of struggling endlessly trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.

Although a well-timed block refunds a resource and deals significant bonus damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Fortunately there are multiple gear and skills that restore Action Points on a well-timed evade. If you struggle with the timing, equip those roll-centric abilities instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a game-changing state that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a yellow gauge charges below their life bar. When full, you can inflict break, which reduces their armor by 20% and stuns them for an entire round. It is the most impactful debuff in the game, but only certain abilities can apply it.

Level Up Intentionally

You have the option to reallocate your build using a scarce resource called a Recoat item. Because it's rare, it's prudent to think ahead before using your stat investments. Get a feel for a hero's kit and plan a progression route first.

Always Use the Checkpoint Flag

Resting at an checkpoint fully heals your whole team and restocks every healing items, including HP restoratives and phoenix down equivalents. Develop the routine to stop and heal up!

Checkpoints also act as the closest thing to navigation in the game. There is no traditional map, compass, or objective markers. However, each flag has a designation. At a flag, you can view a list of every flag you've found in that zone under a navigation option. It's a simple but effective way to see how far you've come.

Glowing Cages Are Consistently Rewarding

Glowing chests are essentially sealed loot boxes that demand you to find and hit three concealed seals in the nearby environment to claiming the prize. The treasure inside is always high-tier, such as respec items or unique gear. The three locks aren't in plain sight, but they are usually within the same area. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Yes, Fight the Shopkeeper

All vendors carries a secret, unique item that isn't listed in their standard shop. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is always a worthwhile endeavor, as these rewards are truly unique. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for reference, sells a Picto that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the target by 25%.

Rely On the Autosave

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