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A curious piece of trivia: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the complex nature of the game's menus and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a group of magical influencers, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It blends turn-based RPG battles with timed defensive moves inspired by Soulslike games, all presented with a unique visual style.

It has proven to be the most successful titles of the year, having garnered a huge player base and secured the premier award recognition. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting at first, but once you lock in, you’ll find a rich and engrossing RPG that differentiates itself from other games. Below are 10 essential early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Party Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, characters who participate in a battle gain a sizable bonus to Experience Points compared to those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will at times require you to include particular characters. The most straightforward approach to both issues is to switch members often and aim to keep everyone at a roughly equal power level.

The positive aspect is that grinding is not too tedious. Fights grant a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a level up after just two or three. You can respawn an local foes by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these points are located throughout each area. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, use the flag, and repeat.

Swap Gear Often

There are two main ways to grant bonus effects to your allies: Pictos and Luminas.

• Pictos are accessories that provide attribute increases and come with a unique passive skill. A character can wear three different Pictos. Once slotted, completing four fights with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but are similar to equippable passives. Every ally has a pool of LP (which you can raise via consumables). A Lumina has a set cost. Provided that a character has the required amount, multiple characters can equip the same skill, allowing you to combine powerful passives across your full roster.

The optimal tactic is to always a party member is wearing every new Picto and completes the required fights to reveal its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for later builds.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to work on, simply equip the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your current build.

Blocking Is Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s key feature is its marriage of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. But, the parry window is extremely brief on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.

Even though a well-timed block restores Action Points and deals massive extra damage, missing the timing yields no benefit. Luckily there are several accessories and abilities that provide resources on a perfect roll. If you find parrying difficult, focus on those dodge-focused options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Key Tactic

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can secure victory. As you whittle down health, a gold meter increases under their health bar. Once charged, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their defense by 20% and skips their turn for their next action. It is the most impactful debuff in the game, but only particular attacks can apply it.

Allocate Points Deliberately

You have the option to reallocate attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Since they are uncommon, it's wise to consider your path prior to using your skill points. Experiment with a hero's kit and plan a progression route beforehand.

Always Stop At the Checkpoint Flag

Stopping at an checkpoint refills the health of your whole team and replenishes all of your consumables, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to stop and heal up!

Checkpoints also function as the only means to navigation in the game. You won't find a overworld map, waypoint system, or objective markers. But, each flag has a name and number. At a flag, you can view a list of all discovered flags in that zone under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Glowing Cages Are Invariably Worth the Effort

These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that require you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area to opening them. The contents is consistently valuable, such as respec items or powerful weapons. The required seals aren't easy to spot, but they are usually located close by. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or looking up.

Yes, Fight the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper stocks a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that isn't listed in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must pick a champion and beat them in combat in a solo battle. This is always rewarding, as these items are game-changing. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for reference, provides a Picto that inflicts the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the affected enemy by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Auto-Save System

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