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A curious piece of trivia: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the somewhat obscure nature of the interface systems and mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 places you in the role of a band of social media mages, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a journey to reverse a global affliction that stops people from growing old. It fuses turn-based RPG combat with timed defensive moves reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a distinctive artistic lexicon.

It has emerged as the biggest games of the season, having achieved massive sales and earned Game of the Year praise. The experience can feel a bit off-putting at first, but once you lock in, you’ll uncover a deep and fascinating role-playing game that differentiates itself from contemporary titles. Below are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Party Members Often

In Expedition 33, allies who take part in a fight gain a sizable bonus to experience compared to those in reserve. What's more, the narrative will sometimes force you to include particular characters. The most straightforward approach to these challenges is to change your lineup frequently and try to keep your roster at a similar level.

The upside is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles award a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a level up after just two or three. You can reset an area's enemies by resting at an save point—these points are placed across each level. If you need to power level, simply fight enemies near a flag, refresh, and continue the cycle.

Swap Gear Often

There are a couple of key ways to provide constant buffs to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina abilities.

• Pictos are items which grant numerical bonuses and come with a constant effect. A character can slot a maximum of three Pictos. Once slotted, winning four encounters with a Picto will unlock its linked Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but are similar to equippable passives. A party member has a number of Lumina Points (which you can raise via consumables). Every Lumina ability has a specific point cost. As long as a character has enough points, there is no limit can benefit from the same Lumina, allowing you to layer useful effects across your entire team.

The most efficient tactic is to make sure someone is wearing every new Picto and completes four encounters to gain its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for future use.

When you aren't have fresh gear to unlock, simply use the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your needs.

Perfect Guards Are Not Your Sole Defense

Expedition 33’s defining element is its marriage of strategic battles with twitch-based defenses. But, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on any mode. Rather than breaking controllers trying to hit perfect blocks, focus on rolling.

Although a perfect guard refunds a resource and inflicts significant bonus damage, failing to parry leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are a number of accessories and abilities that provide resources on a successful dodge. If you struggle with the timing, use those evasion-based perks instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering mechanic that can swing a fight. As you whittle down health, a gold meter charges under their HP bar. Upon maxing out, you can stun the enemy, which reduces their damage resistance by a fifth and skips their turn for one full turn. It is the top-tier debuff in the game, but only specific abilities can apply it.

Allocate Points Intentionally

You can reset your build using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Given its scarcity, it's smart to consider your path prior to committing your attribute points. Get a feel for a party member's role and plan a build strategy first.

Always Rest At the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an save point refills the health of your entire party and refreshes every consumables, including HP restoratives and revival items. Make it a habit to use each flag you see!

Checkpoints also act as the primary method to navigation in the game. The game lacks a mini-map, compass, or floating icons. However, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can access a log of every flag you've found in that level under a teleport list. It's a minimalist way to track your progress.

Locked Chests Are Consistently Worth It

These special containers are basically locked treasure chests that require you to discover and activate three scattered mechanisms in the nearby environment to claiming the prize. The treasure inside is consistently valuable, often containing rare resources or powerful weapons. The required seals aren't in plain sight, but they are typically within the same area. If you are missing a lock, try smashing crates or looking up.

Yes, Challenge the Shopkeeper

Each shopkeeper stocks a hidden special good that won't show up in their regular wares. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a one-on-one fight. This is invariably rewarding, as these items are truly unique. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, sells a Picto that causes the damage-increasing condition, which amplifies attacks against the affected enemy by 25%.

Have Faith in the Autosave

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