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A fun fact: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the initially cryptic nature of the game's menus and systems.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of social media mages, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a universal phenomenon that stops people from growing old. It merges strategic role-playing battles with timed defensive moves inspired by challenging titles, all wrapped in a distinctive aesthetic language.

It has emerged as the biggest titles of the year, having sold millions and secured the premier award praise. The adventure can feel somewhat dense at first, but when it clicks, you’ll discover a rich and captivating RPG that differentiates itself from contemporary titles. Below are a collection of early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Characters Often

In Expedition 33, characters who are active during a battle earn a hefty increase to experience compared to those in reserve. Furthermore, the story will sometimes force you to use specific characters. The simplest method to both issues is to rotate your team and aim to keep all characters at a roughly equal power level.

The upside is that grinding is fairly fast. Battles award a substantial amount of XP, frequently enough for a character progression after just two or three. You can refresh an area's enemies by stopping at an checkpoint banner—these points are located throughout each zone. If you need to power level, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and continue the cycle.

Rotate Gear Often

The game features two main ways to grant passive perks to your characters: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.

• Pictos function as gear that grant numerical bonuses and come with a constant effect. Each character can equip three different Pictos. When equipped, finishing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but can be thought of as equippable passives. A party member has a pool of skill points (which grows via consumables). Each Lumina has a specific point cost. Provided that a character has the required amount, there is no limit can benefit from the same skill, allowing you to stack useful effects across your full roster.

The most efficient tactic is to ensure someone equips each fresh Picto you find and wins four battles to reveal its Lumina. Doing this you gain access for future use.

If you don't have fresh gear to unlock, simply equip the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your current build.

Blocking Is Not Your Only Option

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its marriage of RPG systems with real-time parries. However, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on all difficulty levels. Instead of frustrating yourself trying to master the timing, concentrate on dodging.

While a well-timed block refunds one AP and causes significant bonus damage, missing the timing yields no benefit. The good news is there are a number of accessories and abilities that restore Action Points on a well-timed evade. If you find parrying difficult, equip those dodge-focused options instead.

Breaking Enemies Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a battle-altering state that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a yellow gauge increases below their health bar. When full, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their armor by a significant amount and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only specific skills can apply it.

Build Characters Deliberately

You can reset stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to plan your build prior to using your stat investments. Try out a hero's kit and plan a progression route first.

Don't Forget to Use the Expedition Flag

Stopping at an expedition flag fully heals your whole team and restocks your supply of potions, including Chroma Elixirs and Revive Tints. Make it a habit to stop and heal up!

These flags also function as the primary method to navigation in the game. The game lacks a overworld map, GPS, or floating icons. But, each flag has a name and number. When you interact with one, you can see a menu of your progress in that area under a fast travel menu. It's a minimalist way to navigate the world.

Locked Chests Are Consistently Worth the Effort

Glowing chests are effectively sealed loot boxes that need you to find and hit three hidden locks in the surrounding area before getting the loot. The reward is without fail worthwhile, including items like rare resources or strong equipment. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are usually located close by. If you are stuck, try smashing crates or checking elevated spots.

Go Ahead and, Fight the Vendor

Each shopkeeper has a hidden special good that isn't listed in their normal inventory. To gain access to it, you must pick a champion and defeat the merchant in a single combat. This is always rewarding, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for example, sells a Picto that inflicts the damage-increasing condition, which boosts damage against the foe by a quarter.

Rely On the Automatic Saving

The game lacks {manual saving