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

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a band of glamorous spellcasters, led by the daring British Daredevil, on a quest to halt a worldwide curse that stops people from growing old. It blends turn-based RPG encounters with real-time parries drawn from Soulslike games, all presented with a unique visual style.

It has become one of the most successful releases of the year, having sold millions and earned the premier award accolades. The adventure can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but after you grasp its systems, you’ll uncover a deep and engrossing RPG that stands apart from other games. Below are 10 essential beginner's tips for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Swap Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a fight gain a hefty increase to XP relative to those not fighting. Furthermore, the narrative will sometimes force you to include particular characters. The most straightforward method to these mechanics is to switch members often and aim to keep all characters at a similar strength.

The good news is that grinding is relatively quick. Battles provide a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a level up after just a few. You can refresh an zone's monsters by resting at an checkpoint banner—these points are placed throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply engage in combat near a flag, refresh, and repeat.

Change Gear Frequently

You have two primary ways to provide bonus effects to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina skills.

• Pictos are accessories that grant stat boosts and come with a constant effect. A character can equip a maximum of three Pictos. After being worn, finishing four fights with a Picto grants access to its corresponding Lumina.
• Luminas are not gear pieces but essentially act as unlocked abilities. A party member has a amount of Lumina Points (which can be increased via level-ups). A Lumina has a required LP amount. As long as a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can equip the identical ability, allowing you to stack key bonuses across your full roster.

The most efficient strategy is to always a party member equips every new Picto and completes four battles to unlock its Lumina. That way the ability will be available for when needed.

When you aren't have fresh gear to level up, simply slot the Pictos with the best stats for your playstyle.

Parrying Isn't Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of RPG systems with action-oriented blocks. That said, the opportunity to deflect is extremely brief on all difficulty levels. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to master the timing, concentrate on dodging.

Even though a successful parry refunds Action Points and causes significant bonus damage, not blocking yields no benefit. Luckily there are a number of gear and skills that grant AP on a perfect roll. If you struggle with the timing, use those dodge-focused perks instead.

The Break Status Is Your Greatest Advantage

Inflicting Break is a battle-altering condition that can secure victory. As you damage an enemy, a special bar increases under their HP bar. Upon maxing out, you can stun the enemy, which lowers their defense by 20% and prevents them from acting for their next action. It is the single most powerful status effect in the game, but only specific attacks can cause it.

Level Up With a Plan

You have the option to reallocate your build using a limited consumable called a Respec token. Because it's rare, it's prudent to plan your build before using your attribute points. Get a feel for a character's playstyle and chart a build strategy first.

Always Stop At the Expedition Flag

Resting at an save point refills the health of your whole team and replenishes your supply of consumables, including HP restoratives and revival items. Develop the routine to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also function as the primary method to fast travel in the game. You won't find a overworld map, GPS, or floating icons. However, each flag has a designation. By resting, you can see a menu of your progress in that area under a teleport list. It's a simple but effective way to track your progress.

Glowing Cages Are Always Worth the Effort

Paint Cages are basically locked treasure chests that need you to find and hit three concealed seals in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The contents is always valuable, often containing Recoats or strong equipment. The associated mechanisms aren't easy to spot, but they are typically located close by. If you can't find one, try smashing crates or scanning the environment vertically.

Yes, Battle the Shopkeeper

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that doesn't appear in their regular wares. To get them to sell it, you must choose one character and defeat the merchant in a one-on-one fight. This is always worth doing, as these pieces of gear are exceptionally powerful. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, offers a special accessory that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the foe by a quarter.

Rely On the Auto-Save System

The game lacks {manual saving