An interesting tidbit: The name “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 references the initially cryptic nature of the interface systems and gameplay loops.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of magical influencers, led by the bold British Daredevil, on a quest to reverse a universal phenomenon that prevents aging. It fuses strategic role-playing encounters with action-game reflexes drawn from Soulslike games, all wrapped in a idiosyncratic visual style.
It has emerged as the major releases of the period, having sold millions and secured the premier award recognition. The game can feel a bit off-putting in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll find a layered and fascinating role-playing game that stands apart from many others. Here are are a collection of early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Swap Team Members Regularly
In Expedition 33, allies who participate in a fight earn a sizable bonus to XP relative to those on the bench. Additionally, the campaign will periodically force you to field certain characters. The simplest solution to these mechanics is to switch members often and strive to keep all characters at a roughly equal strength.
The upside is that grinding is not too tedious. Fights award a generous amount of XP, sometimes sufficient for a character progression after just a few. You can respawn an area's enemies by taking a break at an save point—these markers are located in each area. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply engage in combat near a flag, rest, and do it again.
Swap Gear Often
The game features two primary ways to provide bonus effects to your characters: Picto gems and Lumina skills.
- Pictos are accessories that give numerical bonuses and come with a special ability. Every party member can wear up to three Pictos. When equipped, winning four battles with a Picto will unlock its corresponding Lumina.
- Luminas function differently but essentially act as equippable passives. Every ally has a pool of LP (which you can raise via items). Each Lumina has a required LP amount. As long as a character has sufficient LP, you are not restricted can use the same skill, allowing you to combine powerful passives across your whole party.
The optimal approach is to make sure a party member equips every new Picto and wins the required fights to gain its Lumina. This ensures the ability will be available for later builds.
If you don't have fresh gear to level up, simply use the Pictos with the most beneficial attributes for your playstyle.
Parrying Isn't Your Sole Defense
Expedition 33’s defining element is its fusion of strategic battles with real-time parries. But, the opportunity to deflect is incredibly short on any mode. Instead of struggling endlessly trying to land parries, prioritize evading.
While a successful parry refunds one AP and deals massive extra damage, failing to parry gives you nothing. Luckily there are a number of gear and skills that restore Action Points on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, use those dodge-focused abilities instead.
Break Is Your Greatest Advantage
The Break status effect is a decisive mechanic that can turn the tide. As you damage an enemy, a gold meter charges under their HP bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their defense by a fifth and skips their turn for an entire round. It is the single most powerful debuff in the game, but only certain abilities can apply it.
Allocate Points With a Plan
You are able to re-spec stat points and abilities using a rare item called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's prudent to consider your path instead of spending your attribute points. Try out a hero's kit and map out a skill tree path in advance.
Don't Forget to Rest At the Save Flag
Using your tent at an checkpoint refills the health of your all characters and refreshes all of your potions, including Chroma Elixirs and Revive Tints. Remember to use each flag you see!
These flags also serve as the primary method to navigation in the game. There is no overworld map, GPS, or floating icons. But, each flag has a name and number. By resting, you can access a log of your progress in that zone under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to see how far you've come.
Paint Cages Are Consistently Worth the Effort
These special containers are effectively sealed loot boxes that demand you to find and hit three concealed seals in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The treasure inside is without fail worthwhile, often containing respec items or strong equipment. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are usually within the same area. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.
Go Ahead and, Challenge the Vendor
Every merchant carries a hidden special good that isn't listed in their regular wares. To unlock it, you must choose one character and win a duel in a one-on-one fight. This is always rewarding, as these items are game-changing. The earliest vendor you meet, for example, provides a special accessory that applies the damage-increasing condition, which increases damage dealt against the foe by 25%.
Trust In the Autosave
There is no {manual saving
