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A fun fact: The “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alludes to the initially cryptic nature of the in-game systems and gameplay loops.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you leading a team of social media mages, fronted by the audacious British Daredevil, on a quest to combat a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It fuses turn-based RPG battles with timed defensive moves reminiscent of Soulslike games, all cloaked in a idiosyncratic visual style.

It has emerged as the major games of the season, having garnered a huge player base and earned top honors recognition. The game can feel slightly intimidating in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll uncover a layered and captivating role-playing game that differentiates itself from other games. Listed here are 10 essential early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Change Team Members Frequently

In Expedition 33, party members who participate in a fight earn a hefty increase to experience versus those on the bench. What's more, the campaign will periodically require you to use specific characters. The easiest approach to these mechanics is to rotate your team and try to keep all characters at a roughly equal power level.

The upside is that grinding is fairly fast. Battles award a sizable amount of XP, often enough for a character progression after just two or three. You can refresh an zone's monsters by resting at an checkpoint banner—these flags are placed throughout each level. If you need to gain levels quickly, simply fight enemies near a flag, rest, and continue the cycle.

Change Accessories Regularly

You have two main ways to provide constant buffs to your characters: Picto gems and Luminas.

• Pictos function as gear that provide attribute increases and include a unique passive skill. A character can wear up to three Pictos. When equipped, winning four battles with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
• Luminas aren’t physical items but can be thought of as skill tree nodes. Every ally has a pool of Lumina Points (which you can raise via level-ups). Each Lumina has a set cost. As long as 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 optimal tactic is to always a party member has equipped each fresh Picto you find and completes four battles to gain its Lumina. This ensures you’ll have it for later builds.

If you don't have unleveled accessories to level up, simply use the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your needs.

Blocking Is Not Your Single Choice

Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its marriage of RPG systems with action-oriented blocks. But, the opportunity to deflect is notoriously tight on every setting. In place of struggling endlessly trying to master the timing, concentrate on rolling.

Although a perfect guard grants a resource and deals significant bonus damage, not blocking gives you nothing. Fortunately there are a number of gear and skills that grant AP on a successful dodge. If you can't get the block down, equip those dodge-focused options instead.

The Break Status Is Your Secret Weapon

Break is a game-changing state that can turn the tide. As you attack a foe, a gold meter charges under their health bar. Upon maxing out, you can apply the Break status, which slashes their armor by a fifth and skips their turn for their next action. It is the single most powerful debuff in the game, but only particular abilities can cause it.

Level Up Intentionally

You are able to re-spec attributes and skills using a limited consumable called a Recoat item. Since they are uncommon, it's smart to consider your path instead of committing your stat investments. Try out a character's playstyle and map out a progression route first.

Make Sure to Use the Expedition Flag

Using your tent at an save point refills the health of your entire party and refreshes your supply of consumables, including healing potions and Revive Tints. Develop the routine to rest at every flag!

Checkpoints also act as the closest thing to fast travel in the game. There is no overworld map, waypoint system, or floating icons. But, each flag has a identifier. When you interact with one, you can access a log of all discovered flags in that level under a navigation option. It's a minimalist way to track your progress.

Locked Chests Are Invariably Worth the Effort

These special containers are effectively puzzle caches that need you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the nearby environment prior to opening them. The reward is consistently valuable, including items like respec items or strong equipment. The three locks aren't easy to spot, but they are usually near the cage. If you are missing a lock, try exploring thoroughly or looking up.

Go Ahead and, Battle the Vendor

Every merchant has a one-of-a-kind piece of gear that won't show up in their standard shop. To get them to sell it, you must choose one character and win a duel in a solo battle. This is invariably a worthwhile endeavor, as these items are truly unique. The initial shopkeeper you meet, for instance, provides a special accessory that applies the vulnerability status, which increases damage dealt against the target by a significant margin.

Have Faith in the Autosave

The game lacks {manual saving