Ten Starter Pointers to Learn Prior to Starting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A fun fact: The title term “Obscur” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hints at the somewhat obscure nature of the in-game systems and mechanics.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts you as a band of social media mages, spearheaded by the audacious British Daredevil, on a mission to combat a universal phenomenon that halts the natural aging process. It merges traditional RPG combat with action-game reflexes inspired by challenging titles, all cloaked in a unique artistic lexicon.
It has proven to be the major releases of the period, having sold millions and secured top honors praise. The adventure can feel somewhat dense in the beginning, but when it clicks, you’ll find a deep and fascinating RPG that stands apart from contemporary titles. Listed here are ten crucial early-game strategies for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Rotate Characters Often
In Expedition 33, characters who are active during a fight earn a hefty increase to Experience Points relative to those not fighting. What's more, the campaign will periodically force you to include particular characters. The most straightforward method to these mechanics is to rotate your team and strive to keep all characters at a roughly equal level.
The upside is that leveling up is not too tedious. Fights provide a generous amount of XP, frequently enough for a stat increase after just two or three. You can respawn an local foes by stopping at an expedition flag—these flags are located across each area. If you need to accumulate XP fast, simply fight enemies near a flag, refresh, and repeat.
Swap Items Regularly
You have two main ways to provide passive perks to your allies: Picto accessories and Lumina skills.
- Pictos function as gear that give numerical bonuses and also feature a unique passive skill. Every party member can slot up to three Pictos. After being worn, finishing four encounters with a Picto unlocks its associated Lumina.
- Luminas are not gear pieces but essentially act as equippable passives. A party member has a number of LP (which can be increased via consumables). Each Lumina has a set cost. If a character has sufficient LP, there is no limit can use the identical ability, allowing you to stack key bonuses across your full roster.
The smartest tactic is to ensure someone equips any new accessory and wins four battles to unlock its Lumina. This ensures the ability will be available for later builds.
When you aren't have unleveled accessories to level up, simply use the Pictos with the highest bonuses for your playstyle.
Parrying Isn't Your Only Option
Expedition 33’s signature mechanic is its combination of strategic battles with action-oriented blocks. But, the timing for a perfect block is incredibly short on every setting. Rather than frustrating yourself trying to hit perfect blocks, prioritize dodging.
Even though a successful parry refunds one AP and deals massive extra damage, not blocking leaves you vulnerable. Fortunately there are multiple Pictos and Luminas that restore Action Points on a successful dodge. If you find parrying difficult, equip those roll-centric abilities instead.
Break Is Your Secret Weapon
The Break status effect is a battle-altering mechanic that can secure victory. As you attack a foe, a yellow gauge fills up under their life bar. Upon maxing out, you can inflict break, which reduces their damage resistance by 20% and stuns them for an entire round. It is the top-tier condition in the game, but only certain attacks can apply it.
Level Up With a Plan
You can reset attributes and skills using a rare item called a Recoat. Because it's rare, it's prudent to think ahead before spending your attribute points. Get a feel for a party member's role and chart a skill tree path beforehand.
Make Sure to Use the Checkpoint Flag
Resting at an expedition flag fully heals your entire party and replenishes your supply of consumables, including HP restoratives and phoenix down equivalents. Remember to use each flag you see!
Checkpoints also function as the primary method to quick traversal in the game. You won't find a mini-map, waypoint system, or objective markers. However, each flag has a name and number. By resting, you can see a menu of your progress in that zone under a teleport list. It's a simple but effective way to navigate the world.
Glowing Cages Are Invariably Rewarding
These special containers are essentially sealed loot boxes that need you to find and hit three scattered mechanisms in the surrounding area before getting the loot. The reward is always high-tier, often containing rare resources or powerful weapons. The three locks aren't always obvious, but they are usually near the cage. If you can't find one, try exploring thoroughly or scanning the environment vertically.
Absolutely, Battle the Merchant
Every merchant stocks a hidden special good that doesn't appear in their standard shop. To unlock it, you must pick a champion and win a duel in a solo battle. This is always rewarding, as these items are exceptionally powerful. The first merchant you meet, for instance, provides a Picto that applies the Defenseless debuff, which increases damage dealt against the foe by 25%.
Trust In the Autosave
The game lacks {manual saving