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If you’re diving into *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, you might want some helpful tips to start off in this heartfelt tribute to role-playing games (RPGs), drawing heavily from both classic and modern JRPGs. Although the game is straightforward in many respects, it offers a rich RPG experience packed with interconnected systems, from battling to exploring expansive overworlds and dungeons. What seems simple at first quickly reveals a wide array of character builds and possibilities to pursue.
That’s part of what made our review of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* so glowing. This title goes beyond merely replicating our favorite RPGs; it’s a true evolution that keeps driving excitement at every turn. For fans of the genre, this is a must-play, and for those less familiar with RPGs, it might just be the one that draws you in. To ensure you get hooked right away, here are some essential tips to kick off your adventure in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*.
1. To Parry or Not to Parry?
The battles in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* are primarily turn-based, reminiscent of classics like *Dragon Quest* and more modern entries like *Persona 5*. What’s unique here is the incorporation of timing mechanics that enhance your skills and help you dodge or parry enemy attacks. While this isn’t the first RPG to feature such mechanics, it has one of the most fluid and satisfying parry systems. It feels like a real duel, akin to battles in *Sekiro*.
However, parrying isn’t for everyone. It’s a skill that can be challenging to master, especially given the variety of attack patterns from enemies. If you find parrying too difficult, consider dodging instead; it’s easier and can provide a damage boost if done perfectly. Familiarizing yourself with enemy attacks helps as well. The timing feels balanced on Normal difficulty, while it seems more forgiving on Story difficulty, though there currently isn’t an option to adjust the difficulty level.
2. Maximize Combat Effectiveness
While all characters in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* can dodge and parry, each has unique systems to enrich play. For instance, Gustave can enhance his strongest attack after landing ten hits. This means focusing on chain attacks is key for him. Meanwhile, Lune benefits from using diverse elemental attacks rather than just sticking to one type.
Each character is like a machine that you can rev up for maximum damage. There are synergies between character abilities as well; one skill might let you generate and then transfer AP to other characters, boosting their attacks. Lune’s fire moves can even help Maelle power up her skills more easily.
Don’t overlook the Free Aim mechanic. Early in the game, hitting weak spots using a single pip of AP can lead to significant damage and prevent enemies from unleashing powerful attacks. This feature also removes enemy shields, making it easier to deal damage to foes that are normally well-protected.
3. Prioritize Skills Wisely
The skill trees for each character highlight their individuality in battle, and they start with options allowing upgrades in different directions, gaining one skill point with each level. While points come quickly, it’s essential to think about which powerful skills you want to focus on early on.
Your choices may vary based on personal preferences, but it’s key to consider how each character’s unique mechanics work together. For example, Maelle excels at switching between stances, so invest in skills that complement all her stances. As you progress, aim for abilities that use around 8-9 AP for stronger attacks, maximizing the energy you’ve built up during battles.
4. Choose the Best Pictos
Pictos serve as stat-boosting items that also provide special abilities. You can “learn” these by defeating five enemies and can spend lumina to continue benefiting from their effects even if they’re unequipped. As you level up your characters, the maximum amount of lumina increases, with potential boosts from collectibles as well.
There are plenty of synergies to explore, and this is where pictos shine. For instance, Free Aim gun attacks can be enhanced to inflict burns, which increases damage. Combining these with skills that capitalize on attacking marked or burned enemies can multiply your damage output.
In general, it’s best to prioritize pictos that offer consistent bonuses rather than one-time effects, although those that help when your health is low can be useful too. Additionally, the Energizing Start picto, which boosts AP at the start of battles, can tip the scales in your favor. I even developed an efficient strategy for XP farming by utilizing easy-to-acquire pictos, which you might want to check out.
5. Manage and Upgrade Your Stats
A subtle yellow highlight indicates that Vitality increases Health directly, and Might affects Attack Power; however, Agility boosts Speed and Defense, Defense elevates Defense (again) and Critical Rate, and Luck influences Critical Rate and Speed. Moreover, Attack Power benefits from the ranking value related to the character’s weapon, reminiscent of the mechanics in *Dark Souls*.
From my experience, it’s critical to keep all values reasonably high, but focusing on Health and Might might not be as crucial since they receive substantial boosts from gear. My characters’ Health and Might hovered about 10-20 points lower than other stats by the end. However, lacking Speed can be disastrous, as enemies may get multiple turns, and weak Defense and missed parries can be punishing. I also found Luck to be surprisingly beneficial—aiming for 33%-50% or higher with pictos boosting it is advantageous, as many skills trigger additional effects on critical hits, such as guaranteed double damage or extra strikes.
6. Do Relationship Mechanics or Social Links Exist?
The answer is yes, but with a twist. These relationships become accessible beginning in Act 2 when you engage party members at camp for short dialogues. These interactions enrich the characters’ backstories and can also unlock new skills. Unlike traditional social links seen in other RPGs, there’s no necessity to gradually work through them; you can engage in as many conversations as you want during a single camp session, and there doesn’t seem to be a relationship ranking system, aside from leveling up after each interaction.
These character quests unlock progressively throughout the game, and you won’t be able to fully complete them until Act 3 when the entire overworld is available. Many of these quests involve unique mechanics, such as optional dungeons or boss encounters, some of which can be quite challenging, so be ready!
7. How to Get the Boat to Fly and Other Travel Methods
The overworld in *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* is rich with exploration opportunities, even though some of the optional areas can be quite tough early on. Travel methods are largely introduced through the story, except for one new addition available in Act 3. To unlock this, just complete Esquie’s character quest during a camp session. After finishing it, you’ll receive an achievement indicating you’ve fully upgraded your travel options.
8. What’s Up with the Manor and How to Open Its Doors
Early on, you’ll encounter a mysterious manor filled with locked doors that you can’t open from the inside. Similar to how Gustave and the team entered through a time-warp-like door in a dungeon, these doors are scattered across the game world. Some are found in main story dungeons, while others are located in optional dungeons, including during late-game content in Act 3.
Initially, entering these doors may leave you puzzled about how to proceed. However, returning through the same door typically brings you back to the manor’s main part you already know. Exiting the main entrance takes you back to where you entered that time. Each room may harbor collectibles waiting to be discovered by exploring the environment, such as costumes and records. Exploring these spaces can also reveal extra lore about the inhabitants and the world of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* without being overt about it, so be sure to explore!
9. How Long Does *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* Take to Complete?
According to the developers at Sandfall Interactive, you can expect to spend around 30 hours completing the main storyline and an additional 30 hours for side content. Personally, I completed the main story and a few side dungeons in just over 25 hours, considering I generally play faster than average. Therefore, 30 hours feels like a reasonable estimate.
I’m still working on the side quests, and while an extra 30 hours might seem a bit excessive, keep in mind that at least one extra dungeon took me almost 2 hours and had significant narrative elements, so the time could certainly stack up, especially if you strategize against optional bosses. Additionally, the game offers a New Game+ mode that presents a more challenging experience alongside extra content, ensuring plenty of gaming entertainment awaits.
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