Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a refreshing take on the RPG genre, but its new mechanics can be daunting. Rather than overwhelming players with dozens of hints, here are 10 crucial tips that help make sense of the most important systems and secrets the game keeps quiet about.
Start Strong: Don’t Miss the Prologue Rewards
At the beginning of the game, players accompany Gustave and Sophie through the prologue. Engaging with NPCs and choosing to participate in optional battles is highly recommended. These early interactions grant beneficial items that boost character stats in later gameplay.
Additionally, the optional battle against the mime near the shore, although difficult, is worth the challenge. Winning provides a music record and offers valuable practice in timing dodges and counters—skills essential for later mime battles.
Shortly after the Gommage event, it’s possible to collect all three tokens required to purchase exclusive items from vendors. The first token is given automatically, the second can be earned by answering Antoine’s trivia questions (with unlimited attempts), and the third comes from winning a rematch against Maelle at the dock. This battle can be retried until it’s won.
Resting Comes With a Price: Enemy Respawns
Resting at Expedition Flags fully heals the party, but it also causes enemies to respawn. To avoid this, consider using Chroma Elixirs, which offer full recovery without reviving foes. These elixirs have limited uses but are replenished each time a rest occurs at a flag.
Flags also serve multiple functions: they allow players to allocate attribute points after leveling up and offer fast travel between previously visited flags. However, not every flag can be used for fast travel, so choose resting locations wisely.
Use Light as Your Guide
Exploration can be disorienting, and that’s by design. The main path is typically illuminated by lamps or light sources. Following the light helps stay on track. Conversely, exploring unlit paths often leads to optional content and hidden secrets.
Mastering Luminas and Pictos
Luminas and Pictos function as upgrade systems, but the in-game tutorials don’t fully explain their depth. A Pictos provides passive stat boosts (displayed at the top) and a unique benefit (at the bottom). After winning four battles with one equipped, its special effect is unlocked for the whole party.
However, unlocking a Pictos does not activate its effect automatically. Players need to access the Lumina menu (via the left stick) to assign Lumina Points and activate the unlocked bonuses. It’s important to note that while the bonus effect is applied, the passive stat boosts do not carry over unless the Pictos is actively equipped.
Strategizing combinations is key. It’s inefficient to stack similar effects among party members. Diversify combat effects and stat enhancements for optimal performance.
Choose When to Fire Your Gun
Guns in Clair Obscur use AP (Action Points) with each shot. Because of this, it’s best to shoot only in specific scenarios, like when facing aerial enemies that evade melee strikes. Gunshots can still be followed up with melee or skills, provided there’s enough AP left.
If the Marking Shots Lumina is active, consider firing until a Mark is applied, especially if another party member’s turn will capitalize on that status for additional damage.
Guns Are Critical Against Shields
Despite the previous advice to conserve bullets, shielded enemies are the exception. Shield icons above enemy health bars represent extra layers of defense. Each bullet removes one shield icon, making guns a valuable resource when facing heavily guarded opponents.
More Shield-Breaking Tactics
Beyond bullets, status effects and multi-hit skills can also dismantle shields. For example, a burning enemy loses one shield at the start of its turn. Skills like Gustave’s Lumiere Assault are particularly effective, as hitting the input sequence correctly extends the combo and removes multiple shields.
Some rare abilities even gain strength when used against shielded foes, so understanding party skills pays off in these encounters.
The Yellow Meter: How to Break Enemies
Shield-breaking is separate from stunning, referred to in-game as Breaking an enemy. A yellow bar under an enemy’s health indicates how close it is to being stunned. Once full, using a Break-designated skill (like Gustave’s Overcharge or Lune’s Rockslide) will send the enemy into a vulnerable, stunned state.
Stunned enemies lose a turn and take significantly increased damage. Timing a Break just before a boss unleashes a powerful skill can be the difference between victory and defeat. This mechanic is also the best way to defeat the optional mimes scattered throughout the world.
Seek Out Optional Bosses for Major Rewards
Every area features optional boss fights, often in the form of intimidating Nevrons. Players can choose to engage them or sneak past. Winning these tough battles yields new weapons, powerful Pictos, and other key items.
Many items in the world can also be collected without fighting, provided enemies or bosses are avoided. Be cautious, though—Chromatic Nevrons in particular can be punishing if they catch players off guard.
Not All Nevrons Are Hostile
Some Nevrons are actually allies. These white-painted figures request help finding nearby items. For instance, near the Abandoned Expeditioner Camp in Spring Meadows, one such Nevron asks for a resin. This can be found downhill past a bridge and inside some barrels. After retrieving it, lighting the Nevron’s lamp completes the quest and awards a second Healing Tint.
Completing these quests often yields weapons, Pictos, and useful resources, making them well worth the effort.
Upgrade Systems Unlock Later in the Game
Items like Colours of Lumina and Chroma Catalysts are found early but cannot be used right away. Colours of Lumina provide additional Lumina Points for party members, while Chroma Catalysts are essential for upgrading weapons.
Players will need to progress into the second major region of the game before these upgrade systems become available during the main storyline.