Expedition 33: Tips and tricks

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 introduces some unique mechanics to the turn-based jRPG formula. Some of them are not obvious at the beginning of the game - you have to figure them out yourself. On this guide page, you will find several useful tips that will come in handy when you start playing the game.

• Shoot at the weak points of the enemies and mark them
• Do not be afraid to spend items or action points
• Exchange Picto and equip Lumina
• Dodge first, then parry
• Shoot at enemies while exploring and attack them
• Weapons scale to the statistics
• Use a camp every now and then
• Setting enemies on fire has a lot of synergy in the early stage of the game
• If the location is surrounded by red light, come back here later

Shoot at the weak points of the enemies and mark them

Many opponents in the game have weak points, which you can destroy with a shot from your ranged weapon. Destroying the weak point deals significant damage, but you can drastically increase it by marking the enemy beforehand. This status effect increases the next damage dealt to the enemy, and you will gain access to it quite early thanks to Gustave's Marking Shot skill. By destroying the weak point of the marked enemy, you will often inflict massive damage. In our guide, you will find descriptions of all lesser opponents in the game.

Do not be afraid to spend items or action points

Most resources in the game regenerate very often, encouraging you to use everything you have in every battle. The game does not have a mana system - it is replaced by action points, which are restored at the beginning of each battle. So don't be afraid to use your most powerful skills. The items you can use during combat - healing flasks, resurrection flasks, and action point flasks - work on the same rules as estus flasks from the Dark Souls series. They are fully replenished each time you rest at a flag. So you can use them as much as you want - you will get them all back after reaching a checkpoint.

Exchange Picto and equip Lumina

Picto is the main equipment you find during the game - treat it as amulets, of which each character can equip three at a time. Each Picto consists of two parts - a ive bonus to statistics and a unique Lumina effect. After winning four fights with an equipped Picto, you will learn its Lumina effect - from now on, every party member can equip this effect in the Lumina menu, even without having that Picto (as long as they have enough Lumina points, gained as you level up and use colors of Lumina in the camp). So equip yourself with Picto with the highest ive bonuses and Picto with Lumina effects you haven't mastered yet. In our guide, you will find a page that precisely describes these mechanics.

Dodge first, then parry

Opponents in Expedition 33 deal very high damage, especially at high difficulty levels. Dodging or parrying are therefore essential - parrying is much more powerful, as it rewards you with action points and counterattacks, but it is also much harder to perform. Some enemy attack animations are deceptive, so when encountering new attacks, focus on dodging first. Once you master a certain attack, i.e. once you are able to do perfect dodges, you can start parrying it in the next fights.

Shoot at enemies while exploring and attack them

Attacking an enemy during exploration allows your party to act first in the fight, giving you a chance to seriously damage the opponents before they are able to make a move. The range of your attack during exploration is however shorter than it may seem, and a mistake can lead to a failed ambush. Therefore when approaching the enemy, first take a shot in their direction - it will paralyze them for a few seconds, allowing you to easily approach the immobile opponent and do an ambush.

Weapons scale to the statistics

The weapons you find scale to one or two character stats - they deal more damage the higher the given stat is. After acquiring a weapon that perfectly suits your play style, it is worth using the Recoat - a rare item that allows you to respec your stat points - to maximize its effectiveness. We write about how respec works on a separate guide page.

Use a camp every now and then

Upon reaching the continent - a world map connecting smaller locations - you will also gain the ability to set up camp. Do this from time to time - in the camp you can watch interactions between party by the fire, and over time you will also unlock additional options, such as upgrading items and weapons, or giving heroes more Lumina Points.

Burning has a lot of synergy in the early stage of the game

Burning is one of the available status effects - it deals fire damage at the beginning of each turn. This effect has a lot of synergy in the early stage of the game. For example, Lune can use the Thermal Exchange skill on burning enemies to gain large amounts of AP, while Maelle can use the Swift Stride skill on burning enemies to enter a Virtuose Stance, which drastically increases the damage she deals in the next turn.

If the location is surrounded by red light, come back here later

While playing Expedition 33, you gradually unlock new travel methods, which will make returning to previous locations much easier. If the entrance to a certain location is surrounded by a red light and there is a "Danger" message, it means that the enemies in this location are currently too powerful for. where the location is and come back later, after leveling up sufficiently.

See also:

1. Game guide
2. How to fight Petank?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

April 24, 2025

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