Starting a new game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can feel overwhelming. If you're just beginning your journey, this guide has you covered. With over 30 hours in the game and plenty of trial and error, I’ve compiled 18 must-know tips that’ll help you avoid rookie mistakes, optimize your character builds, and make your way through early to midgame smoothly. Whether you're figuring out how to fight efficiently or wondering what to buy from merchants, these insights will help you move faster and smarter through Expedition 33.
Ready to make the most out of your adventure? Let’s jump into the guide.
Tip 1: Prioritize the Right Merchant Items
One of the first things you'll notice in Expedition 33 is the number of merchant NPCs scattered around the map, known as Gestrals. Each Gestral offers different items—some are useful, others not so much. If your Chroma budget is tight, go for these essentials:
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Recoats: These reset your character's stats, which becomes super helpful once you're experimenting with different builds.
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Colour of Lumina: This item lets you increase your Lumina Slot count, giving you more flexibility in passive abilities.
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Pictos: Always grab every new Picto you come across. You’ll need them for stat boosts and character progression.
Also, don't skip fighting merchants—you’ll sometimes unlock exclusive weapons, like the powerful Demonam, by defeating them.
Tip 2: Master Every Picto You Find
Pictos are kind of like accessories, but they do more than just sit there. Once you equip a Picto and complete four battles, you "master" it. Doing this unlocks its passive skill as a usable Lumina, which you can equip later depending on your slot capacity.
Even if a Picto doesn’t seem strong, mastering it adds new tools to your arsenal. I suggest focusing on your core team—Gustave, Lune, and Maelle—and rotating Pictos for them until everything's mastered.
Bonus: You’ll know a Picto is mastered when the gold gauge on it is full. Easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.
Tip 3: Don't Ignore Picto Stats
Yes, the passive effects are great, but don’t forget that Pictos also come with raw stat bonuses. Once you master a Picto, it’s tempting to toss it aside. Don’t. You’ll handicap your character if you don’t swap in new Pictos with stronger stats.
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Boosts like Critical Rate, Defense, and HP often come from Pictos rather than weapons.
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Keep rotating them based on the fight ahead. High-defense Picto for bosses? Yes, please.
Tip 4: Understand the Lumina System
The Lumina system is the core of character customization. As you master Pictos, their passive effects become available as Luminas. Think of Luminas as the final layer of your build.
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Each Lumina takes up a certain number of slots.
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Slots increase with character level or by using Colour of Lumina items.
As you level up and gather more Luminas, your characters become more versatile and powerful. You’ll unlock access to the Curator NPC at your camp later on, which ties directly into your Lumina setup.
Tip 5: Upgrade Your Tints Early
Tints are your main consumables—Healing, Energy, and Revive Tints. They’re basic but critical, especially in tough fights. To make them more effective:
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Collect upgrade materials like Shape of Health, Shape of Energy, and Shape of Life.
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Use these to enhance Tints at the Curator.
Also, keep some Chroma Elixirs handy. They’re great between checkpoints, acting like a group-wide heal on the field—basically your version of an Estus Flask.
Tip 6: Boost Your Team’s Potential with the Curator
Once you unlock the Curator, things open up. This character lets you do a lot:
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Upgrade Tints
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Unlock/Equip Luminas
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Spend Recoats to Respec Characters
You’ll find the Curator in your base camp later in the game. This is the best place to tweak your builds. If a boss is giving you trouble, switch out Luminas, update Tints, or respec entirely.
Here’s a trick: before every major boss fight, go back to the Curator and check if you’ve unlocked anything new. You’d be surprised how often you forget to equip newly mastered Luminas.
Tip 7: Focus on Dodging Over Blocking
Unlike other games in the genre, blocking isn’t always your best friend in Expedition 33. Most characters benefit more from dodging, especially since enemies often spam attacks that drain stamina fast.
Tips to keep in mind:
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Perfect Dodges open up enemies for counterattacks.
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Some builds reduce dodge cooldown, letting you roll more often.
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Only use blocking-focused builds if your character has synergy (like certain Pictos or heavy armor types).
The game rewards quick reflexes. Don’t just tank damage—learn the enemy’s pattern and move smart.
Tip 8: Break Enemy Stances for Big Openings
Every major enemy and boss has a stance gauge. Once broken, they’re wide open for heavy damage. Use characters or Luminas that apply fast multi-hits or stagger effects.
Some solid stance-breaking tactics:
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Characters like Gustave with rapid attacks work best.
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Luminas with stance-breaking properties are a must.
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Team synergy: one character builds up the break, another finishes it.
Pair that with smart positioning and timing, and you’ll cruise through tougher fights.
Tip 9: Build Synergy, Not Just Stats
A high damage stat doesn’t mean much if your team lacks coordination. Instead of just pumping numbers, build around synergy:
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One character for support/healing.
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One for stance breaking.
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One for burst damage.
Mixing roles keeps your team balanced. The game doesn’t reward raw DPS as much as well-timed, strategic combos. Also, watch for Luminas that boost your teammates passively—it’s often better than a flat stat boost.
Tip 10: Keep Your Eyes Open for Secrets
The world in Expedition 33 is packed with hidden items, optional bosses, and side routes. Exploring pays off big time.
What to look for:
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Hidden Pictos and weapons tucked behind illusion walls or narrow paths.
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Optional encounters that drop unique gear.
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Environmental clues that hint at hidden chests or doors.
Tip: if an area looks like a dead end, try interacting or swinging your weapon. The game loves subtlety.
Tip 11: Use Your Map and Journal Strategically
The in-game map isn’t just for navigation—it’s also a tracking tool. Mark areas with tough enemies, note loot you missed, and flag shortcut locations. The Journal updates with key objectives, lore fragments, and character progress.
Helpful habit: after every major area, do a quick map + journal check. This keeps your playthrough efficient and organized.
Tip 12: Master the Combo Chains
Each character in Expedition 33 has a unique combo tree, and mastering these can be the difference between surviving or dying in tougher zones. The game rewards players who explore combo setups.
What to focus on:
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Experiment with timing-based chains (pressing at different intervals).
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Mix in Lumina skills mid-combo for surprise effects.
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Upgrade combos at the Curator when unlocked.
Pro tip: Practice with weaker mobs before trying new combos in boss fights.
Tip 13: Tweak Settings for Better Performance
While it seems basic, optimizing your settings—especially on PC—can make a world of difference. Adjusting things like:
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Camera sensitivity
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Dodge input buffer
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HUD clutter
…can really streamline gameplay and reduce frustration. Also, custom keybinds help when juggling fast inputs.
Tip: if you’re struggling with a boss, lower visual settings temporarily to reduce lag or distractions.
Tip 14: Prioritize Survivability Over Flash
It’s easy to fall into the trap of building for damage. But Expedition 33 punishes glass cannons. Most late-game fights involve lots of chip damage, AoEs, and sudden attacks.
So what should you do?
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Equip regeneration-based Luminas.
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Add stamina recovery bonuses via gear.
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Keep at least one ranged/healing option on your team.
Better to outlast than to one-shot and get crushed afterward.
Tip 15: Play at Your Own Pace
The biggest mistake new players make? Rushing. Expedition 33 is a deep, layered game. You’ll get more out of it by:
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Exploring fully.
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Trying different team setups.
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Reading lore entries and character notes.
Plus, this game has new updates and expansions planned. No need to blitz through.
Remember: the journey is just as important as the destination in games like this.
Wrapping Up: Your Roadmap to Mastering Expedition 33
Expedition 33 stands out as one of the most ambitious action RPGs of 2024, blending tactical combat, deep lore, and a surprisingly rewarding progression system. Whether you're just getting started or halfway through the game, these tips are designed to make your experience smoother and more enjoyable.
From understanding how to use Lumina power-ups, to improving team synergy and making the most of resource management, there's always a way to play smarter. As updates roll out and the community continues to find new secrets, staying adaptive and curious will take you far.
To recap, here are your key takeaways:
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Prioritize combo mastery and balanced team builds.
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Take full advantage of Curator upgrades and map/journal tools.
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Explore thoroughly, and don't rush progression.
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Stay tuned for new Expedition 33 patches that may shift the meta.
By following these 15 tips, you'll be better prepared for what Expedition 33 throws your way—and you'll probably enjoy the ride a whole lot more too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What are Pictos in Expedition 33 and why are they important?
Pictos act as secondary gear that provide both raw stat boosts and passive effects. Mastering them unlocks powerful Lumina passives essential for building your characters effectively.
Q2: How do I reset character stats in Expedition 33?
Use the Recoats item, which can be purchased from merchants known as Gestrals. It allows you to reset your character's allocated stats and experiment with different builds.
Q3: What are Luminas and how do they work?
Luminas are passive abilities that you unlock after mastering Pictos. They consume Lumina slots, which can be increased by leveling up or using the Colour of Lumina item.
Q4: How do you upgrade weapons in Expedition 33?
Weapons can be upgraded at the Curator in your camp using Catalysts obtained from enemy drops, loot, or merchants. Some weapons also level up naturally when equipped in battles.
Q5: What is the best way to level up fast in the early game?
Use the camping feature to reset enemy spawns and repeatedly fight them in open-world zones. Focus on zones with clustered enemies and use XP-boosting equipment or Luminas.
Q6: Should I kill special NPCs I meet during exploration?
No. Killing NPCs typically doesn’t reward you, and you may lose access to valuable side quests or rare item rewards they offer.
Q7: How does free aiming work in combat?
Free aiming lets you target enemy weak points manually. Hitting these spots often deals massive damage or triggers effects like AoE explosions or shield destruction.
Q8: How do shields work and what’s the best way to break them?
Enemy shields absorb damage unless broken first. Use free aim or specific skills like Maelle’s “Breaking Rules” to bypass them efficiently.
Q9: What stats should I focus on for my character builds?
Prioritize Might, Agility, and Luck depending on your character’s weapon scaling. Defense is less important unless you're building a tank, as dodging and parrying reduce damage.
Q10: Are the starting characters viable long-term?
Yes. Gustave, Lune, and Maelle have great synergy and can carry you through the game with proper builds, making them excellent for early and late-game progression.
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