Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the highly anticipated debut title from French developer Sandfall Interactive—an immersive RPG that blends rich storytelling with deep, strategic gameplay. Maxroll has created a suite of in-depth guides to help players navigate this expansive world, covering everything from foundational mechanics and character builds to loot locations and progression systems. Whether you're just starting out or diving into post-game content, Maxroll's Codex offers detailed breakdowns of weapons, skills, Pictos, and Lumina to prepare you for the challenges ahead. For those who enjoy crafting and sharing custom builds, the Expedition 33 Planner and Community Builds section are perfect tools to enhance your experience.
Getting Started
Dive into the world of Expedition 33 with Maxroll’s beginner-friendly guides tailored for newcomers. These resources cover essential topics like character creation, early-game progression, and navigating the Pictos system. If you prefer a structured walkthrough, be sure to check out IGN’s Expedition 33 Walkthrough—a step-by-step guide designed to accompany you through the game.
Beginner’s Guide
Maxroll’s comprehensive Beginner’s Guide introduces the core gameplay elements of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, including exploration mechanics, combat against Nevrons, playable characters and their unique abilities, and progression systems such as weapons, attributes, Pictos, and Lumina. For a quick overview of crucial tips the game doesn’t mention, refer to IGN’s "10 Things Expedition 33 Doesn't Tell You."Combat Guide
Master the art of battle with IGN’s Combat Guide, a beginner-friendly resource packed with practical advice on defeating enemies and effectively using Lune and Maelle in various encounters.Weapons, Attributes and Upgrades
Weapons play a central role in shaping your team’s effectiveness in Expedition 33. Each weapon type deals different elemental damage, which can be more or less effective against specific enemy types. Characters can equip multiple weapons, each with scaling stats based on level and unlocking special bonuses at levels 4, 10, and 20. Explore the full details in our Weapons, Attributes, and Upgrades guide.
Pictos and Luminas
Pictos are powerful equippable items that grant stat boosts and unique effects. Each character can equip up to three Pictos, and the Lumina system allows for additional enhancements. If you’re struggling in a fight, consider swapping out Pictos to increase defense, boost damage output, or provide team-wide buffs like Shell or Power. Learn more about how to optimize these systems in our dedicated guide.
Early Game Pictos Guides
While the Pictos system offers extensive customization, certain Pictos stand out during the early stages of the game. Look out for strong options like Dead Energy II and Critical Burn, complete side missions for Last Stand-style Pictos, and use Recovery to build an unshakable tank within your party.
Characters
Get to know each playable character in Expedition 33 through Maxroll’s detailed Skill Guides. Understand their individual mechanics, strengths, and optimal builds to maximize your team’s potential.
Gustave | Lune | Maelle | Sciel | VersoMonoco
More Guides
Maxroll also offers advanced midgame and endgame guides focused on unlocking new areas, optimizing enemy encounters, and identifying top-tier Pictos for late-game performance.
How to Unlock All of Esquie’s Traversal Abilities
Esquie boasts a variety of traversal abilities, including obstacle breaking, swimming, flying, and deep-sea diving. This guide walks you through unlocking each ability as you progress through the story. (Pro tip: Don’t forget—you can break black rocks with blue cracks!)
Enemy Strengths and Weaknesses
Understanding enemy resistances and weaknesses is key to efficient combat. Exploit vulnerabilities to deal 50% extra damage, and avoid using ineffective elements that may heal enemies instead.
Zone Progression
Feeling unsure of where to go after the main story? Maxroll’s Zone Progression Guide outlines recommended paths for exploring optional zones. For additional context, check out IGN’s list of side quests and their associated rewards to determine which ones are worth your time.
Best Pictos
Discover the most impactful Pictos for both early-game efficiency and endgame optimization. Maxroll’s Best Pictos guide highlights versatile choices alongside niche picks that support unique build archetypes.
Codex
The Maxroll Codex provides a complete reference for all available Weapons, Pictos, Luminas, and Skills in Expedition 33. Adjust the level filter to see how each item scales and evolves throughout your journey.
Planner and Community Builds
Plan your ideal setup using Maxroll’s Expedition 33 Planner, then share your creations in the Community Builds section. Here’s what to know when using the planner:
Key features of the Expedition 33 Planner include:
- Choose and configure your active party. Create multiple teams with distinct setups.
- Add optional tags like “Story” or “Post-Story” for easy navigation.
- Select and level up weapons—view scaling changes as you adjust levels (note: attribute values are not yet included).
- Assign up to six skills per character (excluding Gradient Skills, which are covered in the Codex).
- Equip Pictos across your entire team—each can only be used once.
- Add Lumina points and track totals at the top of the screen.
- Allocate core attributes—ideally matching your weapon’s primary scaling stat.
- View real-time stat summaries based on Pictos, attributes, and base weapon power.
- Add personal notes detailing skill rotations or gear acquisition methods.
- Set your build to public to contribute to the growing community library.
Tomorrow Comes
That wraps up Maxroll’s latest collection of guides for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Ready to start experimenting with your own strategies? Head over to the build planner and begin theorycrafting today.
