As a JRPG fan, it always feels like you are twiddling your thumbs and waiting for the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest to roll around, as new IPs tend to be a pretty mixed bag. However, occasionally, you find that a plucky developer will come up with an amazing idea, and Clair Obscur is a fine example of this.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hands-On Preview
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is old-school Final Fantasy meets modern turn-based RPG combat.
The game offers rewarding exploration, eye-candy no matter where you point your in-game camera, and a story that blends serious and surreal to great effect. However, its the combat that really serves as the backbone of the experience.
The mix of Persona-esque turn-based systems and real-time QTEs and parries is a blast to master, and there are plenty of resources to give you the tools to win every fight, one of which is Pictos.
These equippable items will give you a useful buff in battle that will often synergize with your build, but the question remains. Which of these Pictos are best in the early stages of this monumental adventure?
To clarify, we will be considering any Picto that can be gained all the way to Esquie’s Nest, as this is roughly around 10 hours into the game if you have also engaged in the side content.
10Burning Shot
Twisted Firestarter
First up, we have Burning Shot, a Picto that is fantastic if you want to inflict consistent burn damage from one turn to the next. Most burning attacks cost a good chunk of AP, but with this Picto,you’ll be able to potentially apply burn with your free aim shot.
This is a little bit of a gamble if you aren’t going for a weak spot, as it’s a low-damage play otherwise. But if you luck out, you’ll apply the burn and potentially be able to use your AP to gain a different stain or use a morepowerfulmove.
It ranks lower than the rest as a one-in-five chance, which isn’t ideal, but it’s still a solid early game option, especially when dealing with Gestrals that are weak to fire.
9Versatile
Adapt & Overcome
Speaking of your free aim shot, our next Picto isVersatile, a Picto that allows you to use a flurry of free aim attacks without having to worry about committing to a low-damage base attack at the end of your turn.
With this equipped, your base attack will be 50% morepowerfulprovided you have used at least one free aim shot, and when AP is at a premium, this can be a great way to stay offensive when the chips are down.
It is worth pointing out that free aim isn’t always a brilliant tactic; it mainly works on enemies with weak spots or flying enemies. But, in the early game, you would be surprised how much this comes in handy.
Can’t Hit What You Can’t Catch
I’ll immediately concede that this is a Picto that I found limited use for, as my playstyle is very much parry everything, or die trying. Nonetheless, I can see how others would find this one very useful.
This Picto allows players to acquire an additional AP point for every perfect dodge they make. Which won’t suit those who parry everything. However, as you’ll come to find out, some combinations are more troublesome than they are worth, and dodging is a viable alternative.
This can help build AP fast if the opponent commits to a long combo, and potentially sets you up for a devastating counter next turn. You still need to time your dodges to perfection, but its a little easier than parrying, and worth trying out.
7Augmented Aim
Take The Shot
Free Aim shots in Clair Obscur are deadly in some situations, while in other scenarios, they are about as good as tossing a nearby rock at your opponent, as they do so little damage.
However, if you have theAugmented AimPicto,you’ll be able to enjoy a 50% buff to your free aim attack damage output,which, when combined with something like the aforementioned Burning Shot, for example, can be a wonderful pairing.
This is a must-equip Picto if you want to make free aim shots a viable strategy against non-flying enemies. In a tactically dense game such as this, it’s always good to have options.
Don’t Fear The Reaper
This is a Picto that won’t be all that useful when taking on hulking bosses on their own. But, when it comes to overworld exploration and grinding, this one is rather useful and allows you to stay on the offensive.
With Dead Energy equipped, players will gain 3x AP points for every enemy they kill,which might allow you to get another strong attack off, and potentially kill another enemy to keep your turn going way longer than you would otherwise.
It works best when there are fodder enemies alongside a bigger mob enemy, and when all enemies have huge HP bars you definitely don’t get the best out of this Picto. But, situationally this can be enough to sweep an entire enemy team.
5Marking Aim
Marked For Death
I know this list is a little free-aim shot focused, but in my defense, the Pictos that are given to the player early on really facilitate these strategies, and blend nicely with one another.
Another prime example of this is the Marking Aim Picto,which works the same as Burning Shot, only this one provides a Marked status to enemies instead of burn, which, in my opinion, is a more consistent strategy.
Marked enemies are effectively sitting ducks, as this means the next attack that lands is going to be much more effective. So, you can potentially mark them with a shot, use a buff with the rest of your AP, and then use your next character in line to trigger a devastating high AP move.
Chance Would Be A Fine Thing
If you’re someone that isn’t hellbent on concocting airtight strategies in battle and like to fly by the seat of your pants, then do I have the Picto for you.
In the Gestral Village, if you head to the casino and answer a question correctly, you’ll be gifted theRoulettePicto, which is either terrible or terrific depending on whether your luck is in or not.
This Picto has a 50/50 chance of either cutting your damage in half or raising your damage output to four times its usual.This means that in the long run it’s more helpful than it’s a hindrance, but it’s unpredictable to say the least.
I wouldn’t rely on it when you approach late-game challenges, but early on, it can be a boon that turns the tide in your favor.
3Critical Moment
Best For Luck Builds
If you have a character that you have decided to run as a glass cannon, much like I did with Maelle, then you’ll find thatCritical Momenthas a lot to offer.
With glass cannon builds, you’ll find that one hit is usually all you can take, and you’ll likely find yourself hanging below 30% health quite a lot. But this doesn’t have to be aburden.
WithCritical Moment, you can use this to your advantage andraise your critical hit chance by 50% when your HP is this low.Which, when combined with a high agility and luck stat, can be devastating.
You will need to be pretty sharp with parries and dodges to make this work, but it’s a brilliant strategy if you can duck and weave when it matters most.
2Healing Parry
Block & Heal
As I mentioned, it’s very hard to survive in Clair Obscur if you consistently commit and time your parries to perfection, and that is even more true if you decide to play the game on harder difficulties, as failing to dodge or parry is usually fatal.
However, there are benefits to committing to parries, such as fantastic Pictos likeHealing Parry,which grants you 3% health for every successful parry.This doesn’t seem like a lot, but I assure you, it all adds up.
You’ll be parrying constantly throughout your run, sometimes 4–5 times per turn. So a successful counter could earn you a decent chunk of your HP back and rescue you from the brink. It won’t replace healing items and skills, but it will mean you won’t need to use them quite as much.
1Augmented Counter
Return To Sender
Then, our winner as far as early-game Pictos are concerned is Augmented Counter, and it’s not even close if we’re telling the truth.
In Clair Obscur, parrying is damn-near essential if you want to maximize damage per turn, keep your team fighting fit, and take down enemies fast, which is why this Picto is such a vital one.
It will give players a 25% buff to all counter-attack damage, which, when coupled with a Marked status, can be a great way to melt boss health bars.
It does require a mastery of parrying mechanics, and this may not always be an option as some combos are just too much to handle without a lot of practice.
But, pound for pound, this is easily the best Picto available early on, and one that will help you take down the tricky bosses within the game’s first act.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit special companions, access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.
