Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Combat Guide–Best Combat Tips For Beginners

This Clair Obscur Expedition 33 combat guide breaks down the five best tips to help you survive longer fights. This strategic turn-based combat system rewards patience and preparation, so don't just jump into battles without preparation. Understanding key systems will transform your experience from discouraging to fulfilling.

1. How to Get AP in Combat in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, AP (Attack Points) are essential for using each character’s skills. Every party member has their own AP gauge, which initially only refills when performing basic attacks, at least in the early game.

However, as you progress, you’ll unlock Pictos: special cards that provide passive combat effects. Many of these Pictos grant bonus AP for successful parries or counterattacks, offering alternative ways to fuel your abilities.

While basic attacks remain the core method for earning AP, don’t overlook Pictos! Always check your collection before and after the battle (by pausing and navigating to the Pictos menu) to see if you have any cards that can passively boost your AP during combat.

2. How to Parry Successfully in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Parry is a high-risk, high-reward combat mechanic that lets you block incoming melee or ranged attacks—and even counterattack. While both dodging and parrying allow you to avoid damage, parrying is tougher to execute but far more rewarding.

Dodging simply evades attacks, while a well-timed parry opens the door for a powerful counter. However, nailing the timing is crucial: the parry window is much tighter than dodging, requiring precise button presses just before an enemy strikes.

How to Parry Without Getting Hit

1. Study Enemy Moves First – Start by dodging attacks to learn an enemy’s patterns. Once you’re comfortable, switch to parrying.
2. Practice Timing – The parry window is brief, so focus on anticipation rather than reaction. Almost all enemy attacks have a faint sound as they're about to hit you. Listen to these carefully to be precise in your parries.
3. Exploit Repetition – Most enemies reuse the same attacks, so you won’t need to relearn their moves mid-mission. Save deep analysis for new enemy types in new areas.

3. How to Trigger Counterattacks in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Counterattacks are powerful offensive tools—but they require perfect parries to execute. While dodging keeps you safe, only well-timed parries will open up opportunities to strike back.

How Counterattacks Work

• Single-Hit Attacks: The easiest to counter—just parry the one hit, and your character will automatically retaliate.
• Multi-Hit Combos: To counter these, you must parry every single hit in the sequence (whether it’s 2, 3, or even 4 strikes). Miss one, and the counterattack won’t trigger.

Some bosses, like Renoir, mix multi-hit combos with unblockable finishers. For example, Renoir’s five-hit sword slash can be parried, but his follow-up strike cannot. In these cases, focus on countering earlier in the combo, or wait for a different attack string entirely.

Related:

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Review

4. How to Replenish HP During Combat in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Taking hits and losing health are unavoidable in Clair Obscur Expedition 33, particularly when encountering new enemies. What makes survival tricky is the absence of a dedicated heal button—you'll need to strategize your recovery options carefully during the combat.

Your primary healing option comes from Healing Tints, consumable items that restore 65% of one character's health when used during your turn. While invaluable early on, these have two major limitations: you can only use them from the combat items menu, and once your supply runs out, you're left vulnerable. This makes them better suited for emergency situations rather than regular healing.

If you have experience with turn-based games before, then you should always include characters with healing abilities in your party composition. Two standout examples we recommend are:

• Lune: She shines as your primary support, with her Healing Light skill doing double duty by restoring 30-50% HP to any target while simultaneously removing harmful status effects. She's essentially your combat medic.
• Verso: He offers self-sufficiency through Perfect Recovery, a 3-AP skill that heals him for 50% HP and clears his debuffs.

5. How to Heal Outside Combat in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

After emerging victorious from combat, don't expect your party to magically heal to full health. The game requires strategic health management between encounters - a system that adds tension and forces players to make meaningful decisions about resource conservation.

A single Chroma Elixir completely restores the entire party's health, but they're intentionally scarce. You'll start with just one, forcing you to carefully consider when to use it.

Finding additional elixirs requires exploration and puzzle-solving. Throughout missions, keep an eye out for the Paint Cages - these environmental puzzles contain three small glowing targets cleverly hidden in their surroundings. Destroy all three to claim your reward, which typically includes another precious Chroma Elixir.

Once you have consumed the Chroma Elixirs, they will be replenished automatically when you rest at a Rest Point in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

While resting at checkpoints provides full party healing, it comes with a significant drawback: all defeated enemies respawn. You should consider resting on these two occasions only:

• Ideal when preparing for tough boss fights or when you need to backtrack through cleared areas.
• Poor choice when trying to explore new territory uninterrupted.

That is everything you need to know about the best combat tips in Clair Obscur Expedition 33. For more tips about the game, visit the Best Skills for Lune in Clair Obscur on Pro Game Guides.

---