Summary

  • Dodging before parrying helps you learn enemy patterns in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
  • Sandfall Interactive suggests dying repeatedly to master the counter in the game.
  • Embracing the true strategy of dying is vital to enjoying and succeeding in the challenging and rewarding gameplay.

In the few days that have followed its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has deservedly earned its plaudits for a wide variety of reasons. It turned turn-based combat on its head, with one of the most lovable casts in RPG history, all while telling a gripping, devastating story. And it's brutally difficult.

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It's this difficulty that may have turned some away from the game, or at least made them seek advice on how to improve. Thankfully, the team at Sandfall Interactive has been on hand to share some tips on what it calls the "True strategy".

Dodging And Dying Are The Best Way To Learn Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Combat, Apparently

Adding parrying into a turn-based game is a wild move, and one that's not for everybody. I've spoken before about how, historically, I suck at the maneuver, and last year, despite having the platinum trophy on Elden Ring, I had to drop Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice because of its reliance on parrying. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made me love it, though, and its developers have some advice on how you can, too.

In a series of tweets, the team first said, "Remember, you can always practice your parries by dodging first and learning the enemy's moves. Dodging is a little easier, which allows you the time to start memorizing patterns," before later revealing the "True strategy".

"OKAY, we were wrong, we get it," a follow-up message said. "The true strategy is dying over and over until you land a counter. This [dodging] is the second option," later adding, "Keep dying over and over until you get it right".

Keep dying over and over until you get it right.

While dodging seems totally viable, and actually quite a clever way to learn the enemy's attack patterns, I opted for the true strategy myself. I dread to think, after 28 hours with the game, how many times my characters have died, but I know it's a lot.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Like Follow Followed Turn-Based RPG JRPG Fantasy Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 97% Released April 24, 2025 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Sandfall Interactive Publisher(s) Kepler Interactive 10 Images Close
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Engine Unreal Engine 5 Genre(s) Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy Powered by Expand Collapse