Clair Obscur Expedition 33: An Explanation of Pictos and Luminas

      In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many terms and mechanics might be puzzling at first glance. Even after going through some tutorials, it's easy to overlook certain features or misinterpret their functions. For instance, consider Pictos and Luminas.

      Pictos and Luminas aid in enhancing your party members’ stats and passive abilities, improving their overall builds. But what distinguishes them, and how do they function? If you're unclear about Pictos and Luminas in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, here’s what you need to know.

      **What are Pictos in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?**

      Each character in your party can equip up to three Pictos simultaneously. As you progress through the game, you'll quickly amass a large collection of Pictos, with higher levels attained as you advance. Higher-level Pictos provide better stats, as each one offers one or two stat boosts in addition to a passive trait.

      For example, the level seven Pictos, Energising Pain, equipped by my Lune in the image above, grants her a solid 308 Health and 34 Defense, while its ability allows her to gain one action point (AP) each time she is hit rather than only when she parries. This type of Pictos is ideal for characters needing health boosts and who are frequently targeted by enemies. It's advisable to have a variety of stat boosts among your Pictos; if all of Lune's Pictos provided a Speed boost while ignoring others, it wouldn't be optimal.

      You may also see some Pictos appearing greyed out, while others may have vibrant icons. Upon completing a successful battle with an equipped Pictos, it levels up and becomes available for all other characters to use as Luminas.

      **What are Luminas in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?**

      At the beginning of your playthrough, you will have a limited number of Luminas. They enable you to utilize the passive effects of a Pictos without needing to equip it. However, this does not include the stat boosts, only the passive abilities. Each Lumina requires a specific number of Lumina points to activate on each character, ranging from one point to as much as 20 points.

      To make a Pictos available as a Lumina for your team, simply complete a battle successfully with it equipped. You can then navigate to your Lumina menu by pressing L3 (or the C key on PC) while managing your Pictos. If a party member already has that Pictos equipped, its Lumina will be activated. As you unlock more Lumina points, you will have greater flexibility in activating additional Luminas for different party members, including those from older Pictos you may no longer use.

      For instance, if Gustave has 30 total Lumina points, you can opt for a few Luminas that require many points or go for several low-cost Luminas. It’s advisable to maintain a balance and activate Luminas that align with each character's combat build.

      Activating Critical Burn for Gustave might not be wise since he lacks skills dealing with Fire damage that could cause a Burn status. However, Lune or Maelle possess those kinds of skills, making it logical to enhance their chance of landing a critical hit when inflicting Burn damage on enemies. You'll frequently find yourself adjusting each character's activated Luminas as you change around their Pictos and acquire new ones.

      If you're running low on Lumina points, you can gradually acquire more for your party by speaking with the Curator. At some point during Act 1, you'll encounter someone in your camp who allows you to utilize Colors of Lumina on your team. This item can be found throughout the world as you explore and occasionally as a battle reward. Additionally, your characters earn one Lumina point each time they level up, enabling them to activate several Luminas over time.