Does the Runewright Carry Over to New Game Plus in The Witcher 3? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether the Runewright carries over to New Game Plus (NG+) in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a common one among returning players. The short answer is no, the Runewright, along with his shop and upgrades, does not carry over to NG+. You’ll need to re-establish him and upgrade his services from scratch in your new playthrough. But don’t despair! This offers a fresh opportunity to experience his enhancements and optimize your build.
Understanding New Game Plus and Its Implications
New Game Plus in The Witcher 3 is a fantastic way to replay the game with your existing character, skills, and some of your equipment. It’s designed to offer a greater challenge and the chance to make different choices, while also allowing you to enjoy the narrative with a fully leveled Geralt. However, it’s important to understand what aspects of your previous game do and don’t transfer.
What does carry over is significant: your character level, skills, unspent ability points, and most of your inventory (including weapons, armor, crafting materials, and alchemical ingredients). What doesn’t carry over are quest-related items, crafting diagrams for weapons and armor, Gwent cards, and importantly, progress related to questlines and story progression, including the Runewright.
This reset has key implications for how you approach your NG+ playthrough. You’ll have access to higher-level equipment earlier, face tougher enemies (especially if you utilize enemy upscaling), and you’ll need to reacquire key allies like the Runewright.
Why Doesn’t the Runewright Carry Over?
The exclusion of the Runewright from the carried-over elements stems from his connection to a specific questline. The Runewright’s story is tied to the “Enchanting: Start-up” quest and subsequent upgrade quests. Since quest progress is reset in NG+, it makes logical sense that his establishment resets as well. This provides a gameplay loop where players re-engage with the Runewright’s quests and re-experience the joy of unlocking powerful enchantments.
Re-Establishing the Runewright in NG+
Re-establishing the Runewright in NG+ requires you to return to his location near Midcopse in Velen and re-initiate his questline. This means you will need to once again invest the initial 5,000 crowns to help him rebuild his workshop. Subsequent upgrades will then cost 10,000 and 15,000 crowns respectively.
While the cost may seem steep, particularly early in NG+, the benefits are substantial. The Runewright’s enchantments provide significant advantages, adding unique effects to your gear and enhancing your combat prowess. Some notable enchantments include:
- Levity: Allows heavy armor to be treated as light armor for skill bonus purposes.
- Preservation: Prevents weapons and armor from degrading.
- Balance: Improves dodging capabilities.
- Severance: Greatly increases the range of Whirl and Rend.
These enchantments can significantly alter your playstyle and make Geralt even more powerful. Consider prioritizing the Runewright early in your NG+ playthrough to maximize these benefits.
Planning for the Runewright in NG+
Before starting your NG+ playthrough, consider these tips to make the Runewright process smoother:
- Accumulate wealth: Save up a significant amount of crowns before starting NG+. This will allow you to quickly fund the Runewright and unlock his services.
- Craft runes and glyphs: While you can’t carry over Runewright-specific upgrades, you can carry over standard runes and glyphs. Craft a stockpile of your preferred ones to apply to your gear early in NG+.
- Consider enemy upscaling: Enemy upscaling can make NG+ significantly more challenging, but it also ensures you receive appropriate rewards and experience. Be prepared to face tougher opponents when re-establishing the Runewright.
- Prioritize experience gain: Focus on quests and contracts that provide substantial experience points early on. This will help you level up quickly and unlock new skills to complement your Runewright enchantments.
- Experiment with builds: NG+ is a great opportunity to experiment with different character builds. The Runewright’s enchantments can synergize with various combat styles, so don’t be afraid to try new things. You may want to consider some insights from resources such as the Games Learning Society to optimize your learning experience with new game mechanics and strategies. You can visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more details.
Runewright and NG+: A Second Chance
The need to re-establish the Runewright in NG+ isn’t a setback, but rather an opportunity. It allows you to experience the Runewright’s questline again, strategically choose your enchantments, and further refine your Geralt’s build. It adds depth to your NG+ playthrough, providing a rewarding goal to pursue as you navigate the familiar yet challenging world of The Witcher 3.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly is the Runewright?
The Runewright is an NPC craftsman in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt who can add enchantments to weapons and armor, providing unique effects and bonuses. He requires a significant investment of crowns to unlock and upgrade his services.
2. How much does it cost to fully upgrade the Runewright?
The total cost to fully upgrade the Runewright is 30,000 crowns: 5,000 for the initial startup, 10,000 for the second upgrade, and 15,000 for the final upgrade.
3. Do I keep my crowns in New Game Plus?
Yes, you keep all your crowns when starting a New Game Plus playthrough.
4. Are there any alternative ways to get the Runewright in NG+ without paying?
Unfortunately, there are no alternative methods. You must pay the required crowns to unlock and upgrade the Runewright’s services.
5. Can I get the Runewright enchantments in the base game without the Blood and Wine expansion?
No, the Runewright is only available in the Hearts of Stone expansion.
6. Do runes and glyphs carry over to NG+?
Yes, standard runes and glyphs that you have in your inventory do carry over to NG+. This is different from the Runewright’s unique enchantments.
7. Is it worth upgrading the Runewright in NG+?
Absolutely. The Runewright’s enchantments provide significant advantages and can greatly enhance your combat effectiveness. They are well worth the investment.
8. What are some of the best Runewright enchantments to get?
Some of the most popular and effective enchantments include Levity, Preservation, Balance, and Severance. The best choice depends on your playstyle and build.
9. Do I need to do the entire Hearts of Stone questline to unlock the Runewright in NG+?
No. You only need to complete the initial “Enchanting: Start-up” quest and the subsequent upgrade quests specific to the Runewright. You don’t have to complete the main Hearts of Stone storyline.
10. Does Aerondight carry over to NG+?
Yes, the Aerondight silver sword carries over to New Game Plus. You can continue leveling it up to keep its damage stats competitive.
11. What else doesn’t carry over in New Game Plus?
In addition to the Runewright and quest items, crafting diagrams and Gwent cards do not carry over to NG+.
12. Is New Game Plus harder than the regular game?
New Game Plus can be more challenging, especially if you enable enemy upscaling. However, with your existing skills and gear, you should be well-equipped to handle the increased difficulty.
13. What is the maximum level in The Witcher 3?
The maximum level in The Witcher 3 is 70 in the base game and Hearts of Stone, and 100 with the Blood and Wine expansion.
14. Should I upgrade my gear before starting NG+?
Yes, it’s generally a good idea to upgrade your preferred gear to the highest level possible before starting New Game Plus. This will give you a head start in the new playthrough.
15. Do I keep my weapons and armor in NG+?
Yes, you keep most of your weapons and armor in NG+, except for quest-related items. Remember to store your gear in your inventory or stash, as items displayed at Corvo Bianco (the vineyard) will not transfer over.