Delving Deep: What Carries Over to New Game Plus in Elden Ring

Ah, Tarnished! You’ve conquered the Elden Ring, stood as Elden Lord (or perhaps embraced a more chaotic ending). But the Lands Between beckon once more. New Game Plus (NG+) awaits, promising a fresh challenge with familiar comforts. So, the burning question: what exactly makes the journey with increased difficulty worthwhile?

The good news is, you’re not starting from absolute scratch. A substantial amount of your progress carries over, allowing you to experiment with different builds, explore areas you might have missed, and ultimately, achieve a different ending. Here’s the comprehensive breakdown:

• Character Level and Stats: Your hard-earned levels, attribute points, and overall stats remain intact. You enter NG+ as the powerful warrior (or mage, or faith-based paladin!) you’ve become.
• Weapons and Armor: Every gleaming blade, sturdy shield, and intricately crafted piece of armor you collected on your first playthrough makes the trip. Finally, you can dual-wield those colossal swords you’ve always dreamed of!
• Talismans: All the talismans you painstakingly tracked down, from Marika’s Soreseal to the Erdtree’s Favor, stay with you. These passive boosts will be invaluable against the amped-up enemies.
• Spells and Incantations: Every sorcery and incantation you’ve learned, either from scrolls or by progressing NPC questlines, carries over. Time to unleash the full might of your arcane arsenal.
• Ashes of War: All Ashes of War that you’ve acquired can be used from the beginning of New Game Plus. Feel free to customize your weapons with different skills and build around unique strategies.
• Spirit Ashes: Your loyal spirit companions, upgraded to their maximum potential, will continue to fight by your side. They are vital support in tougher fights.
• Key Items: Most key items obtained throughout your first playthrough carry over, with exceptions as explained below.
• Consumable Items: Runes, Golden Runes, Smithing Stones, Somber Smithing Stones, Greases, and all other consumable items are all carried over.
• Cookbooks: All of your Cookbooks will be available from the beginning.
• Maps: All discovered maps are carried over. No more blindly wandering the Lands Between.
• Gestures: All gestures unlocked throughout your initial playthrough will be available.
• Flask Upgrades: Your Flasks of Crimson Tears and Cerulean Tears remain upgraded to their current level from the first playthorugh.

Essentially, everything that makes your character powerful and versatile is preserved. However, some things are reset to ensure a fresh experience and prevent you from breaking the game:

• Key Items related to Story Progression: This includes items like the Great Runes, Site of Grace unlocks, and any key item essential for progressing the main story. You’ll need to re-collect them to advance.
• Bell Bearings: All Bell Bearings will be reset.
• Map Fragments: While your discovered maps are carried over, you’ll still need to re-acquire the map fragments to reveal the detailed terrain of each region.
• Great Runes: You will have to re-defeat each of the main bosses to collect their Great Runes.
• All Sites of Grace: Sites of Grace are not carried over.

The Allure of NG+: Why Embark on a Second Journey?

New Game Plus in Elden Ring isn’t just about replaying the game with your existing character; it’s about:

• Completing Missed Content: Did you accidentally lock yourself out of a questline? Did you miss a particular boss or secret area? NG+ provides a second chance to experience everything the Lands Between has to offer.
• Experimenting with Different Builds: With your character already powerful, you can easily respec your stats and try out new weapon combinations, spells, and incantations. This is your opportunity to become the ultimate hybrid build.
• Acquiring Additional Endings: Elden Ring features multiple endings, each determined by your choices and actions throughout the game. NG+ allows you to pursue a different ending and unlock all the achievements.
• Facing a Greater Challenge: Enemies in NG+ are significantly stronger, providing a more challenging and rewarding experience for seasoned players. The increased difficulty tests your skills and forces you to adapt your strategies.
• Collecting More Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones: This is the only way to max out all of your unique weapons.

Preparing for the Jump: What to Do Before Starting NG+

Before initiating New Game Plus, consider the following:

• Finish any outstanding quests: Tie up any loose ends and complete any questlines you’re interested in.
• Defeat optional bosses: Challenge yourself against the toughest optional bosses, such as Malenia, Blade of Miquella, to test your skills and earn valuable rewards.
• Upgrade your favorite weapons: Ensure your preferred weapons are fully upgraded before starting NG+.
• Stock up on crafting materials: Gather a generous supply of crafting materials to prepare for the increased resource demands of NG+.
• Purchase any items you might need: Buy any items you anticipate needing in NG+, such as consumables, spells, or Ashes of War.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about New Game Plus in Elden Ring

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify what you can expect in Elden Ring’s New Game Plus:

FAQ 1: How do I start New Game Plus in Elden Ring?

After defeating the final boss and choosing your ending, you’ll be given the option to start Journey 2 (NG+) at the Roundtable Hold. You can also choose to remain in your current playthrough and start NG+ later by interacting with a Site of Grace.

FAQ 2: Does the difficulty increase with each subsequent NG+ cycle?

Yes, the difficulty increases with each NG+ cycle up to NG+7, after which the difficulty caps.

FAQ 3: Do I keep my Great Runes in New Game Plus?

No, you do not keep your Great Runes. You will need to defeat each of the main bosses again to re-obtain them.

FAQ 4: Are there any new items or content exclusive to New Game Plus?

While there aren’t entirely new areas, the increased difficulty offers a different experience. You can find more Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.

FAQ 5: Can I respec my stats in New Game Plus?

Yes, you can respec your stats in NG+ by using Larval Tears.

FAQ 6: Do I need to re-discover all the Sites of Grace in NG+?

Yes, all Sites of Grace are reset, and you will need to re-discover them throughout the Lands Between.

FAQ 7: Do enemies drop more runes in NG+?

Yes, enemies drop significantly more runes in NG+, making it easier to level up and acquire new items.

FAQ 8: Do I keep my summons in NG+?

Yes, you keep all your Spirit Ashes and can summon them as usual.

FAQ 9: Can I still summon other players in NG+?

Yes, the multiplayer mechanics remain the same in NG+. You can summon other players for co-op assistance or engage in PvP.

FAQ 10: Are there any changes to the NPC questlines in NG+?

No, the NPC questlines remain the same. However, NG+ provides an opportunity to complete questlines you may have missed or failed in your first playthrough.

FAQ 11: Do I keep my Remembrance Duplication items in NG+?

Yes, those items will be carried over to New Game Plus.

FAQ 12: Do I keep my unused Remembrance?

Yes, those are safe to carry over, as well.

FAQ 13: Can I start NG+ multiple times?

Yes, you can start NG+ as many times as you like, up to NG+7, with each cycle increasing the difficulty.

FAQ 14: What happens to my map progress in NG+?

You keep your map progress (the revealed areas), but you need to collect map fragments again to see details like roads and landmarks.

FAQ 15: Is starting NG+ required to get 100% completion?

No, while not required, starting NG+ offers the opportunity to achieve different endings, complete missed content, and fully explore all aspects of the game, contributing to a more comprehensive 100% completion experience. The diverse experiences that gaming provides make it a unique space to grow and learn. Find out more about the intersection of gaming and learning at the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

So, Tarnished, steel yourself, gather your gear, and prepare to embark on a new and challenging journey through the Lands Between. New Game Plus awaits, offering a fresh perspective on the world, a chance to refine your skills, and ultimately, to forge your own destiny once more. Good luck, and may the Greater Will guide you!