Do Collectibles Carry Over in God of War New Game Plus? The Definitive Guide

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No, collectibles do not carry over in God of War (2018) or God of War Ragnarök‘s New Game Plus (NG+). This includes items like chests, artifacts, Odin’s Ravens, treasure maps, Jotnar Shrines, and lore-related items. Starting an NG+ run means embarking on a fresh scavenger hunt, offering a chance to rediscover the world and perhaps even find collectibles you missed the first time around. While your character’s power and equipment persist, the world resets, offering a new, challenging experience while revisiting familiar locations.

What Does Carry Over in New Game Plus?

While collectibles are reset, a significant portion of your progress remains intact, empowering you from the start. Think of it as Kratos retaining his hard-earned battle prowess but needing to re-establish his knowledge of the land and its secrets. Here’s a breakdown of what makes the jump to NG+:

• Armor and Accessories: Kratos’s entire wardrobe, along with any accessories, travels with you. This means your preferred builds and stat boosts are immediately available.

• Equipment and Resources: All weapons (Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, Draupnir Spear in Ragnarok), their upgrades, weapon attachments, and shields are retained. Vital resources such as Hacksilver also remain, giving you a head start on crafting and upgrading.

• Skills and Abilities: Kratos’s combat skills, runic attacks, and other learned abilities are unlocked from the beginning. You won’t need to re-acquire core fighting moves.

• Story Progression (Partially): While the main story resets, you retain the knowledge of past events. This allows for different dialogue options in some instances.

Why Reset Collectibles? The Design Philosophy

The decision to reset collectibles in NG+ is a deliberate design choice. It serves several key purposes:

• Extended Replayability: By requiring players to re-collect items, NG+ offers a substantial amount of new content. This gives seasoned players a reason to re-explore the environments and engage with the game world.

• Fresh Challenges: Reacquiring collectibles, especially with enhanced enemy difficulty in NG+, provides a fresh sense of accomplishment. It prevents the game from feeling like a simple victory lap.

• Opportunity for Mastery: NG+ allows players to optimize their approach to exploration and combat. Knowing the locations of key collectibles beforehand enables more efficient strategies.

Navigating the New Game Plus Landscape

While the loss of collectibles might seem daunting, it presents an exciting opportunity to refine your gameplay and discover nuances you may have missed in your initial playthrough. Knowing what doesn’t carry over is just as important as knowing what does, allowing you to plan your strategy effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about God of War New Game Plus

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you navigate the world of God of War New Game Plus:

1. Can I miss any collectibles in God of War (2018)?

   Yes, certain areas like Thamur’s Corpse and Helheim (beyond specific points) become inaccessible after completing the story. Make sure to fully explore these regions before progressing too far.

2. Are artifacts important in God of War? Should I keep them?

   Artifacts are primarily for selling. They fetch a decent amount of Hacksilver, God of War’s primary currency. Once found, they are registered to your collection permanently.

3. What happens to treasure maps in New Game Plus?

   Treasure maps are reset, offering another chance to locate the buried treasures. Remember the locations, as the map clues remain the same.

4. Can I upgrade the Leviathan Axe in New Game Plus?

   Yes, you can upgrade the Leviathan Axe (and the Blades of Chaos and Draupnir Spear in Ragnarok) using special resources like Primal Flames, typically earned by defeating major bosses.

5. Does anything else unlock in New Game Plus?

   Yes, NG+ often introduces new armor sets, enchantments, and other powerful equipment. These are frequently tied to completing specific challenges or defeating enhanced enemies.

6. Is there a level cap in God of War New Game Plus?

   In God of War Ragnarok, the level cap in NG+ is increased to Level 10. To reach this, you must upgrade your Armor, Weapon, Weapon Attachment or Shield to Level 9, then convert them at a Dwarven Shop. There are actually four levels to reach: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, and finally 10.

7. Do enemy levels change in New Game Plus?

   Yes, enemies are generally tougher in NG+, offering a greater challenge and requiring strategic combat and resource management.

8. What is the best armor in God of War Ragnarok New Game Plus?

   The best armor depends on your playstyle. The Zeus Armor is high-risk, high-reward, boosting damage but also increasing damage taken. The Ares armor can only be obtained in New Game Plus mode. When it comes to making life easier for the player, the armor of Ares is arguably the best armor set in God of War Ragnarok, thanks in large to its fantastic stat distribution and its survivability-centric perk. The Steinbjorn armor is a solid choice for survivability, offering high defense and health regeneration.

9. Do I lose the Blades of Chaos in New Game Plus?

   No, you retain the Blades of Chaos from the beginning in NG+. However, certain story-locked upgrades, like Atreus’s arrows and specific abilities, may need to be re-acquired through story progression.

10. How many times can I play New Game Plus in God of War?

    You can play NG+ as many times as you like, provided you have a save file from before initiating the NG+ run. This allows you to continually refine your experience and tackle increasingly difficult challenges.

11. Is there a secret ending in God of War Ragnarok?

    Yes, there’s a secret ending. After the final battle, return to Sindri’s House (the magical inter-dimensional hub that Kratos has called home throughout the game).

12. What should I do after 100% completing God of War?

    After 100% completion, consider exploring optional content like visiting Tyr in each realm, awakening the trolls and dragon, visiting chaurlie/birgir, getting Atreus’ journal, angrboda interaction, thrud interaction, skjoldr interaction, and sinmara crying.

13. Can you get Zeus armor without New Game Plus?

    The Zeus Armor Set is a set of armor exclusive to New Game Plus and is unlocked by completing post-game activities.

14. What is the best armor in God of War (2018) New Game Plus?

    The Zeus Armor is considered one of the best armor sets in NG+, as it greatly increases melee and runic damage but also significantly increases incoming damage, rewarding skilled players who can dodge and parry effectively.

15. Where can I learn more about game design and educational implications of games?

    For deeper insights into game design, learning, and the societal impact of games, explore the resources available at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Or you can just visit GamesLearningSociety.org.