Do You Keep Great Runes in New Game Plus? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s Carryover Mechanics
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Let’s cut to the chase: no, you do not keep your Great Runes when starting a New Game Plus (NG+) in Elden Ring. These powerful items, earned by defeating the game’s major demigod bosses, are reset when you begin a new cycle. This is a crucial aspect of Elden Ring’s design, ensuring that each playthrough offers a fresh challenge and a reason to re-engage with the core progression loop.
Elden Ring masterfully blends challenging combat with expansive exploration, drawing players into its rich lore and captivating world. While many items and character attributes carry over to New Game Plus, the deliberate exclusion of Great Runes significantly impacts the early game experience. Understanding this mechanic, and others surrounding it, is key to efficiently navigating subsequent playthroughs.
Why Great Runes Don’t Carry Over
Elden Ring’s New Game Plus system is designed to offer a balance between maintaining player progression and preserving the challenge. The decision to not allow players to retain Great Runes from previous playthroughs serves several important purposes:
- Preserving Early Game Difficulty: Imagine starting a new game with Godrick’s Great Rune already equipped, boosting all your stats significantly. The early areas would become trivial, diminishing the sense of accomplishment derived from overcoming initial challenges.
- Encouraging Boss Re-Engagement: The need to re-acquire Great Runes motivates players to fight the demigod bosses again. These encounters are some of the most memorable in Elden Ring, and revisiting them with a more powerful character offers a different, but equally rewarding, experience.
- Maintaining Narrative Consistency: From a lore perspective, the shattering of the Elden Ring and the quest to reforge it are central to the game’s narrative. Beginning each playthrough with empty Great Runes reinforces this thematic element.
The removal of Great Runes is a deliberate choice by the developers at FromSoftware to balance player power and encourage engagement with core gameplay elements.
What *Does* Carry Over to New Game Plus?
While Great Runes are left behind, a substantial amount of your progress is retained when starting a New Game Plus run. This includes:
- Character Level and Attributes: Your level, strength, dexterity, intelligence, faith, arcane, vigor, endurance, and mind will carry over. Allowing you to immediately access your favorite weapons and spells.
- Weapons and Armor: All weapons, armor sets, and talismans acquired in your previous playthrough will be available from the start.
- Consumable Items (mostly): Most consumable items, crafting materials, and smithing stones will be retained.
- Spells and Incantations: All learned spells and incantations are carried over, granting immediate access to powerful offensive and support options.
- Key Items (some): While key items that progress the main story are reset, certain key items, such as those related to optional areas or questlines, may be retained.
The combination of retained character progression and increased enemy difficulty creates a balanced experience, rewarding player knowledge and skill while still offering a challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Runes and New Game Plus
Here are some frequently asked questions about Great Runes and their behavior in Elden Ring’s New Game Plus, addressing common concerns and providing deeper insights:
1. Can I use Great Runes from one playthrough in another if I don’t start NG+?
No. Great Runes are tied to the specific save file they are earned in. You cannot transfer them between characters or save files.
2. What exactly do I lose when starting New Game Plus?
Besides Great Runes, you primarily lose Sites of Grace (requiring rediscovery), key items essential for main story progression, and any map progress.
3. Are Rune Arcs useless without Great Runes?
Even without an equipped Great Rune, using a Rune Arc grants a slight increase to maximum HP. It’s not the most efficient use of a Rune Arc, but it can provide a small survival boost in a pinch.
4. How many Great Runes are there in Elden Ring?
There are 8 Great Runes in Elden Ring, each dropped by a major boss. However, not all are essential for completing the main story.
5. Do I need all 8 Great Runes to complete the game?
No. You need two Great Runes (out of Godrick, Rennala, and Radahn) to enter Leyndell, the Royal Capital. You also must defeat Morgott to progress the main story.
6. Are Great Runes reusable?
Yes, Great Runes are infinitely reusable. Once obtained, you can equip them at a Site of Grace. However, their effects are only active when you use a Rune Arc.
7. Can you have more than one Great Rune active at a time?
No, you can only have one Great Rune equipped and active at any given time. You can switch between them at a Site of Grace.
8. How long does a Great Rune effect last?
The effect of a Great Rune, activated by a Rune Arc, lasts until you die. Upon death, you must use another Rune Arc to reactivate its power.
9. Is it worth using Great Runes early in New Game Plus?
Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your playstyle and skill level. Using Godrick’s Great Rune early on can significantly boost your stats. However, if you’re confident in your abilities, you might prefer to save Rune Arcs for more challenging encounters.
10. Which Great Rune is generally considered the best?
There is no definitively “best” Great Rune, as their value depends on your build and playstyle. However, Godrick’s Great Rune is a popular choice due to its well-rounded stat boost. Radahn’s Great Rune is also excellent for boosting HP, FP and Stamina.
11. What does Rennala’s Great Rune do?
Rennala’s Great Rune of the Unborn doesn’t need to be equipped. Instead, it allows you to respec your character’s attributes at Rennala in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library.
12. What does Mohg’s Great Rune do?
Mohg’s Great Rune grants the Blessing of Blood, healing the user for 10% of their maximum HP every time an enemy is killed by someone blessed with it.
13. Should I save my Golden Runes for New Game Plus?
Yes, it’s generally a good idea to save your Golden Runes for New Game Plus. They provide a convenient source of runes for leveling up, especially when you’re just short of the required amount.
14. Is New Game Plus worth doing in Elden Ring?
Yes, New Game Plus offers a fun way to re-experience Elden Ring with a powered-up character. It allows you to explore areas you might have missed, experiment with different builds, and challenge yourself against slightly stronger enemies.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and the educational aspects of games?
To dive deeper into the research and discussion surrounding game design, learning, and the impact of games on society, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org offers valuable resources and insights for educators, researchers, and game enthusiasts alike.
Mastering New Game Plus: Strategies and Tips
Knowing that you’ll need to re-acquire Great Runes in each New Game Plus cycle, here are a few strategies to maximize your efficiency:
- Prioritize Key Bosses: Focus on defeating the bosses that grant the Great Runes you find most useful for your build. Godrick, Radahn, and Morgott are often good starting points.
- Rune Farming: Utilize efficient rune farming methods to quickly level up and strengthen your character. This will make acquiring Great Runes significantly easier.
- Explore Optional Areas: Use New Game Plus as an opportunity to explore areas you might have missed in your initial playthrough. You might discover new weapons, armor, or spells that enhance your build.
- Experiment with Builds: With your character’s stats already high, New Game Plus is the perfect time to experiment with different builds and playstyles. Try out new weapons, spells, or incantations.
By understanding the mechanics of New Game Plus and employing effective strategies, you can enjoy a rewarding and challenging experience in Elden Ring’s subsequent playthroughs. The loss of Great Runes might seem like a setback, but it ultimately contributes to the game’s enduring replayability and depth.