Elden Ring: Unlocking the Secrets of New Game Plus Scaling

The Lands Between are vast, unforgiving, and ever-enticing. For those brave Tarnished who conquer Elden Ring, the journey doesn’t necessarily end with the final boss. The allure of New Game Plus (NG+) beckons, promising tougher challenges and the chance to refine your build against even greater odds. But a critical question looms: Does Elden Ring scale past NG+7? The definitive answer is no. NG+7 marks the peak of difficulty scaling in Elden Ring. After completing your seventh journey, subsequent playthroughs (NG+8, NG+9, and beyond) maintain the same enemy strength and reward levels as NG+7.

Understanding Elden Ring’s New Game Plus System

The New Game Plus system in Elden Ring isn’t simply a replay with your existing character. It fundamentally alters the game’s dynamics. Upon completing the main story and choosing to begin a new journey, you retain your character’s level, stats, equipment, spells, and many other items. However, the world itself changes.

The Scaling Mechanism

Each NG+ cycle increases the health and damage output of enemies and bosses across the entire map. This means even early-game foes like the Godrick Soldiers in the tutorial area will pose a significantly greater threat on NG+7 than they did on your initial playthrough. Rune acquisition is also enhanced, enabling faster leveling and further character development. This scaling continues incrementally until you reach NG+7, at which point the game’s difficulty plateaus.

Why Does Scaling Cap at NG+7?

The decision to cap scaling at NG+7 is likely a design choice by FromSoftware to balance challenge and player progression. While theoretically, enemy stats could continue to increase indefinitely, doing so would eventually render many character builds unviable and potentially create an unplayable experience for even the most skilled players. NG+7 represents a level of challenge that remains difficult but still allows for strategic combat and build diversity. The Games Learning Society explores exactly these kinds of balance decisions in game design (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/).

Benefits of Continuing Past NG+7

Even though the difficulty doesn’t increase beyond NG+7, there are still reasons to continue playing. Some players enjoy the sheer power fantasy of dominating the game with a fully optimized character. Others might be driven by completionist goals, such as collecting every weapon, armor set, or spell in the game. The ability to replay the story with a powerful character and experience different build paths is a major draw for many players. It is also an opportunity to fine-tune strategies for specific boss encounters or explore areas you may have missed on previous playthroughs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Elden Ring Scaling

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the intricacies of Elden Ring’s scaling and New Game Plus system:

1. What exactly carries over to New Game Plus?

   Your character level, stats, equipped gear, inventory (excluding key items), spells, spirit ashes, and discovered map fragments transfer to New Game Plus. Bell Bearings generally do not, except for those related to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold.

2. What doesn’t carry over to New Game Plus?

   Key items like Great Runes, Sites of Grace progress, and quest progress are reset in New Game Plus.

3. Is New Game Plus worth it?

   For players seeking a greater challenge and more opportunities to refine their builds, New Game Plus is highly rewarding. The increased rune acquisition also speeds up character progression.

4. What level should I be before starting New Game Plus?

   There’s no strict requirement, but most players recommend being around level 120-150 before starting New Game Plus. This will provide a solid foundation to tackle the increased difficulty.

5. Does my level scale with the enemies in New Game Plus?

   No, your level doesn’t directly scale with enemies. However, being higher level and having better gear will make the initial stages of New Game Plus much easier.

6. How much harder is New Game Plus compared to the first playthrough?

   The difficulty increase is significant. Enemies have substantially more health and deal more damage. Strategic combat and optimized builds are crucial for survival.

7. What is the maximum level in Elden Ring?

   The maximum level in Elden Ring is 713. Reaching this level requires a massive amount of runes and a significant time investment.

8. How many Runes does it take to reach level 100 in Elden Ring?

   Reaching the level cap in Elden Ring requires players to farm a grand total of 1,692,558,415 runes.

9. What is the recommended level for fighting Malenia in NG+2?

   The recommended level for fighting Malenia in NG+2 is between 150 and 175. Since it is NG+, you can really pump up your level to fight her if she is too hard for your level.

10. Can you respec your character in Elden Ring?

    Yes, you can respec your character by using a Larval Tear after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. This allows you to reallocate your stat points and experiment with different builds.

11. Does multiplayer difficulty scale in Elden Ring?

    Yes, boss health is increased when playing in co-op multiplayer. This is to compensate for the added damage output of multiple players.

12. What is the point of leveling up after a certain point?

    Leveling up allows you to continue to increase your stats and improve your character’s overall effectiveness in combat. This can be helpful for tackling difficult bosses and exploring challenging areas.

13. What are some good rune farming spots in Elden Ring?

    Several effective rune farming spots exist, including the Mohgwyn Palace approach road (accessed via Varre’s questline) and the Palace Approach Ledge-Approach Road Site of Grace. These locations offer high rune yields for relatively low effort.

14. What happens if I refuse Melina’s accord?

    If you refuse Melina’s accord, you will be unable to level up or summon Torrent. It is necessary to accept her offer to progress in the game.

15. What is a “soft cap” in Elden Ring stats?

    A soft cap is a point where further investment in a stat yields diminishing returns. For example, increasing Vigor beyond 40 provides less health per point than investing in it earlier on. Understanding soft caps helps optimize your character build.

Mastering the Endgame

Elden Ring offers a remarkable level of depth and replayability. Understanding how the NG+ system works, including the scaling mechanics and the limitations on difficulty, is crucial for maximizing your enjoyment of the game. Whether you’re striving to reach the highest possible level, conquer every boss on NG+7, or simply explore the Lands Between with a powerful character, Elden Ring provides endless opportunities for adventure. So, embrace the challenge, experiment with different builds, and continue to unravel the mysteries of this extraordinary game.