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Does New Game Plus Keep Your Level? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s NG+

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Yes, absolutely! When you embark on a New Game Plus (NG+) journey in Elden Ring, you retain your level. This is one of the most significant advantages of starting over, allowing you to carry your hard-earned stats and build into a fresh playthrough. Get ready to tackle the Lands Between with your established power!

What is New Game Plus in Elden Ring?

New Game Plus is a game mode that unlocks after you finish Elden Ring. It lets you play through the entire game again, but with a significant power boost right from the start. It’s not just a replay; it’s a new experience with familiar challenges, albeit tackled from a position of strength. The thrill of exploration is preserved, while the early game grind is significantly reduced.

The Allure of New Game Plus

Why would you want to start a NG+ run? There are many reasons why a seasoned Tarnished might want to jump back into the fray. Here are just a few:

Experiment with different builds: Now is the time to explore different builds.
Experience missed content: Catch those bosses you missed the first time around.
Collect what you didn’t: Did you skip on a piece of armor or weapon? Now is the time to go back and find it!

Understanding What Carries Over (and What Doesn’t)

It’s not just your level that transfers to NG+. Knowing what you keep and what you lose is essential for planning your second (or subsequent!) adventure.

What You Keep

Levels and Stats: Your current level and associated stats are carried over.
Weapons and Armor: All the gear you’ve collected, upgraded, and treasured remains with you.
Talismans: These powerful accessories travel with you, maintaining your build’s strengths.
Spells and Incantations: All the magic you’ve learned persists into the new journey.
Cookbooks: Your crafting knowledge remains, allowing you to create valuable items from the start.
Maps: Unveiled areas on your map stay revealed.
Flask Upgrades: Your Flask of Crimson Tears and Flask of Cerulean Tears upgrades are intact.
Ashes of War: The ability to customize your weapons with Ashes of War is retained.
Torrent: Your spectral steed is ready to ride from the start.

What You Lose

Sites of Grace: You’ll need to rediscover all Sites of Grace, which are your checkpoints for fast travel and leveling up.
Great Runes: These powerful runes are reset, requiring you to defeat the shardbearers again to acquire them.
Key Items: Quest-related key items that progress the story are removed, preventing you from skipping ahead.

Why the Reset?

The reset of key items and Sites of Grace serves a specific purpose. It forces you to engage with the world in a fresh way, even if you’re significantly stronger. Having all Sites of Grace from the start would trivialize exploration, and retaining quest items could break progression.

Preparing for New Game Plus: A Checklist

Before you trigger that final boss fight and launch yourself into NG+, take some time to prepare. It will save you some headaches in the long run!

Collect all Crystal Tears.
Collect all Whetblades.
Offer Bell Bearings to Twin Maiden Husks.
Find all Cookbooks.
Collect all Stonesword Keys.
Obtain all Larval Tears.
Collect all the Dragon Hearts.
Collect all Prayerbooks and Scrolls.
Fully upgrade your favorite weapons.
Clear any optional dungeons or bosses you missed.
Purchase any items you think you’ll need from merchants.
Experiment with different builds to find what you like best.

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

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Elden Ring’s New Game Plus, offering more clarity and detail for players considering a second run:

Does the game get harder in New Game Plus? Yes, enemies and bosses have increased health and damage output in NG+. However, the increase is not so drastic that you’ll be back to square one, especially with your existing build.
How many times can you play New Game Plus? You can play Elden Ring up to seven times in New Game Plus, meaning Journey 7 will be your last. After that, the game will remain at the difficulty level of Journey 7.
Will New Game Plus delete my old save? No, starting a New Game Plus save will create a separate file and will not overwrite your previous save. You can access your old save from the main menu.
Do Golden Seeds respawn in New Game Plus? Yes, both Sacred Tears and Golden Seeds respawn in NG+, allowing you to further upgrade your flasks.
Can I change my character’s appearance in New Game Plus? You can change your character’s appearance by using the mirror in Roundtable Hold, but this is available in both NG+ and normal mode. If you have Frenzied Flame, those burns stay with you after starting NG+, unless you get rid of them through character creation.
What happens to quests in New Game Plus? Most questlines reset, allowing you to experience them again. You will need to re-trigger them and make different choices if you wish.
Do I keep my summons in New Game Plus? Yes, you keep all your Spirit Ashes, allowing you to summon powerful allies from the start.
Can I respec my character in New Game Plus? Yes, the ability to respec your character using Larval Tears remains in NG+. You can reallocate your stats as desired.
Are there any new items or content exclusive to New Game Plus? No, there are no new items or content exclusive to NG+. The primary appeal is experiencing the game again with your existing power and build.
Is it worth starting Elden Ring again in New Game Plus? Yes! NG+ is absolutely worth it, especially if you want to experience the game with a different build, explore missed areas, or simply enjoy the challenge with a character you’ve already invested in.
What is the highest level you can achieve in Elden Ring? The highest level players can reach in Elden Ring is 713, requiring a significant amount of rune farming.
Do I need to defeat all the bosses again in New Game Plus? Yes, you need to defeat all mandatory bosses again to complete the main storyline. However, you can skip optional bosses if you choose.
Do all the endings remain available in New Game Plus? Yes, all six endings are still available, allowing you to pursue a different ending on each playthrough.
Can I play co-op in New Game Plus with someone who is in their first playthrough? Yes, players in NG+ can still play co-op with those in their first playthrough, provided they meet the level and weapon upgrade requirements for the area.
What should I do if I accidentally started New Game Plus? Unfortunately, there is no way to revert back to your previous save if you’ve already started NG+. Make sure to back up your save file before making the leap.

Conclusion: Embrace the Journey, Tarnished!

New Game Plus in Elden Ring provides an excellent opportunity to revisit the Lands Between with a fresh perspective and a powerful character. Whether you’re aiming to perfect your build, conquer every challenge, or explore every hidden corner, NG+ offers a rewarding and engaging experience. So, embrace the journey, Tarnished, and may your second (or subsequent) playthrough be even more glorious than the first!

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