How Many New Game Plus Runs Can You Embark On in The Witcher 3? A Deep Dive
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So, you’ve conquered the Wild Hunt, navigated the treacherous political landscape of Nilfgaard, and maybe even found true love (or at least a satisfying romance). Now you’re itching to jump back into the world of The Witcher 3 with all your hard-earned gear and experience. The question is: how many times can you actually utilize the New Game Plus (NG+) feature?
The short answer is effectively unlimited, provided you preserve your original, non-NG+ save file. You can’t chain NG+ saves, but you can always revisit that original completed game to start a fresh NG+ run.
Understanding the Nuances of New Game Plus
The New Game Plus system in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a fantastic way to extend the game’s lifespan and experience the story with a significantly powered-up Geralt. It allows you to replay the entire game (including both main quests and side quests), as well as the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, with the following benefits:
- Retain your level and most gear: Geralt carries over his level, skills, most of his equipment (weapons, armor, potions, decoctions, etc.), crafting diagrams, and alchemy recipes from your previous playthrough.
- Increased difficulty: Enemies are scaled to match your higher level, providing a fresh challenge even for seasoned Witchers.
- New Witcher gear tiers: You’ll find new, higher-level versions of Witcher gear sets (like Grandmaster Legendary items), keeping your build relevant throughout the entire NG+ experience.
- Chance to make different choices: NG+ allows you to explore alternative dialogue options, story paths, and quest outcomes, adding significant replay value.
However, there are limitations. Crucially, you cannot start a New Game Plus from a save file that is already the result of a New Game Plus run. This is the key to understanding the “unlimited” nature of NG+.
The Golden Rule: Preserve Your Original Save
The process is straightforward:
- Finish your initial playthrough of The Witcher 3, including any desired DLC content.
- Crucially, make a separate, manual save file before starting NG+. This save represents your “original” completed game. Do not overwrite this save.
- Start New Game Plus using this original save.
- Play through NG+ as you wish.
- After completing NG+, do not use that NG+ save to start another New Game Plus. Instead, return to your original, non-NG+ save (the one you made in step 2) and use it to initiate a brand new NG+ run.
As long as you stick to this principle, you can theoretically start New Game Plus an infinite number of times.
Maximizing Your New Game Plus Experience
While the number of possible NG+ runs is high, here are a few points that can help:
- Plan your builds: Consider experimenting with different character builds and skill allocations during your multiple NG+ playthroughs.
- Tackle different quests: Explore side quests and contracts you may have missed during your initial run.
- Embrace the challenge: Increase the difficulty level for a truly demanding experience.
- Take a dive and explore the world: NG+ is a great opportunity to appreciate the intricate details and stunning environments of The Witcher 3.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly carries over into New Game Plus?
Geralt retains his level, skill points, learned skills, most of his gear (weapons, armor, potions, oils, decoctions, mutagens, crafting diagrams, alchemy recipes), money, and inventory items.
2. What doesn’t carry over into New Game Plus?
Quest items, Gwent cards (except for the basic Northern Realms deck), books and letters, and map exploration progress do not carry over.
3. What is the level cap in New Game Plus?
The absolute level cap in The Witcher 3 is 100, including both your initial playthrough and any subsequent NG+ runs.
4. What level should I be before starting New Game Plus?
There’s no minimum level, but it’s generally recommended to be at least level 30 or higher to avoid being overwhelmed by scaled enemies in the early game.
5. Does the game get harder with each New Game Plus cycle?
The difficulty increase is most significant between your initial playthrough and the first NG+ run. While there might be slight adjustments in subsequent cycles, the difficulty curve tends to flatten out after the first NG+.
6. Can I change the difficulty level in New Game Plus?
Yes, you can adjust the difficulty level at any time during your NG+ playthrough.
7. Can I use my Aerondight sword in New Game Plus?
Absolutely. Aerondight is one of the most powerful weapons in the game, and it carries over to NG+. Remember to keep leveling it up to maintain its damage output.
8. Do I keep my mutations from Blood and Wine in New Game Plus?
Yes, you retain all mutations unlocked through the Blood and Wine DLC in New Game Plus.
9. What about my horse gear?
Horse gear, like saddles, blinders, and saddlebags, also transfers to NG+.
10. Are there new items exclusive to New Game Plus?
Yes, you can find new, higher-tier versions of Witcher gear sets (Grandmaster Legendary) and some unique weapons and armor pieces that are only available in NG+.
11. Can I skip cutscenes in New Game Plus?
Yes, you can skip cutscenes you’ve already seen, streamlining your playthrough.
12. What happens if I overwrite my original, non-NG+ save?
If you overwrite your original save, you’ll only be able to do one NG+ cycle. To do more, you’ll have to start a completely fresh game.
13. Does completing the DLCs before starting New Game Plus affect anything?
Completing the DLCs before starting NG+ ensures that you carry over any gear, skill points, and mutations gained from them, giving you a significant advantage in the early stages of NG+.
14. What tips do you have for a successful New Game Plus run?
- Plan your character build.
- Prioritize crafting and upgrading your Witcher gear.
- Use potions, oils, and decoctions strategically.
- Be prepared for tougher enemies.
- Explore new quests and dialogue options.
15. Is New Game Plus worth playing?
Definitely! New Game Plus offers a fresh challenge, allows you to experiment with different character builds, explore alternative story paths, and enjoy the game’s rich world and engaging story all over again with a powerful Geralt. In addition, video games can be a teaching tool for students as mentioned by the Games Learning Society a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of digital games and learning: GamesLearningSociety.org.
So, go forth, Witcher, and embark on as many New Game Plus adventures as your heart desires, as long as you hold onto that original save! The Continent awaits your return, stronger and more experienced than ever before.