How much harder does New Game Plus make Elden Ring?

New Game Plus (NG+) makes Elden Ring significantly harder by increasing the enemy strength, health pool, and damage output, with each subsequent NG+ cycle amplifying these changes, ultimately requiring players to adapt and improve their strategies to progress. The game’s difficulty scales up to NG+7, after which the difficulty and rewards remain constant, providing a formidable challenge even for experienced players.

Understanding the New Game Plus Mechanic

The New Game Plus mechanic in Elden Ring introduces a new layer of complexity and difficulty, testing players’ skills and familiarity with the game’s mechanics, enemy patterns, and boss fights.

Gameplay and Difficulty Scaling

As players progress through each NG+ cycle, they will encounter tougher enemies, increased damage, and reduced survivability, forcing them to optimize their character builds, weapon choices, and playstyles to overcome the challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Elden Ring get harder every new game plus? Yes, the game becomes progressively harder with each NG+ cycle, with enemies gaining more health and dealing more damage, until NG+7, where the difficulty plateaus.

2. Is Elden Ring better on New Game Plus? NG+ offers the opportunity to retain gear, spells, and upgrade materials, making it appealing for players who have invested significant time in character progression and exploration.

3. Is a second playthrough of Elden Ring worth it? A second playthrough can be worthwhile, especially if the player did not complete all side quests or collectibles in their first playthrough, as it provides an opportunity to experience the game’s story and gameplay with a different perspective.

4. What is the highest NG+ in Elden Ring? The highest NG+ in Elden Ring is NG+7, after which the game’s difficulty and rewards remain constant.

5. Do you lose your smithing stones in new game plus? No, players retain their smithing stones, as well as other items and upgrades, when starting a new NG+ cycle.

6. What happens if you refuse Melina? Refusing Melina will lock the player out of certain areas, including the capital, and prevent progress beyond Morgott without her assistance.

7. Does the game get harder as you level up Elden Ring? The game’s difficulty can increase as players level up and progress through the story, but it can also become easier with better gear and optimized builds.

8. Is Elden Ring harder or easier in the end game? The end game can be easier or harder depending on the player’s progress, gear, and playstyle, as well as their ability to farm and optimize their character.

9. Is Elden Ring grindy? Elden Ring has a grindy aspect, particularly in farming for runes, items, and upgrade materials, but it also offers a rewarding experience for players who enjoy character progression and exploration.

10. What level do people usually beat Elden Ring at? Players typically beat Elden Ring at a Rune Level of around 150, although this can vary depending on their playstyle and difficulty level.

11. Does Elden Ring ever get easier? Yes, Elden Ring can become easier as players level up, farm for better gear, and optimize their character builds and playstyles.

12. How does Melina betray you? Melina will leave the player’s side if they choose to pursue the Frenzied Flame ending, and she will vow to bring destined death to the Lord of Frenzied Flame.

13. Is Melina good or bad? Melina is a neutral character who remains loyal to the player for most of the game, but her actions and motivations can be misinterpreted depending on the player’s choices.

14. Do Stonesword keys carry over to NG+? Yes, Stonesword Keys are retained when starting a new NG+ cycle, allowing players to access previously locked areas and seals.

15. How many smithing stones does it take to max every weapon? The number of smithing stones required to max every weapon varies depending on the weapon and upgrade tier, but players can expect to need a significant amount of stones to fully upgrade their gear.