Is NG+7 Hard? Exploring Endgame Difficulty in Souls-like Games
Yes, NG+7 in Elden Ring and other Souls-like games is considered exceptionally hard. It represents the peak of enemy scaling, meaning enemies have significantly increased health, damage, and sometimes even altered AI or attack patterns. For many players, it transforms familiar challenges into grueling tests of skill and patience, demanding near-perfect execution.
Understanding New Game Plus (NG+)
What is NG+ and How Does it Work?
New Game Plus is a staple feature in FromSoftware games and other similar titles. After completing the main story, you can start a new playthrough with your existing character, maintaining their level, equipment, and most items. The core idea is to re-experience the game with increased difficulty, providing a fresh challenge for veteran players.
Enemy Scaling in NG+
The difficulty increase in NG+ comes primarily from enemy scaling, where enemy stats are boosted. This increase is usually exponential, meaning each subsequent NG+ cycle makes the game significantly harder than the previous one. The increase in difficulty affects enemy health, damage output, and sometimes even their aggression and behavior. NG+7 typically represents the difficulty cap in most Souls-like games, including Elden Ring, meaning enemies don’t get significantly stronger after this point.
NG+7: The Ultimate Challenge
Enemy Stats at Their Peak
In NG+7, enemies have vastly inflated health pools and deal significantly more damage. Even basic enemies can quickly become a threat, and boss battles turn into extended, punishing encounters. This increased difficulty forces players to optimize their builds, master combat mechanics, and exploit every advantage they can find.
Required Skill Level
Successfully navigating NG+7 demands a high level of skill. Players need to have a deep understanding of enemy attack patterns, perfect timing for dodges and parries, and the ability to manage resources effectively. Strategic gameplay, such as utilizing specific weapon arts, spells, or consumables, becomes crucial for survival.
Build Optimization
At NG+7, build optimization is no longer optional; it’s essential. Players need to meticulously refine their character builds to maximize damage output and survivability. This involves choosing the right weapons, armor, talismans, and spells, and allocating stat points strategically. Synergistic builds that exploit enemy weaknesses are particularly effective in overcoming the extreme difficulty.
Strategies for NG+7
Leveling and Stats
While there isn’t a definitive “correct” level for NG+7, most players aim for a character level of 150-200 or higher. Important stats to focus on include Vigor (for health), Endurance (for stamina), and relevant damage stats like Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith, depending on your build. Reaching soft caps for these stats is vital for maximizing their effectiveness.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Selecting the right equipment can make a significant difference in NG+7. Weapons with high damage output and appropriate scaling are essential. Armor should provide a balance between protection and weight, allowing for optimal mobility. Talismans can offer valuable buffs to damage, defense, stamina, and other crucial stats.
Mastering Combat Mechanics
Perfecting combat mechanics is crucial for success in NG+7. This includes mastering dodging, parrying, guard counters, and weapon arts. Understanding enemy attack patterns and knowing when to attack or defend is essential for surviving challenging encounters.
Utilizing Summons
While summons may not be as effective as in earlier playthroughs, they can still provide valuable assistance in NG+7. Summoning NPC phantoms or cooperating with other players can help to draw enemy aggro, provide additional damage, and create opportunities for healing or buffing. Spirit Ashes can also be useful, although their survivability may be limited due to the increased enemy damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is NG+7 the hardest difficulty in Elden Ring?
Yes, NG+7 is generally considered the hardest difficulty in Elden Ring and other similar Souls-like games because it’s where enemy scaling typically caps.
2. How much harder is NG+7 in Dark Souls 3 compared to Elden Ring?
The difficulty between NG+7 in Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring is subjective and depends on individual playstyles. However, both games present a significant challenge in NG+7 due to increased enemy stats. Many agree that Dark Souls 3’s NG+7 is similar in difficulty to Elden Ring’s, requiring mastery of combat mechanics and optimized builds.
3. What level should I be for NG+7 in Elden Ring?
Most players recommend being around level 150-200 or higher before tackling NG+7 in Elden Ring. This allows for a good balance of health, stamina, and damage stats.
4. Do enemies drop more runes in NG+7?
Yes, enemies drop significantly more runes in NG+ cycles, including NG+7. This allows players to level up faster and acquire more upgrade materials.
5. Are spirit ashes still useful in NG+7?
While their survivability may be limited due to the increased enemy damage, Spirit Ashes can still be useful for drawing enemy aggro or providing supplementary damage. However, their effectiveness diminishes compared to earlier playthroughs.
6. Does NG+ affect the ending of Elden Ring?
No, NG+ does not affect the endings of Elden Ring. You can pursue any ending in NG+ cycles, just as you would in a fresh playthrough.
7. Can you still summon other players in NG+7?
Yes, you can still summon other players for cooperative play in NG+7, provided you meet the level and weapon upgrade matchmaking requirements.
8. Is it possible to respec my character in NG+7?
Yes, you can respec your character’s stats in NG+7 by using Larval Tears, which can be found throughout the game.
9. Does NG+7 change enemy placements or AI?
Generally, NG+ does not significantly alter enemy placements or AI. The primary change is the increased enemy stats. However, some minor variations in enemy behavior may occur.
10. Are there any new items or weapons in NG+?
No, there are no new items or weapons exclusive to NG+. The primary benefit of NG+ is the increased difficulty and the ability to re-experience the story with your existing character.
11. What are some good weapons for NG+7?
Effective weapons for NG+7 include those with high damage output and appropriate scaling, such as the Rivers of Blood, Blasphemous Blade, Moonveil, and dual-wielded colossal swords.
12. Is Elden Ring harder than previous Souls-like games?
Elden Ring’s difficulty is subjective. Some find its open-world nature and summoning options make it easier than previous Souls-like games, while others find its late-game challenges to be incredibly difficult.
13. What class is easiest for a first playthrough of Elden Ring?
The Vagabond class is often recommended for beginners in Elden Ring due to its balanced stats, good starting equipment, and focus on melee combat.
14. What percentage of players have completed Elden Ring?
Approximately 50% of players who own Elden Ring on Steam have completed the game, which is a relatively high completion rate compared to other AAA titles and previous FromSoftware games.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and difficulty?
For deeper insights into game design and difficulty scaling, visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. This organization offers resources and research on various aspects of game-based learning and game design principles.
Conclusion
Conquering NG+7 in Elden Ring and other Souls-like games is a formidable achievement that requires skill, patience, and strategic thinking. While it represents the peak of difficulty scaling, the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming these challenges is unparalleled.