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God of War: Your Comprehensive Guide to What Carries Over in New Game Plus

So, you’ve conquered the realms, faced down gods, and guided Atreus on his journey. Now you’re thinking of diving back into the world of God of War (2018) or God of War Ragnarök with New Game Plus (NG+). A burning question arises: What exactly carries over? Fear not, weary warrior, for this comprehensive guide will detail everything you need to know about what you get to keep and what you’ll have to earn again in your NG+ adventure.

The core answer is this: In both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, New Game Plus is designed to let you revisit the story with a significant power advantage. You’ll get to keep almost all of your hard-earned gear, skills, and abilities. This includes:

Armor and Accessories: Every piece of armor and every accessory in your inventory makes the jump to NG+. What Kratos was wearing at the end of your previous playthrough will be what he’s wearing at the beginning of NG+.
Weapons and Upgrades: Your fully upgraded Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and, in Ragnarök, the Draupnir Spear, will be ready for action from the start.
Skills and Runic Attacks: All the skills you unlocked for Kratos and Atreus (in God of War 2018) are retained. Your Runic Attacks are also ready to unleash from the get-go.
Hacksilver: Your accumulated Hacksilver (the game’s currency) carries over, giving you a head start on upgrading new equipment.
Resources: Many resources that you accumulated will be available in New Game Plus.

However, it’s not a complete power fantasy. Some things are reset for story reasons and to maintain a sense of progression. This includes:

Story Items: Any items key to the plot progression are reset, ensuring you experience the story beats as intended.
Collectibles: Things like Artifacts, Odin’s Ravens, and Lore Markers don’t carry over. These are meant to be found again, adding to the exploration aspect of the game.
Labors and Lore Tabs: Your progress on Labors and Lore Tabs is reset, giving you new challenges to complete.
Abilities locked to Story: You will not start with Hex or Sonic arrows. These will need to be unlocked again.

Understanding the New Game Plus Experience

NG+ isn’t just about replaying the game with your old gear. It adds new layers of complexity and challenge:

New Equipment: NG+ introduces new armor sets, enchantments, and talismans that are often more powerful than what you found in your initial playthrough. This gives you something to strive for and further customize your playstyle.
Increased Difficulty: Enemies hit harder and have new attack patterns, forcing you to adapt your strategies. Boss fights, in particular, become more demanding.
Higher Level Cap: The level cap is raised, allowing you to further enhance your stats and become even more powerful.

Why Bother with New Game Plus?

New Game Plus offers several compelling reasons to return to the world of God of War:

Experiment with Different Builds: With all your gear and skills intact, you can freely experiment with different armor combinations, Runic Attacks, and skill setups to find your optimal playstyle.
Experience the Story Again: Relive the emotional journey of Kratos and Atreus, but this time with the added knowledge of what’s to come.
Obtain Exclusive Content: As mentioned, NG+ unlocks access to powerful new equipment that you can’t find in the base game. The Zeus Armor, in particular, stands out as a reward for completing a difficult challenge.
Increased Challenge: Test your skills against tougher enemies and bosses.

God of War: New Game Plus FAQs

To further clarify the specifics of what carries over and what doesn’t, here are 15 frequently asked questions about New Game Plus in God of War:

1. Do I keep my Blades of Chaos in New Game Plus?

In the original God of War (2018), the Blades of Chaos are unlocked through story progression and do not carry over to New Game Plus. You will need to progress through the story to regain them. In God of War Ragnarok, all weapons including the Blades of Chaos and Draupnir Spear do carry over to New Game Plus.

2. Can I upgrade my Leviathan Axe to max level in New Game Plus?

Yes, you can. In fact, New Game Plus introduces new resources, such as Primal Flames, that are specifically used to upgrade the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and Draupnir Spear beyond their original maximum level.

3. Does the difficulty increase in New Game Plus?

Yes, the difficulty is generally increased in New Game Plus. Enemies are tougher, hit harder, and may have new attack patterns, providing a greater challenge even with your upgraded gear.

4. Do I keep my fully upgraded armor in New Game Plus?

Absolutely. All your armor, fully upgraded or not, will carry over to New Game Plus. This is a key element of the power fantasy aspect of the mode.

5. Are there new armor sets in New Game Plus?

Yes, New Game Plus introduces new and powerful armor sets that can’t be obtained in the base game. Some of these sets, like the Zeus Armor, offer significant stat boosts but come with drawbacks.

6. Do I need to complete the main story to access New Game Plus?

Yes, you must complete the main story of the game to unlock New Game Plus. Once you’ve finished the story, you can start a new game using your existing save data.

7. What happens to my map progress in New Game Plus?

Your map progress is reset in New Game Plus. You’ll need to rediscover locations and reveal the map areas again.

8. Do I keep my enchantments and talismans in New Game Plus?

Yes, all your enchantments and talismans are retained in New Game Plus. You can use these to further customize your character’s build.

9. Can I change the difficulty of New Game Plus?

Yes, you can adjust the difficulty setting in New Game Plus. This allows you to tailor the challenge to your liking, whether you want a more manageable experience or a truly punishing one.

10. Do I keep my skills and abilities in New Game Plus?

Yes, all of your skills and abilities unlocked in your previous playthrough are carried over into New Game Plus.

11. What is the best armor in God of War New Game Plus?

Many consider the Zeus Armor Set to be the best, but it comes with a catch – it significantly increases your damage output but also increases the damage you take. Other strong contenders include the Ares Armor and various upgraded versions of existing armor sets.

12. Are there new enemies in New Game Plus?

While there aren’t entirely new enemy types, existing enemies may have altered attack patterns, increased health, and higher damage output, making them more challenging to fight.

13. What resources are required to upgrade gear in New Game Plus?

New Game Plus introduces new resources, such as Primal Flames and Perfected Crests, that are required to upgrade gear beyond its original maximum level.

14. Does New Game Plus affect the story or dialogue?

The core story and dialogue remain the same in New Game Plus. However, your knowledge of the events and characters can add a new layer of appreciation to the narrative.

15. How does New Game Plus impact the Valkyrie battles?

The Valkyrie battles become even more challenging in New Game Plus. They retain their original difficulty but are scaled to your increased power level, forcing you to utilize your skills and gear to their full potential. The Valkyries are required to obtain certain end game armor pieces in New Game Plus.

Beyond the Game: Learning Through Play

The design of New Game Plus, with its emphasis on retaining player progress and adding new challenges, showcases interesting principles in game design and learning. The ability to experiment with different builds and refine strategies reflects the importance of iterative learning and problem-solving skills. Understanding how these game mechanics can be used in educational contexts is part of the focus of the Games Learning Society, which explores the intersection of games and learning. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

By understanding what carries over in New Game Plus, you can make informed decisions about how to approach your next playthrough, optimizing your gear, skills, and strategies to conquer even the toughest challenges. Now go forth, warrior, and forge your legend anew!

What carries over in new game God of War?