Elden Ring NG+: Mastering Your Second Journey
Hey there, fellow Tarnished! So, you've conquered the Lands Between, perhaps even claimed your rightful place as Elden Lord, or maybe you’ve chosen a path less trodden. You've navigated treacherous dungeons, faced down horrifying demigods, and probably died more times than you care to admit. But what happens after the credits roll? For many of us, the adventure isn't truly over; it's just beginning again with Elden Ring New Game Plus, or NG+ as we affectionately call it. This isn't just a simple restart, guys, it's a whole new chapter, offering a refreshed perspective on FromSoftware's epic masterpiece. It’s an opportunity to revisit familiar challenges with newfound strength, knowledge, and perhaps a completely different playstyle. This comprehensive guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know about diving into your next playthrough, ensuring you're fully prepared to face the increased difficulty and maximize every moment of your glorious second, third, or even tenth journey across the gorgeous yet perilous world of Elden Ring.
What is New Game Plus in Elden Ring?
Elden Ring New Game Plus (NG+) is basically the game's way of saying, "Congratulations, you finished! Now, how about doing it again, but harder?" It's a feature common in many FromSoftware titles, allowing players to carry over much of their progress from a completed save file into a fresh playthrough. Once you've beaten the final boss in Elden Ring, you'll be given the option to immediately start NG+. Don't worry if you're not ready right away; you can always choose to return to the Roundtable Hold and activate NG+ later from the Table of Lost Grace, which is super convenient for those of us who like to tie up loose ends. The core idea behind New Game Plus Elden Ring is to provide a fresh challenge for experienced players. Enemies hit harder, have more HP, and drop significantly more runes, making subsequent runs not just about difficulty, but also about accelerating your character's growth and experimentation. It’s a chance to explore alternative build paths, uncover secrets you missed, or simply relive the magic of the game with a character that’s already reached peak performance. Imagine going back to Limgrave with your fully upgraded Godslayer's Greatsword or a devastating sorcery build – it changes the entire dynamic, turning early-game bosses into mere speed bumps.
This isn’t just about making the game harder; it’s about providing a different kind of challenge. Your first playthrough was about survival, learning the ropes, and struggling against overwhelming odds. NG+ transforms that into a strategic playground. Do you want to try a pure faith build after being a strength enthusiast? Or perhaps you want to finally master that arcane bleed build you always heard about? Elden Ring New Game Plus encourages this kind of experimentation. It's also fantastic for completionists, as some quests or items might have been missed the first time around due to opaque questlines or just sheer difficulty. By carrying over your character level, equipment, and spells, you have the freedom to focus on other aspects of the game, like exploring every nook and cranny of the Lands Between, trying out different endings, or even engaging more deeply with the multiplayer aspects without the initial grind. It truly extends the life of the game, offering countless hours of replayability. The feeling of stepping into Limgrave again, but this time as a seasoned Tarnished with an arsenal of powerful spells and weapons, is incredibly satisfying, making NG+ a highly rewarding experience for veteran players seeking to rekindle their love for Elden Ring.
Preparing for Your Next Journey: Before Starting NG+
Alright, listen up, because this is crucial: before you commit to starting your Elden Ring New Game Plus adventure, there are several vital preparations you absolutely need to make. Think of it as your last chance to tie up loose ends and gather everything you might need for your next journey across the Lands Between. Missing these steps can leave you regretting it later, as some opportunities simply won't return until much deeper into your new playthrough. First and foremost, collect all Bell Bearings! These crucial items allow you to purchase an unlimited supply of crafting materials, smithing stones, and other essential items from the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold. Once you start NG+, you’ll lose access to the merchants who drop these bearings until you re-defeat their respective bosses, which can be a real pain if you're trying to upgrade new weapons or craft specific items early on. Having all Bell Bearings available from the start of your second journey means you can focus purely on combat and exploration, rather than grinding for crafting components.
Next up, guys, make sure to explore every corner of the map and grab any Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears you might have missed. These permanent upgrades to your Flasks of Crimson and Cerulean Tears are carried over into NG+, so maxing them out before you reset is a huge advantage. More flask uses and stronger healing/FP recovery will make the increased difficulty of Elden Ring New Game Plus much more manageable. While you're at it, track down all the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones you can find. These rare materials are essential for upgrading your weapons to +25/+10, and you’ll want to have as many powerful, fully upgraded weapons as possible ready for your next run. Remember, you only get a limited number of these per playthrough, so make them count! Also, complete any outstanding NPC questlines. Many of these offer unique talismans, spells, or legendary armaments that you’ll want to have in your inventory for NG+. Once you start New Game Plus Elden Ring, all quest progress resets, meaning you’d have to go through them all over again to get the rewards. This includes securing alternate endings if you’re aiming for specific achievements.
Finally, consider farming for runes, crafting materials, or specific armor sets and weapons that you might want to try out in your next build. With your current character likely at a very high level, farming becomes significantly easier. You can then use the runes to level up further or purchase items from merchants before they reset. If you’re thinking about trying a completely different build, now is also the perfect time to respec your stats at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, to experiment with what you’ll be taking into your Elden Ring New Game Plus playthrough. This way, you can hit the ground running with a finely tuned character. Don't forget to purchase all the spells, incantations, and ashes of war that interest you from various vendors, as their inventories will reset, and some may require specific quest progress to unlock again. Taking these preparatory steps will ensure you enter your NG+ journey not just with confidence, but with a fully optimized and well-stocked arsenal, ready to tackle whatever the Tarnished's next grand adventure throws your way.
What Carries Over and What Doesn't?
Understanding what makes the cut and what gets left behind when you transition into Elden Ring New Game Plus is absolutely key to planning your subsequent journeys. It’s a common question, and frankly, a vital piece of information for any seasoned Tarnished preparing for another run through the Lands Between. Let's break it down into what does carry over, and what unfortunately resets with the beginning of a fresh New Game Plus Elden Ring cycle. This knowledge empowers you to strategize effectively, ensuring you don't accidentally leave behind something crucial or expect something to be there that won't be.
First, the good news: a huge chunk of your progress, especially your character's power, carries over. Your current character level and all your stats (Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane) remain exactly as they were when you beat the final boss. This means no re-grinding levels from scratch, which is a massive relief! All your runes also carry over, so any unspent currency will still be in your pocket. Furthermore, your entire inventory – this includes all weapons, armor sets, talismans, spells, incantations, Ashes of War, spirit ashes, crafting materials, upgrade materials (like Smithing Stones of all tiers), and consumables – comes with you. Even your storage chest contents remain intact. This is why it's so important to farm for rare materials and powerful gear before starting Elden Ring New Game Plus! Your Flask of Crimson Tears and Flask of Cerulean Tears will retain their total uses and upgrade level (determined by Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears respectively), which is a huge advantage for sustained exploration and combat. Additionally, any Bell Bearings you've collected will remain active at the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold, meaning you keep access to their expanded inventories. Your Great Runes, however, despite their significant power, do not carry over, as their activation is tied to boss progression.
Now for what doesn't carry over, which is equally important to know, guys. Pretty much anything related to your quest progression and the state of the world itself gets reset. All Site of Grace activations vanish, meaning you'll need to rediscover them to unlock fast travel points again. The entire map discovery also resets, so all those detailed maps you painstakingly uncovered will be blacked out once more, forcing you to re-collect the map fragments. All key items that are essential for story progression, like Great Runes, special keys, or items given by NPCs to advance their quests, will be removed from your inventory, as you'll need to re-obtain them through the new storyline. Remember those Great Runes you fought so hard for? They’re gone, and you’ll have to defeat their respective demigods all over again to reactivate them. All NPC locations and their questlines also reset to their initial states, giving you another chance to pursue different outcomes or experience quests you might have missed. Similarly, all Stake of Marika checkpoints disappear, and all bosses and regular enemies respawn, obviously, but they'll be stronger. Understanding these resets is vital; it ensures you don't get caught off guard expecting a shortcut or an item that you thought would carry over but ultimately didn't, making your Elden Ring New Game Plus playthrough smoother and more enjoyable from the get-go.
The Challenges Ahead: How Elden Ring NG+ Changes
Venturing into Elden Ring New Game Plus isn't just a simple restart; it's a significant ramp-up in difficulty designed to test even the most battle-hardened Tarnished. If you thought your first journey through the Lands Between was tough, prepare yourselves, because the challenges ahead are noticeably more intense. The core change, and what you’ll feel almost immediately, is the scaling of enemy attributes. Every single enemy, from the lowly Godrick Soldier in Limgrave to the most formidable demigod boss, receives a substantial boost to their health, damage output, and sometimes even their poise. This isn't a small tweak, guys; it's a significant increase that makes familiar encounters feel fresh and far more dangerous. Those early game bosses you breezed through with your max-level character might still fall quickly, but regular enemies, especially in groups, can suddenly become a genuine threat, capable of draining your HP in just a couple of hits if you're not careful. This change means you can't just rely on over-leveling; you'll need to continue to use your learned skills, dodge timings, and strategic approaches.
Beyond raw stats, Elden Ring New Game Plus introduces a more dynamic and punishing environment. While there aren't new enemies or new item placements unique to NG+, the increased enemy strength encourages you to think differently about your engagements. Area-of-effect attacks from regular foes can now be lethal, and boss fights demand even greater precision and knowledge of their move sets. The rune rewards also scale up significantly, which is a welcome silver lining. You’ll earn far more runes from defeating enemies and bosses, allowing you to continue leveling up at a faster pace, especially in the early stages of NG+. This increased rune acquisition is crucial because the soft caps for attributes become less relevant as you push past recommended levels for a first playthrough, and you’ll want every extra point in Vigor or your primary damage stat to keep pace with the escalating difficulty. This constant need to adapt and overcome makes New Game Plus Elden Ring truly engaging, preventing the experience from feeling repetitive even though the world layout is the same.
Another subtle but impactful change in Elden Ring New Game Plus is how it encourages build diversity and mastery. Because you're carrying over a powerful character, you have the freedom to experiment with different weapon types, incantations, sorceries, and talismans that you might not have fully explored in your initial run. The higher difficulty pushes you to find truly optimized synergies and understand the nuances of your chosen build. A build that felt powerful in your first playthrough might struggle against the beefed-up enemies in NG+, forcing you to reconsider your stat distribution, weapon choices, and even your playstyle. This constant evaluation and refinement are what make subsequent playthroughs so rewarding. Moreover, this escalating difficulty isn't just a one-time thing; it continues through multiple NG+ cycles. Each time you complete the game and start another NG+ cycle (NG+2, NG+3, and so on, up to NG+7), the enemy scaling increases further, albeit with diminishing returns after a certain point. This ensures that the challenge remains fresh and brutal for those dedicated Tarnished who want to push their limits to the absolute extreme, constantly striving to master the Lands Between in its most formidable state.
Strategic Approaches for Your Elden Ring NG+ Run
Embarking on an Elden Ring New Game Plus run offers a fantastic opportunity to approach the game with renewed strategy and purpose. Having already navigated the treacherous Lands Between once, you're no longer a clueless Tarnished; you’re a seasoned veteran with all the knowledge and (hopefully) gear needed to truly optimize your next journey. One of the most common and rewarding strategies is build optimization and experimentation. Your first playthrough was likely about finding a build that worked for you, often with limited resources and knowledge. Now, in New Game Plus Elden Ring, you have access to almost every weapon, spell, incantation, and talisman in the game, allowing for truly creative and powerful combinations. Did you play a pure strength build your first time? Why not respec at Rennala and try a Dexterity/Arcane bleed build with Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear, or a Faith/Strength build wielding the Blasphemous Blade? The increased rune drops in NG+ make leveling up faster, enabling you to reach higher stat thresholds for more diverse and powerful builds. This freedom to totally overhaul your playstyle and see how new combinations fair against the scaled-up enemies is a major draw for many players and truly enhances replayability.
Another compelling strategic approach is completionism and uncovering missed content. Let’s be honest, Elden Ring is massive, and it's highly unlikely you discovered every secret, completed every side quest, or collected every unique item in your first run. Elden Ring New Game Plus provides the perfect environment to tie up these loose ends. With your character already powerful, you can focus less on pure survival and more on thorough exploration. Did you miss a particular legendary armament? Or perhaps a crucial part of an NPC's questline, like Ranni's or Fia's, which are notoriously complex? Now’s your chance! Since all quest progress resets, you can make different choices, pursue alternative paths, and experience storylines you might have skipped. This also extends to collecting all Spirit Ashes, Talismans, or even finding all the challenging optional bosses like Malenia again, this time with a fully optimized counter-build. The ease of travel and your inherent strength allow for a more relaxed and explorative pace, perfect for uncovering every last secret the Lands Between hold. This dedicated search for everything the game has to offer is a deeply satisfying way to experience New Game Plus Elden Ring.
Furthermore, speedrunning or achieving specific endings are popular objectives for New Game Plus players. If your goal is to unlock all achievements, you'll need to see all the different endings, which often requires multiple playthroughs and specific quest choices. An NG+ run is ideal for this, as your power allows you to bypass many optional areas and bosses, making a focused run to the ending much quicker. You can blast through the main progression bosses with efficiency, focusing solely on the requirements for a particular ending without having to rebuild your character from scratch. For the truly ambitious, Elden Ring New Game Plus offers the perfect training ground for speedrunning. Knowing enemy placements, boss patterns, and having access to powerful tools allows for highly optimized routes and strategies to shave off precious minutes (or even hours!) from your playthrough time. Lastly, don't underestimate the strategic value of multiplayer engagement. With a powerful NG+ character, you can more effectively engage in co-op with friends or new players struggling in early areas, offering formidable assistance. Similarly, your advanced build can be put to the test in PvP, giving you an edge in invasions or duels. These varied approaches ensure that every New Game Plus Elden Ring playthrough feels distinct and purposeful, transforming what could be a repetitive experience into an exciting new challenge tailored to your specific goals and desires as a Tarnished.
Maximizing Your NG+ Experience: Tips and Tricks
To truly get the most out of your Elden Ring New Game Plus journey, it's not enough to just press 'start' and hope for the best. A little strategic thinking and a few smart moves can turn a good playthrough into an amazing one, ensuring you squeeze every drop of enjoyment and challenge out of your renewed adventure in the Lands Between. First off, guys, a crucial tip is to plan your build in advance. Before you even step foot into Limgrave again, decide what kind of character you want to play. Do you want to try out a specific legendary weapon you picked up, or perhaps a new sorcery school? Knowing your target build allows you to allocate your initial stat points efficiently, making sure you hit weapon requirements or spell scaling thresholds early. With the increased rune drops in Elden Ring New Game Plus, you’ll level up much faster, so having a clear path for your stat distribution can make you incredibly powerful, very quickly. Don't be afraid to experiment with your existing character's stats by using a Larval Tear at Rennala before you begin NG+; this gives you a clean slate to test out new builds before fully committing.
Next, prioritize map fragments and critical items early on. While your character retains their power, the map will be blacked out, and Sites of Grace will be unlit. Sprinting to grab those map fragments in each major region should be a priority, as they vastly improve navigation. Similarly, if you're planning a specific build, try to acquire its core components (weapons, talismans, Ashes of War) as early as possible. For instance, if you're building around the Rivers of Blood katana, rushing to the Mountaintops of the Giants might be a speedrunner's approach, but a more balanced strategy would be to grab other essential Arcane scaling items first. Utilize your newfound strength to quickly defeat key bosses that unlock new areas or merchants. Remember, the game's difficulty scales, so while you'll feel powerful in Limgrave, by the time you reach the later areas like the Crumbling Farum Azula or the Mountaintops of the Giants, the enemies will still pose a significant threat. Having your build established and optimized by that point is critical to maintaining momentum in New Game Plus Elden Ring.
Another excellent trick for Elden Ring New Game Plus is to diversify your exploration. Your first run was likely a linear progression through the main story path. Now, with the pressure off and knowledge in hand, take different routes. Explore dungeons you skipped, revisit areas you rushed through, and interact with NPCs whose questlines you ignored. Many players miss crucial lore or optional bosses because they're focused on simply finishing the game. NG+ is the perfect opportunity to slow down and appreciate the intricate design of the Lands Between. Also, don't forget to utilize your increased rune income efficiently. With more runes dropping, you can not only level up faster but also purchase a large supply of consumables, crafting materials, and even duplicate certain spells or incantations. Buying all available Smithing Stones from the Twin Maiden Husks (thanks to those Bell Bearings!) means you'll never be short on upgrade materials for trying out new weapons. Finally, consider setting new challenges for yourself. Perhaps a no-summons run, a specific weapon-only run, or aiming for a unique ending you haven't seen yet. These self-imposed restrictions can breathe fresh life into your Elden Ring New Game Plus experience, keeping the game feeling exciting and challenging even after dozens of hours. Embrace the freedom and power that NG+ offers, and truly make this second journey (or third, or fourth!) your own, Tarnished!
Is Elden Ring NG+ Worth It?
So, after all that talk about challenges, preparations, and strategies, the burning question remains: is Elden Ring New Game Plus truly worth your time? The short answer, fellow Tarnished, is a resounding yes, especially for those who genuinely love the game and want to squeeze every last drop of content and challenge out of it. If you’re someone who thrives on mastery, exploration, and the sheer satisfaction of overcoming increasingly difficult odds, then New Game Plus Elden Ring is absolutely designed for you. It’s not just a repetitive grind; it's a carefully crafted extension of the experience that respects your time and your acquired skill, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar, beloved world. The ability to carry over your hard-earned progress, from your character level to your vast arsenal of weapons and spells, means you're not starting from scratch in terms of power, allowing you to focus on new goals and challenges rather than the initial struggle for survival.
For many players, the true value of Elden Ring New Game Plus lies in the freedom it provides. Your first playthrough was about survival, learning the mechanics, and figuring out where to go. In NG+, you're no longer bound by those constraints. You can experiment with radically different builds without the initial grind, chase alternative endings, explore every hidden corner you missed, or simply relive the epic boss battles with a refined strategy. This replayability is what makes FromSoftware games so enduring, and Elden Ring’s iteration of NG+ perfectly captures that essence. The increased difficulty ensures that the game doesn't become trivial, maintaining that signature FromSoftware challenge that keeps you on the edge of your seat. While Limgrave might feel easier, the later areas and their bosses will still push your skills to their limit, demanding precision and a deep understanding of combat mechanics, forcing you to truly become an Elden Lord worthy of the title.
Ultimately, whether Elden Ring New Game Plus is worth it depends on your individual preferences. If you're someone who only plays a game once and then moves on, it might not be for you. But if you’re a Tarnished who enjoys deep character customization, discovering every secret, pushing your build to its limits, or simply revisiting a world you adore with a fresh pair of eyes and an immensely powerful character, then diving into subsequent New Game Plus Elden Ring cycles is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. It's your chance to rewrite your legend, explore different destinies, and truly become the master of the Lands Between. So go forth, plan your next journey, and may your blades be ever sharp and your spells ever potent!
