Elden Ring What Carries Over To Ng

Imagine stepping back into the Lands Between, the spectral Erdtree looming once again, the echoes of shattered runes whispering on the wind. You’ve vanquished the Elden Beast, claimed your throne, and now… what awaits? The allure of New Game Plus in Elden Ring beckons, a chance to relive the adventure, armed with the spoils of your previous journey. But what exactly carries over? What remains to be conquered anew?

The decision to embark on a New Game Plus run in Elden Ring is a significant one. It's an opportunity to experience the game through a different lens, perhaps experimenting with a new build, exploring previously missed areas, or simply relishing the satisfaction of overpowering early-game enemies with your end-game gear. However, understanding the mechanics of what carries over, and what doesn't, is crucial for planning your strategy and managing your expectations. This article serves as your comprehensive guide to navigating the intricacies of Elden Ring's New Game Plus system, ensuring you're well-prepared to forge a new legend in the Lands Between.

Elden Ring: Unveiling the New Game Plus Carryover System

The concept of New Game Plus isn't new to the Souls-like genre, but Elden Ring’s implementation offers a unique blend of continuity and fresh challenges. At its core, it allows players to restart the game with most of their character's progression intact, while simultaneously increasing the difficulty to provide a rewarding experience for seasoned Tarnished. Understanding the specifics of this system is vital for both veterans and newcomers eager to maximize their enjoyment of subsequent playthroughs.

Elden Ring's New Game Plus offers a compelling proposition: retain your hard-earned power and explore the world anew. The increased difficulty ensures that the game remains challenging, even with a fully optimized character. It's a chance to refine your skills, conquer optional bosses that previously gave you trouble, and delve deeper into the lore of the Lands Between. Essentially, New Game Plus is designed to extend the lifespan of the game, offering players a reason to return and experience everything it has to offer from a different perspective.

Comprehensive Overview: What Stays and What Goes

To fully grasp the New Game Plus experience, it’s essential to dissect exactly what is carried over from your initial playthrough and what is reset. This knowledge allows you to plan your build, manage your resources, and tailor your approach to the challenges that await. Here's a detailed breakdown:

What Carries Over:

• Character Level and Stats: Your character's level, along with all attribute points invested, remains untouched. This is the foundation upon which your New Game Plus journey is built, allowing you to immediately wield powerful weapons and cast potent spells.
• Equipment: All weapons, armor, talismans, and ammunition in your inventory are retained. This includes items obtained from bosses, chests, and merchants throughout the game. Upgrades to your weapons are also preserved, ensuring your favorite armaments remain effective against tougher foes.
• Spells and Incantations: Every spell and incantation you've acquired will be available from the start, provided you have the necessary stats to cast them. This opens up exciting possibilities for experimenting with different builds and strategies.
• Key Items (mostly): The vast majority of key items, such as those used for crafting, upgrading weapons, and accessing certain areas, are retained. This significantly streamlines your progress through the early game.
• Cookbooks: All cookbooks collected throughout your previous playthrough are carried over, allowing you to craft consumables from the very beginning.
• Great Runes (unequipped): While the empowered state of Great Runes is reset, the runes themselves remain in your inventory. You'll need to re-activate them at their respective Divine Towers.
• Spirit Ashes: Your upgraded Spirit Ashes, including the ever-reliable Mimic Tear, are carried over, offering invaluable support in challenging encounters.
• Larval Tears: These precious items, used for respecing your character's stats, are also retained. This allows for continued experimentation with different builds throughout your New Game Plus run.
• Map (unrevealed): The map itself is retained, but all discovered locations, Sites of Grace, and points of interest are reset, encouraging exploration and discovery anew.
• Flask Upgrades: The number of Flasks you possess, and their potency (determined by Sacred Tears), are carried over, providing a significant advantage in early battles.
• Bell Bearings: All Bell Bearings obtained from merchants and bosses are retained. This means you can immediately purchase previously acquired items from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold.

What Doesn't Carry Over:

• Key Items (story-related): Story-critical key items, such as those required to progress the main questline, are reset. This ensures that you experience the narrative from the beginning.
• Sites of Grace: All Sites of Grace are reset, requiring you to rediscover them. This encourages exploration and prevents you from simply teleporting to the end-game areas.
• Map Discovery: As mentioned above, while the map itself remains, all discovered locations are reset, prompting you to re-explore the world.
• Progress in Side Quests: All progress in ongoing side quests is reset. This allows you to experience these storylines anew and potentially make different choices.
• Opened Doors and Activated Elevators: Shortcuts and previously activated mechanisms are reset, forcing you to traverse the world in a more deliberate manner.
• World State: The state of the world, including defeated bosses and cleared dungeons, is reset. This means you'll need to re-conquer all areas and bosses.

In essence, New Game Plus preserves your character's power and possessions, while resetting the world itself. This creates a compelling loop of re-exploration and re-conquest, with the added challenge of increased enemy difficulty. Understanding these distinctions is paramount for a successful and enjoyable New Game Plus experience.

Trends and Latest Developments in Elden Ring's NG+ Community

The New Game Plus community in Elden Ring is vibrant and constantly evolving. Players are continually discovering new strategies, builds, and approaches to tackle the increased difficulty. Here are some notable trends and developments:

• Optimized Builds for NG+: Players are sharing and refining builds specifically designed for New Game Plus, focusing on maximizing damage output, survivability, and resource management. These builds often leverage the powerful weapons and spells acquired in the initial playthrough.
• Speedrunning NG+: The challenge of completing New Game Plus as quickly as possible has spurred a dedicated speedrunning community. These runners optimize their routes, exploit enemy weaknesses, and push the boundaries of what's possible.
• Challenge Runs: Some players are undertaking self-imposed challenges in New Game Plus, such as completing the game at level one, using only specific weapon types, or avoiding the use of Spirit Ashes. These challenges add an extra layer of difficulty and creativity to the New Game Plus experience.
• Lore Exploration: New Game Plus provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the lore of Elden Ring. Players are re-examining dialogue, item descriptions, and environmental details to uncover hidden secrets and gain a greater understanding of the game's world.
• Cooperative NG+: Many players are enjoying New Game Plus in co-op, teaming up with friends to tackle the increased difficulty and explore the world together. This adds a social element to the experience and allows for coordinated strategies.

Professional insights suggest that the popularity of New Game Plus in Elden Ring stems from its successful blend of familiarity and challenge. The ability to retain your character's power while facing tougher enemies creates a compelling gameplay loop that keeps players engaged. Furthermore, the open-ended nature of Elden Ring allows for endless experimentation and customization, ensuring that each New Game Plus run feels unique. The community's ongoing exploration and innovation continue to breathe new life into the game, solidifying its status as a modern classic.

Tips and Expert Advice for Elden Ring NG+

Embarking on a New Game Plus run in Elden Ring can be both exciting and daunting. Here's some practical advice and expert insights to help you make the most of the experience:

1. Optimize Your Build Before Starting: Before initiating New Game Plus, take the time to optimize your build for the challenges ahead. Respec your stats using Larval Tears to fine-tune your attributes, experiment with different weapon combinations, and ensure you have a solid understanding of your chosen playstyle. Consider your weaknesses and identify areas where you can improve your build for the increased difficulty. For example, if you struggled with certain bosses in your initial playthrough, research strategies and adjust your build accordingly.

2. Prioritize Essential Items: While most key items are reset, some are more crucial than others for early game progress. Focus on acquiring the Stonesword Keys, which allow you to access valuable early-game loot and shortcuts. Also, prioritize unlocking the Spirit Calling Bell and upgrading your Spirit Ashes, as they will be invaluable allies in challenging encounters. Consider making a list of essential items before starting New Game Plus to ensure you don't miss anything crucial.

3. Experiment with Different Weapons and Spells: New Game Plus is the perfect opportunity to experiment with weapons and spells you may have overlooked in your initial playthrough. With your character's stats already high, you can wield powerful armaments and cast potent spells that were previously unavailable. This allows you to discover new playstyles and strategies, adding variety and excitement to your experience. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

4. Explore Missed Areas and Quests: Use New Game Plus as an opportunity to explore areas and complete quests you may have missed in your initial playthrough. Elden Ring is filled with hidden secrets and optional content, and New Game Plus provides the perfect motivation to uncover them. Take your time, explore every nook and cranny, and engage with the world in a more deliberate manner. You might be surprised at what you discover.

5. Manage Your Resources Carefully: While you retain your existing resources, they can quickly dwindle in the face of increased enemy difficulty. Be mindful of your consumables, such as healing items and crafting materials, and prioritize replenishing them whenever possible. Also, manage your FP and stamina effectively, as these are crucial for casting spells and performing combat maneuvers. Consider investing in talismans and equipment that enhance resource management.

6. Embrace the Challenge: New Game Plus is designed to be challenging, so don't be discouraged if you encounter difficulties. Embrace the challenge, learn from your mistakes, and adapt your strategies accordingly. Remember that persistence is key, and with enough determination, you can overcome any obstacle. Don't be afraid to seek help from the community if you're struggling with a particular boss or area.

FAQ: Your Questions About Elden Ring NG+ Answered

• Q: Does the difficulty increase with each NG+ cycle?
  • A: Yes, the difficulty increases with each New Game Plus cycle, up to NG+7, which is the maximum difficulty.
• Q: Can I respec my character in NG+?
  • A: Yes, you can respec your character using Larval Tears, which are carried over from your previous playthrough.
• Q: Are there any new items or content in NG+?
  • A: No, there are no new items or content exclusive to New Game Plus. The main draw is the increased difficulty and the opportunity to re-experience the game with your existing character.
• Q: Can I skip bosses in NG+?
  • A: While you can technically skip some optional bosses, you'll need to defeat the mandatory bosses to progress through the main story.
• Q: What happens if I die in NG+?
  • A: The same rules apply as in your initial playthrough. You'll lose your runes and respawn at the last Site of Grace you rested at.
• Q: Can I play NG+ in co-op?
  • A: Yes, you can play New Game Plus in co-op with friends or other players online.
• Q: How do I start NG+?
  • A: After defeating the final boss and choosing an ending, you'll be given the option to begin New Game Plus at the Roundtable Hold.

Conclusion: Forging a New Legacy in the Lands Between

Elden Ring's New Game Plus system offers a compelling way to extend your adventure in the Lands Between. By understanding what carries over, optimizing your build, and embracing the challenge, you can forge a new legacy and conquer the game in new and exciting ways. The increased difficulty, combined with the freedom to experiment with different builds and explore missed content, ensures that each New Game Plus run feels fresh and rewarding.

So, Tarnished, are you ready to return to the Lands Between and embark on a new journey? Will you seek to perfect your skills, uncover hidden secrets, or simply revel in the satisfaction of dominating your foes? The choice is yours. Take the knowledge you've gained from this guide, steel your resolve, and prepare to face the challenges that await. Share your experiences, strategies, and discoveries with the community, and together, let's continue to unravel the mysteries of Elden Ring's captivating world. What ending will you choose this time around? Jump back in and find out!