New Game+ in Preparation for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtrees

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The anticipated expansion Shadow of the Erdtree for FromSoftware's award-winning game, Elden Ring, is set to release on June 21. If you haven’t played this 2022 open-world soulslike game in a while, now is an excellent time to return to the game before the release of Shadow of the Erdtree to reacquaint yourself with the world, game mechanics, and more. This might be especially necessary due to the new leveling system in the expansion, which will prevent players from leveling up too quickly. Therefore, reacquainting yourself with the game’s challenging combat might be beneficial.

Like other FromSoftware projects, Elden Ring offers the option to start the game again at a higher difficulty level through the New Game+ (NG+) feature. This can be the perfect way for you to rediscover the Lands Between. But what steps need to be taken to start NG+, and what does it entail? Let’s dive into it!

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How to Start New Game+ in Elden Ring?

To activate NG+, as in other games, you first need to complete the main game of Elden Ring. This might sound simple, but it's a Souls-style challenge that not every player can complete. After earning the title of Elden Lord and watching one of the many endings, you will have the option to start NG+. After the credits, a prompt will appear asking if you want to "Begin Journey 2." Simply confirm your choice, and you will immediately enter NG+.

If you decide to decline this option after the credits, don't worry; Elden Ring offers an alternative path to your second journey. After completing one of the game’s endings, you can continue exploring the Lands Between to complete any unfinished quests. Whether you want to collect weapons or face every hidden boss yet to be defeated, you will have time for that. When you are ready to move to NG+, simply fast travel to the Roundtable Hold. Resting at the Table of Lost Grace will now offer the option to "Begin Journey 2." Accept it, and you will embark on NG+.

Should You Start NG+ in Elden Ring Before the Release of Shadow of the Erdtree?

Before the release of the DLC, many players who have already completed Elden Ring are wondering what the best way to refresh their game skills is.

It's important to remember that NG+ will overwrite your save file. This can be problematic if you plan to play Shadow of the Erdtree immediately after its release but do not have enough time to play through the game again to the point of unlocking the DLC. Once you start NG+, you cannot return to your completed save file (unless you manually back it up on a PC before entering NG+). Like other FromSoft games, the Elden Ring DLC will require players to enter through a specific mid or end-game location. For Erdtree, this is Moghwyn's Palace, a place most people recommend visiting closer to the end of the game. If you can reach this point in NG+ before the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, definitely go for it.

If you are looking for a way to get back into the combat rhythm of Elden Ring before the DLC without playing through the entire game again, I would recommend creating a new character (which does not delete or overwrite your other save files) and playing through the early stages of the game. Even playing at a low level can help activate your muscle memory, allowing you to return to your high-level game feeling much more confident.

What Transfers and What Doesn't in NG+ in Elden Ring?

The advantage of NG+ lies in the ability to carry over some of your achievements and levels into the next adventure. In Elden Ring, in NG+, your levels, Runes, armor, weapons, and magical spells will carry over. You will also have the opportunity to re-obtain your favorite weapons in NG+ to use for dual-wielding, so be sure to collect them in your first playthrough before starting NG+ if you want to create particularly powerful builds. The balance of the player's transferred power is achieved by strengthening the enemies in NG+, who will also drop more Runes.

This is a lot, but it’s not the entire list. You will also be able to keep most non-quest items and consumables, including Remembrances, upgrade materials, crafting materials, Spirit Ashes, and Ashes of War. Key items allowed to be carried into NG+ include Stonesword Keys, Dragon Hearts, Larval Tears, Celestial Dew, and Lost Ashes of War. You will also have access to your horse and your map progress.

Items that do not carry over to NG+ are mostly quest-related. This means that if an item was used to advance the main quest or side quests, you will lose it to prevent disrupting the natural flow of the game. As for side quests, your progress in side quests will completely reset upon starting NG+, so if you are in the middle of any side quests, decide whether to complete or abandon them before your next playthrough.

Great Runes obtained after defeating key game bosses do not transfer to NG+. Other key items that do not carry over include Sorcery Scrolls, Prayer Books, and Bell Bearings. While map progress transfers, Sites of Grace do not and will need to be rediscovered in NG+. A detailed list of everything that carries over and doesn’t can also be found on the Elden Ring wiki, so if you have questions about specific items before starting NG+, check there.

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