Quick Answer: New Game Plus in Elden Ring carries over your character stats, weapons, armor, talismans, spells, and most items. You restart with a fresh Site of Grace map but keep all progression. Enemy damage and HP scale up each NG+ cycle. Quest items reset, allowing you to pursue different endings on subsequent runs.
Beating Elden Ring’s final boss is not the end of the journey — it is the doorway to New Game Plus. NG+ lets you replay the entire game with your existing character, facing tougher enemies for greater rewards. This guide explains exactly how NG+ works, what carries over, how the difficulty scales, and how to make the most of every cycle.
What Is New Game Plus?
New Game Plus, commonly shortened to NG+, is a mode that begins automatically after you complete the game and choose to continue. Your character starts the story over from the beginning, but keeps the power they earned, while the world becomes more dangerous. Each completion unlocks the next cycle — NG+2, NG+3, and beyond — with difficulty climbing each time.
What Carries Over Into NG+
The whole point of NG+ is that your character remains strong. The following carries over:
- Character level and all stats;
- Weapons, armor, and talismans, including their upgrade levels;
- Spells, Ashes of War, and Spirit Ashes;
- Crafting materials and most consumables;
- Your Flask upgrades — both charges and potency;
- Runes currently in your possession.
In short, you keep your build intact and walk into the new cycle as the powerful Tarnished you became.
What Resets in NG+
Some things return to their starting state so the world has content to offer again:
- Story progress and bosses — every boss is alive again and must be re-defeated;
- Most key items and questline items are given again as you progress;
- Map exploration and Sites of Grace must be rediscovered;
- NPC questlines reset, letting you pursue different outcomes.
A few unique items that you can only ever obtain one copy of will not be handed out twice if you already have them — but the game compensates so you are never permanently missing essentials.
How Difficulty Scales
In NG+, enemies and bosses receive significantly more health and deal more damage. The jump from a normal playthrough into NG+ is noticeable but manageable for a character who finished the game. Each subsequent cycle raises the numbers further, though the increases become smaller after the first few cycles, eventually reaching a soft ceiling.
Enemies also grant more Runes in NG+, which helps you keep leveling to match the rising challenge. A well-built character can comfortably progress several cycles deep.
Why Play New Game Plus?
NG+ offers several genuine reasons to dive back in:
- See other endings: because the ending is chosen at the final moment, NG+ lets you experience different conclusions by completing different questlines. Our guide to all endings explains exactly what each cycle needs;
- Collect missed items: anything you overlooked the first time is available again;
- Test new builds: a strong character can experiment with weapons and strategies against tougher enemies;
- Enjoy the challenge: familiar bosses become fresh threats at higher difficulty.
Endings and NG+
NG+ is the most efficient way to collect every ending without creating new characters. Since you can choose your ending at the end of each cycle, a single character can pursue a different conclusion every time — as long as the required questlines are completed before the final boss. Completionists use NG+ specifically for this.
Tips for a Smooth NG+ Run
- Keep leveling: the extra Runes from tougher enemies should go straight into your build to keep pace;
- Plan questlines in advance: if you want a specific ending, map out the questline before advancing the main story;
- Upgrade a backup weapon: NG+ is a great time to try a second build path you skipped;
- Do not rush the final boss: finish any questlines you care about first, since starting NG+2 resets everything again.
If you are refining your character between cycles, our stat soft caps guide helps you spend those extra Runes efficiently.
How Many Cycles Should You Play?
There is no requirement to play NG+ at all — many players are satisfied with one complete run. For those who want more, the first one or two cycles offer the best balance of fresh challenge and reasonable difficulty. Players chasing every ending typically need two or three cycles. Beyond that, NG+ becomes a pursuit for dedicated fans who enjoy the escalating challenge for its own sake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I keep my equipment in NG+?
Yes. Your level, stats, weapons, armor, talismans, spells, and Flask upgrades all carry over. You start NG+ as the fully built character you finished the game with.
Can I get all endings with one character?
Yes. NG+ lets a single character pursue a different ending each cycle, as long as the required questlines are completed before the final boss.
Does NG+ get harder every cycle?
Yes, but the increases shrink after the first few cycles and eventually plateau. The first transition into NG+ is the most noticeable jump.
Final Thoughts
New Game Plus extends Elden Ring far beyond a single playthrough. You keep everything you earned, the world grows more dangerous, and new endings and missed treasures await. Whether you run one cycle to see another ending or push deep for the challenge, NG+ ensures the Lands Between still has plenty to offer the Tarnished who conquered it once already.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What carries over in Elden Ring NG+?
A: Character level, stats, weapons, armor, talismans, spells, crafting materials, and Wondrous Physick. Quest items and key story items reset.
Q: Do bosses get harder in NG+?
A: Yes. Each NG+ cycle increases enemy HP and damage. NG+7 caps the difficulty at roughly double the original numbers.
Q: Can I get different endings in NG+?
A: Yes. NG+ lets you pursue endings you missed by completing different questlines and making different final choices.