Begin Elden Ring NG+ for Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion

• Shadow of the Erdtree DLC releases on June 21.
• NG requires beating Elden Ring and choosing "Begin Journey 2".
• NG overwrites your save file; back it up on PC.
• DLC has a unique leveling system, making level less important.
• Items like Runes, Armor, and Weapons carry over to NG.

Game Tips: How to Start Elden Ring's New Game in Preparation for Shadow of the Erdtree

Refamiliarize Yourself with the Lands Between Ahead of the DLC's Release

By Willa Rowe

Published Yesterday

Shadow of the Erdtree, the hotly anticipated DLC for FromSoftware's award-winning action RPG Elden Ring, is dropping on June 21.

If it's been a while since you've picked up 2022's open-world soulslike, you might want to dive back in ahead of Shadow of the Erdtree to get reacclimated to the world, gameplay, and more.

But do you want to start an entirely new game?

Shadow of the Erdtree will reportedly have a unique leveling system that will keep players from overleveling, so getting a refresher on the game's tough combat might be a good idea.

How Do You Start Elden Ring's New Game?

As with NG in other games, the first requirement to use this feature is that you have to beat Elden Ring.

Once you have earned the title of Elden Lord and seen one of the game's many endings, you will be given two ways to begin NG.

• After the credits roll, a text box will appear asking if you would like to "Begin Journey 2". Simply accept the prompt, and you will be taken immediately into NG.
• If you decline the option when offered after the credits, you can still start your second journey. Fast-travel to the Roundtable Hold and rest at the Table of Lost Grace. You will then be presented with the option to "Begin Journey 2". Accept it, and you are on your way to NG.

Should You Start Elden Ring's New Game Before Shadow of the Erdtree?

Ahead of the DLC's release, many players who have previously beaten Elden Ring are wondering what the best way to refamiliarize themselves with the game is.

But is the answer really NG?

It's a bit complicated. It depends on how much time you think you have to put back into the base game before Erdtree and what you hope to get out of it before the DLC drops.

The biggest thing to remember about NG is that it overwrites your save file.

That might be an issue if you want to play Shadow of the Erdtree upon its release but don't have enough time before then to replay the game up until the DLC's unlock location.

Once you begin NG, you will not be able to return to your completed save file unless you are on PC and back it up manually before entering NG.

As with other FromSoft games, Elden Ring's DLC will require players to start it by entering through a mid to late-game location. For Erdtree, that is Moghwyn's Palace, a fairly difficult location most people suggest you tackle near the end of a playthrough.

If you are able to get to that point in NG before Shadow of the Erdtree, then by all means, go ahead.

For those who are just looking for a way to refamiliarize themselves with the combat and flow of Elden Ring before the DLC but don't want to play through the game entirely, I would suggest just creating a new character.

This doesn't delete or overwrite your other save files, and working your way through the early game can help get that muscle memory working again.

At that point, you can dive back into a higher level and feel much more comfortable.

Whatever you choose, you don't have to worry about your level being important.

FromSoft has stated the DLC will have its own unique attack power system that will be more important than your already acquired stats.

Essentially, as long as you can enter the DLC regardless of level, you will be able to play Shadow of the Erdtree without worrying about being underprepared.

What Does and Doesn't Carry Over to Elden Ring's New Game

The benefit of NG over just starting a new playthrough from scratch is that you can take some of your hard-won loot and levels into your next adventure.

In the case of Elden Ring, there are quite a few helpful things that carry over into NG.

• Your level
• Runes
• Armor
• Weapons
• Magic spells

You will also be able to get duplicates of all your favorite weapons in NG to dual-wield, so make sure to grab them in your first playthrough before starting NG if you want to make some truly broken builds.

To balance out the player's carried-over strength, enemies in NG are stronger but will also drop more Runes.

That's quite a bit, and it's not the whole list.

You will also retain the majority of non-quest-related items and consumables.

• Remembrances
• Upgrade and crafting materials
• Spirit Ashes
• Ashes of War

There are also some key items that the game allows you to take into NG, including:

• Stonesword Keys
• Dragon Hearts
• Larval Tears
• Celestial Dew
• Lost Ashes of War

You will also have access to your horse Torrent as well as your map progress.

As for what won't carry over into NG, that list mainly consists of quest-related items.

This means if an item was used to progress the main quest or any side quests, you will lose it so as not to mess up the natural progression of the game.

All of your side quest progress will completely reset upon starting NG.

If you are in the middle of any side quests, decide whether you want to finish or give up on them before your next playthrough.

Great Runes that you acquire upon defeating the game's key bosses will not carry over into NG.

Other key items that don't carry over are Sorcery Scrolls, Incantation Prayerbooks, and Bell Bearings.

While map progress carries over, States of Grace do not, and you will need to refind these points in NG.

An extensive list of every single thing that does and doesn't carry over can also be found on the Elden Ring wiki, so if you have a question about a specific item before starting NG, give it a look.

Whichever way you choose to prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree, I'm sure the DLC is going to kick all of our asses regardless of preparation.

I can't wait to find out what's going on in the expansion's mysterious trailers.