New Game Plus Complete Guide#
What Is New Game Plus#
New Game Plus is a game mode unlocked after completing the main story for the first time. Players can carry over part of the abilities and resources they have acquired and take on the entire game world again. Enemies in NG+ become significantly stronger, while new equipment tiers and hidden elements are unlocked. Finishing New Game Plus is also one of the requirements for unlocking the true ending, so the vast majority of players who are chasing every achievement will complete at least one full cycle.
| Feature | First Playthrough | Second Playthrough | Third Playthrough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy Health | Standard | +60% | +100% |
| Enemy Attack | Standard | +40% | +75% |
| Spirit Drop | Standard | ×1.5 | ×2.0 |
| Rare Drop Rate | Base value | +25% | +50% |
| New Equipment Tier | Up to Immortal | Divine tier | Chaos tier |
| Hidden Bosses | Partially optional | All unlocked | All unlocked |
Starting from New Game Plus, enemy stats break past the first-playthrough ceiling, hidden Bosses and cycle-exclusive rewards open up completely, and the depth of the combat experience is on an entirely different level from the first playthrough.
Inheritance Mechanics#
When you enter New Game Plus, not all progress is kept. The following details which elements carry over and which are reset. Understanding these rules is essential for planning your New Game Plus route.
| Inherited Item | Kept? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Level and Sparks | Yes | All retained |
| Unlocked Spells | Yes | Levels retained |
| Spirits | Yes | All collected Spirits retained |
| Transformation Forms | Yes | All unlocked forms retained |
| Equipment (partial) | Partial | Only Immortal tier and above retained |
| Medicine Recipes | Yes | All retained |
| Ying Shen Tu | Yes | Unlocked entries retained |
| Shrine Unlocks | No | Must be reactivated |
| Key Items | No | Fully reset |
| Map Exploration Progress | No | Must be re-explored |
| Side Quest Progress | No | Must be completed again |
| Currency (Spirit) | No | 50% retained |
The equipment inheritance rule deserves the most attention: equipment below Immortal tier is cleared when the cycle switches, so upgrade it first if you want to keep it. Unlocked entries of the Ying Shen Tu carry over directly, but new entries still have to be re-explored and completed.
Difficulty Changes in Detail#
The difficulty increase in New Game Plus is not limited to stat inflation. Enemy attack patterns are slightly adjusted, some Bosses gain new combos, and elite enemy placements change as well. In addition, some originally weaker enemies gain new skills or resistances in New Game Plus.
| Boss Name | First Playthrough Moves | New in Second Playthrough | Difficulty Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Wind King | 12 | +2 new combos | ★★★☆☆ |
| Yellow Wind Sage | 15 | New phase transition | ★★★★☆ |
| Yaksha King | 14 | +3 quick dashes | ★★★★☆ |
| Zi Zhu’er | 16 | New area attack | ★★★☆☆ |
| Red Boy | 13 | Reaction speed increased | ★★★★☆ |
| Stone Monkey | 18 | All-new second phase | ★★★★★ |
| Erlang Shen | 22 | +5 deadly combos | ★★★★★ |
The biggest change in New Game Plus shows up in combo rhythm. Boss recovery frames are noticeably shorter, so the old approach of “wait for an opening, then attack” has to become “actively create openings,” which greatly increases the value of Immobilize and Transformation.
New Equipment and Materials#
New Game Plus introduces entirely new equipment grades: Divine tier and Chaos tier weapons and armor. These require New Game Plus-exclusive materials to forge and upgrade. The following is an overview of the main new equipment.
New Weapons#
| Weapon Name | Tier | Attack | Special Effect | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunyuan Gold-Banded Staff | Divine | 565 | Critical Rate +15% | Hidden chest in Chapter 1 |
| Destiny Staff | Divine | 510 | Combo damage increases progressively | Dropped by Yellow Wind Sage |
| Shadow Staff | Chaos | 560 | 5% lifesteal | Unlocked in the third playthrough |
| Thunderous Might | Chaos | 540 | Adds lightning damage | Hidden drop from Erlang Shen |
| Nine-Tooth Rake | Divine | 495 | Area damage +20% | Chapter 5 side quest reward |
New Armor#
| Set Name | Tier | Pieces | Set Effect | Defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Sage Set | Divine | 4 pieces | All attributes +10% | 320 |
| Chaos Battle Armor | Chaos | 4 pieces | Damage taken -15%, counterattack damage +25% | 380 |
| Destiny Set | Divine | 3 pieces | Spirit cost -30% | 290 |
| Dragon Scale Set | Divine | 4 pieces | Fire resistance +40%, water resistance +20% | 310 |
Divine tier equipment is not a simple multiple in numbers: it introduces a special affix system, giving both offense and defense entirely new growth dimensions.
New Game Plus-Exclusive Materials#
New Game Plus adds several rare materials used to forge high-tier equipment and upgrade existing weapons. These materials can only be obtained in New Game Plus and are the key to raising your combat power.
| Material Name | Rarity | Use | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavenly Cauldron Fragment | Epic | Divine tier equipment upgrade | Dropped by elite enemies |
| Gold Band Fragment | Epic | Special weapon enhancement | Chests in hidden areas |
| Chaos Essence | Legendary | Chaos tier equipment forging | Dropped by hidden Bosses |
| Primordial Qi | Legendary | Ultimate weapon enhancement | Specific locations in high cycles |
| Spirit Stone Fragment | Rare | Armor enhancement | Purchased at Shrine shops |
| Ninefold Golden Elixir | Legendary | Permanent attribute increase | Third playthrough only |
Primordial Qi is one of the scarcest legendary materials. It cannot be bought and requires repeated exploration to gather, so plan an efficient collection route for each cycle.
True Ending Conditions#
The true ending (Great Sage Equal to Heaven ending) requires several demanding conditions, most of which can only be fulfilled in New Game Plus or higher cycles. This is the most challenging goal in the game and the necessary path to all achievements.
Required Conditions#
| No. | Condition | Difficulty | Cycle Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defeat all six chapter Bosses | Medium | Any |
| 2 | Kill the hidden Boss Erlang Shen | Extremely hard | NG+ |
| 3 | Collect all Six Roots | Hard | NG+ |
| 4 | Complete the Yuan Shoucheng side quest | Medium | Any |
| 5 | Collect all Ying Shen Tu entries | Extremely hard | NG+ |
| 6 | Unlock all Transformation forms | Hard | NG+ |
| 7 | Defeat Elder Jinchi | Hard | Any |
| 8 | Trigger the hidden dialogue before the final battle | Medium | NG+ |
Ending Branch Comparison#
| Ending | Trigger Condition | Cycle Requirement | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Ending | Complete the game for the first time without meeting any hidden condition | First playthrough | Destiny Taken |
| Good Ending | Defeat Erlang Shen but without finishing all collection | NG+ | Destiny Defeated |
| True Ending | Meet all 8 conditions | NG+ | Great Sage Equal to Heaven |
| Hidden Ending | All conditions plus a specific time trigger | NG++ | Six Roots as One |
The core of the true ending is collecting all Six Roots and defeating Erlang Shen; neither can be missing. When farming materials across cycles, prioritize condition 6 (Transformations) and condition 3 (Six Roots), as these two tend to slow progress the most.
Recommended New Game Plus Builds#
Critical Build#
| Slot | Recommended Equipment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Hunyuan Gold-Banded Staff | High critical rate |
| Head | Great Sage Crown | Critical damage +20% |
| Body | Great Sage Armor | Critical rate +10% |
| Hands | Great Sage Gauntlets | Critical combo damage +15% |
| Legs | Great Sage Boots | Movement speed +10% |
| Curio | Enlightenment Bead | Restores Mana after a critical hit |
Lifesteal Build#
| Slot | Recommended Equipment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Shadow Staff | 5% lifesteal |
| Body | Dragon Scale Armor | Fire resistance +40% |
| Curio | Blood Jade Bead | Lifesteal +10% after taking damage |
| Spirit | Wraith Spirit | Attacks restore health |
The Critical Build is faster and suits quick New Game Plus runs; the Lifesteal Build is steadier and suits challenging the third playthrough. It is recommended to prepare both sets and switch according to Boss traits.
Cycle Reward Scaling#
Each completed cycle grants you increasing reward bonuses. These bonuses apply to all cycles and encourage you to keep challenging higher difficulties.
| Cycle | Spirit Bonus | Experience Bonus | Special Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Playthrough | +50% | +30% | Divine tier equipment |
| Third Playthrough | +100% | +60% | Chaos tier equipment |
| Fourth Playthrough | +150% | +90% | Hidden Transformation forms |
| Fifth Playthrough | +200% | +120% | Extreme Challenge mode |
While rewards multiply, enemy strength rises in step. After the third playthrough, clearing the game is no longer the goal; materials and achievement collection are the real point of the cycle loop.
New Game Plus FAQ#
Q: How do I switch into New Game Plus?
A: After defeating the final Boss, select “Continue Journey” on the main menu to enter New Game Plus; all inherited content loads automatically. Before switching, it is recommended to organize your equipment and medicines at a Shrine, because the inheritance settlement is fixed the moment you enter New Game Plus.
Q: Can I go back to the first playthrough from New Game Plus?
A: Yes, but note that New Game Plus-exclusive materials cannot be carried back to a first-playthrough save. Switching cycles loses progress completed only in the current cycle, so it is recommended to finish key equipment and achievements in New Game Plus before returning to an older cycle to clean up.
Q: Do New Game Plus achievements need to be earned again?
A: Some achievements accumulate across all cycles (such as collection ones), while others must be achieved again in a new cycle. It is recommended to check off items one by one against the achievement list to avoid redundant work.
Q: Why do New Game Plus enemies suddenly get so much stronger?
A: Besides the stat increases, some elite enemies and Bosses in New Game Plus gain new moves or resistances, so combat logic has to be rebuilt. Pushing through on your first-playthrough route tends to stall, so it is recommended to forge some Divine tier equipment before advancing.
Recommended Upgrade Route#
After entering New Game Plus, it is recommended to prioritize upgrading key equipment along the following route to cope with ever-stronger enemies. The order directly affects your experience in the early chapters.
| Priority | Action | Target Chapters | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain the first batch of Divine materials | Chapter 1 | 1-2 hours |
| 2 | Forge the Great Sage Set | Chapters 1 to 2 | 3-4 hours |
| 3 | Upgrade weapons to Divine tier | Chapter 2 | 2-3 hours |
| 4 | Collect all Six Roots | Chapters 3 to 5 | 8-10 hours |
| 5 | Complete the Ying Shen Tu | All chapters | 5-8 hours |
This route heavily overlaps with the true ending conditions: secure Divine tier equipment first to guarantee power, then collect the Six Roots and Ying Shen Tu entries in chapter order. As long as the order does not conflict, the true ending can basically be completed in one go.
Summary#
New Game Plus is not a simple repetition of the first playthrough; it is the core stage for unlocking the true ending, assembling the Six Roots and challenging hidden Bosses. The inheritance mechanic means you can set out again with the accumulation of the previous cycle, and it also brings unique progression fun from multiplied equipment tiers and rewards.
For most players, New Game Plus is the true “graduation cycle”: the first playthrough is for learning the flow, the second is for enjoying growth. As long as you plan equipment and materials in advance according to the inheritance rules in this article, you can turn every bit of exploration in New Game Plus into the strength needed for the final push toward the Great Sage Equal to Heaven ending.