New Game+

New Game+ is a game mode that enables players to start a new playthrough while retaining all their Monsters and certain items from previous runs. Players can start a New Game+ using any save file, regardless of whether the file has been completed. They also have the option to decide whether they want to overwrite the existing save slot or use a different one. With New Game+, players can try to challenge themselves by playing on a higher difficulty.

(Credit to Kuriki for her NG+ Steam Guide)

Monsters

The main feature of New Game+ is the ability for players to start out their journey with Monsters they would normally be unable to obtain in the early stages of the game. However, all Monsters are reset to level 1, and you cannot select a Monster to follow you until encountering an opposing Monster with the respective Explore Ability. Inactive Monsters level up alongside active Monsters until they reach their original level, persisting even if another New Game+ is initiated before the Monsters reach their original level. This does not affect inactive Monsters hatched in the current New Game+ playthrough. Monsters also retain their Skill Potion effect and Shift forms, though any food effects are cleared, and equipment on the Monster resets to the base level.

Monsters donated to the Monster Army are cleared, allowing players to reclaim any previously claimed rewards. All Monster eggs carry over and can be hatched at any time, though they cannot be donated to the Monster Army until encountering that Monster again. Monsters left on the Monster Farm remain there and also gain experience like inactive Monsters. For Monsters that do not appear in the wild, some of them have an alternative condition to be considered as "encountered":

• Ninki, by encountering Ninki Nanka.
• Shockhopper, by initiating Lady Stasis' quest.
• Plague Egg, by purchasing its egg from Rhazes.

However, if the Bravery game mode is turned on, you will lose all your Monsters and Monster eggs. Therefore, it is recommended to play this mode on a separate save slot.

Wild Monsters

In New Game+, when playing at Normal or Master difficulty, wild Monsters have increased Health and deal more damage compared to their counterparts of the same level in non-New Game+ files. This effect eventually diminishes the higher the wild Monster's level, so it is mostly only noticeable during the early game when Monsters are low level. The Health and damage boosts are no longer applied to wild Monsters that have reached level 30.

Wild Monsters also cannot appear shifted until you complete the Sun Palace again.

Spectral Familiars

Similar to when starting a new game, the player will be given a choice to choose a Spectral Familiar. If the chosen Familiar already exists in the player's Monster collection, they will not receive a duplicate but will instead use the existing one. If the player has multiple copies of that Familiar, the first one displayed in the Monster menu becomes the main Familiar, though this only affects story dialogue.

In New Game+, the chosen Familiar awards both its egg and the Infinity Flame accessory in Eternity's End. New Game+ serves as the exclusive method for obtaining additional copies of the Spectral Familiars.

Items

When starting a New Game+, players are able to keep certain items. Items that are not carried over are refunded for gold. Additionally, all equipment upgrades are reset to the base level, with no gold provided as compensation for the resetting process.

Carryover items:

• Monster eggs (unless Bravery is turned on)
• Level Badges
• Monster Bells
• Skill Potions
• Skill Resetters
• Shift Stones, Switch Stones, Clear Stones
• Catalysts
• Costumes
• Equipment (all are reverted to base level)
  • Relics are only carried over if Relics of Chaos is active

Items that are not carried over:

• Level Badge 42s
• Crystal Shards
• Reward Boxes
• Foods
• Combat consumables
• Crafting materials
• Key Items, excluding costumes

Other Features

In New Game+, players have the opportunity to obtain rewards from Champion Monsters and NPCs once again. The highest score achieved in Champion Monster battles will persist. However, be aware that initiating New Game+ will result in the reset or clearance of certain progress elements, such as map progression, Keeper Rank, Monster Army, and chests. Additionally, the Legendary Keeper monuments in the Magma Chamber will lose their particle effects, and the player needs to defeat all of them again before accessing the Ancestral Medal chest.

Exploit

There is a bug exploit that allows the player to use a Monster's Explore Ability before encountering Monsters of the same ability. This can be achieved by following these steps:

1. Have the Monster with the Explore Ability you want to use on the first slot of your active party.
2. Switch your current following Monster to a donatable Monster.
3. Donate that Monster to the Monster Army.

Upon exiting the Monster Army menu, your current following Monster is now the locked Monster that you have put on the first slot. You can freely use its Explore Ability, provided you do not switch to a different Monster (you can switch its position to a different slot in the menu though). If you accidentally switch or wish to use a different Monster's locked ability, simply repeat the steps. This exploit is particularly useful for speedruns or to fix a Randomizer bug if the player ends up with a Krakaturtle or Dracomer egg. Do note that sequence-breaking the game could potentially lead to a softlock, such as being stuck without Double Jump Boots.