Dark Souls 3: 5 Things to do before NG+

Dark Souls 3 is here, and it’s as glorious as ever. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been immersed in the game, conquering your first playthrough. Now that you’ve vanquished the final boss, you’re probably itching to jump into your second playthrough, perhaps as a formidable Havel strength build or a fiery pyromancer. I’m here to prepare you for that NG+ adventure. After defeating the last boss, players face a choice: start NG+ or continue exploring the new game world. I recommend the latter, as it allows you to accomplish a few essential tasks. To learn these tasks read my Dark Souls 3: 5 Things to do before NG+ guide below.

1. Farm for Items, Gear, and Weapons

With access to all bonfires, farming for items becomes remarkably easy. If there’s a specific weapon you desire, now is the time to farm for it. While your farming goals may vary, I strongly suggest stockpiling Embers. Embers can be obtained from red-eyed enemies (I recommend farming the knight near the Dragon Barracks bonfire), assisting other players in their boss battles, or invading their worlds.

2. Respec Your Character & Change Their Look

The respec system in Dark Souls 3 has undergone changes since Dark Souls 2. To respec your character, you’ll need access to The Cathedral of the Deep area and an NPC named Rosaria. Since this is a bit later in the game, it’s best to make any build changes before starting NG+. The service requires offering one Pale Tongue, which you should have acquired during regular gameplay. Keep in mind that you have only five respecs per character, so use them wisely. Rosaria also offers the option to alter your character’s appearance, so make any desired changes here as well.

3. Upgrade Your Weapons

Dark Souls 3 provides players with ample upgrade materials. As you near the end of your first playthrough, use these materials to upgrade as many weapons as possible before NG+. Simply visit Andre with a handful of souls and start upgrading. For my upcoming strength build in NG+, I focused on enhancing weapons like the Fume Greatsword and the Butcher Knife to +9. Don’t fret about using titanite slabs and other materials, as they respawn in each new playthrough.

4. Explore Various Covenants

Engage in as many covenants as you can. Not only are there plenty of players in NG, making it easier to find allies or adversaries, but each covenant also offers unique rewards upon completion. These rewards can significantly bolster your character’s strength in NG+.

5. Defeat All NPCs

The Dark Souls series has always allowed players to eliminate any NPC they encounter. While it’s not usually advisable during the main game, killing NPCs at the end of your playthrough can yield unique items from each character. I recommend saving this task for last before transitioning to NG+, but the choice is yours. Rest assured that each character will reappear in the next playthrough as if nothing happened.

Bonus Tip 1: Explore the Ashes of Ariandel DLC

Dark Souls 3 introduced its first of two planned DLCs, Ashes of Ariandel. Accessible from the Cleansing Chapel, this DLC offers new items to collect and challenging bosses to battle. If you’ve completed the game but haven’t delved into the DLC yet, consider doing so before starting NG+.

Bonus Tip 2: Experience The Ringed City DLC

The Ringed City is the second and final DLC for Dark Souls 3, and it’s a must-play if you’re a fan of the series. This DLC provides closure to many storylines and serves as a fantastic send-off for the series. To access the DLC, you’ll need to find its special entrance.

With these essential steps, your NG+ adventure in Dark Souls 3 will be more manageable. Best of luck, Unkindled Ash! If you hunger for more content, check out a couple of other lists I’ve made for the game including: my top 5 Dark Souls 3 boss fights and my top 5 Dark Souls 3 weapons.

Did this Dark Souls 3: 5 Things to do before NG+ guide prove helpful? Let me know in the comments below!