You just spent 80 hours saving a kingdom, and now you're staring at the title screen. It's a weird feeling. You want to go back in, but you’re worried it’ll just be a repeat of the same grind. Honestly, the Metaphor ReFantazio New Game Plus experience is a bit of a mixed bag if you don’t know what you’re getting into.
Some people call it a "victory lap," while others get frustrated because they can’t use their favorite high-tier Archetypes from minute one. It’s not like Persona 5 where you just roll over everything with a level 90 Satanael. Well, okay, you do roll over things, but the rules are different here.
How the Carry-Over Actually Works
Let's get the big question out of the way. What do you actually keep? Basically, you’re keeping the "flavor" and "wealth" of your previous run, but your physical body resets.
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You start back at level 1.
That sounds annoying, right? But here’s the thing: you keep all your Money (Reeves) and MAG. You also keep almost every piece of equipment, including those absurd end-game weapons and accessories that give you extra turn icons. You keep your Gold Beetles, your Memorandum entries, and your Royal Virtues.
Having maxed-out Royal Virtues from the start is the real game-changer. Since you don't have to spend your afternoons reading books or staring at the scenery to increase your Eloquence or Wisdom, your schedule is wide open. You can focus entirely on maxing out every single Follower bond way earlier than you did the first time.
The Archetype "Lock" Problem
This is what trips everyone up. You keep your Archetype ranks. If you maxed out the Prince or the Destroyer, that progress is still there. However, you cannot access them until you re-unlock the corresponding Follower bond in the story.
Basically, the game won't let you use the Seeker until the story says you have the Seeker. But the moment you unlock it? Boom. It’s back at Rank 20 (or wherever you left it). You don't have to pay MAG to unlock the ranks again. You just need to reach that point in the narrative.
Regicide Difficulty: Is It Actually Hard?
If you're looking for a reason to jump back in, Regicide Difficulty is it. This is a New Game Plus exclusive mode. It’s meant for the "hardcore" crowd, but honestly, if you’re using end-game gear, the early game is still a breeze.
- No Retries: In lower difficulties, if you mess up a turn, you can just restart the battle. Not here. If you wipe, you're going back to your last save.
- Locked Difficulty: Once you pick Regicide, you’re stuck with it. You can't chicken out and drop it to Normal if a boss gets annoying.
- High Risk, High Reward: Enemies hit like a truck. Even with good armor, if you let a boss get a "Press Turn" advantage, it's over.
Most players find that Regicide only starts feeling "right" toward the middle and end of the game. At the start, your 500-attack power sword is going to one-shot almost everything anyway. If you want a real challenge, some fans suggest selling your end-game gear and starting the run with basic shop equipment. That's for the true masochists.
Hunting the Redscale Apocalypse Dragon
The biggest "New" thing in Metaphor ReFantazio New Game Plus is the secret super boss. You probably noticed that massive, red-chained book in the back of the Akademeia during your first run. More wouldn't let you touch it.
In NG+, that book is accessible. Inside dwells the Redscale Apocalypse Dragon.
Do not try this at level 20. Seriously. Even though you can access the fight early, this thing is designed for players who are level 80 or higher. It is arguably the toughest fight in the game, far harder than the final boss of the main story.
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You’ll need to optimize your team with specific "Sublime Spoonful" cooking items to manipulate turn icons. If you don't have a strategy for dealing 9,999 damage or surviving its ultimate wipes, the dragon will humble you in two turns. Defeating it earns you the "Closing the Book" achievement, which is the ultimate badge of honor for this game.
What Most People Miss Before Starting
Before you save over your clear data, there are a few things you should do. Since stats gained from Incense and activities like bathing or the toilet do NOT carry over, you should spend your remaining time in the final dungeon farming.
Go to the Tyrant Star. Grind out those "Hero’s Leaf of Light" items to max out every Archetype you might want to use in NG+. It is way faster to do it there than to try and grind in the early-game forests of Grand Trad.
Also, make sure you've crafted the best equipment possible. Since weapons carry over, having the "Royal" versions of your gear makes the Regicide run much smoother. If you missed the "Star Shatterer" achievement (the one for fighting the full-power version of the final boss), NG+ is your chance to get it right.
Actionable Next Steps for Your NG+ Run
- Check your inventory: Ensure you’ve used your MAG to buy any remaining high-level Archetype skills. MAG carries over, but it’s better to have the ranks ready to go.
- Stock up on consumables: Items carry over. Spend your millions of Reeves on the best healing items and cooking ingredients (especially for turn-manipulation dishes) before you trigger the ending.
- Prioritize Bonds: In your second run, use your free time to see the Follower scenes you missed. Since your Royal Virtues are maxed, you can hit Rank 10 with everyone much faster.
- Save in a new slot: Don't overwrite your original "True Ending" save just in case you want to go back and farm more items before officially starting the New Game Plus cycle.