New Game+ on the main menu
New Game+ (also referred to as simply NG+) is a game mode for Ghost of Tsushima added with the 1.1 patch on October 16, 2020. It allows the player to re-embark on Jin's Journey with all of the Techniques, Gear and Vanity items obtained in a previous playthrough, with the difficulty increased to provide a new challenge, noted by Easy +, Medium +, Hard +, and Lethal + (though the difficulty is still adjustable in the menu).[1]
Description[]
Along with keeping your gear, vanity items and techniques from a previous playthrough, the player will receive a New Game+ horse which has a unique saddle and a red mane. Additionally there have been more trophies added for this mode, though they do not count towards the Platinum trophy (meaning NG+ will not be required to obtain it). Cutscenes can also be skipped in New Game+.
A new merchant, Baku the Voiceless, appears in Ariake exclusively in New Game+, and accepts only Ghost Flowers, a new collectible also exclusive to New Game+. If you complete a Tale or activity and already have the reward, you'll earn Ghost Flowers in its place. These flowers can be exchanged for new armor dyes and vanity gear with much more elaborate designs than those found in the initial playthrough. The merchant will also offer powerful new Charms intended to create new combat experiences, empower existing playstyles and allow the player to customize their experience further. The player will also be able to unlock an additional upgrade for their sword, bow and armor.
It is important to note that the player's progress in the Collections tab (with the exception of anything in the Artifacts) will be reset upon starting New Game+. If the player is attempting to complete the "Body, Mind, and Spirit" trophy, which requires completing all the Hot springs, Haiku, Inari shrines and Bamboo strikes, it would be wise to delay starting New Game+ until the trophy is attained. In addition, the resources in the player's satchel are reset to zero, so one should spend as many of them as possible upgrading weapons and armor before starting NG+ in order to gain full advantage before losing them.
Gear upgrades[]
NG+ also adds one more upgrade to each weapon (with the exception of tanto) and ammunition capacity; allowing the player perform better with weapons and carry additional ammo.