Xenoblade Chronicles 2 features a wide array of New Game Plus exclusive mechanics and features, which this guide will explain in detail. From exclusive blades to new ways of acquiring rare items, New Game Plus can be a very different experience from the first playthrough.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an action RPG developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of Rex after he accidentally becomes the Driver to Pyra, a legendary blade known as the "Aegis."
New Blades
In New Game Plus several new blades become available for use, all of whom are members of Torna who were encountered during boss fights in the original playthrough.
|
Blade |
Weapon |
Description |
How to Acquire |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sever |
Sword Tonfa |
Sever is a Wind Element Blade who functions as a Tank in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
|
Akhos |
Calamity Scythe |
Akhos is an Electric Element Blade who functions as a Healer in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
|
Patroka |
Cobra Bardiche |
Patroka is an Earth Element Blade who functions as an Attacker in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
|
Mikhail |
Infinity Fans |
Mikhail is a Dark Element Blade who functions as a Tank in battle. |
Find him at the Megaflote Base in the Land of Morytha after Indol Sinks |
|
Obrona |
Brilliant Twinblades |
Obrona is a Light Element Blade who functions as an Attacker in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
|
Perdido |
Decimation Cannon |
Perdido is a Fire Element Blade who functions as an Attacker in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
|
Cressidus |
Rockrending Gauntlets |
Cressidus is an Earth Element Blade who functions as a Tank in battle. |
Random Core Crystal in New Game Plus |
Traveling Bards and Leveling Down
In New Game Plus, a number of Traveling Bards appear across Alrest, who will exchange Bonus EXP for a variety of useful items. Additionally, players are now able to lower character's levels when resting, converting the EXP from those levels into Bonus EXP. The Bards can be found at the following locations and offer the following items:
|
Nation |
Location |
Item |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Argentum |
Lemour Inn |
Accessory Expander Kit |
200,000 EXP |
|
Gormott |
Abble's Fountain |
Ether Crystals x 20,000 |
200,000 EXP |
|
Uraya |
Fonsa Myma Gate |
Legendary Core Crystal |
200,000 EXP |
|
Mor Ardain |
Jakolo's Inn |
Ultimate Weaponry |
400,000 EXP |
|
Tantal |
Theosoir Main Gate |
Overdrive Protocol |
1,000,000 EXP |
|
Spirit Crucible Elpys |
Spirit Crucible Entrance |
Elemental Core: Light |
1,000,000 EXP |
|
Cliffs of Morytha |
Cliffs of Morytha Inlet |
Master Ether Mod |
500,000 EXP |
|
Cliffs of Morytha |
Jubilee Gate |
Master Luck Mod |
500,000 EXP |
|
Land of Morytha |
View of a Lost Time |
Master Muscle Mod |
500,000 EXP |
|
Land of Morytha |
Megaflote Base |
Master Strike Mod |
500,000 EXP |
|
World Tree |
Lv. 2, Mizar: Lower Deck |
Master Tank Mod |
500,000 EXP |
|
World Tree |
Skywalk |
Master Evasion Mod |
500,000 EXP |
Accessory Expander Kits allow players to increase the Accessory slots available to each Driver by 1.
The Elemental Core: Light and the various Master Mods allow users to enhance Poppi's capabilities and switch out her role and stats in a number of different ways.
Overdrive Protocols allow players to swap blades onto a different Driver.
Hidden Affinities and Changes to Blades
Entering New Game Plus unlocks a second affinity chart for every Driver in the game, allowing each to unlock a number of powerful new skills. One particularly noteworthy skill is Zeke's "Eye of Shining Justice", which allows him to greatly increase his movement and attack speeds whilst becoming immune to all status effects for a short time.
All character-specific Blades can now be deployed on Mercenary Missions, though deploying any of Poppi's forms will cause all of them to become unavailable and lock Tora out of the party until she returns. Additionally, Pyra/Mythra's true form, "Pneuma" gains a level 4 special attack once she is re-unlocked in the story.
What Carries over
In terms of progress from the previous playthrough, the following is carried into New Game Plus.
- Driver Levels
- Equipment and Growth, including skills
- All awakened Blades, excluding Roc, Aegaeon, Nia, Poppi's second and third forms, and the Blade awakened using the Core Crystal Gramps gives to Rex in Gormott
- Items, Gold, and Store Deeds
- Development Levels for all Areas
- Mercenary Ranking Level
- Status and data for defeated Unique Monsters
- Status of all Events Theater Used
- Playtime
This saves a lot of time and prevents players from needing to reacquire their favorite Blades and skills during a second playthrough. Unfortunately, Quests, Merc Missions, and Heart-to-Hearts do not retain progression in NG+, so players will need to redo all of those. The same is true for Skip Travel locations and Salvager Rank.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is available for Nintendo Switch.