Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon

New Game+

Face the brutal challenge of New Game+ in Darkest Dungeon. This guide covers the permanent modifiers and strategic approach needed for this mode.

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New Game+

Embarking on a New Game+ (NG+) in Darkest Dungeon significantly raises the stakes, offering a brutal challenge for seasoned players. This mode is unlocked after successfully completing the main campaign and defeating the final boss. Unlike a standard playthrough, NG+ introduces several permanent modifiers that demand a more strategic and unforgiving approach from the very first expedition.

Key New Game+ Modifiers

  • Death Limit: A hard cap of 12 hero deaths is imposed. Exceeding this limit results in an immediate game over. This forces careful hero management and retreat decisions.
  • Turn Limit: The campaign must be completed within 86 weeks. This timer starts ticking from Week 1, pressuring players to progress efficiently through dungeon tiers and boss encounters.
  • Hamlet Upgrade Costs: All Hamlet building upgrades (e.g., Blacksmith, Guild, Sanitarium) are significantly more expensive, often by 50% or more. This makes early-game resource management even more critical.
  • Hero Level Restrictions: Heroes of Apprentice (Level 0-2) and Veteran (Level 3-4) difficulty can only embark on quests of their respective tiers. Champion (Level 5-6) heroes are restricted to Champion quests. This prevents over-leveling and trivializing early content.

Early Game Strategy (Weeks 1-10)

The initial weeks of NG+ are crucial for establishing a stable roster and generating sufficient funds to begin Hamlet upgrades. Focus on short, low-risk expeditions.

  1. Prioritize Gold and Heirloom Acquisition: Your primary goal in the first few weeks is to accumulate gold and heirlooms. Short Apprentice quests in the Ruins and Weald are ideal for this. Look for quests offering high gold rewards or specific heirlooms needed for early upgrades.
  2. Hamlet Upgrade Order:
    • Stage Coach: Immediately upgrade the Stage Coach to increase hero recruitment slots and the refresh rate. Aim for at least "Larger Roster" (2 upgrades) as soon as possible to expand your hero pool.
    • Guild & Blacksmith: Prioritize upgrading the Guild and Blacksmith to unlock higher skill and weapon/armor tiers. Even a single upgrade to each can make a significant difference in hero effectiveness. Focus on upgrading the skills and gear of your core early-game heroes.
    • Sanitarium: While expensive, unlocking more treatment slots in the Sanitarium is vital for managing negative quirks and diseases, which will inevitably accumulate.
  3. Hero Selection:
    • Reliable Damage Dealers: Crusader, Highwayman, Grave Robber are excellent choices for their consistent damage output and versatility.
    • Stress Healers: Vestal and Jester are invaluable for managing stress, especially with the increased difficulty. Recruit at least one of each early on.
    • Utility/Support: Plague Doctor for blight and stun, Man-at-Arms for guard and buffs, and Houndmaster for bleed and stress relief are strong contenders.
  4. Trinket Management: Keep an eye out for common but effective trinkets like the Ancestor's Signet Ring (stress resist, prot) or the Focus Ring (accuracy, crit). Don't be afraid to sell less useful trinkets for extra gold in the early game.

Mid-Game Progression (Weeks 11-40)

As your Hamlet develops and your heroes gain experience, you'll need to start tackling Veteran and Champion quests to acquire more advanced heirlooms and prepare for boss encounters.

  • Boss Preparation: Identify which bosses you need to defeat for specific heirlooms or to clear paths to the Darkest Dungeon. Research their mechanics and assemble specialized teams. For example, the Hag in the Weald often requires high damage output to quickly dispatch her cauldron.
  • Disease and Quirk Management: The increased difficulty means heroes will acquire more negative quirks and diseases. use the Sanitarium frequently. Prioritize removing debilitating quirks like Kleptomaniac or Fear of Eldritch, and diseases like Crimson Curse (if applicable) or The Runs.
  • Expedition Planning: Always bring a balanced party composition with strong damage, stress healing, and support. Pack ample provisions:
    • Torches: Always bring enough to maintain high light levels, especially in the early game, to mitigate stress and surprise attacks. Consider 8-12 for a medium dungeon.
    • Food: 8-12 units for a medium dungeon, more for long.
    • Shovels: 2-3 for any dungeon.
    • Keys: 1-2 for treasure chests.
    • Antivenom/Bandages: 2-4 each, depending on the dungeon type (Weald for blight, Warrens for bleed).
    • Medicinal Herbs: 2-4 for removing debuffs and interacting with specific curios.
  • Trinket Upgrades: As you progress, aim to acquire powerful rare and very rare trinkets. The Ancestor's Candle (speed, damage, stress resist) and Ancestor's Map (scouting, surprise chance) are excellent general-purpose trinkets. For specific heroes, consider class-specific trinkets like the Hell's Hairpin for the Jester or the Sacred Scroll for the Vestal.

Late Game & Darkest Dungeon Assault (Weeks 41-86)

With the turn limit looming, efficiency becomes paramount. You'll need a roster of fully upgraded Champion heroes ready for the ultimate challenge.

  1. Darkest Dungeon Teams: Begin assembling and training your dedicated Darkest Dungeon teams. These heroes should be fully upgraded in skills and equipment (Level 5/5, Armor/Weapon 5/5) and ideally have positive quirks locked in (e.g., Tough, Hard Skinned, Steady).
  2. Stress Management is Key: The Darkest Dungeon itself is a massive stress test. Heroes with strong stress healing abilities (Jester, Crusader) and stress resistance trinkets are non-negotiable. Trinkets like the Ancestor's Scroll and Ancestor's Pen are highly recommended.
  3. Death Limit Awareness: With only 12 deaths allowed, every hero loss is a significant setback. Do not hesitate to retreat from a quest if a hero is on Death's Door and the situation is dire. It's better to lose some progress than a valuable hero.
  4. Final Preparations: Before embarking on the final Darkest Dungeon quests, ensure your Hamlet is fully upgraded, your preferred heroes have their best trinkets, and you have a healthy reserve of gold and heirlooms for any last-minute needs. Consider locking in powerful positive quirks for your chosen heroes at the Sanitarium.