New Game+

Begin your next journey in Shin Megami Tensei IV's New Game+ by carrying over demons and grinding experience. Play through again with new advantages.

Congratulations, Samurai! You've conquered the challenges of Shin Megami Tensei IV and reached an ending. But the journey doesn't have to end there. New Game+ offers a fresh perspective, allowing you to carry over certain progress and tackle the demon-infested world of Tokyo with new advantages, or even pursue a different alignment path.

What Carries Over?

Starting a New Game+ allows you to retain several key elements from your previous playthrough, making subsequent runs smoother and opening up new strategic possibilities:

• Demon Compendium: All demons registered in your Compendium, along with their current levels and skills, will be available for summoning from the very beginning. This is arguably the most significant carry-over, allowing you to instantly access powerful demons.
• Play Records: Your overall play records, including battle statistics, demon fusion history, and challenge quest completion, are preserved.
• Challenge Quest Progress: Any Challenge Quests you completed will remain marked as such. However, you will need to re-accept and complete them again to earn their rewards in the new cycle.
• Macca: A percentage of your accumulated Macca will carry over. While not 100%, it's usually enough to give you a significant head start on summoning demons or purchasing essential items.
• App Points (AP): All App Points you've earned and spent on Apps will carry over. This means you'll have access to all your previously unlocked Apps, such as Skill Slots, Demon Skill Slots, and various stat bonuses, from the start of the game.
• Equipment (Optional): You have the option to carry over your equipment. This can be incredibly useful for early-game dominance, especially if you obtained powerful gear in your previous run.
• Items (Optional): Similar to equipment, you can choose to carry over your inventory items. This includes consumables, healing items, and fusion materials.

New Game+ Strategies & Goals

New Game+ isn't just about replaying the game; it's about optimizing your experience and exploring new facets. Here are some strategies and goals you might consider:

1. Pursuing a Different Alignment Path

One of the primary reasons to start a New Game+ is to experience the other alignment paths (Law, Chaos, or Neutral, depending on your previous ending). Your choices throughout the game, particularly during key dialogue options and Challenge Quests, will influence your alignment. Refer to a detailed alignment guide to ensure you hit your desired path.

• Early Alignment Shaping: Pay close attention to dialogue choices right from the start. For example, during The Gauntlet Rite, choosing to "Extend your arm" grants +1 Alignment, while "Don't extend your arm" gives -1. Similarly, when asked "By the by... have we met somewhere before?", "Possibly..." is -1 Alignment, and "I don't believe so" is +1. These early choices can set the tone.
• Challenge Quest Impact: Be mindful of Challenge Quests. Some quests, while seemingly innocuous, can shift your alignment. For instance, quests involving helping specific factions or making moral judgments can have significant alignment repercussions. Avoid unnecessary Challenge Quests if you're trying to maintain a specific alignment balance.
• Key Decision Points: The most crucial alignment shifts occur during major story decisions, such as siding with Jonathan or Walter. Make sure you understand the alignment implications of these choices to steer yourself towards your desired ending.

2. Demon Compendium Completion

With your Compendium carrying over, New Game+ is the perfect opportunity to aim for 100% demon registration. You'll have access to high-level demons and powerful fusion options much earlier, making it easier to fuse or recruit any missing entries.

• Early Access to High-Level Fusions: Utilize your carried-over Macca and Compendium to summon powerful demons early on. This allows you to fuse more advanced demons that might have been out of reach in your first playthrough.
• Skill Inheritance Optimization: Experiment with skill inheritance during fusion to create ultimate demons with tailored skill sets. Since you have access to a wider range of demons, you can plan out complex fusion chains to pass down rare or powerful skills.
• Special Fusions: Don't forget about special fusions. Some demons require specific fusion ingredients or conditions. With your extensive Compendium, you can more easily gather the necessary components.

3. Maxing Out Stats and Apps

While your protagonist's level resets, your App Points carry over. This means you can immediately invest in crucial Apps like "Skill Slots" or "Demon Skill Slots" to enhance your combat capabilities from the very beginning.

• Prioritize Core Apps: Focus on unlocking essential Apps early, such as those that increase your demon stock, allow for more skill slots, or boost experience/Macca gain.
• Stat Optimization: Plan your protagonist's stat distribution more effectively. Knowing the challenges ahead, you can tailor your build to excel in specific combat roles or exploit enemy weaknesses.

4. Tackling Optional Bosses and Superbosses

If you struggled with optional bosses or the game's superbosses in your first playthrough, New Game+ provides the perfect chance to take them down with a more optimized team and strategy.

• Pre-emptive Preparation: Research superboss strategies beforehand. With your powerful Compendium and carried-over Apps, you can build a team specifically designed to counter their abilities.
• Grinding Efficiency: Utilize your early access to powerful demons to grind for levels and Macca more efficiently, ensuring your team is more than ready for the toughest challenges.

5. Speedrunning

For the truly dedicated, New Game+ can be an excellent way to attempt a speedrun. With carried-over resources and knowledge of the game's progression, you can aim for the fastest completion time.

• Route Optimization: Plan your route through Mikado and Tokyo to minimize backtracking and unnecessary encounters.
• Efficient Combat: Leverage your powerful starting demons to quickly dispatch enemies and bosses.