I finished my first Lies of P run in 2026 with an S-rank Technique weapon and a maxed build, and I can confirm that NG+ is not a casual victory lap. Under the v1.13.1.0 tuning, the first major NG+ boss hits roughly 1.5x to 2x harder than in my base run, which means one missed perfect guard or a light armor setup can turn a confident rematch into a one-shot death. The real decision is simple: start NG+ now for Phase 6 perks, translated puppet dialogue, and +1 gear, or delay until my build has enough Pulse Cells and guard consistency to survive the spike.

What I Keep in NG+

All combat-focused progression carries over between cycles, with no exceptions. I retain my full level and stat investments, maxed regular (+10) and boss (+5) weapons, every Assembly option, fully upgraded Legion Arm tiers, amulets, defense parts, cosmetics, consumables, Ergo chunks, gestures, and Records. Records are the only lore collectible that carries over, which matters for completionists. I also get a free full P-Organ reset at the start of NG+, so I can re-spec nodes without spending resources.

My prep checklist before starting another cycle:

• Upgrade my main weapon to its max level.

• Stock at least 20 throwables and 5 full Grindstones.

• Equip weight-efficient defense parts to hit a medium roll.

• Bank unspent Quartz for new phase perks instead of wasting them on low-impact base-game nodes.

What Resets and Why My Route Changes

All story and quest-related progression resets to prevent sequence breaks, so I plan accordingly. Key Items such as Trinity Keys and Cryptic Vessels reset, along with all non-Record lore collectibles like books, notes, and pictures. Stargazers reset, shop expansion items for Polendina and Venigni reset, and full NPC quest progress resets.

That means I treat every new cycle as an alternate-choice run, not a repeat. I test all Lie versus Truth outcomes I skipped on my first playthrough, re-unlock shop upgrades early to access higher-tier consumables, and track down missed Trinity Sanctum riddles instead of assuming old progress carries over. NG+ also automatically decodes all puppet dialogue, so fights with the Scrapped Watchman and King of Puppets now come with fully translated lines that reveal hidden lore about Krat’s collapse.

Scaling, Phase 6, and Phase 7: The Real NG+ Changes

Per v1.13.1.0 tuning, the sharpest difficulty jump hits NG+ first, with that 1.5x to 2x boss damage spike I mentioned. Scaling rises gradually until NG+4, where it hits a permanent plateau. The 2025 Overture DLC tuning keeps high cycles, especially NG+5 and above, challenging even for max-level players in 2026.

P-Organ unlocks are tied directly to cycle progression, and I cannot access higher phases outside of NG+ runs:

Phase 6 perks include Retain Guard Regain and Enhance Pulse Cell. Phase 7 adds the fan-favorite Fury Attack Guard, which lets me block red unparryable attacks, and Light Weight, which drops my weight tier by one level. Higher cycles also have boosted Ergo drop rates to speed level-ups past 200, plus Golden Records sold by Wandering Merchants for the Golden Melody achievement.

Best Reason to Start Another Cycle

I start NG+ first if I want stronger P-Organ builds, alternate endings, Golden Melody achievement progress, or translated puppet lore. I prioritize pushing to NG++ immediately if I want the Fury Attack Guard perk and +2 equipment, because those make high-cycle runs far easier. The first NG+ boss is the gate: if my perfect guard timing and Capacity investment are not ready, I delay and farm more Pulse Cells rather than feed deaths to a scaled-up puppet.

Which Edition Fits My 2026 Run

For returning players weighing purchase options in 2026, I compare the Complete Edition against buying the base game and Overture DLC separately using price-tracking tools, because the val