When I start a New Game Plus run in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I do not treat it as a quick menu choice. In the 4.04 era, Geralt enters NG+ with his level, gear, crowns, skills, alchemy stock, and mutations intact, but the map, Gwent deck, diagrams, and quest items reset. That split is the whole story of the mode. If I import the wrong completed save, I can spend the opening hours rebuilding core progression while higher-level enemies punish every gap. So I treat the NG+ import save as endgame prep, not a fast travel shortcut.
What Carries Over and What I Keep Working
Starting NG+ below Level 30 raises Geralt to Level 30; above that floor, he keeps his existing level and earned XP. Skills, Ability Points, Blood and Wine mutations, and extra mutation slots all remain, so an established Euphoria or sign-sword build is immediately functional. I like that because it means my second run starts with a real identity instead of a blank sheet. My recipes, crafted potions, bombs, oils, decoctions, ingredients, crafting materials, crowns, equipped gear, inventory gear, and most stash contents also transfer. That carryover lets Grandmaster gear and a prepared alchemy setup do real work instead of forcing an early-game build reset.
| ✅ Carries Over | ❌ Resets |
|---|---|
| Level, XP, skills, Ability Points | Quest items and books |
| Blood and Wine mutations and extra slots | Gwent cards and deck progress |
| Recipes, potions, bombs, oils, decoctions | Crafting diagrams |
| Ingredients, crafting materials, crowns | Bestiary entries and map markers |
| Equipped gear, inventory gear, most stash contents | Fast-travel points and monster trophies |
| Current Grandmaster gear | Corvo Bianco renovations |
What Resets—and Why It Changes the Second Run
Expect quest items, Gwent cards, crafting diagrams, books, bestiary entries, map markers, fast-travel points, monster trophies, and Corvo Bianco renovations to disappear. Although I keep current GM Gear, Witcher Gear diagrams return as higher-stat Legendary diagrams, so rediscovering the crafting path is part of the second run. That is not a bug; it is the reset rhythm. I check CDPR support guidance and official patch notes if a save behaves unexpectedly on the Xbox Series X|S build, especially after 4.04 stability updates. Rebuilding Gwent is unavoidable, so I do not mistake an empty deck for a corrupted import. In 2026, that advice still saves me from a pointless panic.
My Pre-Import Checklist Before I Select New Game Plus
Before selecting New Game Plus, I make a manual save after completing the base-game main story, then choose that completed save when prompted. I also complete Blood and Wine's Turn and Face the Strange and stock basic Red, Blue, and Green mutagens; converting monster mutagens at Corvo Bianco is safer than relying on unequipped Greater mutagens. I put Aerondight in my inventory or stash because its damage scales with Geralt's level, and I craft Level 40 Grandmaster gear to cover roughly the first 10–15 levels of NG+. Finally, I remove every sword and armor piece from Corvo Bianco display stands into the stash, carry a Potion of Clearance for a build swap, keep White Honey for toxicity control, and do not rely on Quen-spam alone once multiple high-level enemies stack pressure.
✅ Finish the base-game main story and make a manual save.
✅ Complete Turn and Face the Strange in Blood and Wine.
✅ Stock basic Red, Blue, and Green mutagens.
✅ Move Aerondight into inventory or stash.
✅ Craft Level 40 Grandmaster gear.
✅ Clear Corvo Bianco display stands into the stash.
✅ Pack a Potion of Clearance and White Honey.
✅ Choose the completed manual save, not an old autosave.
Xbox Series X|S Settings and a Smart Return to the Path
On Xbox Series X|S, I use Performance Mode at 60 FPS for faster reactions during dense NG+ fights. I enable Quick Sign Casting so Quen, Aard, Yrden, and Igni are available without opening the radial menu, which matters when a missed response costs a full defensive window. If I also play on PC, I use GOG/CDPR account integration for cross-progression, but I verify that the synced file is the completed manual save before beginning NG+. If I shop for another copy, I confirm edition, region, and account compatibility first. The point is not to rush; the point is to enter NG+ with a build, a budget, and a save I trust. When I do that, the second run feels like a victory lap with sharper stakes, not a repair job.
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