New Game Plus

New Game Plus is a game mode in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove available for all four main campaigns, unlocked after completing the game, on a save file.

At that point, when selecting that save file, the game can be prompted to restart in the form of a New Game Plus. While this entirely resets stages and story progress, the protagonists of each campaign retains all purchased upgrades, Items and Gear and other collectibles.

Differences

In New Game Plus, gameplay is similar to the regular one, but with a few key differences.

All Campaigns

• The protagonist takes twice as much damage.
• There are fewer healing items found in stages. Most notably, all Chickens in the game (except during the Battle Royale) are replaced with bombs. During the Battle Royale, every 2nd platter contains a Chicken, while the others contain bombs.
• Stages contain fewer Checkpoints.

Shovel of Hope

• In Shovel of Hope the Items Totals Menu, accessed by pressing [SELECT] on a stage to see which Music Sheets are missing, is only accessible after beating the last stage or entering New Game Plus unlike Plague of Shadows.

Plague of Shadows

• In Plague of Shadows the picture which was torn in the secret room of the Explodatorium is replaced with a picture of Mona dancing.

Specter of Torment

• In Specter of Torment, Specter Knight's Will and Darkness meters are combined into a single meter that is constantly draining on its own. Because of this, the Will Skull cannot be used.
  • This resource can only decrease to a minimal value, where Specter Knight cannot take any hit, but will not eliminate him directly. The Hover Plume, Chronos Coin, and Judgement Rush curios cannot be used either. All other curios usable in New Game Plus can be used without costing any "Darkness + Will", and will not eliminate Specter Knight.
  • At full Wisp Upgrades, Specter Knight will have 260 "Darkness + Will" value in total. However some attacks, like the ones from Frost Wizzems, can deal 60 damage in a single hit or more.
  • This combined resource does not affect the flashback stages, and the save file still shows split meters.
  • Activating a checkpoint will restore "Darkness + Will" to full.

King of Cards

• In King of Cards, King Knight is reduced to 2 hearts with a maximum of 4, but any attack will take off one heart as usual. It takes multiple pies to add one heart of health.
• Vigor is replaced with riches, taking away gold from King Knight’s total to use Heirlooms.
• When King Knight defeats two enemies in a row without taking damage, he gets a gold multiplier. This can go up to X5, and he will lose multiplier upon taking damage. The gems will fly out of him, restoring riches upon collection.
• If King Knight has the fancy UI equipped, the UI changes to accommodate these mechanics.
• Joustus is more difficult.
• Mr. Hat sells the Family Portrait for 99999 which hangs in The Homestead.
• King Knight gains health for killing enemies.
• No revisions or vandalization are possible for the King Knight portrait.