Mastering Sengoku Rance Family Bonus: The Ultimate NG+ Guide

Sengoku Rance is a game of infinite replayability, but the real depth of the experience often begins after you have cleared the game for the first time. The transition into New Game+ (NG+) is defined by the Sengoku Rance family bonus system, a robust mechanic that allows you to carry over powerful characters, items, and advantages. If you are struggling to understand which bonuses are worth your hard-earned points or how to optimize your second playthrough, you are not alone.

Understanding how to spend your points effectively is the difference between a frustrating replay and a dominant campaign. Whether you are aiming to unlock every CG, complete every route, or simply crush the highest difficulty settings, the Sengoku Rance family bonus menu is your greatest tool. In this guide, we will break down the mechanics, prioritize the best unlocks, and provide strategic insights gathered from the passionate community to ensure your next run is your best one yet.

Understanding the NG+ Mechanic

Before diving into the shopping list, it is essential to understand how you earn the points required for your Sengoku Rance family bonus selections. Points are calculated based on your performance in the previous run. Specifically, your available points are the sum of your highest score achieved after beating the game, plus a flat 5-point bonus for each of the four main routes completed: Official History, Kenshin, Ran, and Isoroku.

The Second Game Bonuses menu unlocks automatically after you have beaten the game once. When you click "Start" for a new game, you will see two modes: Normal Mode and National Mode. Note that these bonuses are exclusively available for Normal Mode. Points are not consumed permanently; they act as a currency you can spend to toggle various advantages. You can pick and choose what you want, and if you don't like a specific loadout, you can always reset and reallocate your points.

The Point System at a Glance

Higher difficulties don't just provide a challenge; they increase your Starting Score, which in turn gives you more points to spend on your Sengoku Rance family bonus loadout. If you are a veteran player, pushing for a 1-Star or 2-Star difficulty run on your second or third playthrough is the most efficient way to balloon your point reserves.

Best Sengoku Rance Family Bonus Strategies

With hundreds of points potentially on the table, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Based on community reports and seasoned player experience, not all bonuses are created equal. Some provide massive, run-defining advantages, while others are merely quality-of-life additions.

Top Priority Bonuses

For most players entering their second or third run, the following items should be at the top of your list. These selections provide the highest "return on investment" for your points.

The Sengoku Rance family bonus for Elina is widely considered the best 5-point investment in the game. As an early-game Onmyouji, she can virtually solo castle battles in the early chapters, saving you precious resources and time. If you have 10 points to spend, prioritize the "+1 Action" bonus. While it may seem like a small boost, it compounds over the course of the game, allowing you to trigger more events and conquer more territories.

Tip

Don't Overlook the "Can Kill Toukichirou" Option If you are aiming for a speed-run or attempting to unlock specific end-game content efficiently, taking the "Can kill Toukichirou" bonus is non-negotiable. It opens up the Monkeyslayer route, which is arguably the most straightforward and fastest path to the end-game without the story event interruptions found in other routes.

Clan Bonuses and Character Unlocks

Choosing a clan bonus can drastically alter the early game state. When you pick a Clan Bonus, you start with those characters, but the clan itself becomes hostile. This is a trade-off that requires careful planning.

Clan Bonus Recommendations

• Dokuganryu (20 pts): Excellent for power, but be warned: taking this bonus prevents you from defeating them for the 10 points you would otherwise earn. Only pick this if you aren't strictly "point farming."
• Mouri (20 pts): Kiku Kikkawa is a defensive monster. If you equip her with Gutsy Armor, she becomes nearly immortal, allowing you to defend against almost anything.
• Takeda (40 pts): High cost, but it prevents the Takeda Blitz, which is one of the most annoying events to deal with on higher difficulties.

Many players make the mistake of taking too many clan bonuses at once. While it is tempting to start with a roster of high-tier units, remember that you also have to manage your National Power and roster capacity. If you take the Dokuganryu units, you are losing out on an easy 10 points later. As a general rule for a Sengoku Rance family bonus setup, choose one or two clans that offer the most utility for your specific route goals rather than trying to collect them all.

Item Bonuses and Tactical Advantages

Items can be the difference between a smooth campaign and a slog. Some items provide passive buffs, while others provide active combat abilities that can break the game's difficulty curve.

Essential Items for Your NG+ Run

1. Tange Dog (4 pts): This is arguably the most powerful item in the game. It enables two actions per turn for the equipped unit. It is most effective when given to Omachi, allowing her to utilize her massive area-of-effect damage twice in a single turn.
2. Speed Textbook 2 (2 pts): Speed is the most difficult stat to improve naturally. Giving your key commanders a speed boost allows them to manipulate the battle gauge, which is critical for high-difficulty play.
3. Popularity Staff (4 pts): This item provides a steady stream of troops every turn. It is a fantastic passive investment that helps you reach the troop caps required for Operation Permits without draining your gold.

When you are selecting your items, always consider who will be wearing them. The Sengoku Rance family bonus system allows you to bring these items into the game from turn one. If you are planning to use a specific character like Omachi or Natori, ensure you have the points set aside for their specific best-in-slot items.

Optimizing Your Score for Future Runs

If your goal is to break the "triple-digit" point barrier, your strategy needs to shift. You cannot simply play the game normally; you have to play for efficiency. Community guides often suggest that you should aim for approximately 100 points on your first serious NG+ run, and push for 150+ on subsequent runs.

To maximize your score, you need to focus on "cheese" strategies. This involves using Advantage manipulation and Operation Permits to bypass normal combat whenever possible. If you fight every battle "fairly," you will run out of turns before you can achieve a high score.

Strategy Checklist for High Scores:

• Don't Dismiss Important Commanders: Keep your roster clean. Only recruit those you intend to "Character Clear."
• Use Operation Permits: These are not just for convenience; they are for time management.
• Focus on Ending Points: Always select "Ending Points" as the passive skill for your important commanders.
• Taxation: Use enforced taxation strategically to gain gold and stat textbooks, but be careful of the impact on your territory.

By following these guidelines, you will find that the Sengoku Rance family bonus points start to accumulate much faster. Remember, the game rewards planning. If you go into a run knowing exactly which commanders you need to clear and which items you need to buy, you will finish with a significantly higher score than a player who is just "winging it."

Community Insights: The "Hidden" Tips

According to long-time players and contributors on the AliceSoft Wiki, there are several "hidden" mechanics to keep in mind when setting up your NG+.

• The Prison Strategy: Keep important commanders in your prison until the end of the game. Releasing them in groups of five gives you Happiness Pokkurs, which are essential for boosting Rance's stats.
• Don't Rush the Gourd: Breaking the Oda gourd too early can lock you out of certain events. Manage your progression speed carefully.
• Assassination: If you are struggling with a difficult enemy commander, don't forget that the "Assassinate" skill is RNG-based. If it fails, you can reload your save from the previous turn to reset the RNG.

These small, tactical decisions, when combined with a well-thought-out Sengoku Rance family bonus selection, turn a difficult game into a manageable and highly rewarding experience. For the official game details and the latest updates, you can always check the Sengoku Rance Steam Page.

FAQ

Q: Can I change my Sengoku Rance family bonus loadout mid-game? A: No. Once you start your playthrough, your selected bonuses are locked for that specific save file. You must reset to the main menu and start a new game to reallocate your points.

Q: Are the demo bonuses the same as the full game bonuses? A: No. The demo content is limited, and the full game features a much wider array of bonuses. Always ensure you are looking at guides for the full Steam version of the game.

Q: What is the most important bonus to pick if I only have 5 points? A: Without a doubt, Elina. Her utility as an Onmyouji and her ability to defend make her the most impactful character you can add to your roster for a mere 5 points.

Q: Why should I avoid taking too many clan bonuses? A: Taking too many clan bonuses creates a hostile environment early on and can lead to resource starvation. You want to pick the clan that offers the best tactical advantage for your current route goal, not necessarily the one with the most characters.