I don’t know about that, but it is always worth backing up your site before upgrading your WordPress version to ensure nothing critical breaks. I also do not use automatic updates for plug-ins so that I see and address any problems as they occur. Which “required” plug-ins caused trouble? I am not aware of any plug-ins required by WordPress, though I have a set that I put into my new sites as I am comfortable with them.
It is generally recommended to keep up with the most recent version of everything you can, to avoid possible security issues. Sometimes plug-ins, especially free ones, are not tested with a new WordPress version immediately, so I will leave those not updated until the developers bring them up to date.

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