Hard Mode is a new difficulty setting in Stellar Blade unlocked after completing the game once. Read on to learn what are the changes in Hard Mode, tips to clearing the new difficulty setting, and how to unlock it.

Hard Mode Difficulty Changes

Increased Enemy Damage and Durability

Hard Mode causes the damage output and durability of enemy Naytiba to increase significantly, with even weaker enemies hitting harder than when you first encountered them on your first playthrough.

Lower the Difficulty if its Too Difficult

You can still change the game's difficulty if you picked Hard Mode, but you'll need to exit to the Title Screen to change it to either Normal or Story Mode difficulties.

All Difficulty Settings Explained

Hard Mode Strategies and Tips

Unlock More Enhancement Skills

Enhancement Skills are the skills that are at the end of their respective skill tree and usually cost 4 or 5 SP to unlock.

Not only do these increase the power of your attacks and Beta Skills, some also increase your survivability or let you restore Beta Energy!

Best Skills to Get Early in Stellar Blade

Unlock New Skills

New Game + adds 12 new skills such as new Beta and Survival Skills that increase your power and survivability.

Many of these skills require 6 SP to unlock, so make sure to farm SP by killing enemies as you play through Hard Mode.

How to Farm SP Fast

Get MK2 Exospines and Gear

New Game + unlocks MK2 variants of Exospines and Gear that have higher damage and increased abilities than their base versions. We recommend getting these as soon as you can when playing Hard Mode!

Enhance Your Weapon, Tumbler, and Gear

You can further increase the levels of your Weapons, Tumblers, and Gear in New Game +, which will make tackling Hard Mode easier, though this means you'll need to collect more upgrade materials!

Upgrade Your Drone

New Game+ also adds 5 new upgrades for the Drone such as higher attack or magazine capacity. We recommend grabbing these new skills if you have enough Drone Upgrade Modules.

How To Unlock Hard Mode

Complete the Game Once

Hard Mode is unlocked after completing the game once and will be available to choose at the Title Screen. This difficulty mode increases the power and durability of enemies and bosses so don't forget to upgrade your Weapon, Gear, and Exospines!

Stellar Blade Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks