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The First Descendant

Hard Mode Guide

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Please note that the First Descendant Team has stopped covering the game as of October 2024. Information on certain pages may not be up-to-date.

The First Descendant - Hard Mode Guide
You must finish the main story to unlock Hard Mode in The First Descendant. Read on to learn how to unlock Hard Mode, how to change difficulty, its rewards, and its differences when compared to Normal Mode.

Late Game Guides
Post-Game Guide Hard Mode Guide Advanced Tips and Tricks

List of Contents

How to Unlock Hard Mode

Complete Heart of the Fortress

The First Descendant - Heart of the Fortress
To unlock Hard Mode, you must finish the Heart of the Fortress quest in the Fortress Region. To unlock the quest, you must progress through the main storyline as this is the last mission in the main storyline.

Main Quest Walkthrough

Hard Mode Rewards

Target Farming Rewards

Reward Target Farming

Key
Character Ammo Skill
FireFire General RoundsGeneral Rounds TechTech
ChillChill Special RoundsSpecial Rounds SingularSingular
ElectricElectric Impact RoundsImpact Rounds FusionFusion
ToxicToxic High-Power RoundsHigh-Power Rounds DimensionDimension
Non-AttributeNon-Attribute - -

When you are out to do Battlefield Missions, you can get items with your desired specific compositions by checking the Difficulty Level Rewards on the World Map. Each week, there is a different item rotation for each location. Refer to the list above for this week's rotation!

Ultimate Amorphous Materials

The FIrst Descendant - Ultimate Amorphous Materials
On Infiltration Operation missions, you can now get Ultimate Amorphous Materials! These materials contain most of the better blueprints with high acquisition chances!

Amorphous Materials Guide

How to Change Difficulty

Select World Difficulty

The First Descendant - Select World Difficulty

Key Command
G Button Opens the Map

To change to Hard Mode, first open up the World Map. After doing so, select the World Difficulty found on the bottom right of the World Map. From there, you can choose between the two difficulty options: Normal and Hard Mode!

Differences Between Normal and Hard Mode

Exclusive Rewards in Hard Mode

The FIrst Descendant - Hard Mode Rewards
The main difference between Normal and Hard Mode is that Hard Mode has exclusive rewards for Void Intercept Battles and Infiltration Operations.

Completing these missions will reward you with some highly coveted Ultimate Amorphous Materials and Shape Stabilizers with better acquisition chances!

All Void Intercept Battle Bosses

Enemy Modifiers

The FIrst Descendant - Enemy Modifiers
In Hard Mode, the enemies you encounter in open areas will have additional modifiers that either strengthen or weaken them. For efficiency's sake, you are incentivized to build around these modifiers.

Infiltration Operation Reward Selection

The FIrst Descendant - Infiltration Operation Reward Selection
In Infiltration Operation missions, you can change the reward pool before you start. This additional option allows you to have a better agency with the items you want to get!

Score System and Additional Options

The FIrst Descendant - Change Options
Depending on your team's kill performance, you will have increased chances or downright guarantee a specific reward. Each reward pool will have different options where you can apply a debuff to your team or strengthen enemies.

The more you apply options, 10% will be added to the base 100% of the Kill Score. Optionally, you can choose to reroll the options by spending 1000 Gold!

The First Descendant Related Guides

The First Descendant - Tips and Tricks

Tips & Tricks

All Tips and Tricks

Season 1 Guides
ETA-0 Guide: How to Get ETA Vouchers Inversion Reinforcement Guide
Invasion Dungeon Guide Battle Pass Guide
Recommended Guides
Best Starter Character Combat Guide
Advanced Tips and Tricks Post-Game Guide
Hard Mode Guide -
Farming Guides
Weapon Farming Guide How to Farm Gold
EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast Bunny Cave Farming
Starter Guides
How Long to Beat How to Increase Mastery Rank
How to Fast Travel How to Add Friends
How to Set Up a Controller How to Recover HP and MP
Is There Fall Damage? How to Change Player Name
How to Climb High Places Status and HUD Explained
How to Change Weapons How to Destroy Void Fragments
What Does DBNO Mean? Recommended Caliber Uses
What is Frame Generation? How to Equip or Unequip Reactors
Cause of Crashes and Possible Fixes How to Increase DPS
How to Refill Ammo How to Emote
All Arche Echo Locations Enemy Weakness Chart
How to Access Cash Shop -
Advanced Guides
Module Socket Guide How to Increase Mastery Rank
List of All Trophies Best Module Enhancements
How to Find Encrypted Vaults Ultimate Descendants Explained
What is the Max Level? What to Research at the Research Institute?
How to Increase Inventory Space Weapon Proficiency Explained
How to Increase Module Capacity How to Obtain Higher Rarity Weapons
How to Infiltrate Outposts How to Reset Descendant Level
What is the Defense Cap? How to Combine Modules
How to Add Elements How to Upgrade Weapons
How to Paint Skins -

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