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Hardcore Mode is one of the best ways to experienceKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, offering players an even more challenging journey through new mechanics and by removing certain features, like map and some HUD Information, that are available on the normal difficulty.This change significantly increases the challenge for Henry, as many of the tools that help ease progression in standard play are no longer available.
Forplayers interested in trying Hardcore Mode, it’s important to understand the key changes this difficulty brings. Below is the essential information you need to advance through the game while exploring the map and surviving this punishing version of the RPG.
Updated June 27, 2025, by Eduardo Ariedo:Hardcore Mode has finally been officially added to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, so the previous information on how to access this difficulty unofficially in Patch 1.2 has been removed. Additionally, new details have been included about the key changes when players choose to play on this mode instead of the standard difficulty, such as the lack of map information and the inclusion of negative perks.
What Are The Differences Between Hardcore Mode And Normal Difficulty In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2?
Even though the normal difficulty can already be challenging for many, Hardcore Mode takes it a step further by keeping even the most familiar aspects, like combat, difficult for a longer duration. Although players can adjust to these tougher mechanics over time, the mistakes you make in Hardcore Mode tend to be far more punishing.
Players Must Choose Three Negative Perks Right At The Start
One of the trademarks of Hardcore Mode inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, just like in the first game, is the requirement for players toselect negative perksas soon as they start a new save on this difficulty. In this entry, players must choose at leastthree debuffsbefore beginning the journey, with penalties that will follow Henry throughout the entire story.
These negative perks vary in effect, ranging from simpler ones like Menace, which makes Henry’s crimes permanent but doesn’t hinder those aiming for a clean, lawful playthrough, to Punchable Face, which increases the damage players take in combat.Choosing these perks is essential to adjust the challenge leveland define how punishing the Hardcore Mode inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2will be.
Summary
Bad Back
Halves carrying capacity and may cause hobbling when picking herbs or mushrooms.
Bashful
Prevents asking for directions, slows Speech XP gain by 20%, and restricts access to full bathhouse services.
Hangry Henry
Hunger lowers social stats, food restores 50% less, and digestion speeds up by 25%.
Heavy-Footed
Starts with 25 noise and causes shoes to wear out twice as fast.
Menace
Crimes leave permanent marks, repeated offenses lead to execution, and guards become harsher.
Experience is gained 40% slower.
Picky Eater
Food spoils 25% faster, and animals yield only 25% of the usual resources.
Punchable Face
Enemies are tougher and deliver 10% more damage, scaling with their skill.
Rest depletes 40% faster and sleepwalking may inadvertently move Henry.
Sweaty
Clothes get dirty faster, and Henry’s stench makes stealth much harder.
There Is No Fast Travel In Hardcore Mode
Even on normal difficulty, fast travel inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2is limited, with only a few scattered points on the map allowing quick navigation between locations. In Hardcore Mode, however, thisfeature is completely removed, forcing you to traverse the vast map on foot.
For this reason, one of yourtop priorities should be finding a horse, which offers increased speed and makes long journeys much easier. Additionally, you can sometimes catch a ride on wagons that frequently appear in villages, though you won’t be able to control their routes precisely.
Locating Yourself On The Map Is A Difficult Task
Although you still have access to the map, Hardcore Mode adds limitations that make navigation trickier. Themap does not display Henry’s exact location, so it’s easy to become disoriented, especially if you’re not familiar with the regions of Troskowitz and Kuttenberg. Extra caution is necessary when exploring enclosed or less detailed areas like forests.
Fortunately, the developers have provided several ways to help you get your bearings:
If Henry has theBashful perk, the ask for directions feature won’t be available.
Players Have Less Information During Combat
Combat inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2also undergoes some subtle changes in Hardcore Mode. One of them is related to enemies, who become slightlymore aggressivewhen attacking Henry, leaving less time for players to defend or even plan a counterattack. The other change is theremoval of directional indicators during attacks, making it harder to tell where a strike is coming from.
Because of this, combat in Hardcore Mode becomes more situational and should not be approached impulsively. It takes time to get used to the lack of information present in this new difficulty setting, as players must pay closer attention to how Henry positions his weapons and carefully analyze enemy movements before striking.
The HUD Provides Less Information
Hardcore Mode inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2is highly minimalist when it comes to delivering information while players explore the map. In addition to removing Henry’s position marker and combat direction indicators, this difficulty also takes away access to vital HUD elements, such asHenry’s health and stamina during combat.
As a result, players must rely more on the visual cues provided byKingdom Come: Deliverance 2and be extra cautious when managing these two key resources. Without these details, it’s easy to enter a fight against bandits thinking Henry is in good condition, only to realize mid-battle that he wasn’t ready to fight at all.
Compass Is Less Useful
Even though the compass remains at the top of the screen, it provides far less information to players inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Hardcore Mode. For instance, one of the key differences is thelack of cardinal directions, which makes it harder to determine where Henry is heading while traveling across the map.
Additionally, although points of interest are still marked on both the map and compass, they only become visible when the player is relatively close to them. So, while the compass loses many of its normal difficulty functions, it can still be used situationally, especially in villages, where shops and other marked locations often help with navigation.
