As a series, Diablo offers a great deal of loot for players to chase as they battle the dark forces that lurk across every corner of Sanctuary. But there is far more to Diablo as a series than just loot and intensive action role-playing game combat. Diablo as a series offers a great deal of challenge, and it allows players to tailor their experience to their liking and comfort.
But for players who want a truly incredible challenge, Diablo also offers a unique difficultly called Hardcore Mode. Hardcore Mode is making a return in Diablo 4, and here is how it works along with what kind of rewards players can get from it.
This article contains minor spoilers for Diablo 4, so players should proceed with caution.
What is Hardcore Mode?
Ever since Diablo 2, players have had the option to engage in an extremely difficult (and dangerous) version of the game called Hardcore Mode. Hardcore Mode is a unique mode where if players die, that character is gone forever. There is no reviving and there are no second chances like there are in the normal version of the game. This mode was popular enough to be included in Diablo 3 when it came out, and there was even a trophy/achievement for killing certain bosses while playing on Hardcore Mode. Naturally, Hardcore Mode is returning once again for Diablo 4.
Since players have only one life, they have to be extremely careful when they are exploring Sanctuary and uncovering Lilith's plans. If they are not careful, all it takes is one unfortunately timed encounter with the Butcher or going into a dungeon they are not prepared for, and Diablo 4 players will lose that character and have to start over from the very beginning.
Luckily, players do not have to face the dangers of Hardcore Mode alone. Players do not have to adventure through this mode alone, and they can bring their friends with them to make the challenge more manageable. One important thing to know is that even when participating in PvP in Diablo 4, death is still permanent in Hardcore Mode. So if players choose to participate in PvP while in Hardcore Mode, it is recommended to bring a group and prepare for the worst.
Are There Any Rewards for Playing Hardcore Mode?
While the primary reward from succeeding in Hardcore Mode is the bragging rights, there are some more tangible rewards that players can obtain by daring to face the dangers of Hardcore Mode. Reaching certain levels and killing story related bosses will reward players with unique titles that cannot be obtained by other methods. There are even titles available for killing players in PvP while participating in Hardcore Mode.
Aside from in-game rewards, there is also a special reward that players can obtain for a limited time. The first 1,000 players that reach Level 100 in Hardcore Mode will have their name engraved on a statue of Lilith.
Diablo 4 releases June 6th on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Early Access begins on June 1st.