Difficulty: Difference between revisions

A hidden difficulty mode accessible only by pressing Select + Start + A on the main menu. Easy Mode is identical to Normal Mode, except all [[experience]] gain is doubled.

Unlocked by completing Normal Mode once. Enemies have higher stats, and there are more of them. Certain enemies will have differing inventories and positions to make them more challenging to deal with. The [[preparations]] shop is disabled.

|Ch. 1–2||+8{{hover|*|Halved for reinforcements}}

|Ch. 3–4||+10{{hover|*|Halved for reinforcements}}

|Ch. 5||+12{{hover|*|Halved for reinforcements}}

|Ch. 6||+6

|Ch. 7–8x||+7

|Ch. 9–10||+8

|Ch. 11–12x||+9

|Ch. 13–14x||+10

|Ch. 15–16x||+11

|Ch. 17–18||+12

|Ch. 19–20x||+13

|Ch. 21–23||+14

| style="border-bottom-left-radius: 15px" | Ch. 24–Final

| style="border-bottom-right-radius: 15px" | +15

Hector's tale on Normal Mode is unlocked by completing Eliwood's tale once. It features additional chapters and [[sidequest]]s, and is generally more difficult than Eliwood's tale on Normal Mode.

''The Sacred Stones'' features three difficulty modes, all available from the start. In a similar manner to ''The Blazing Blade''{{'}}s three tales, ''The Sacred Stones'' features two routes following the two lords, splitting after chapter 8. In general, Ephraim's route is considered to be more difficult than Eirika's route.

The first eight chapters include tutorials and scripted events to facilitate them, but are otherwise identical to those in Normal mode. After [[It's a Trap!|Chapter 8]] and [[A New Journey|the subsequent interlude chapter]], all following main chapters in Easy Mode are mostly identical to their Normal Mode counterparts, only differing by enemies having lower stats overall. There are also some subtle differences between [[skirmish]]es and random drops in the two difficulties.

Generic enemies in ''The Sacred Stones''{{'}}s Normal and Easy modes are notoriously weak in localized versions; promoted enemies at low levels—in most chapters, up to level 3 on Normal and 5 on Easy—do not receive any additional levels to match a typical promoted unit, having only the base stats of their class. As a result, there are several cases where promoted enemies can have lower overall stats than unpromoted enemies.

Enemies have higher [[level]]s, making them stronger. There are more enemies overall, and they can have differing inventories and positions, such as being given [[Elixir]]s to replace [[Vulnerary|Vulneraries]], stronger weapons, etc. Certain enemies are also given more [[skills]]. The common "Clear bonus" for bonus experience is removed, and bonus experience gained by completing secondary objectives has been reduced. As well, [[experience]] gained from defeating enemies is reduced, with this being especially noticeable when a promoted unit defeats an unpromoted enemy. The player is also given no [[gold]] at the start of the game, compared to lower difficulties starting the player off with 5,000.

Present only in the Japanese version, Maniac Mode serves as an even greater challenge than Difficult Mode. Maniac Mode is primarily defined by an exceedingly large number of enemies when compared to the other difficulties. Enemies in Maniac Mode have even higher [[level]]s than they do on Difficult Mode, making them even stronger. Due to how enemy growth rates are skewed, however, this often means they are simply much bulkier than on Difficult Mode, with not much higher offensive stats than those of Difficult Mode. Certain enemies have differing inventories, with [[Bonus damage|effective weapons]] becoming more common than on Difficult Mode. Promoted enemies also become more common earlier than on Difficult Mode. Some enemies are additionally given more [[skills]]. Bosses often have the same stats as they do on Difficult Mode, with some exceptions. [[Experience]] gained from defeating enemies is reduced, providing even less than Difficult Mode. As well, less [[bonus experience]] is rewarded overall, omitting the common "Clear bonus" like Difficult Mode, while providing half as much bonus experience from clearing other objectives.

Named Hard Mode in the Japanese version. Enemies have higher [[level]]s, making them stronger. There are more enemies overall, and they will often have different inventories and positions from Easy Mode. They additionally have smarter AI overall, and will attack weaker units more often. Numerous enemies also have adjusted AI patterns; for example, several bosses in Part 1 go from being stationary in Easy Mode to more aggressive in Normal Mode. Certain chapters have their [[objective]]s altered; for example, [[Maiden of Miracles|Part I, Chapter 1]] is a "defeat the boss" chapter on Easy Mode, but an "escape" chapter on Normal Mode.

{{quote|Recommended for those seeking a challlenge. Enemies are up to five degrees tougher than those in Normal mode. No prologue is included.|Help text}}

All variations of Hard Mode exclude the four chapter prologue, starting the player off on [[Marth Embarks|Chapter 1]]. Each version gives enemies higher stats, and enemies can have higher level weapons such as [[Silver Sword]]s and [[Bolganone]] much earlier. Enemies may also be given [[forge]]d weaponry. [[Reinforcement]]s appear at the start of enemy phase, and can act on the same turn they appear. Apart from these changes, however, the general positions, quantities, and behaviors of the enemies are largely identical to how they are on Normal Mode.

''New Mystery of the Emblem'' features four difficulty modes by default, as well as a single unlockable difficulty mode. Higher difficulties tend to have more enemies with higher stats and stronger equipment. Unusually, the turn requirements for entering [[sidequest]] chapters become more lenient the higher the difficulty is.

| Prologue 1 – Chapter 5 || +0 || +6 || +12 || +15

| style="border-bottom-left-radius: 15px" | Chapter 6 – Endgame || +0 || +8 || +16

The game's standard difficulty. The first several chapters include "slide guide" tutorials on the bottom screen to help new players, though these can be turned off in the settings menu. Enemies generally have low stats, and little to no unpromoted units will have any [[skills]]. Later on, promoted units can have a single skill from their class tree's pool, though they are generally limited from having stronger skills such as the -breaker series and [[offensive skill]]s.

Enemies have higher overall stats, a minimum of C in all [[weapon level]]s, and there are more enemies in most chapters. [[Reinforcement]]s appear at the start of enemy phase, and can act on the same turn they appear. They may also appear on earlier turns than on Normal Mode. Unpromoted enemies can randomly have one skill from their class pool, while promoted enemies can randomly have one skill, and later two, from their class tree's pool. Unlike Normal Mode, promoted enemies in hard mode can have more powerful skills such as the -breaker series and [[offensive skill]]s. Later enemies will also be equipped with [[forge]]d weaponry (+4 Mt, +10 Hit). Very late into the game, or with certain [[Bonus damage|effective weaponry]], they may be forged to a stronger level than can be achieved by the player (+8 Mt, +20 Hit). Several enemy groups are also more aggressive, and begin moving on their own or if nearby enemies are provoked.

Unrelated to enemy behavior, the [[Reeking Box]] has its price increased in Hard Mode—from 500G to 4,800G—making it more resource-intensive to grind for levels. [[Staff|Staves]] also award less [[experience]] than on Normal Mode.

Enemies have higher [[level]]s, making them stronger overall, but having the side-effect of giving player units slightly more [[experience]] than in Normal Mode. There are more enemies overall, and more of them are given weapons and items to make them more dangerous. Promoted enemies also become more common earlier on than in Normal Mode. In several cases, their positions are also completely reworked, removing certain easy strategies that were present in ''Gaiden'' and ''Echoes''{{'}}s Normal Mode.

Enemies have higher [[level]]s, making them stronger overall. There are more enemies overall, and some are given different weapons, items, and [[battalion]]s to make them more dangerous. Most enemies gain additional abilities, typically their weapon's skill level abilities, and occasionally their class's mastery ability. Numerous enemies also have adjusted AI patterns, with several enemies that were immobile on Normal Mode now being capable of moving.

Enemies have even higher levels than on Hard Mode, making them significantly stronger. There are more enemies than on Hard Mode as well, and some are given different weapons, items, and battalions to make them more dangerous. Most enemies are given more abilities, gaining stronger versions of their weapon's skill level abilities, as well as other abilities not normally associated with their class; for example, all generic [[Thief|Thieves]] are given [[Pass]], and all generic [[Archer]]s are given [[Poison Strike]]. Some enemies also have adjusted AI patterns, with even more bosses that were immobile on Hard Mode now being capable of moving, as well as enemies with combat arts and gambits being more likely to use them than on lower difficulties. Almost all [[reinforcement]]s now appear at the start of enemy phase, and can act on the same turn they appear.

[[Hit rate]] penalties from using [[bow]]s are also adjusted, with the first space beyond 2-range imposing a -30 Hit penalty instead of -20 Hit. Each space after this retains the -20 Hit penalty, however.<ref>{{Cite web|author=kebFE / KeeperOfChemistry|retrieved=July 30, 2020|url=https://fe3h.com/misc/bow_hit_penalty/|title=Bow Hit Rate Penalty|site=FE3H.com}}</ref>

The game's standard difficulty.

Normal Mode save files are colored green.

Hard Mode save files are colored red.

Maddening Mode save files are colored purple.

|ger-mean=Difficulty. Abbreviated as '''Schwierigk.''' in ''The Sacred Stones'' due to space restrictions.

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