Difficulty

Difficulty modes are gameplay modes that...

Fire Emblem Gaiden

Gaiden features two difficulty modes, though one of them is hidden.

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

Genealogy of the Holy War is the first game in the series to feature conventional difficulty modes.

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Easy Mode

“	For first-timers. Game rules and controls will be explained to you as you play.	”	— Help text

The first eight chapters include tutorials, but are otherwise identical to those in Normal mode. After completing Chapter 8 and choosing which lord's route to take, an Easy Mode file will become a Normal Mode file.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Normal Mode

“	Recommended for beginners and those playing the game for the first time. A special prologue introduces the story and game play.	”	— Help text

Hard Mode

“	Recommended for those seeking a challlenge. Enemies are up to five degrees tougher than those in Normal mode. No prologue is included.	”	— Help text

Fire Emblem Awakening

Awakening features three difficulty modes available by default, as well as a single unlockable difficulty mode.

Normal Mode

“	For series beginners.	”	— Help text

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 skills.

Normal Mode save files are marked with a green icon and one star (★).

Hard Mode

“	For experienced players.	”	— Help text

Hard Mode save files are marked with a red icon and two stars (★★).

Lunatic Mode

“	For expert players.	”	— Help text

Lunatic Mode save files are marked with a purple icon and three stars (★★★).

Lunatic+ Mode

“	For Fire Emblem masters.	”	— Help text

The highest difficulty the game offers, Lunatic+ Mode is unlocked after completing Lunatic Mode at least once.

Lunatic+ is largely identical to Lunatic, with the addition of several powerful enemy-exclusive skills distributed at random.

Fire Emblem Fates

Fates handles its difficulty modes differently depending on which of the three paths—Birthright, Conquest, or Revelation—is chosen.

Normal Mode

“	For series beginners.	”	— Help text

The game's standard difficulty. The prologue and the first six chapters include "slide guide" tutorials.

Hard Mode

“	For experienced players.	”	— Help text

In all paths, enemies have higher overall stats, as well as a minimum of C in each weapon level.

Lunatic Mode

“	For those seeking a challenge.	”	— Help text

In all paths, enemies have maximum weapon levels.

In Birthright, enemies have slightly more HP than they do in Hard Mode, though their other stats remain identical.

In Conquest, enemies have identical stats to their Hard Mode counterparts.

In Revelation, enemies have higher HP, strength, defense, and resistance. As well, generic promoted enemies are given the two skills from their respective base classes.