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Should you play Softcore or Hardcore mode in Diablo 4? Featured Image

Should you play Softcore or Hardcore mode in Diablo 4?

Fight against the Burning Hells the way you want to.

Staying true to form, Diablo 4 will have two difficulties you can play on, which is something you’ve probably seen in older Diablo games. The game features a Softcore and a Hardcore mode. Each has its own meta and could change how you play. For the Open Beta starting later this week, you can have first-hand experience in how these modes work. So, should you play Softcore or Hardcore mode in Diablo 4? Read on to see which setting suits you best.

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Diablo 4: Softcore and hardcore mode – Explained

This all boils down to how you want to play. Both modes could offer something different and could make Diablo 4 a struggle or a walk in the park. As mentioned before, the game’s core fundamentals will change regardless of which mode you pick.

So let’s break down the key differences between the two difficulties.

Hardcore Mode: Introduced back in the early days of Diablo II. This mode is not an easy task. According to Blizzard Entertainment, this is the way Diablo 4 is to be played. As the game states, “Death is permanent. Once your character perishes, there’s no coming back”. This means everything is gone, from your gear to your progress. If your character takes a fatal hit, you’ll need to restart with a new hero.

Softcore Mode: If you want an experience focusing on the story, playing on this difficulty could be for you. When you die, you have the option to respawn either at the same spot or in a nearby town. However, you shouldn’t take this lightly because it does have its penalties. You can lose money, experience points, and even degrade your armor, which gets more expensive the higher it is.

Diablo 4 Player Talking To An Npc With A Table To The Left

Screenshot via PC Invasion

Our Findings

Playing the Softcore mode as opposed to the Hardcore mode is probably the best way to get into Diablo 4. This way, you may learn the new mechanics and challenges significantly better in the game. After you’re comfortable with how the game works, you can start a new character on Hardcore mode to give yourself a real challenge against Lilith and her army.


Pre-orders for Diablo 4 are available now at Battle.net, Xbox Marketplace, and the PlayStation Store.


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Author
Image of Raza Malik
Raza Malik
Raza is a Contributing Writer who's been at PC Invasion since March 2023. After he earned his Media Arts degree at Niagara College, he went on to grow his portfolio by working at such publications as GameRant. While he plays a wide array of different types of games, Raza enjoys discussing open-world games, shooters, and live service games. Some of his favorite series include Assassin's Creed, God of War, and the Diablo series. On the side, he enjoys editing videos, and creating content for his side project Marching Into Madness.
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