Choosing a difficulty mode at the start of a new playthrough is the very first decision players will be asked to make in Divinity: Original Sin 2 even before character creation, and it is of vital importance to choose the correct one right from the get-go.
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Picking a difficulty setting in DOS2 is a semi-permanent decision because, depending on your choices, certain game modes become locked for the course of that playthrough.
Difficulty Mode Differences in Divinity: Original Sin 2
There are four difficulty modes in Divinity: Original Sin 2, and one special Mode that can only be selected when Tactician difficulty is chosen. Here’s the breakdown.
Story |
You’re here for the fun and the fantasy, but not for a rigorous challenge. |
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Explorer |
You prefer a fair but forgiving adventure that rewards clever thinking in and out of battle. |
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Classic |
A classic role-playing experience. You are cunning, resourceful, and prepared for the perils that await. |
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Tactician |
Bring it on. Combat is demanding, and your foes are devious and observant; for every surprise you spring, they will respond with two of their own. Not for the faint of heart. |
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Honour (Permadeath) |
Failure is not an option. Raise the stakes by limiting the already highly challenging Tactician Mode to a single save game. If your entire party perishes, the save game is erased and your quest is well and truly over. |
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BG3’s Tactician and DOS2’s Tactician mode are different, even though the two games share some similarities. While both games are made by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 uses the D&D ruleset, whereas Divinity: Original Sin 2 uses Larian’s in-house ruleset specific to this game. Exploits and workarounds to become OP that work in BG3 will not work in DOS2 because the systems are completely different. Only players who have learned the ins and outs of the title and understand how best to target enemy weaknesses will emerge victorious.
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How to Change Difficulty Mode in Divinity: Original Sin 2
Players can switch between Story, Explorer, and Classic Modes at any time during a playthrough; however, if Tactician is selected, whether Regular or Honour Mode, there is no way to lower the difficulty to an easier setting without starting a new save.
To switch difficulty modes, open the pause menu, go to Options, then Gameplay, and use the ‘Set Difficulty’ drop-down on the right screen to make a change. Select ‘Apply,’ then ‘Accept’ to lock in your choice.
How Does Honour Mode Work in Divinity: Original Sin 2
Honour Mode is a special difficulty setting available to players who choose to play DOS2 on Tactician Mode. When selected, it limits the player to only one save file. Every time the game autosaves or the player creates a manual save, the save file gets overwritten. There is no way to reload from a previous save, and players are forced to see the consequences of their actions through till the very end. If all members of the player’s party die, it’s Game Over, and the save file for the run is automatically deleted from the system.
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Which Difficulty Mode Should You Choose in Divinity: Original Sin 2
For veteran CRPG players jumping into DOS2 for the first time, Classic Mode is easily the best choice. Even players who always play games on the hardest difficulty will find Tactician Mode a slog to get through at best and extremely unfair at worst. It is meant to be played on a second or third playthrough when all the in-game mechanics are understood, and enemy encounters are no longer a surprise. On a first playthrough, most combat encounters are a surprise. Being caught out of position as a Tactician is an easy ticket to an early death. Beginners will almost always have to replay the same encounter over and over again and rely on save scumming to brute force a victory, especially in the early stages of the game. Classic Mode is a great balance and is the way Divinity: Original Sin 2 is meant to be experienced.
- Released
- September 14, 2017
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
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