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Choosing a difficulty mode at the start of a new playthrough is the very first decision players will be asked to make inDivinity: Original Sin 2evenbefore character creation,and it is of vital importance to choose the correct one right from the get-go.
Picking a difficulty setting inDOS2is 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 arefour difficultymodesinDivinity: Original Sin 2, andone special Modethat 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.
Explorer
You prefer a fair but forgiving adventure that rewards clever thinking in and out of battle.
Classic
A classic role-playing experience. You are cunning, resourceful, and prepared for the perils that await.
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.
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.
BG3’sTactician andDOS2’sTactician mode are different, even though thetwo games share some similarities. While both games are made by Larian Studios,Baldur’s Gate 3uses the D&D ruleset, whereasDivinity: Original Sin 2uses Larian’s in-house ruleset specific to this game. Exploits and workarounds to become OP that work in BG3 will not work inDOS2because 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.
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 toOptions, thenGameplay, 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 playDOS2on Tactician Mode. When selected, itlimits 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 deletedfrom the system.
Which Difficulty Mode Should You Choose in Divinity: Original Sin 2
For veteran CRPG players jumping intoDOS2for the first time,Classic Mode is easily the best choice. Even players who alwaysplay games on the hardest difficultywill 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 wayDivinity: Original Sin 2is meant to be experienced.
