Difficulty

Difficulties are modes that change the game in various ways, typically by making the game harder to provide more of a challenge. They can be selected right before starting a run.

There are currently 4 difficulties in the game. Normal, Elite, Nightmare, and Reincarnation. The latter having 8 different levels, each one harder than the previous one.

To unlock a difficulty, you must win a run in the previous one. This can be done by finishing the run in either Duo Fjord or Hyperborean Jokul. However failing the run at any point, even in Hyperborean Jokul, will not unlock the next difficulty.

## Normal

Normal difficulty is the first mode and the base-line for the game. It is unlocked by default.

* Challenge Events randomly occur within normal rooms, although the ones that are available are limited.
* Enhanced enemies cannot spawn.
* Elite Enemies can show up in Vaults and also very rarely from Challenge Events, with the Challenge Events only triggering once the current room is fully cleared.
* Most of the Occult Scrolls and all of Weapons can be unlocked in normal.

## Elite

Elite difficulty is the second mode and starts to feature some of the more challenging aspects of the game.

* Bosses and enemies have a x1.4  Health?+ Shield?/ Armor? multiplier.
* Bosses and enemies deal x1.4 damage.
* The amount of enemies spawned is increased.
* Boss abilities are buffed, they will spawn more enemies and they will rage at higher  Health? compared to Normal.
* Soul Essence? drop chance from normal enemies is increased by +10%.
* Soul Essence? amount from elite enemies is increased by +4, for 14 total.
* Soul Essence? amount from bosses is increased by +15 (From 30/45/60/75 to 45/60/75/90).
* Traps will appear in normal rooms, making regular fights more dangerous.
* The pool of possible Challenge Events is increased, adding more difficult mechanics.
* Enhanced enemies start showing up in Elite mode, These spawn at a random chance from any normal enemy spawn, they feature randomized Primary and secondary affixes along with increased  Health?.
* The chance for Elite enemies to appear from random Challenge Events is drastically increased.
* Occult Scrolls that require Elite can be unlocked.

## Nightmare

Nightmare difficulty is the third mode. While there isn't much of a mechanical difference when compared with Elite difficulty, many aspects are increased.

* Everything that Elite difficulty includes, unless otherwise specified.
* Bosses and enemies have a x2.4  Health?+ Shield?/ Armor? multiplier.
* Bosses and enemies deal x1.8 damage.
* Certain Bosses will rage at even higher  Health?.
* Soul Essence? drop chance from normal enemies is increased by +20%.
* Soul Essence? amount from elite enemies is increased by +8, for 18 total.
* Soul Essence? amount from bosses is increased by +30 (From 30/45/60/75 to 60/75/90/105).
* Trap and enemy frequency is increased further.
* The pool of possible Challenge Events is increased further.
* Enhanced enemies appear more frequently.
* Elite Enemies are able to spawn from Challenge Events during rooms instead of when the room is cleared of other enemies, making much harder encounters.
* Occult Scrolls that require Elite can still be unlocked in Nightmare.