Difficulty

Last updated for version `1.8.0-BETA-7`

*Main article:* Guide/Installation

Horizon introduces various new **difficulties**. Enemies scale based on the player level, there is no vanilla damage added on top, its only Horizon increasing damage. The difficulty is the same for all Fo4 difficulties. 1:1 means, its 1:1 on Survival Mode too.

## Overview

The difficulty levels alter the incoming and outgoing damage in Survival Mode.

Survivor (None) difficulty will be chosen automatically if you don't choose any of the other difficutlies.

Cutthroat must be manually installed, its not in the FOMOD installer, you have to copy it from the `📁Horizon_1.8.0_BETA-7.zip` file and enable it manually using a mod manager. Same applies to switching difficulty mid-game, this requires a mod manager.

## Levels

### Casual

This difficulty level is recommended to casual players who like all of Horizon's changes, but find the combat too difficult or overbearing. It allows players to enjoy all of the survival mode mechanics, without a brutal combat environment.

* 1.0x NPC Damage
* 1.5x Player Damage
* Easier medical crafting requirements

Plugin Name: `Z_Horizon_Diff_Novice.esp`

### Wanderer

This difficulty level is similar to the default difficulty, except it uses a straight 1:1 damage ratio for player vs NPC. Players who find the default difficulty too hard, may enjoy this mode.

* 1.0x NPC Damage
* 1.0x Player Damage

Plugin Name: `Z_Horizon_Diff_Wanderer.esp`

### Survivor

This is the **recommended default difficulty**. It's balanced so that it's very challenging, but not overly taxing in combat. This is the difficulty level Horizon's author Zawinul is playing on, so the mod is tuned around it. NOTE: "1.0x" player damage does not mean the same thing in Horizon that it did in vanilla FO4.

* 1.5x NPC Damage
* 1.0x Player Damage

Plugin Name: `No Plugin`

### Veteran

This difficulty mode is not recommended or supported. It's added in for experienced Fallout 4 players who enjoy harsher combat environments.

* 2.5x NPC Damage
* 1.0x Player Damage

Plugin Name: `Z_Horizon_Diff_Veteran.esp`

### Outcast

This difficulty mode is not recommended or supported. It is added in as an option for players who enjoy deadly combat gameplay.

* 3.5x NPC Damage
* 1.0x Player Damage

Plugin Name: `Z_Horizon_Diff_Outcast.esp`

### Cutthroat

 This difficulty must be manually installed, its not in the installer and only available in the Horizon `.zip` file.

* 2.5x NPC Damage
* 1.5x Player Damage

Plugin Name: `Z_Horizon_Diff_Cutthroat.esp`

### None

If "None" is selected, the difficulty is automatically set to "Survivor".

## Modding

### Change difficulty midgame

The difficulty can be changed at any time using a Mod Manager. Extract the desired ESP from `📁...\Z_Horizon\Optional_Difficulties` and add it to the correct mod folder (Open Mods Folder) such as Horizon. Afterwards check/uncheck as follows:

*Example*
☐ `Z_Horizon_Diff_Cutthroat.esp`
🗹 `Z_Horizon_Diff_Cutthroat.esp`

Another option is to use console command, e.g. to change player attack damage:

* `player.setav 357 2` – multiplies attack damage by 2
* `player.setav 357 0.5` – halves attack damage

### Modding damage

To mod damage values, both outgoing and incoming values, it can be easily arranged in xEdit.

## See Also

* Guide/Installation
* Survival Mode – general survival mode
* Addon:Desolation Mode – less overall loot
* Addon:Scavenger Mode – more overall loot
* Guide/Metagaming

## References

1. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/436824471295361025/436840996517707777/981694351740657674
2. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/436824471295361025/436840996517707777/981691593339838464
3. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/436824471295361025/436824471295361027/991408940694913126