How to change the difficulty level in Dead Cells? Dead Cells Guide
Last update: 28 August 2018
Dead Cells features different difficulty levels to choose from, although this option is not available at the very beginning of the game. This section contains information on how to change the difficulty level of the game Dead Cells. You will also learn what changes in the game happen after changing the difficulty. Those include small changes, as well as those, which introduce new things, which in turn significantly impact the way the game is played and the general difficulty of the title.
How to unlock other difficulty levels?
Dead Cells, by default, runs in normal mode. This is the mode, you have to finish the game first (slay all the bosses). You can't choose easy mode, as the game doesn't provide that option. You need to try and make the game easier for yourself by learning the mechanics, building up your skill, finding blueprints (in the subsequent runs), and unlock useful and permanent upgrades. Your chances of survival can be significantly improved by upgrading the Health Flask to higher levels. This will give you more health flasks to use before getting to the next safe zone.
To unlock other difficulty levels, you first need to beat the final boss of the game - Hand of the King. If you want, you can look him up in the Bosses section of the guide, which includes a detailed explanation on how to deal with this formidable adversary.
After defeating the Hand of the King for the first time search its remains to find the first stem cell from the boss (Boss Stem Cell I).
Now you have to start a new game, which means getting to the right end side of the Throne Room ma, where you need to interact with the fountain. After you have found yourself in the starting location: Prisoners' Quarters move toward the large tube located below the unlocked blueprints. Interact with it. Now, you can choose a different difficulty level.
In the beginning, you can choose only between normal and hard mode. In order to unlock other difficulty levels, you have to play through the game again with the activated stem cells. For example, if you wish to unlock: Very Hard, you have to finish the game again and defeat the final boss while having the first stem cell, used for playing hard mode.
What changes are introduced along with new difficulty levels?
Setting a higher difficulty not only means that you now have to deal with stronger enemies. Other things also change. Some of the changes are listed at the difficulty level settings menu, which appears after interacting with the tube in the starting location.
Difficulty level: Hard
The enemies are stronger and new foes spawn in some places. This does not impact all of the maps in the game - only some of them include new enemy spawns. For example, while playing on hard mode, in the starting location: Prisoners' Quarters, you can encounter the Inquisitor enemy type.
The decrease in the number of health rejuvenating fountains. This is a very inconvenient change. You can use the fountain only once per two returns to the safe zone. In all other cases, the fountain is destroyed (as shown in the picture above). This change requires that you play the game more carefully so that you don't have to heal as much. It's very useful to unlock the upgrade: Health Flask IV, you can also try to learn more about mutations and skills, which increase your character's vitality (e.g. Tonic).
Unlocking the ++ level of the Legendary Forge. As a reminder, Legendary Forges can be found only after defeating one of the main bosses. You can spend your stem cell there to increase the Chance of finding better items both in the game world as well as in the offerings of merchants. In this case, we want to increase the change of finding ++ items.
You can get the second stem cell from the boss. To get it, you have to defeat the final boss: The Hand of the King while having the first stem cell active.
Difficulty level: Very Hard
The enemies are stronger and new enemy spawns appear on the maps. This does not affect all the locations in the game - only some of the maps get new enemies.
The health fountains are no more. This is the most significant change on this difficulty level. You need to stock up your health flasks and use them only during boss fights. You need to avoid taking any damage while dealing with standard enemies. Now, it is also more important to look for and find hidden stashes, which often contain food, which in turn allows you to regain some health. There are also two additional methods of regaining one use of the Health Flask:
- You can receive it after defeating the first boss.
- You can find them among the other merchandise of the food salesman (it costs several thousand gold pieces).
Getting double the number of cells from fallen enemies. In this stage of the game, it's a good idea to spend your cells on shopping in the Legendary Forge. Keep in mind that you can only use the forge after defeating one of the main bosses.
You can now get the third boss stem cell. To do this, you need to defeat the final boss: The Hand of the King while having the second stem cell active.
Difficulty level: Expert
The enemies are stronger and new foes spawn in some places. This does not impact all of the maps in the game - only some of them include new enemy spawns.
The health fountains are no more. This is the most significant change on this difficulty level. You need to stock up your health flasks and use them only during boss fights. You need to avoid taking any damage while dealing with standard enemies. Now, it is also more important to look for and find hidden stashes, which often contain food, which in turn allows you to regain some health. You can still buy one use of the health flask at the food salesman's (for several thousand gold pieces).
Now you find double the number of cells. In contrast to Very Hard, you can now find twice as more cells also in chests. In this stage of the game, it's a good idea to spend your cells on shopping in the Legendary Forge. Keep in mind that you can only use the forge after defeating one of the main bosses.
Unlocking the S level of the Legendary Forge. As a reminder, Legendary Forges can be found only after defeating one of the main bosses. You can spend your stem cell there to increase the Chance of finding better items both in the game world as well as in the offerings of merchants. In this case, we want to increase the change of finding S rank items.
Unlocking an additional path in the Ramparts. You can use it to travel to the Insufferable Crypt. It allows you to get to the lair of Conjunctivius without the trouble of going through the pits.
You can get the fourth stem cell from the boss. To get it, you have to defeat the final boss: The Hand of the King while having the third stem cell active.
Difficulty level: Nightmare
The enemies are stronger and new foes spawn in some places. This does not impact all of the maps in the game - only some of them include new enemy spawns.
Every successful enemy attack infects your character. This is the most significant change on this difficulty level. You have to try to minimize the Chance of getting hit by enemies at all cost. It is especially important as you do not regain your health flasks after completing a location.
The health fountains are no more. This is the most significant change on this difficulty level. You need to stock up your health flasks and use them only during boss fights. You need to avoid taking any damage while dealing with standard enemies. Now, it is also more important to look for and find hidden stashes, which often contain food, which in turn allows you to regain some health. You can still buy one use of the health flask at the food salesman's (for several thousand gold pieces).
Three times more cells to find. You gain 3x more cells from fallen enemies and looted chests. In this stage of the game, it's a good idea to spend your cells on shopping in the Legendary Forge. Keep in mind that you can only use the forge after defeating one of the main bosses.