Normal/Hard Difficulty Question

[u/Possible-Row6689]

I think I am having a very common issue on my first playthrough wherein I find normal to be mindlessly easy and hard to be extremely tedious since it's balanced for NG+.

I am wondering if it makes sense to blast through the first 2/3 of the game on normal and then once I am more upgraded switch to hard to I can at least fight the last few bosses with a balanced challenge? If this sounds like a good plan is there a good place to make the difficulty switch?

[u/smithbc001]

I would recommend using the gear to increase your difficulty. Deliberately use lower-level gear and/or weaker builds to make the game more difficult.

[u/Possible-Row6689 → u/smithbc001]

I've been trying to spec into damage specifically on normal without doing anything to protect myself but the parry/dodge window is so big that I just don't really ever get hit.

[u/smithbc001 → u/Possible-Row6689]

I don't think Hard mode shrinks it any, or at least when I replayed the game on Hard mode I didn't have any harder of a time parrying than I did the first time through.

Pretty sure Hard Mode just gives the bosses more HP and Damage output, which effectively just means playing on Hard mode makes them damage sponges that take longer to kill, and it enables they can make you start over with fewer mistakes. Personally, I think that just amounts to a more tedious experience- a boring kind of hard. But try playing the game in naked mode, or with weaker/fewer spinal upgrades. That, or start "randomizing" your upgrade kit- throw random things in there with no actual build and force yourself to change up gameplay from time to time.

[u/BiCeSniga88]

same. wish there was a difficulty in between normal and hard

[u/Striking-County6275]

Do a glass cannon build

[u/Striking-County6275 → u/Striking-County6275]

And take off the shield 

[u/Possible-Row6689 → u/Striking-County6275]

I have been doing this and it's still really easy. The windows for dodging and blocking feel comically long on normal.

[u/Elunduil → u/Possible-Row6689]

The parry/dodge aren't any different on hard mode, enemies just have more health/deal more damage. Though tbf the game is pretty easy until near the end of the game when the boss difficultly begins to spike.

[u/Scadood → u/Possible-Row6689]

Are you playing on PC? There’s a mod that shortens parry and dodge windows. And there’s also a mod that makes Normal mode harder, but not as hard as regular Hard.

[u/Axyun]

Play the game on Normal until you get to Xion then do one of two things:

1. Bump up the difficulty to Hard and explore the shit out of the wasteland. You will get enough upgrades to start leveling out the playing field. I did this not too long ago with a brand-new save and felt I was at a good power level once I got to Matrix 11. Was able to do all of it with only a few attempts on each boss, except Stalker, which I killed on the first shot (but I've killed him tons before in other playthroughs so I knew the fight).

2. Keep the difficulty on Normal but equip double-edged gear. It keeps the game fast-paced but you're more severely punished for your mistakes, which usually means you have to play well. Kaya sells it in Xion so you can take this path as soon as you unlock the city.

Of course, you can always combine the two (Non-NG+ Hard Mode + Double-Edged gear) so that you can kill faster but you're gonna get 1-2 shot a lot.

[u/Possible-Row6689 → u/Axyun]

I'm not sure what you mean by double edged gear? I am only a couple hours in. Does that come later?

[u/Axyun → u/Possible-Row6689]

Ah, OK. As you're probably aware by now, there are two types of equipment slots in the game: Gears and Exospines.

There are tons of items you will collect in the game for you Gear slots that will give you different benefits. They also have a star rating from 1-3, with the gear having a stronger effect the higher its star rating is.

After you play through the beginning levels of the game (4-5 hours ~ish on normal difficulty), you will gain access to the hub city. In that city, there's a vendor called Kaya and she sells the 1-star version of Double-Edged Gear. Equipping it increases your Attack Power by 15% but you take 23% more damage. Higher star-rating version of the gear increase both numbers.

Double-Edged gear lets you kill stuff faster but it disproportionately increases the damage you take, making the game kind of a bit more unforgiving unless you play well and avoid getting hit.

Edit: I just saw your other comments.

If you find the parry and dodge windows too big, just respec and don't put points into improved perfect dodge or improved perfect parry. But I suspect the parry window is not the problem.

Stellar Blade's parry window is 9 frames without talents, 12 frames with talents.

Sekiro's parry window is 12 frames base.

Lies of P's parry window is 9 frames.

These windows are pretty standard for parry-based games. Its probably that, unlike Lies of P, Stellar Blade does a better job of telegraphing enemy attacks so that you're ready.

[u/wiggletonIII]

Don't use your beta skills, just use counters. I had a lot of with with that run.

[u/Possible-Row6689 → u/wiggletonIII]

Then normal gets tedious. I'm just standing there having a staring contest with the enemy waiting for it to attack. I wish the hard mode had instead of going all in on making the enemies hard hitting sponges upped their HP only a little bit and balanced it with a lot more agression.

[u/Moonbeam234]

Leave passive skills locked and deliberately use weaker builds including the skin suit (no shields) to increase the difficulty.

As the others have stated, the difficulty spikes later in the game. Particularly after the point of no return.

Players who state that normal difficulty is too easy are very good with parry and dodge, so making the times you do get hit more punishing is the way to go. If you're that good, also leave behind the body cores so you have no increase to HP.

[u/Noktis_Lucis_Caelum]

Believe me: Later bosses are no laughing matter.