Hard mode
Hard mode changes the gameplay compared to Normal in some ways to make it more difficult.
When playing in Hard mode, a small red pentagram () appears on the HUD, below the pickups.
Differences[edit | edit source]
- 2-3 more rooms generate each floor.
- Standard rooms with a difficulty of "1" cannot generate; most rooms with this difficulty are very easy, making difficult rooms more common.
- Enemies have a base 20% chance to become Champions instead of only 5%; additionally, they only award pickups 33% of the time.
- Hearts are 66% less likely to drop after completing a room.
- Only champion bosses will drop hearts; normal bosses will not.
- Floors are more likely to have curses.
Unlocks for Hard Mode[edit | edit source]
Character | Mom's Heart | ![]() |
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Isaac | ![]() |
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Magdalene | ![]() |
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Cain | ![]() |
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Judas | ![]() |
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??? | ![]() |
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Eve | ![]() |
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Samson | ![]() |
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Azazel | ![]() |
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Lazarus | ![]() |
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Eden | ![]() |
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The Lost | ![]() |
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Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Before update 1.03, the reduced drop-rate affected all pickups (not just Red Hearts).
Godhead,
Smelter, and
Marrow are the only items that require playing Hard mode to unlock, with every other unlock being co-op babies.
Godhead's unlock requirements were extended in the Afterbirth DLC (and further extended in the Afterbirth+ DLC) due to the addition of more completion marks, but it can still be unlocked in the base game using the same method.
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