What Does Hard Mode Do in Undertale?

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Undertale can be a challenging experience for many players. Especially when aiming for the True Pacifist ending, which involves not killing a single enemy throughout the entire run. But for those looking for a real challenge, there is a way to unlock a more difficult version of Undertale.

To access the challenging mode in Undertale, you need to input a hidden name at the start of the game. This will lead to tougher battles and a less inviting environment overall. However, players who anticipate a demanding playthrough spanning the entire game might find it somewhat underwhelming.

How To Unlock Hard Mode

At the start of Undertale, you’ll be prompted to name the fallen human. This seemingly insignificant moment is where the game’s hard mode lies hidden. By inputting specific secret names during this screen, you can alter the course of Undertale in distinct ways.

When you input the name “Frisk” during character creation, you’ll receive a warning that selecting this name will make your gaming experience challenging. Choosing “Frisk” as the fallen human’s name will trigger hard mode, leading to an intensified game with increased difficulty and tougher challenges ahead.

What Happens In Undertale’s Hard Mode?

In the standard version of Undertale, you’ll typically encounter monsters that are easier to defeat, but in the difficult mode, you’ll come across tougher versions of these enemies earlier on, such as Final Froggits, Whimsalots, and Astigmatisms. Additionally, there will be unique enemies only found in hard mode, like Moldessas and Migospels.

In addition to combat, there will be minor changes to other aspects of The Ruins. Characters will have slightly different dialogue, Toriel will no longer give the player solutions to some of the tutorial puzzles, and there will be a more intense battle theme. When taking candy from the candy bowl after Toriel leaves, the player will only be able to take three pieces instead of the normal four. Upon reaching Toriel’s house, she’ll prepare a less appetizing snail pie instead of the traditional butterscotch-cinnamon pie.

Perhaps the biggest change of all comes near the end of The Ruins when the player must face Toriel in a boss battle. Upon defeating Toriel in any manner, the game will not progress past this part like it normally does. Instead, the small white dog that is seen throughout the entire game appears to inform the player that Undertale’s hard mode is now over.

That’s right, hard mode only lasts until the end of The Ruins. There will then be some unique, humorous dialogue between Toriel and the dog, before the screen will abruptly cut to the Undertale logo along with the words “Hard Mode. Coming….Maybe. Eh, don’t count on it.” There will then be one additional scene with Flowey, before the screen fades out and returns the player back to the menu where they can begin a new game.

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2025-03-16 19:56