Hardcore Mode

OVERVIEW

This mod makes the overall combat experience more challenging. All difficulties are affected by these changes.

The player's shield is completely disabled - not just with the Skin Suit equipped. You will take full damage when hit, and chip damage when blocking, encouraging mastery of parries and dodges. Furthermore, the windows for Perfect Parry / Perfect Dodge are locked to their base, starting values (0. 15s, or 9 frames) - the various skills and Reflex-Type Exospine will no longer provide any additional duration.

Additionally, the EX version of this mod does all of the above and completely disables both the Blink and Repulse skills.

The "Focus Boost" and "Reflex Boost" skills have had their unlock cost removed, as they provide no benefit but are prerequisites for other skills. The EX version of the mod also removes the unlock cost for Blink, as the game requires you to unlock it but it will not actually function. Note that if you equip anything that boosts shields (such as the Protection-Type Exospine), you will see what it adds to your (otherwise empty) gauge, but your shield is still functionally disabled - it will not absorb any damage.

Check out my other Stellar Blade mods, Improved Perfect Defense and Improved Rush Cooldown (not compatible with Hardcore Mode).

Lite version only disabling the player's shield also available (fully compatible with my other Stellar Blade mods).

INSTALLATION

• download the mod from the files tab

• create a ~mods folder in your local game directory's Paks folder

- if using Steam, this path can be found by right-clicking the game and selecting "Manage" → "Browse local files"

- i.e., ".../steamapps/common/StellarBlade/SB/Content/Paks/~mods"

• extract the .pak, .utoc and .ucas files to the ~mods folder

To uninstall, simply delete the 3 installed files from the ~mods folder.

COMPATIBILITY

This mod should work with anything that doesn't also edit AcquisitionSkillTable, CharacterTable, or SkillTable. Note that my other Stellar Blade mods (Improved Perfect Defense, Improved Rush Cooldown) edit SkillTable and are not compatible with Hardcore Mode (but are with Hardcore Mode Lite). The EX version of the mod additionally edits SkillCommandTable.

ADDITIONAL MODS and SUPPORT

If you like this or my other mods and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee.