Diablo 4: Best ways to survive Hardcore mode

❘ Updated: 2023-07-28T11:18:12

Blizzard Entertainment

Hardcore mode in Diablo 4 is the most demanding difficulty the game has to offer, giving even the most dedicated demon slayers a true challenge. If you’re diving into this mode, we’ve got a handful of tips that should make the experience a little bit easier.

For Diablo players who want the toughest challenge possible in the game, Hardcore Mode could be just what you’re looking for, however, be warned as it’s an extremely punishing experience. Every bit of loot you find and each choice you make could be the difference between life and death.

Unfortunately, if your character dies during Hardcore Mode, Permadeath is activated and that character is gone for good which means every single battle is the ultimate test of your skills. Going into this mode with a good understanding of gear, character classes, and the best build possible is imperative.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a handful of tips that should make your time in Diablo 4’s Hardcore Mode slightly easier.

Best tips for Hardcore mode in Diablo 4

We have seven in-depth tips for you to make Hardcore mode more manageable. From logical thoughts to handy bits of knowledge and trivia, these snippets of wisdom should make Diablo 4’s toughest challenge more palatable.

Beat the game first

It doesn’t matter if you’ve played previous games in the series – beat Diablo 4 first. Learn all the intricacies, the ins and outs of new enemy types, experiment with classes and builds, and also, learn the patterns and attacks of boss fights.

The latter is where some of your biggest headaches will take place in Diablo 4, so absorb this knowledge and use it wisely for your HC playthroughs.

World Tier 1

Another measure you can employ is to dip your toes into the water and revert to World Tier 1 wherever possible. Yes, it’s completely counterproductive to earning XP, gold, etc. But it can make certain missions and tasks easier and ensure your survival better.

So, it wouldn’t hurt to flip back and forth with the game’s lower World Tiers.

Exclusive Hardcore items

A neat little detail for Diablo 4’s Hardcore mode is its exclusive consumables. If you’re embarking on this treacherous endeavor, you need to be using these items. Hardcore mode introduces two such resources: Elixir of Death Evasion and Scroll of Escape.

The Elixir of Death Evasion: “For the next 30 minutes, prevent death once and become Immune for 2 seconds. Once this takes place, you cannot benefit from it again for 5 minutes.”
Scroll of Escape: “Teleports you to a place of safety.”

If you feel you’re in grave danger and could be on the verge of death, the Scroll of Escape can whisk you away to a safe place nearby in the blink of an eye. It’s not a common item though, so use it wisely.

Whereas The Elixir of Death Evasion is a craftable Elixir, albeit a very expensive one, that can help you avoid a guaranteed death. Again, due to their crafting demands, you should only use these for dodgy encounters like bosses.

Potions & Elixirs

Something that isn’t exclusive to Hardcore mode but you should be focusing on is potions and Elixirs. They offer resistance bonuses to all sorts of elemental damage, they can boost your attack power, increase your XP gain, and much more. They are a key aspect of Diablo 4’s gameplay and you should be doing your best to acquire them.

Don’t do online co-op

Hardcore Mode doesn’t mean you have to go it alone… but you should.

Diablo 4’s multiplayer allows you to team up with other players, sharing the danger and the rewards. However, going online increases the risk of internet connection instability, crashes, lag, and all it takes is a split second for even a normal enemy to wipe you out. Remember, the game is always online, so if you think your internet is becoming unstable or has cut out, make haste and head for the exit!

Defense is great offense

It makes sense that players want to maximize their DPS and end fights quicker. Diablo 4 just doesn’t work like that though, and you’re risking favoring offense at the expense of defense. If you do, then on the occasions when you do get hit, you’re going to take significant chunks of damage – maybe game-ending blows.

As the old adage goes: “The best defense is a good offense.”

Don’t get complacent

This one is straightforward, but it’s ridiculously true. A Hardcore run can take hours to build and just seconds to end. Running headfirst into an ‘easy’ mob could easily spell death for you if you’ve forgotten to stock up on health potions or your best spells are still on cooldown.

Always check for enemies hiding in the corner of the screen, treat every battle the same, be prepared to run, and ignore your pride – especially if the Butcher is on the prowl.

We sincerely hope that these tips help you to overcome Diablo 4 Hardcore mode. For more information and guides concerning Blizzard’s epic RPG game, take a look at these extra guides: