84.141.192.213: add undocumented recharge time reduction

2026-07-05T16:22:13Z

add undocumented recharge time reduction

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[[Hard mode]] is a more challenging version of ''[[Guild Wars]]'' that is unlocked for an [[account]] when any [[character]] completes a [[campaign]], for that campaign. Any [[level]] 20 character on that account can choose to take on greater numbers of tougher [[foe]]s in exchange for increased rewards, more valuable [[drop]]s, and the opportunity to acquire additional [[title]]s.

== Differences from normal mode ==
[[File:HardModeVanquishMap.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Completed missions and some vanquished areas in hard mode.]]
Foes in hard mode are stronger than their [[normal mode]] counterparts:
* Are at higher [[#NPC levels|levels]].
** Every level gained translates to 20 more [[health]] and roughly 5% more [[skill]] damage (see [[damage calculation]]).
** They do ''not'' gain an [[armor rating]] bonus for their increased level:
*** Foes that are below level 20 in normal mode will have a base armor of 60 in hard mode.
*** Foes that are above level 20 in normal mode will have the same armor in both modes.
* Have 20 more maximum health for every level above 20, in addition to the health bonus mentioned above.
* Have higher [[attribute]]s.
* [[Speed boost|Move]] about 33% faster.
* Have about 25% [[attack speed|attack speed boost]], resulting in 33% more hits in the same time frame.
* Have halved [[activation time]]s for skills that normally take more than 2 seconds to activate.
* Have reduced [[recharge time]] for skills.
* Non-[[boss]] foes get an [[elite skill]] and may have additional non-elite skills.

Foes in hard mode use a superior [[Foe behavior|AI]]:
* Respond more quickly to [[area damage over time]].
* Are more likely to fight for longer periods of time.
* Are less likely to ball around a single [[target]] if more targets are available.
* Are more likely to [[kite]] for long periods of time.
* Will not activate skills that increase attack speed with no other benefit.

In addition to the foes being more difficult to defeat,
* [[Resurrection Shrine]]s will not work if every [[party]] member has 60% [[Death Penalty]]; a [[wipe]] will return your party to the last [[town]] or [[outpost]].
* [[Chest]]s opened by [[key]]s are replaced by [[Locked Chest]]s (requiring [[Lockpick]]s); in ''[[Guild Wars Eye of the North|Eye of the North]]'', the Locked Chests are more likely to break picks.
* Foes are more likely to drop [[item rarity|rare]] items and have a chance to drop tomes of their profession.
* [[List of hard mode quests|Hard mode quests]] can only be completed while playing in hard mode.

There are additional differences in certain [[explorable area]]s, including:
* In [[The Underworld]] and [[The Fissure of Woe]], foes can have greater innate [[health regeneration]] at the expense of lowered [[health]].
* Some foes will only spawn in hard mode (e.g. during the [[War in Kryta]]), and some will have an increased quantity of spawns (like the [[Spectral Vaettir]] in [[Jaga Moraine]]).
* Enemy reinforcements can spawn more quickly (e.g. during [[Assault on the Stronghold]]).

== Playing in hard mode ==
=== Eligibility ===
[[File:HardModePartyPanel.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Party Formation panel with the hard mode option selected.]]
You unlock a campaign's hard mode for your account by completing that campaign's final mission with any character. Once unlocked, hard mode for this campaign is available to every level 20 character on the same account. The required missions are:
* '''''[[Guild Wars Prophecies|Prophecies]]'':''' [[Hell's Precipice]]
* '''''[[Guild Wars Factions|Factions]]'':''' [[Imperial Sanctum]]
* '''''[[Guild Wars Nightfall|Nightfall]]'':''' [[Abaddon's Gate]]
* '''''[[Guild Wars Eye of the North|Eye of the North]]'':''' [[A Time for Heroes]]

Once you have completed the requirements to enter hard mode, you will see two new buttons at the top of your [[Party Formation panel]] allowing you to select whether to play in Normal mode or in hard mode.

=== Adventuring with other players ===
[[File:HardModePartySearch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|How a name appears in the Party Search panel when hard mode is active.]]
You can choose to party with other characters who are eligible for hard mode. However, if a character who is not eligible for hard mode joins your party, your party will receive the following message: ''"Hard mode has been disabled. <Character name> does not meet the requirements for Hard Mode."'' The ineligible character will need to leave your party before you can re-enable hard mode.

Players using the [[Party Search panel]] to seek out other hard mode players will have a [Hard Mode] tag in the description field by their name.

=== Buffs ===
* Party members are automatically granted a buff that boosts earned [[experience]] by 50%.
* [[Bounty|Bounties]] and [[Bounty-like blessing|blessings]] in ''Factions'', ''Nightfall'', and ''Eye of the North'' give more points to their respective title.

=== Mission adjustments ===
In addition to the differences noted above, the time limit for mission rewards is extended in hard mode for most timed missions.

=== Quests ===
Quests that are not specifically designed for Hard Mode are still impacted by the above changes. This can drastically increase the difficulty of quests, by increasing the quantity and stats of any added quest-related foes.

== Rewards ==
The average number of [[Item rarity|uncommon and rare item]] drops has been increased in hard mode. Additionally, rewards from chests at the end of [[dungeon]]s and [[elite mission]]s are doubled; this includes the number of [[gemstone]]s from chests in the [[Domain of Anguish]].

[[Skill tome]]s are a hard mode-exclusive drop from foes. With the exception of [[the Fissure of Woe]] and [[the Underworld]], [[Passage Scroll to the Fissure of Woe|Passage Scrolls to the Fissure of Woe]] and [[Passage Scroll to the Underworld|the Underworld]] can drop from [[boss]]es only in hard mode. Likewise, with the exception of ''Eye of the North'' foes, Lockpicks only drop from foes in hard mode.

== Mission rewards ==
Additional rewards were added for completion of [[cooperative mission]]s in Hard mode. See [[Cooperative Mission#Mission rewards|Mission rewards]] for details.

== Titles ==
Four title tracks are available for [[player versus Environment|PvE]] characters in hard mode.
* [[Vanquisher]] for defeating all of the monsters in most of a campaign's explorable areas and ''Legendary Vanquisher'' when you collect all three vanquisher titles.
* [[Guardian (title)|Guardian]] for completing each campaign's missions (both primary and secondary objectives) in hard mode and ''Legendary Guardian'' for obtaining Guardian and [[Protector]] titles in each campaign.
* You are able to increase title ranks that have a cap in normal mode through bounties and blessings. These titles are:
** [[Sunspear rank]] in ''Nightfall''.
** [[Asura rank|Asuran]], [[Norn rank|Norn]], [[Deldrimor rank|Deldrimor]], and [[Ebon Vanguard rank]]s in ''Eye of the North''.

== NPC levels ==
NPC [[level]]s in hard mode generally conform to the pattern below; however, there are a number of exceptions. [[Charmable animal]] levels are not affected by hard mode.
{|
|- valign = top
|
{| {{STDT|gray}}
|- style="background-color:darkgrey;"
!colspan=2| Allies
|- style="background-color:lightgrey;"
! Normal mode || Hard mode
|- align=center
| 0...20 || 20
|- align=center
| 20...30 || No change
|}
|
{| {{STDT|gray}}
|- style="background-color:darkgrey;"
!colspan=2| Non-boss foes
|- style="background-color:lightgrey;"
! Normal mode || Hard mode
|- align=center
| 0 || 20
|- align=center
| 0...4 || 22
|- align=center
| 3...9 || 23
|- align=center
| 10...14 || 24
|- align=center
| 15...19 || 25
|- align=center
| 20...24 || 26
|- align=center
| 26 || 29
|- align=center
| 26...28 || 30
|- align=center
| 29...30 || 32
|- align=center
| 31 || 33
|- align=center
| 34 || 36...40
|}
|
{| {{STDT|gray}}
|- style="background-color:darkgrey;"
!colspan=2| Bosses
|- style="background-color:lightgrey;"
! Normal mode || Hard mode
|- align=center
| 5...8 || 26
|- align=center
| 9...15 || 27
|- align=center
| 14...18 || 28
|- align=center
| 19...22 || 29
|- align=center
| 24...28 || 30
|- align=center
| 30 || 32
|- align=center
| 34 || 36
|- align=center
| 38 || 40
|}
|}

== Trivia ==
* Hard mode was introduced in the [[Game updates/20070419|April 19, 2007 update]] for ''Prophecies'', ''Factions'', and ''Nightfall'' and in the [[Game updates/20071012|October 12, 2007 update]] for ''Eye of the North''.
* Hard mode foes' armor rating was reduced and their [[Level#Effects of level|maximum health]] was raised in the [[Feedback:Game updates/20120105|January 5, 2012 update]].

== See also ==
* [[Guide to hard mode]]
* [[List of hard mode quests]]
* A [https://web.archive.org/web/20160313083937/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2735648&postcount=152 post] from Gaile with more details about access.
* [[Gaile News/20070320|Dev Update on hard mode and both Sunspear and Lightbringer titles]] (20th March 2007)

[[Category:Game Mode]]

Hard mode - Revision history

84.141.192.213: add undocumented recharge time reduction