Editing Difficulty Level

{{Game|KH1|FM1|REC|KH2|FM2|358|KHC|RCO|BBS|FMB|DDD|DHD|AFP|KH3}}
{{cleanup|Add info for KH, ReCoM, Recoded, BBSFM(if different like KHIIFM)}}
The {{nihongo|'''Difficulty Level'''|ゲームモード|Gēmu Mōdo|lit. "Game Mode"}} of a game in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series determines enemy strength and limitations the player will be presented with during gameplay. In most ''Kingdom Hearts'' games, players choose a difficulty level when starting a new game, and they cannot change the level once they have started.

In ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'', the difficulty level is instead handled by the [[Difficulty Cheat]], which is set to Standard by default but can be changed to "Beginner", "Proud", and "Critical" at any time.

In ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]'', Critical Mode is only available after completing the main game first instead of right away like before. ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'' originally lacked Critical Mode, but it eventually became available in Version 1.04-1.05 update.

The highest level of difficulty is {{nihongo|'''Critical Mode'''|クリティカルモード|Kuritikaru Mōdo}}, followed by {{nihongo|'''Proud Mode'''|プラウドモード|Puraudo Mōdo}}, {{nihongo|'''Standard Mode'''|スタンダードモード|Sutandādo Mōdo}}, and {{nihongo|'''Beginner Mode'''|ビギナーモード|Biginā Mōdo}}.

==List of difficulties in each game==
{|class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
|-bgcolor="#87ceeb"
|width="25%" rowspan="2"|'''Game'''
|width="75%" colspan="9"|'''Available Difficulty Levels'''
|-
|-bgcolor="#87ceeb"
|
|'''Normal Mode'''
|'''Expert Mode'''
|
|-
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''
|
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|
|-
|-bgcolor="#87ceeb"
|'''Game'''
|'''Beginner Mode'''
|'''Standard Mode'''
|'''Proud Mode'''
|'''Critical Mode'''
|-
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts Final Mix]]''
|{{Yes}}<ref>Named "Final Mix: Beginner".</ref>
|{{Yes}}<ref>Named "Final Mix".</ref>
|{{Yes}}<ref>Named "Final Mix: Proud".</ref>
|{{No}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}<ref>International version only.</ref>
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}<ref name="unlock">Unlocks after beating the game once.</ref>
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}<ref name="unlock"/>
|-bgcolor="#e6e6fa"
|''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}<ref>Added in the 1.04 update.</ref>
|}

==''Kingdom Hearts''==
{{sec-stub}}
===Normal Mode===
* Enemies deal regular damage.
* No Battle Report is shown.
* Must complete the [[Hades Cup]]; find all [[99 Puppies]]; and seal every [[Keyhole]] to unlock ''[[Another side, Another story...]]''

===Expert Mode===
* Enemies deal double damage.
* A Battle Report is shown after the epilogue, showing statistics from your journey.
* Unlocking ''[[Another Side, Another Story...]]'' simply requires completing the game.

==''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix''==
===Final Mix: Beginner Mode===
*Sora begins the game with a [[Ribbon]], an [[EXP Necklace]], 8 [[Power Up]]s, 8 [[Defense Up]]s and 4 [[AP Up]]s.
*The Drill Gummi's Attack Power is 9,999 instead of 35.
*"FMBG" is written on the top right of the save file.
* No Battle Report is shown.
*''Another side, Another story...'' and ''Another Side, Another Story [Deep Dive]'' cannot be unlocked.

===Final Mix Mode===
*Gummi Ship takes double the damage.
*Damage inflicted by the Gummi Ship is cut by a third.
*"KHFM" is written on the top right of the save file.
*No Battle Report is shown
*Must complete the [[Hades Cup]]; find all [[99 Puppies]]; and seal every [[Keyhole]] to unlock ''Another Side, Another Story...''; and complete Jiminy's Journal to unlock ''Another Side, Another Story [Deep Dive]''.

===Final Mix: Proud Mode===
*Compared to the original game, enemies inflict twice the damage.
*The Gummi Ship's attack deals half the damage.
*"FMPR" is written on the top right of the save file.
*A Battle Report is shown after the epilogue, showing statistics from your journey.
*Unlocking ''Another Side, Another Story'' simply requires completing the game.
*Must seal every Keyhole and complete the [[Hades Cup]] to unlock ''Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]''.
*Sora has [[EXP Zero]] as an ability.{{KHHD}}

==''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard, enemies' HP is cut by 0.75x.
*Compared to Standard, enemies deal 0.8x the damage.
*Sora and Riku have a 4% chance of getting a Random Joker after a fight.

===Standard Mode===
*Enemies' HP is normal.
*Enemies deal normal damage.
*Sora and Riku have a 1.3% chance of getting a Random Joker after a fight.

===Proud Mode===
*Enemies' HP is normal.
*Compared to Standard, enemies deal 1.2x the damage.
*Sora and Riku have a 0.7% chance of getting a Random Joker after a fight.

==''Kingdom Hearts II''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard, damage to enemies is doubled.
*Compared to Standard, damage received is halved.
*''[[The Gathering]]'' cannot be unlocked.

===Standard Mode===
*Player deals normal damage.
*Damage dealt to player is normal.
*Must complete [[Jiminy's Journal]] to unlock ''The Gathering''.

===Proud Mode===
*Compared to Standard, damage received is doubled.
*Compared to Standard, damage to enemies is halved.
*"Proud Mode" is written on the top right side of the save file.
*Must unlock every Gate and finish the game to unlock ''The Gathering''.

==''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard, damage to enemies is doubled.
*Compared to Standard, damage received is halved.
*Sora starts with a [[Ribbon]] as his default armor.
*''{{c|Birth by Sleep|video}}'' cannot be unlocked.

===Standard Mode===
*Player deals normal damage.
*Damage dealt to player is normal.
*Must complete Jiminy's Journal and all Gummi Missions to unlock ''Birth by sleep''.

===Proud Mode===
*Compared to Standard, damage received is doubled.
*Compared to Standard, damage to enemies is halved.
*"Proud Mode" is written on the top right side of the save file.
*Must complete [[Jiminy's Journal]] to unlock ''Birth by sleep''.

===Critical Mode===
*Compared to Standard, damage received is doubled.
*Compared to Standard, damage to enemies is 1.25x, except for the [[Mushroom XIII]]. 
*Compared to Standard, HP and MP quantities from Bonus Levels are halved.
*Compared to Standard, EXP gained is 75% of the normal amount.
*Roxas learns Reaction Boost, Finishing Plus, Draw, 2x Lucky Lucky, MP Hastera and EXP Zero on the Third Day. 
*Roxas begins the game with 50 AP. 
*AP increases by increments of 3 instead of 2. 
*Save file displays "Critical Mode". 
*Unlocking the "{{c|Birth by sleep|video}}" video just requires you to win the Gold Crown. 
*In the PlayStation 2 Browser screen, there is a symbol attached to the save data file on the memory card.

==''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Roxas takes 0.7× damage.
*HP prize recovery is doubled.

===Standard Mode===
*Roxas takes normal damage.
*HP prize recovery is normal.

===Proud Mode===
*Roxas takes 1.75× damage.
*HP prize recovery is 0.7×

===Mission Mode===
Though not a difficulty level in itself, [[Mission Mode]] boasts a difficulty level of its own that surpasses even Proud Mode . Regardless of what difficulty you play on in Story Mode, Mission Mode's difficulty stays consistent. Due to its intended multiplayer purpose, designed for two or more players to cooperate, players deal far less damage than usual.
With the bonus defense from automatic higher levels for enemies in Mission Mode, players only deal 0.5x damage, and take normal damage.
{{sec-stub}}

==''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Player deals 50% more damage.
*All damage dealt to player is halved.
*''[[Blank Points]]'' cannot be unlocked.
*On the PSP XMB, there is an omega (Ω) symbol attached to the save data file on the memory stick.

===Standard Mode===
*Player deals normal damage.
*Damage dealt to player is normal.
*Must complete the Report Section and Final Episode to unlock ''Blank Points''.
*On the PSP XMB, there is an outline of a star attached to the save data file on the memory stick.

===Proud Mode===
*Compared to Standard and Beginner mode, the player deals half the damage.
*Compared to Standard and Beginner mode, enemies inflict twice the damage.
*Must complete the Final Episode to unlock ''Blank Points''.
*In the PSP XMB, there is a star symbol attached to the save data file on the memory stick.

===Critical Mode===
*Compared to Standard and Proud mode, the player deals half the damage.
*Compared to Standard and Proud mode, enemies inflict twice the damage.
*Compared to Standard and Proud mode, HP quantities from Bonus Levels are halved.
*Game begins with five command slots.
*EXP Zero is available as an ability.
*Unlocking the ''Blank Points'' video requires you to complete the Final Episode.
*In the PSP XMB, there is a cross symbol attached to the save data file on the memory stick.

==''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''==
{{sec-stub}}
===Beginner Mode===

===Standard Mode===

===Proud Mode===

===Critical Mode===

==''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard, enemies take 1.5x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Sora and Riku take 0.5x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Spirits take 0.5x the damage.
*Risky Winds ''[[Forecast]]'' is not available.
*Thirteen or more [[Trophies]] are required to unlock [[Another Guardian of Light]].

===Standard Mode===
*Enemies take normal damage.
*Sora and Riku take normal damage.
*Spirits take normal damage.
*Seven or more Trophies are required to unlock [[Another Guardian of Light]].

===Proud Mode===
*EXP Zero is available as an ability.
*Compared to Standard, enemies take 0.75x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Sora and Riku take 1.5x the damage.
*Spirits take normal damage.
*Five or more Trophies are required to unlock [[Another Guardian of Light]].

===Critical Mode===
*EXP Zero is available as an ability.
*Compared to Standard, enemies take 0.5x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Sora and Riku take 3.0x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Spirits take 1.5x the damage.
*Compared to Standard, Risky Winds has a 2.5x chance of appearing.
*Enemies do not flinch as much as in other difficulties.
*Bosses activate their desperation moves much earlier than normal.
**[[Game:Young Xehanort|Young Xehanort]] has an air combo that is exclusive to this difficulty level.
*No Trophies are required to unlock [[Another Guardian of Light]].

==''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-''==
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard, Aqua deals 50% more damage.
*All damage dealt to Aqua is halved.

===Standard Mode===
*Aqua deals normal damage.
*Damage dealt to Aqua is normal.

===Proud Mode===
*Compared to Standard, Aqua deals 50% less damage.
*Damage dealt to Aqua is normal.

===Critical Mode===
*Compared to Standard, Aqua deals 1.5× damage.
*Compared to Standard, enemies deal double damage.
*The effects of Combo Master and Leaf Bracer are removed.
*Second Chance does not take effect if Aqua is not at critical health when a fatal attack lands.
*Enemies and destructible items no longer drop HP, MP, and Focus prizes.

==''Kingdom Hearts III''==
{{sec-stub}}
===Beginner Mode===
*Compared to Standard or Proud, EXP gained is 1.25x of the normal amount
*Sora gives 1.5x more damage and takes 0.5x damage from enemies.
*Must collect all 90 [[Lucky Emblem]]s to view "{{c|Yozora|video}}".

===Standard Mode===
*Must collect 60 Lucky Emblems to view "Yozora".

===Proud Mode===
*Damage dealt to enemies is normal.
*Sora receives 1.5x times more damage.
*Must collect 30 Lucky Emblems to view "Yozora".

===Critical Mode===
<!--Need new damage outputs, AP starting value, HP/MP/DEF increments, and EXP gain-->
*MP and HP are halved compared to all other difficulties.
*Sora starts with 60 AP (64 with the pre-equiped [[Soldier Earring]]).
*[[Situation Command]]s take longer to build up.
*Sora takes twice the damage, and deals x.5 less damage compared to Standard and Proud.
*Compared to Standard or Proud, EXP gained is three-quarters of the normal amount.
*Sora learns Critical Counter, Critical Recharge, Critical Converter, Aerial Recovery, Counter Slash, Counter Impact, Counter Kick, Final Blow, Risk Dodge, Rising Spiral, Groundbreaker, Air Slide x3, Superslide x3, Combo Master and Damage Control, and the [[Soldier Earring]] accessory is equipped, after the Dive to the Heart segment.
*Links restore half of Sora's maximum HP, as opposed to all of his HP in other difficulties.
*No Lucky Emblems are needed to view "Yozora".

==Related trophies==
===Report trophies===
====''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''====
{{Trophy|img=[[File:Trinity Trophy KHBBS.png|64px]]|title=Trinity Trophy|desc=Finish all the stories in Proud Mode or above.}}
====''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''====
{|border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Critical Acclaim Trophy KHREC.png]]|title=Critical Acclaim|desc=Clear every world on Critical difficulty.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Achievement Trophy KHREC.png]]|title=Proud Achievement|desc=Clear every world on Proud difficulty.}}
|}
{{-}}
===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
{|border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Critical Praise Trophy KH3D.png|63px]]|title=Critical Praise|desc=Proof you have finished the story in Critical Mode.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Badge of Pride Trophy KH3D.png|63px]]|title=Badge of Pride|desc=Proof you have finished the story in Proud Mode.}}
|}
{{-}}
===PSN trophies===
====''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix''====
{|border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Player Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Proud Player|desc=Clear Final Mix on Proud.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Final Mix Master Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Final Mix Master|desc=Clear Final Mix.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Novice Player Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Novice Player|desc=Clear Final Mix on Beginner.}}
|}
{{-}}
====''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories''====
{|border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Player Sora Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Proud Player Sora|desc=Clear Sora's story on Proud.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Natural Player Sora Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Natural Player Sora|desc=Clear Sora's story on Standard.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Novice Player Sora Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Novice Player Sora|desc=Clear Sora's story on Beginner.}}
|-
|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Player Riku Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Proud Player Riku|desc=Clear Riku's story on Proud.}}
|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Natural Player Riku Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Natural Player Riku|desc=Clear Riku's story on Standard.}}
|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Novice Player Riku Trophy KHHD.png|63px]]|title=Novice Player Riku|desc=Clear Riku's story on Beginner.}}
|}
{{-}}
====''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''====
{|border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Critical Competitor Trophy KHIIFM.png|63px]]|title=Critical Competitor|desc=Clear game on Critical.}}
|width="300px"|{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Player Trophy KHIIFM.png|63px]]|title=Proud Player|desc=Clear game on Proud.}}
|}
{{-}}
====''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix''====
{{Trophy|img=[[File:Critical Competitor Trophy KHBBSFM.png|63px]]|title=Critical Competitor|desc=Clear game on Critical.}}
====''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-''====
{{Trophy|img=[[File:Proud Player Critical Competitor Trophy KH0.2.png|63px]]|title=Proud Player/Critical Competitor|desc=Complete the game in Proud or Critical Mode.}}
==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Game elements]]