Last updated: 30 September 2026

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Hardcore Mode Perks, Trophies & Tips

Hardcore Mode in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a new-save-only challenge that strips the HUD and compass, hides your position on the map, removes fast travel and makes you pick at least three permanent negative perks. Finish the story like that and you earn the Hardcore Henry II trophy; do it with all ten perks active for Against All Odds. This guide covers what changes, every perk, and how to survive it (KCD2 is also written KCD 2).

01What Hardcore Mode Changes

Hardcore is chosen when you start a new game, not toggled later. Sources agree on the core changes:

• No HUD — health and stamina bars and the compass' cardinal directions are gone.
• No player marker on the world map — you have to read the landscape.
• No fast travel.
• Reduced discovery radius and limited quest markers — markers appear only when you are very close to a target.
• Three or more negative perks you choose yourself (see below).

Saving is stricter too. Fextralife and our saving guide say the regular autosave is off, while PowerPyx still recommends mixing autosaves with manual ones — sources differ, so don't rely on autosave: save manually via Saviour Schnapps or Save & Exit before every risky fight.

02The Ten Negative Perks

You must pick at least three. Effects below are as reported by GamesRadar/PowerPyx/TheGamer; numbers are quoted only where sources agree:

• Bad Back — carry capacity cut by half; a small chance to hobble after picking herbs.
• Numbskull — 40% slower experience gain.
• Heavy-Footed — louder when sneaking and shoes wear out faster.
• Somnambulant — you tire faster and need to sleep more often.
• Hangry Henry — hunger is harsher; food is less effective.
• Sweaty — you get dirty and stink faster, and enemies can smell you from further away.
• Picky Eater — food spoils faster.
• Bashful — no asking for directions, slower Speech progress.
• Punchable Face — enemies deal more damage and fight better.
• Menace — punishments such as branding are more likely and can be permanent.

03Which Perks to Pick (Minimum Three)

TheGamer ranks Sweaty, Picky Eater and Hangry Henry as the mildest and Punchable Face and Heavy-Footed among the harshest. Our suggestion, based on that ranking: for the Hardcore Henry II trophy alone, take the three lowest-impact perks. Avoid Punchable Face unless you have mastered combat — it makes every fight deadlier.

For Against All Odds you need every perk at once, so plan a second, more careful run rather than starting it blind.

04Trophies: Hardcore Henry II and Against All Odds

• Hardcore Henry II (bronze) — finish the story in Hardcore Mode with at least three negative perks.
• Against All Odds (silver) — finish the game with all negative perks enabled together.

Because Hardcore requires a new save and, per Fextralife, cannot be switched back to Standard without outside tools or mods, decide before the prologue ends.

05Survival Tips

• Do one normal playthrough first — PowerPyx calls this highly recommended and rates the challenge about 7.5/10.
• Learn Master Strikes early; see our combat guide.
• Save often: PowerPyx advises manual saves before dangerous encounters.
• Plan for 20–30 hours, per PowerPyx.
• Learn the map landmarks — with no player marker, roads, rivers and towns are your compass.