The Difficulty mode is a character setting selected during character creation. There are 
3 options: Softcore, Mediumcore, and Hardcore, all changing the difficulty mode of what happens upon their death. Once a character has been created, its difficulty cannot be changed. There are no options on 
and 
.
There is also a choice between Normal and Expert mode when creating a new world. This is a separate setting that applies to the world, rather than the character, and similarly can't be changed once the world has begun generating. See world modes below.
A third form of difficulty is the transition from pre-hardmode to hardmode. This is a part by gameplay advancement and cannot be changed.
Softcore
Softcore is the default/ only character mode and the easiest.
Softcore characters drop half their coins on when killed by a boss or enemy (rounded up), which can be retrieved upon respawning, but may also be collected by other players in Multiplayer. Softcore characters respawn at their spawn point after death, following a short delay.
In an Expert mode world, Softcore characters will drop 75% of their money, instead of the usual 50%. Enemies can also steal your coins and despawn, which can be a huge setback for the player.
Mediumcore
Mediumcore characters drop all of their items upon death, including all coins and ammo. These can be retrieved upon respawning, but any items may also be collected by other players in Multiplayer, and Coins by enemies in Expert mode. Mediumcore characters still respawn at their spawn point after death, following a short delay.
Hardcore
Hardcore characters die permanently, and drop all of their items upon death, including coins and ammo, which other players can then collect in multiplayer.
Death causes a Hardcore character to become a Ghost that can continue to observe the world but not affect it. Ghosts can fly, pass through walls, and continue to chat with other multiplayer users, but cannot interact with the environment in any way and cannot open a map. Other players are not able to see Ghosts.
Once a dead Hardcore character quits the current world, that character is permanently deleted. Items the character placed in Chests will not be deleted, but items the character had in portable storage (Piggy Bank, Safe, Defender's Forge) will be deleted.
For more information and tips for surviving in Hardcore, visit Guide:Hardcore.
World modes
- Normal mode: This is the normal world mode, as the name suggests.
Expert mode: Intended for experienced players, Expert mode worlds contain the same enemies, but with increased stats, and some have altered behavior patterns that make them more difficult to defeat. Loot drops are more frequent, however. As a special reward, bosses drop Treasure Bags which, in addition to the normal boss loot, also contain special items only available in Expert mode.
Expert mode brings numerous other changes. See Expert mode for a more complete list.
Notes
- Difficulty modes and world modes are unrelated to Hardmode, which is a change to the world that occurs after the Wall of Flesh has been defeated.
- In the
Console version and the Old-gen console version, softcore mode is called "normal mode" and mediumcore is called "Difficult". Hardcore is still called hardcore.
Tips
- New players may want to use softcore mode characters until they become more familiar with the game.
- Mediumcore characters may want to keep their second-best equipment in a chest in case of death.
- Hardcore mode can be utilized to freely explore a map by dying and flying through the ground and sky as a Ghost.
History
- Desktop 1.2.4.1: The proper items will now drop on Mediumcore/Hardcore deaths.
- Desktop 1.2.3.1: Fixed bug where Hardcore characters couldn't open the menu after death.
- Desktop 1.1.1: Mediumcore characters now correctly drop items with modifiers on death.
- Desktop 1.1: A Tombstone is now dropped upon the death of softcore characters.
- Desktop 1.0.6.1: Mediumcore characters now correctly drop ammo on death.
- Desktop 1.0.6:
- Mediumcore mode introduced.
- Added Ghost sprite to replace dead Hardcore characters.
- Desktop 1.0.5: Hardcore mode introduced.
- Desktop-Release: Introduced.
- Console-Release: Introduced.
- Mobile-Release: Introduced.
- 3DS-Release: Introduced.