All Difficulty Levels | Echoes of Aincrad ( SAO EoA )

All Difficulty Levels in Echoes of Aincrad

See our guide about the different difficulty levels in Echoes of Aincrad. We explain how each one changes gameplay, which difficulty is recommended, and how to switch between them mid-playthrough.

What Are the Differences Between Difficulty Levels?

Enemies, Item Drops, and EXP Gain Scale with Difficulty

Changing the difficulty level in Echoes of Aincrad affects enemy durability and damage, weapon drop rates, and experience gained. It's worth noting that EXP only scales up starting at Hard difficulty, since Story and Normal give the same amount.

Death Game Mode Is Available at Any Difficulty

Alongside your difficulty choice, you can also activate Death Game Mode, which permanently deletes your save data if you're defeated even once. This is available after completing your first playthrough, or unlock it early by purchasing the Deluxe Edition or higher.

No Hard or Very Hard Difficulty in the Demo

One of the limitations of the Echoes of Aincrad demo is that players cannot choose the Hard or Very Hard difficulties. You'll need the full version to experience these tougher challenges.

Recommended Difficulty Level

Normal Difficulty Is the Best Choice for Your First Playthrough

Starting on Normal difficulty gives you a good balance of combat and story. You can always adjust it later, lower it if things feel too tough, or raise it if you're looking for more of a challenge.

Crank Up the Difficulty for Powerful Weapons!

If you're specifically farming for materials or aiming for better gear, bump the difficulty up a notch. Higher difficulties boost your odds of getting high-grade weapon and items.

How to Change Difficulty Level

Follow these steps to change your difficulty in Echoes of Aincrad:

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