Diablo 4 Hardcore mode

Creating a Hardcore character

The process of creating a Diablo 4 Hardcore mode character is the same as a regular character, with one exception: ticking a checkbox on the last screen of the character creation editor:

Once the player ticks the box, enters the character's name, and clicks the "Start Game" button, they're given a warning prompt about the nature of Hardcore play:

As the warning prompt suggests, there's no take-backs in Hardcore mode -- die once, and your character is gone forever (i.e., no Hardcore to Softcore path, like in Path of Exile). Depending on the character's level, one of the following will happen:

• Under Level 10: the character is removed from the character slot listing and never seen again.
• Level 10 and above: the character is removed from the character slot listing, but its name is enshrined in the Hall of Fallen Heroes, an interface to view slain Hardcore characters.

Hardcore characters still alive (i.e., zero deaths) appear in the character slot listing with a Grim Reaper icon and "Hardcore" under their name.

No advantages given

Hardcore mode is the most raw form of Diablo 4 gameplay -- Hardcore characters will start with no account-based advantages, like:

• Shared stash items
• Shared Gold

Altars of Lilith, once found in Hardcore mode, carry over from one Hardcore character to another, but not to non-Hardcore characters (i.e., those in the Eternal Realm).

Dying in Hardcore mode

Blizzard has said on multiple occasions that they intend to make Diablo 4 more challenging than past Diablo games. The company made a compilation video of popular streamers falling to Bosses like the Butcher in Open Beta.

When a Hardcore character dies in Diablo 4, a ghost appears over the character's body (same as Softcore mode), and the player is given a "You Have Died" prompt:

But, instead of being given the ability to respawn at a nearby area, the slain Hardcore character can only return to the main menu, where the character's name is no longer in the character selection list.

Hall of Fallen Heroes

The Hall of Fallen Heroes is a feature that allows players to look back on their longer-lived Hardcore characters. It lists a player's slain Hardcore characters over Level 10, along with their gear and Skills used at the time of death.

Playing Hardcore PvP

If a Hardcore player enters the PvP area, Fields of Hatred, and gets killed by another player, this is considered permadeath [1], meaning the character is lost forever. This makes Hardcore PvP an extremely risky proposition, and reserved only for those confident in their PvP abilities.

Hardcore world firsts

Hardcore Level 100 Solo record

The fastest recorded player to ever reach Level 100 in Hardcore (solo) was well-known Diablo streamer, wudijo. He accomplished the feat on June 5, 2023 with his Rogue after 77 hours 42 minutes of gameplay. Remember that solo players don't receive the 10% experience buff that Partied players do. Below is gameplay footage of the moment wudijo hit 100:

First player to Level 100 (Any mode)

In terms of the first player to hit Level 100 regardless of play mode and Party status, that honor goes to Rob2628 (aka cArn_). He hit 100 with his Softcore Barbarian on June 5, 2023 after 54 hours 28 minutes of gameplay. He and his Party repeatedly grinded the Champions Demise Dungeon.