KCD2 Hardcore Mode: The 10 Negative Perks and What Changes

What Hardcore Mode removes

Regardless of which perks you take, Hardcore applies the same systemic changes:

• No HUD — health and stamina bars are hidden, and the compass no longer shows cardinal directions.
• No player marker — your position is not shown on the world map; you navigate by roads, rivers, and landmarks.
• No fast travel — you walk or ride everywhere.
• Smaller discovery radius — points of interest only reveal when you are much closer.
• Delayed quest markers — compass markers appear only when you are nearly at the objective.
• No autosave — only manual saves count, which makes every decision weightier (especially around the points of no return).
• Enemies do not surrender — fights are fought to the end.

The ten negative perks (pick at least three)

1. Bad Back — carry capacity cut by 50%; small chance to hobble when picking herbs or mushrooms.
2. Bashful — cannot ask NPCs for directions, 25% slower Speech XP, and cannot use bathhouse services.
3. Hangry Henry — hunger also cuts Speech, Charisma, and Intimidation; food fills you 50% less and digests 25% faster.
4. Heavy-Footed — base Noise set to 25 instead of 0; shoes wear out twice as fast.
5. Menace — a criminal brand is permanent; a second serious crime means execution; search chance doubled.
6. Numbskull — all skill experience is 40% slower.
7. Picky Eater — food spoils 25% faster; gutting animals yields only 25% of the meat.
8. Punchable Face — enemies are stronger and braver against you, and you take 10% more damage from all attacks.
9. Somnambulant — you lose restedness 40% faster and may sleepwalk to a different location.
10. Sweaty — clothing dirties and smells 50% faster; NPCs detect you from twice the distance, and perfume does not help.

The two achievements

• Hardcore Henry II — finish the story in Hardcore Mode with at least three negative perks.
• Against All Odds — finish the entire game with all ten perks active at once. For which three to pick and how to survive the run, see the Hardcore Mode tips page.