Difficulty

The difficulty in Der Rising is a setting that is selected right before starting a run, and it changes various variables in the game, from basics such as enemy and player stats, to AI and behavior changes as well as map generation changes.

There are a total of 4 difficulties, 3 selectable from start, 1 unlocked.

Don't Hurt Me I'm Scared
Don't Hurt Me I'm Scared (DHMIS) is the easiest difficutly in Der Rising; It has the advantage of making unlockables and achievements not requiring a specific difficutly easier, however it has the lowest reward ratio for both score and teeth upgrades.

Teeth awarded for completing a run is 1. Score multiplier is 50%.

Statistical Changes

 * TOTAL Drop Rarity +50%
 * TOTAL Player Health +50%
 * TOTAL Boss Health -25%
 * TOTAL Enemy Attack Speed -25%
 * Base Player Defense +20
 * Base Player Luck +1
 * Player Damage +25%
 * Player Jump Count +1

AI Changes
Most enemies have are much less aggressive, and disengage after leaving their spawn spot too far.

Most bosses have an entire move-set removed from AI. (For Example, Thormin no longer performs his vine attacks)

Most multi-phase bosses do not go into their secondary phase(s).

Map Changes
Most challenge-based segments are removed from appearing. Chest spawn-rate is guaranteed.

Other Changes

 * The following bosses will never appear in DHMIS difficulty:
 * 1) The Joker
 * 2) The Kraken
 * 3) The Twin Cutter
 * 4) Inori, of The Traum
 * 5) Stargaze, The Providence
 * 6) Assailant, The Nightwalker
 * 7) Wulfrum, A Lustful Low
 * The player cannot unlock the Theme For Psychopath Justice difficulty.

Equilibrum
This is the standard difficulty in Der Rising; The way the game was "meant" to be played.

Teeth awarded for completing a run is 4. Score multiplier is 100%.

Statistical Changes
None.

AI Changes
None.

Map Changes
All map segments can spawn, however difficult or challenge segments are less common.

Other Changes
None.

Ascension
This is a simple increase in difficutly which can be viewed as a more difficult Equilibrum difficutly.

Teeth awarded for completing a run is 6. Score multiplier is 150%.

Statistical Changes

 * TOTAL Boss Health +25%
 * Base Enemy Defense +20
 * Enemy Damage +10%
 * Enemy Spawn Rate +25%

AI Changes
Enemies are slightly more aggressive; They engage the player from a longer distance, and alert any other enemy within proximity to also chase the player. Some enemies may behave differently.

Bosses with multiple phases enter their phases sooner.

Map Changes
All map segments can spawn; Difficult/challenge segments are more common.

Other Changes

 * The Guardian can now spawn if the player waits longer than 10 minutes in the same biome.

Theme For Psychopath Justice
This is the hardest difficulty in Der Rising; It can only be selected once the player has completed a run on Equilibrum or Ascension difficulty.

Teeth awarded for completing a run is 10. Score multiplier is 300%.

Statistical Changes

 * TOTAL Enemy Health +100% (This includes bosses)
 * TOTAL Player Health -20%
 * TOTAL Enemy Attack Speed +100% (This includes bosses)
 * Base Enemy Defense +30
 * Enemy Damage +25%
 * Enemy Spawn Rate +100%
 * Drop Rarity -50%
 * Player Jump Count -1

AI Changes
Most enemies have an additional move or are much more aggressive. Enemies engage as soon as line of sight can be established, regardless of distance.

Multi-phase bosses move into their secondary phase(s) almost instantly.

Most bosses have an entire additional move-set per phase.

Map Changes
Treasure segments are even rarer; Unnecessary transition segments never spawn. Difficult/challenge segments are more common than normal segments.

There can only be a total of 3 chests per biome.

Other Changes

 * The Joker is a guaranteed fight in the The Star Boundary biome.
 * The Guardian spawns right after defeating a boss or after the player stays longer than 7 minutes in a biome, whichever happens sooner.
 * Wulfrum, A Lustful Low has a much higher chance of being the boss fight in The Volcano biome.
 * Certain evironmental hazards are now lethal. (Lava, Pits, Black Flames)