Honour and Custom Difficulty Modes

Learn about Baldur's Gate 3's brutal Honour Mode and customizable difficulty. Discover stricter rules, legendary boss actions, and the single save file limitation.

Baldur's Gate 3's Honour mode is the game's most brutal difficulty setting, summarized by Larian as “A fraught and deadly campaign awaits, limited to a single save file.” This mode is not intended for new players; familiarity with the game's basic mechanics is crucial to avoid accidental deaths from environmental hazards or missteps.

You cannot change difficulty settings to Honour or Custom modes for an existing playthrough; this must be done at the start of a new campaign. If you fail Honour mode, you can change difficulty settings for that playthrough to Custom, but you will no longer be in Honour mode and will not earn related achievements.

In Honour mode, powerful bosses gain new abilities and Legendary Actions, making them significantly more challenging than in other difficulties. While Tactician mode also increases boss health and damage, Honour mode introduces entirely new attack patterns. These additions aim to keep the game fresh and challenging, even for experienced players.

Honour mode also imposes stricter rules on actions and damage bonuses. Players have fewer actions available, and the synergy between potions and spells for damage amplification is reduced. This contrasts with Tactician mode, where such bonuses are implemented to a lesser degree. Consequently, players must be more strategic with their actions, especially when facing large groups or tough bosses, utilizing environmental cover and maximizing the effectiveness of every spell and potion.

The most unforgiving aspect of Honour mode is the single save file limitation. There is no reloading older saves, meaning lost companions are permanently gone, failed quest outcomes cannot be reversed, and a party wipe results in a game over. While a failed Honour mode run allows continuation in Custom difficulty, it forfeits Honour mode achievements and the unique boss encounters.

In essence, Honour mode offers a high-risk, high-reward experience that intensifies gameplay. The knowledge of permanent consequences makes every decision more impactful.