For the enemies encountered in Hard Mode, see Category:Hard Mode Enemies.

Hard Mode is an optional difficulty-enhancing game mode, triggered by naming the fallen human "Frisk". Similarly to the Undertale Demo, Hard Mode lasts only until the end of the Ruins. It consists of slight dialogue changes, and much more difficult enemy encounters. At the end of the boss battle with Toriel, the Annoying Dog arrives, announcing the end of Hard Mode, much to the displeasure of Toriel. Some monsters are exclusive to Hard Mode while others can be found later in the game in the CORE outside of Hard Mode.

Attempting to escape the Ruins during Hard Mode by editing the protagonist's location in their SAVE file, or by direct intervention (cheat engine, debug mode, etc.) causes the game to continue normally.^[1]

Differences

• Different, more difficult enemies replace the enemies that appear in a normal run. For example, Froggits are replaced with Final Froggits.
• Wearing the Bandage does not guarantee the ability to flee a battle.
• The battle theme is different, using "Stronger Monsters" instead of "Enemy Approaching".
• The labels for the switches have worn away.
• The first Froggit in the room after Toriel leaves tells the protagonist that running away does not work on the first turn.
• Only three pieces of Monster Candy can be taken instead of 4; taking the fourth one prompts the response: "In this hellish world, you can only take three pieces of candy..."
• When Toriel leaves Home, she does not bring groceries.
  • Toriel bakes a Snail Pie instead of a Butterscotch Pie, as she was unable to find ingredients for the latter.
• Toriel's attack is increased from 6 to 8.^[2]
• The end of Toriel's boss fight is interrupted by the Annoying Dog, and the rest of the game is inaccessible.

• If Toriel is struck down during her fight, she stops dying once Annoying Dog interrupts.
• When the game is reset, the name of the fallen human can be changed.
  • This was most likely done to prevent the player from having their game stuck on Hard Mode forever, as it is triggered by choosing a certain name.

Ending dialogue

• HARD MODE
• Coming...
• Maybe,
• Eh. don't count on it.
• [Flowey] Hey.
• [Flowey] What's the hold up!?
• [Flowey] Shouldn't she be dead by now!?
• [Flowey] I've been waiting in that room for...
• [Flowey] ...
• [Flowey] ... Hard mode...?
• [Flowey] Gee, you better take a picture.
• [Flowey] People are gonna think you're REALLY cool.
• [Flowey] ... NOT!
• [Flowey] Golly, talk about a tryhard.
• [Flowey] PA. THE. TIC.
• [Flowey] Uh, so, are you gonna keep going, or...?
• [Toriel] It's over.
• [Flowey] Hahaha! I KNEW that!
• [Flowey] Why does everyone have to be so condescending!?
• [Flowey] ...
• [Flowey] So what's YOUR excuse? Sitting around here...?
• [Flowey] Don't you have anything better to
• [Annoying Dog] I already said that.

Gallery

Trivia

• Completing Hard Mode on the console versions of the game grants the player a humorous border labeled "Beauty," featuring muscular humanoid versions of the Annoying Dog, Flowey and Toriel. This same border appears around the 3D Toriel footage in the release trailers for the game.
  • The art featured is primarily from the Undertale Kickstarter updates, with slight alterations. It is from the 1st,^[3] 4th,^[4] and 7th^[5] updates.
• According to Toby Fox on Twitter, when Toriel hugged the protagonist goodbye in the Ruins, she originally would have paused before performing a flying suplex that is also known as Izuna Drop. However, this was never implemented.^[6]

References