Avowed Difficulty Guide: From Story Time to Path of the Damned

So, you've finally decided to set foot in the Living Lands. Whether you're a seasoned RPG veteran or someone who just wants to soak up the narrative, Avowed offers a flexible difficulty system that lets you tailor the combat experience to your liking. The game might have been out for a while now, but new adventurers are still asking the same question: which difficulty should I pick, and can I change it later? Let’s break it all down in plain terms.

First things first—Avowed doesn't bury its difficulty options in some obscure menu after you've already started. Right before you finish creating your character and distributing attribute points, you’ll land on the final tab where five distinct settings are presented. It’s refreshingly straightforward, even if the level of granularity isn't as deep as some hardcore players might expect. There are no sliders for enemy aggression or damage multipliers here; just five presets designed to cover a wide range of playstyles. But don’t let that simplicity fool you—each tier changes the flow of combat quite dramatically.

The Five Tiers of Challenge

To help you decide where you belong, here’s an honest look at what each difficulty actually feels like:

😌 Story Time – This is essentially narrative mode. Combat takes a back seat, allowing you to breeze through encounters even if your gear isn’t perfectly optimized. How forgiving is it? Well, with a half-decent weapon you can chop off nearly half a boss’s health bar in one go. Incoming damage is so low that you’d have to actively try to get defeated. It’s perfect if you’re here for the world exploration and character interactions, and you’d rather not stress about dodging or blocking.

😊 Easy – Things stay relaxed, but there’s just a hint of resistance now. Enemies still drop quickly, and they hit about as hard as a pillow, provided your equipment matches the tier of the area you’re in. If you’ve played any action RPG before, you’ll find this setting almost therapeutic. Boss fights might last a minute longer, but you’re unlikely to see a game-over screen as long as you keep moving.

😐 Normal – This is where Avowed starts feeling like a proper game. Your damage output is noticeably reduced, and enemy attacks can genuinely hurt. Without armor that’s on par with your foes, a single heavy swing could delete half your health bar. Gear upgrades suddenly matter, and you’ll need to start mixing in abilities or consumables to stay alive. It’s the sweet spot for most players who want a fair fight without feeling cheap.

😬 Hard – If you think you’ve mastered the basics, this setting will test that assumption. The leap from Normal isn’t massive at the start, but as you progress, the game expects you to know your build inside out. Planning to swap from a greatsword to a pistol? You’d better respec your attributes and abilities to match, or you’ll suffer. This is for those who enjoy tinkering with character optimization and don’t mind repeating a tough encounter a few times.

😰 Path of the Damned – The name says it all. Even with a meticulously crafted build and the best possible gear for your level, a single misstep against a boss can send you back to the loading screen. You need to master every combat mechanic—dodging, parrying, companion commands, status effects—because the game won’t cut you any slack. It’s brutal, unforgiving, and utterly satisfying for the kind of player who views death as a learning opportunity rather than a punishment.

Can You Switch Difficulty After Starting?

Now, here’s the question that saves many playthroughs: what if you bite off more than you can chew? Or, conversely, what if you get bored because things are too easy? The answer is a resounding yes—you can change the difficulty at any point. No need to restart your entire journey.

To do this, pause the game and navigate to the main menu’s settings. From there, go into the game settings tab, and the difficulty option sits right at the top. It’s a simple dropdown that instantly adjusts the challenge without reloading your save or breaking anything. This flexibility is a godsend. Imagine starting on Path of the Damned because you feel brave, then hitting an early boss that wipes the floor with you before you’ve even found decent armor. Instead of rage-quitting, you can temporarily drop to Normal, get past the wall, and bump it back up when you’re better prepared.

Such freedom encourages experimentation. Many savvy players will begin on Hard or Path of the Damned just to test the waters, knowing they can scale down if a particular area feels overtuned. Others might start on Story Time to rush through the opening hours, then crank up the difficulty once their character has some meaningful abilities. The choice is entirely yours, and the game respects that.

Which Difficulty Should You Choose in 2026?

Since Avowed has been out long enough for community wisdom to settle, here’s a quick decision helper:

• Casual explorers → Story Time or Easy. You’re here for the sights and the story, not to prove your reflexes.

• First playthrough with a balanced expectation → Normal. It provides enough resistance to keep you engaged without becoming frustrating.

• Veterans of the genre → Hard. You’ll get the most out of the upgrade systems and companion synergies without feeling overwhelmed.

• Challenge seekers and achievers → Path of the Damned. There are achievements tied to completing the game on this setting, so if you’re a completionist, this is your proving ground. Just don’t be ashamed to dip down if a boss makes you its chew toy.

Remember, there’s no wrong answer. Avowed’s difficulty system isn’t about gatekeeping content; it’s about letting you shape your own adventure. So go ahead, pick a tier, and if it doesn’t feel right after a few hours, simply open that menu and switch. The Living Lands are waiting, and they promise a memorable journey—no matter how hard you make them fight back.