When starting the game for the first time, you can choose between Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, and Hellwalker. Wayfarer focuses on the story experience, Pathbreaker delivers a standard level of challenge, and Hellwalker emphasizes more aggressive enemies with adaptive behavior. Outside of combat, you can switch between these three difficulties at any time through the settings.
What Are the Differences Between the Three Difficulties?
In Push Square's playthrough, each of the three difficulties differs in enemy aggression, damage, and guard-break demands:
| Mode | Player Focus | Combat Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Wayfarer | Story, exploration, and a more relaxed combat pace | Lower enemy aggression and damage; defenses break more easily |
| Pathbreaker | A standard-difficulty action experience | Enemies stay moderately aggressive, with mid-tier damage and guard-break demands |
| Hellwalker | High-intensity combat and precise reactions | Enemies attack far more proactively, using more advanced intelligence that adapts to the player |
The difficulty selection screen from the State of Play presentation, with Wayfarer highlighted (August 2026; S-GAME, image via Kungfupunk)
Once You've Chosen, How Do You Adjust It Mid-Game?
On the PC English interface:
- Outside of combat, open the menu and go to Settings.
- Switch to the Game tab and find the Select Difficulty option under the Difficulty section.
- Use the left and right arrows to choose between Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, and Hellwalker; the description panel on the right shows an introduction to each mode.
How Do You Unlock 66 Days, and What Does It Challenge You With?
After finishing the game on Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, or Hellwalker, you unlock 66 Days, which you can select when starting a new game.
This mode uses Hellwalker difficulty and sets the death limit to 66. Once those deaths are used up, the run ends. It's built for players who want to replay the full journey after completing the game with only a limited number of deaths allowed.
Where Do You Start New Game Plus, and What Carries Over?
After finishing the ending and watching the credits, you can travel from any Bell to the Puppet Cell in the Mountain of Imprisonment and talk to Inanis to begin your next journey.
Before entering New Game Plus, the confirmation screen lists the following items:
| Treatment | Items |
|---|---|
| Carried over | Equipment, progression items, Ability Training, Archives |
| Reset | Quests, maps, Key Items, remaining days |
New Game Plus confirmation screen (PCGamesN / Paul Kelly)
In the confirmation box, Confirm starts the next playthrough and Cancel returns you to the game. Late-game weapons can be brought into New Game Plus, letting them join your next run earlier, and weapon reforging returns the upgrade materials you invested so you can reassign them.
If You Want the PS5 Trophies, How Should You Handle Difficulty and Side Content?
PowerPyx's trophy guide states that every trophy can be earned on the lowest difficulty. Trophy hunters can simply push through on Wayfarer.
Before advancing the main story, keep an eye on NPC dialogue and quest log hints, and watch for the purple key side quests. These contain important story content, hidden bosses, and hidden weapons, and they can also affect the ending.
References
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All Things How: Difficulty selection with in-game settings screenshots
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Gamersky developer interview: New Game Plus weapons and key side quests
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PCGamesN: New Game Plus starting location, carried-over items, and confirmation screen
More Phantom Blade Zero guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I change Phantom Blade Zero's difficulty after starting the game?
Yes. Outside of combat, open the menu, go to Settings, switch to the Game tab, and use the Select Difficulty option under the Difficulty section. The left and right arrows let you switch between Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, and Hellwalker, with the description panel on the right explaining each mode.
How do I unlock 66 Days, and what happens when I run out of deaths?
Finish the game once on Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, or Hellwalker, and 66 Days becomes selectable when starting a new game. The mode runs at Hellwalker difficulty and allows up to 66 deaths — once those are used up, the run ends.
What carries over into New Game Plus?
Equipment, progression items, Ability Training, and Archives carry over, while Quests, maps, Key Items, and remaining days are reset. After the ending and credits, travel from any Bell to the Puppet Cell in the Mountain of Imprisonment and talk to Inanis to start. Late-game weapons can be brought into the next run, and weapon reforging returns your invested upgrade materials for reassignment.
Can I earn all PS5 trophies on the lowest difficulty?
Yes. PowerPyx's trophy guide states that every trophy can be completed on the lowest difficulty, so trophy hunters can play through on Wayfarer. Watch for the purple key side quests, which contain important story content, hidden bosses, and hidden weapons, and can affect the ending.