The Waylanders difficulty levels, explained

There are five different difficulty levels in the Waylanders, and while they may seem straightforward, there's a lot more to them than meets the eye. The difficulty levels do not give enemies more health; they simply change how the game is played.

• Peasant - Similar to a story mode (or super-baby-easy mode). You and your party are immortal and will never drop below 1 Health point. There is still plenty of excitement, as long as you can pretend there is any danger. This is your setting for those who don't want to feel the pressure of combat.
• Pilgrim - This is the Easy Mode. Your party's health will regenerate after every battle, and enemies will not harm you as much. There is an option for players who want to experience the story but do not want the shame of being a peasant.
• Explorer - This is hard mode. There is no middle ground between Pilgrim and Explorer. Your health still recovers after battles, but not as much. This one is for those who prefer fair but challenging games.
• Waylander - There is no health regeneration and enemies hit harder than they should. It's important that you get used to buying health potions since you'll use them quite a bit.
• Nightmare - The unfair permadeath mode. There is no health regeneration, enemies are extremely tough, and losing wipes out your save. The game starts you off with just one weapon and a limited number of potions, so you must be careful.

Related: What origin should I pick in The Waylanders?

You shouldn't expect much change in enemies with difficulty adjustments, so prepare yourself for a challenging experience, no matter what you pick. Regardless of the difficulty level, enemies will always have plenty of health and friends. By selecting a difficulty level, you choose how to play the game.

You will get hit since the combat is turn-based, so you should pick a setting that you feel comfortable with. The controls do not help you achieve better results, and higher difficulties require you to pause the game more often to use tactics.

If you like The Waylanders, you should check out All achievements and trophies for The Waylanders here on Pro Game Guides.