Rubinite Hardcore & True Difficulty

How Hardcore Continuation Unlocks

Defeat Alcina, watch credits, then repeatedly select the same cleared save until Ruby wakes in White Space. Talk to the mysterious figure and reject the illusion — you return to the Monastery under True Difficulty / hardcore rules. This is the same continuation that carries the true ending route, not a separate menu toggle labeled New Game Plus in every localization.

Health-boosting talents are replaced with damage-focused alternatives. Healing potions convert into impure crystals. Wichiwi restores your acquired Talisman Satchel. Roy sends you back toward The Beast to restart the gauntlet under the new rules.

Rules That Change Every Fight

Boss health bars are hidden and a single hit ends the attempt — Meditation rematches with story state unchanged are not the same mode. Your cycle must become read → answer → spend → leave. Prefer one or two slashes after a committed dodge, cash marks only when the exit lane is open, and use Dart / Sunder Slash on their explicit cues instead of gambling perfect dodges on every projectile.

Story mode accessibility sliders from a Normal/Story picker are a different system chosen at new game. Hardcore continuation can still require the RUBINITE achievement’s Normal clear on a proper difficulty file if you care about 100% — plan saves accordingly.

Preparation Checklist

Enter with Talismans you already understand from the first clear. Practice Dart red-flash interrupts and Sunder Slash grabs in Meditation before Capital fights. On the true route, prioritize Monastery Mira events and Red-Eyed Tree before Roy even though the boss list looks familiar.

Force 60 FPS on Steam Deck before one-hit sessions — input lag from battery saver modes ends attempts instantly. See Steam Deck Guide and Focus Calculator for mark planning when you cannot see HP.