Hard mode

Hard Mode is a new addition that seems to present each mission again on a harder difficulty. It will basically make the whole game a little easier, while also adding a much harder version. Hard mode is due to be implemented "within a matter of hours".

Gaile Gray has stated that it will be included in an upcoming update, and will cover all areas of the game except for Pre-Searing Ascalon.

Monsters

 * Monsters will receive significant adjustments, particularly the monsters which are low-level in regular mode.
 * Gaile Gray stated, "So, if you've ever wanted to explore a version of the Flame Temple Corridor with level 20+ creatures, you'll be able to do that with Hard Mode." Follow the link at the bottom of the page to see her whole statement.

Items
Hard Mode will introduce new items which will only drop in hard mode. Hard Mode will also introduce lock picks, which are similar to keys, but can be used on any locked chests (it is not specified if this means any locked chests in Hard Mode or any locked chests in any mode), and have a chance of not being consumed on use. The chance of them working and the chance of them breaking is determined by your Lucky and Treasure Hunter titles.

Other items of interest include tomes, allowing your character learn skills that have been already unlocked on your account. There is an Elite Tome and a Non-Elite Tome for learning elites and non-elites respectively. Passage Scrolls can be used to enter the Underworld or the Fissure of Woe without paying the entry fee. They must be used in the typical entry points for these locations.

Titles
Gaile Gray has stated that Hard Mode will add the Guardian and Vanquisher titles, and make the maximum ranks of the Sunspear and Lightbringer title tracks attainable. Holy Lightbringer, the current maximum Lightbringer rank, is already attainable, as it is not clear if the statement on Lightbringer means that the rank of Holy Lightbringer will become more easily attainable, or if it means that the maximum rank will be increased.

Sunspear skills
Although not technically part of Hard Mode, several new Sunspear skills will be added in a future update soon after Hard Mode is released.

Changes to Regular Mode
With the introduction of Hard Mode, the difficulty of some foes in Regular Mode will be toned down.