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Learn about PEAK’s escalating difficulty levels from Tenderfoot to Ascent 7, and the challenge presented by each one.
PEAK is a challenging co-op climbing game about scaling mountains on a remote island through various biomes. At first, the game may seem too difficult as poison, hunger, and fall damage drain your stamina bar. However, learning about the dangers of each biome, harvesting their resources, and with help from teammates, one will eventually reach the Peak and successfully complete a run.
However, there is still much to accomplish in PEAK after that. Completing the game on the standard difficulty unlocks harder challenge modes with increasingly punishing modifiers. All the difficulties can be attempted solo or in co-op mode. Here are the nine difficulties in PEAK, including the seven Ascent levels.
All Difficulty Modes in PEAK
As a run begins, interact with the airport ticket kiosk to select the difficulty by using the up and down arrows on the ticket. Initially, only the Tenderfoot and Peak difficulties are available. Ascent 1 and subsequent Ascent levels are unlocked progressively after completing Peak. Completing Ascent 1 unlocks Ascent 2, completing Ascent 2 unlocks Ascent 3, and so on until Ascent 7.
Also Read: PEAK: All Cosmetics and How To Unlock Them
Tenderfoot
- Stamina drains more slowly while climbing.
- Hunger grows at a slower rate.
- No time limit
The Tenderfoot difficulty is the game’s “easy mode.” The greatest advantage this mode offers is a slower rate of stamina depletion while climbing. This makes it easier to scale higher before needing to stop and replenish stamina. The total stamina will also be affected by hunger at a slower rate, requiring less food to satiate each player. The mode also disables the fog mechanic and removes the time limit. Tenderfoot is the perfect difficulty for new players to learn the ropes before diving into the game’s punishing standard experience.
Peak
The standard difficulty of the game, Peak offers no buffs or debuffs to the players. Completing a run on this difficulty awards a Tadpole Scout sash and unlocks Ascent 1.
Ascent 1
- Easier to take fall damage
- Fall damage increased
Falling a shorter distance than before will result in taking fall damage during an Ascent 1 run. This increases the risk of a game over while climbing sheer cliffs, and you’ll have to watch your step more carefully.
Ascent 2
- Ascent 1 difficulty effect
- Hunger grows at a faster rate
Hunger becomes a greater threat to your stamina bar while playing on Ascent 2. In addition to taking care of the fall damage effect from Ascent 1, you will have to scout for food more frequently and manage it well.
Ascent 3
- All previous Ascent difficulty effects
- Increased item weight
Every item you pick up in the game has weight, which adds up to reduce your total stamina. Normally, the item weight is negligible, but Ascent 3 increases it significantly. To complete this difficulty level, inventory management gains importance.
Ascent 4
- All previous Ascent difficulty effects
- Flares do not spawn at the Peak
After making it through all the biomes, Flares normally found at the Peak are used to call for rescue. However, Ascent level 4 prevents flares from spawning at the Peak. You will have to pick up flares from the plane crash site or find them along the way to complete the run.
Ascent 5
- All previous Ascent difficulty effects
- Cold debuff is applied during the night.
The Alpines biome is generally disliked for its punishing cold debuff, which reduces the stamina bar significantly. Ascent level 5 will apply that cold debuff every night, marking a dramatic difficulty spike.
Ascent 6
- All previous Ascent difficulty effects
- Increased stamina loss while climbing
The penultimate difficulty mode of Peak increases the stamina lost while climbing any surface. This adversely impacts players’ climbing range and increases dependence on ropes, vines, and chains. Completing this level awards the Wolf Scout achievement.
Ascent 7
- All previous Ascent difficulty effects
- Permadeath mode. No revives
If you die during an Ascent 7 run, your teammates cannot revive you. You will then have to spectate until the run ends one way or another.
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