Path of Exile currently has three difficulties: Normal, Cruel, and Merciless.
| Difficulty | Penalty on Death | Resistance Penalty | Level Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Cruel | 5% of level progress lost | −20% Elemental and Chaos resistance | Level 20 |
| Merciless | 10.0% of level progress lost | −60% Elemental and Chaos resistance | Level 35 |
Death in hardcore mode is the exception, where death instead removes you from the Hardcore league and into Default.
After completing Act 3 in either Normal or Cruel, players restart the game in Act 1 at the next higher difficulty, as long as they meet the level requirement. The end of Merciless difficulty grants access to the Eternal Laboratory where Maps serve as endgame content.