Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Difficulty Guide (2026): Custom Settings, Story Mode & Arena Challenges Explained

Worried Dragon Quest VII Reimagined might be too easy—or too hard? The answer is simple: it’s whatever you want it to be.

Unlike previous entries in the series, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined introduces one of the most flexible and player-friendly difficulty systems ever seen in a Dragon Quest game. Whether you want a relaxed, story-focused JRPG or a punishing, old-school challenge that demands mastery, the game hands you full control.

This guide breaks down every difficulty option, explains what actually affects challenge, recommends community-tested setups, and shows where to find the true endgame tests that push even veteran players to their limits.

🎚️ How Difficulty Works in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined goes far beyond traditional Easy / Normal / Hard modes. While the game offers three starting presets, the real depth lies in the “Set Freely” custom difficulty menu, which can be adjusted at any time from the System menu.

Preset Difficulty Options

Easy Going – Story-focused, minimal resistance
Happy Medium – Balanced default experience
Tough Going – Higher enemy stats and resource pressure

These presets simply apply predefined values to the custom sliders below.

⚙️ Full Difficulty Settings Explained

Each option directly impacts combat pacing, progression speed, or exploration tension.

Setting	Available Options	What It Changes
Damage Dealt	More / Normal / Less	How much damage your party inflicts
Experience Earned	More / Normal / Less	Leveling speed
Proficiency Earned	More / Normal / Less	How fast vocations level
Gold Acquired	More / Normal / Less	Battle rewards
Monster Strength	Weak / Normal / Strong	Enemy HP, damage, and defense
Monster Activity	Don’t Attack / Attack	Whether field enemies pursue you
Restore HP After Battle	Restore / Don’t Restore	Classic resource management

👉 Monster Strength is the single most important setting if you want real challenge.

🧩 Best Difficulty Setups (Community-Tested)

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Difficulty Guide

⭐ The “Sweet Spot” Setup (Recommended for Most Players)

Balances challenge with pacing and avoids tedious grinding.

Monster Strength: Strong
Gold Acquired: More
Restore HP After Battle: Don’t Restore
Monster Activity: Attack
All Other Settings: Normal

This configuration keeps combat meaningful while respecting your time.

📖 Story-Focused Mode (Casual & First-Time Players)

Perfect if you want to enjoy the narrative without stress.

Monster Strength: Weak or Normal
EXP / Proficiency / Gold: More
Restore HP After Battle: Restore
Monster Activity: Don’t Attack

🐉 Purist Challenge Mode (Veterans Only)

Designed to recreate the tension of classic Dragon Quest titles.

Start with Tough Going preset
Monster Strength: Strong
Damage Dealt: Less
Restore HP After Battle: Don’t Restore
Monster Activity: Attack

This setup demands optimized builds and careful planning.

🔍 Pro Exploration Tip: Disable Objective Markers

For a more classic Dragon Quest feel:

Go to System → Screen Settings
Turn Objective Markers: OFF

This restores NPC-driven discovery and puzzle solving, reducing hand-holding.

⚖️ Streamlined Design vs True Difficulty

Even on harder settings, Reimagined intentionally reduces friction in several ways:

Universal Streamlining Changes

Abundant healing items and Sacred Statues
Flat 1,000G death penalty (no gold loss)
Automatic revival after battle
Moonlighting system accelerates character growth
Clear map markers for key objectives

Community Response

Supporters praise improved pacing and accessibility
Purists feel challenge and exploration are diminished

The custom difficulty system exists specifically to push back against this streamlining.

🏆 Where the Real Challenge Lives: Post-Game & Arena Mode

If the main story never pushes you hard enough, don’t worry — the post-game does.

Arena Mode & Endgame Bosses

Requires optimized Moonlighting builds
Enemies feature advanced AI and heavy damage
Poor preparation is punished quickly
Designed for fully developed parties only

This is where Dragon Quest VII Reimagined finally drops the training wheels.

🎮 Final Verdict: Difficulty on Your Terms

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined doesn’t ask how hard do you want the game to be?
It asks how do you want to play?

Newcomers get the most welcoming Dragon Quest entry ever
Veterans can recreate classic challenge with smart configuration
Hardcore players will find their test in Arena and post-game content

Experiment freely — settings can be changed at any time. The perfect difficulty is the one that keeps combat engaging without turning the adventure into a chore.