007 First Light Difficulty Guide: How to Change Settings and Adjust the Combat Challenge

Two men in a fight near a fire extinguisher, with debris and a fallen person in the background.
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By Alexandria LopezStaff Writer

Two men in a fight near a fire extinguisher, with debris and a fallen person in the background.
  • Primary Subject: 007 First Light
  • Key Update: The game features three distinct difficulty tiers—Novice, Intended, and Purist—which can be dynamically adjusted using specific in-game menus.
  • Status: Confirmed
  • Last Verified: May 27, 2026
  • Quick Answer: To change difficulty in 007 First Light, either select a new mode upon failing an objective or adjust it by reloading checkpoints from the main menu.

007 First Light, feeling too easy or difficult for you? Then you might want to change your settings.

007 First Light officially launched on May 27 (26 for early access players) and has already earned rave reviews from the community and critics. It's a game that relies on your smarts and senses - do you fight or do you bluff? Do you use your gadgets? How do you accomplish every mission?

Each difficulty setting makes the goal harder or easier for you, and it depends on your gaming experience and playstyle, on which option is best for you. Here are all the difficulty settings in 007 First Light and how to change them.

What Are The Difficulty Settings in 007 First Light?

There are three difficulty options in 007 First Light: Novice, Intended, and Purist.

Man in a dark jacket holding a device in a dimly lit industrial or laboratory setting with robotic equipment in the background.
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Credit: IO Interactive

Novice is the easiest mode. In this setting, gadgets can be used more after replenishing, your attacks deal more damage (and you can also take more damage), and enemies are weaker. When in stealth mode, enemies take longer to notice you.

READ MORE: How to Beat Murto in 007 First Light

The Intended setting is the recommended difficulty for 007 First Light. Enemies are slightly more difficult, and you'll take and deal appropriate damage based on where you are in the game. You'll also have to gather items to regenerate your gadgets.

Lastly, the Purist mode is the hardest difficulty and is perfect for those who like a challenge. Your health is extremely low, and enemies attack faster and harder - more often than not, you'll be outmatched in combat. Resources are harder to find, and you'll need more of them to regenerate your gadgets.

Can You Change The Difficulty Settings in 007 First Light?

There are two ways to change the difficulty in 007 First Light: one is by failing your objective or returning to the main menu.

Game screen showing "Objective Failed" with options to Retry, Change Difficulty, or Exit to Menu.
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Credit: IO Interactive

If you fail an objective or die in a combat encounter, you can choose to exit, retry, or change your difficulty. Select the difficulty setting you want and retry the challenge.

READ MORE: How to Beat Damian in 007 First Light

The other method is by returning to the main menu. Once you're on the menu screen, select Story and then Select Chapter. Choose the chapter you were on and filter through the checkpoints to change the difficulty to the setting you want.

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