How to unlock Lunatic difficulty in Pragmata and how it works

The Pragmata Lunatic difficulty mode, which unlocks after completing the game, isn't as tough as it sounds especially since you get a head start in terms of gear. The robot foes that patrol the Cradle are certainly not be trifled with on Lunatic, but a bit of planning, caution, and evasion will get you far in Pragmata's hardest mode – and it definitely helps that the game gives you access to some of the best gear early on. With that, I've laid out everything you need to know if you're planning on tackling Lunatic difficulty in Pragmata.

How to unlock Lunatic difficulty in Pragmata

Pragmata's Lunatic difficulty unlocks automatically after completing the game once on any difficulty. Then to play on Lunatic difficulty, you must start a new game and select it from the list of difficulties. Be aware that you are locked into this choice and can't lower the difficulty once you've started!

Unfortunately, you can't choose it as a difficulty for a Pragmata New Game+ run, and you must start from a fresh save. But, as with NG+, you get the option to skip the game's introduction up until Diana and Hugh head to the Shelter for the first time.

It's also worth quickly pointing out that the Pragmata secret ending can only be unlocked in Unknown Signal, so playing on Lunatic won't help you there.

Pragmata Lunatic difficulty changes and tips

Pragmata's hardest difficulty is certainly tougher than normal but perhaps not as madness-inducing as the Lunatic name might suggest. As far as I can tell, the main difference is that enemies deal substantially more damage and seem a bit more durable. That essentially boils down to making every shot count, making liberal use of Pragmata hacking, and expertly dodging to avoid getting hit at all.

To compensate for the increased difficulty, the game even gives you an expansive selection of gear to unlock via the Unit Printer right off the bat. Instead of just having access to the Repair Up and Thrusters Attachments the first time you visit the Shelter, you also have access to the following:

• Weapons:
  • Attack Units: Shockwave Gun, Charge Piercer, Photon Laser, Homing Missiles, Jackhammer, Lim Cannon (you only get the Lim Cannon if you previously completed Unknown Signal)
  • Tactical Units: Stasis Net, Riot Blaster, Sticky Bombs
  • Defense Units: Decoy Generator, Impact Barrier
• Hacking:
  • Nodes: Decode, Multihack, Confuse, Heat
  • Modes: Offense, Strike, Hybrid, Combust, Boost
• Abilities: Auto-hacking, Bot Scan, Object Scan, Critical Shot, Fast Moves, EC Thrusters
• Attachments: Repair Up, Thrusters, Mod Slot, Node Slot, Hacking Gauge

At first, I'd focus spending your Lunafilament on the Shockwave Gun, Riot Blaster, Decoy Generator, all four Hacking Nodes, and the Combust Hacking Mode to build up a solid loadout. It's also well worth trying to unlock any abilities and attachments you can, with Repair Up, Thrusters, Node Slot, and Critical Shot being especially useful ones.

Obviously, since you're starting from scratch, you'll have to earn the relevant Pragmata currencies all over again to unlock these items, but since you've played the game already, you should know where many of them are. I also strongly advise backtracking once you know how to destroy blue and red crystals in Pragmata to 100% every level – you need to do so to fully clear out the Pragmata Solar Power Plant collectibles.

How long is Pragmata?: How long to beat?
Pragmata tips: Advice for combat, exploration, and upgrades

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