Hardcore



Hardcore mode is a game mode, and a variant of survival.

Features
The key feature of hardcore mode is that the player is not given the option to respawn upon death as they would in other game modes. Instead, there are two buttons on the death screen: 'Spectate World' and 'Delete world'. 'Spectate World' sets the player to spectator mode and respawn at the world's spawn point.

Worlds with hardcore mode enabled will be locked to hard difficulty. The world's difficulty cannot be changed through normal means.

When creating a hardcore mode world, the 'Enable Cheats' and 'Bonus Chest' world options are greyed out and locked to 'OFF'. On the world selection screen, hardcore mode worlds enabled will show dark red text reading 'Hardcore Mode!'.

While in hardcore mode, the hearts representing the player's health have 'angry eyebrows'.

Multiplayer
Hardcore mode is an option for multiplayer, and its functions are similar to those in singleplayer.

Upon death, the player will automatically be set to spectator mode.

Server operators can use the  command to change the game mode of themselves or another player.

Tutorial
For a complete guide on how to survive in hardcore mode, read the hardcore mode tutorial.

Video
Note: This video is outdated - after death, the player now has the option to either delete the world, or go into spectator mode.

Trivia

 * There are various ways to set the player to survival mode after dying in hardcore mode.
 * Using the exit portal in the End, after which the player will respawn without death.
 * Opening the world to LAN and enabling cheats allows the player to use the  command to set their game mode.
 * Hardcore mode is specific to worlds, not players; the variable determining whether the world is in hardcore mode is saved in.
 * This means it is impossible to have a server in which some players are hardcore and some are not.
 * Because of this, the player can use  (if cheats are enabled) to set themselves to creative mode. Players in creative mode while on a hardcore mode world will still see hardcore mode's death screen upon death (and consequently be put into spectator mode, or delete the world).
 * The idea of hardcore mode came to Notch from a Minecraft gameplay blog on the PC Gamer site.
 * When Notch announced hardcore mode on Twitter, he jokingly posted an image of an 'ultra hardcore' mode where the premium status of the player's account is revoked on death.
 * When a hardcore mode world is loaded on a version released prior to hardcore mode, the world is converted into a survival world. Loading this world in a version featuring hardcore mode will not revert to world back to hardcore mode.
 * Many players played an unofficial hardcore mode before its official release. It was simply on the honor system to delete the world upon death. This unofficial playstyle was often referred to as 'Ironman' mode.