Challenge Modifier

Overview

Optional modifiers chosen in The Portal (under the Customize menu) that make an activity harder, either by toughening enemies or by hampering the player, in exchange for better rewards. Each modifier adjusts the activity score, which sets the rank that drop quality depends on. The baseline rank is a B and modifiers can raise it to an A; going above an A gives nothing extra.

Effects

Some modifiers are called Banes and give random enemies new abilities, such as spawning mini-Screebs when they take sustained damage. Others add mechanics that affect the player, such as enemies inflicting a Stasis slow on melee hits. Some are arguably sidegrades, for example Oscillation Trade-Off, which makes weapon damage oscillate between weapons and suits players who swap weapons often. Some modifiers also raise the activity's Power level, so check the effect before selecting one.

Related

Difficulty and reward rules are split into two categories. Challenge Modifiers make the activity harder. Player Stake rules adjust rewards directly, such as mission timers, and cannot be changed.