Start on Normal for a balanced run, choose Casual to reduce battle difficulty, or select Expert when you want a harder fight and more Vision MRP. You can change the setting during your playthrough; a troublesome boss does not require starting a new save.
The difficulty selection screen states that content is the same across the settings. Lowering the difficulty is a way to change combat pressure, rather than a choice between different campaigns.
Compare the three settings
| Setting | Use it when | Reward consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | You want to prioritize the story or move past a difficult encounter. | The current difficulty data lists the same EXP, Gil, and MRP as Normal. |
| Normal | You want a baseline for learning weaknesses, stagger, healing, and party roles. | Standard rewards without Expert's tougher enemies. |
| Expert | You want fights that demand more preparation and resource management. | Higher MRP; the current data lists 1.5× Normal MRP, with unchanged EXP and Gil. |
The numerical reward comparison is from the current difficulty database guide. It also records increased enemy HP, stagger gauges, speed, and incoming damage on Expert. A higher difficulty can therefore extend fights even when you are using the same equipment and route.
There is no reason to choose Expert solely to level characters faster through a larger EXP payout: that is not the bonus the data records. MRP develops Vision Mastery, which is a different progression system from character EXP.
MRP advances Vision Mastery; it is separate from the character EXP shown on the same results screen.
Change the setting without restarting
Open System → Options → Gameplay, then change the battle difficulty. For example, you can use Casual to clear an encounter that has stopped your story progress, then return to Normal afterward.
If you are changing to Expert for a particular fight, prepare your equipment, recovery, and elemental coverage before engaging. The setting changes the demands placed on the same party; it does not automatically supply the tools needed to meet them.
Judge farming by MRP per minute
More MRP per victory does not automatically mean faster Mastery. Include the time spent fighting, healing, traveling, and recovering from failed attempts.
For a simple comparison, measure a short repeatable route on Normal, then the same route on Expert with the same party. Divide the MRP gained by the total time. With a 1.5× payout, Expert only improves your rate if the complete route takes less than 1.5× as long. This is a comparison method, not a measured claim about which setting wins for every player.
An item-based Citrine Pot encounter is a useful exception to ordinary damage races: the solution is giving the pot an Ether. Its launch guide recommends Expert for the extra MRP, but each defeated pot is a one-time encounter, not an unlimited farming route.