diff --git a/nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2/minecraft/default.nix b/nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2/minecraft/default.nix
index 5994365..5df0b8c 100644
--- a/nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2/minecraft/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2/minecraft/default.nix
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ in
           ];
           EXISTING_OPS_FILE = "SYNCHRONIZE";
           OPS = op;
-          DIFFICULTY = "normal";
+          DIFFICULTY = "hard";
           SPAWN_PROTECTION = "0";
           VIEW_DISTANCE = "20";