
Originally Posted by
Wya Tob
The modes are connected. Only some items are restricted for normal mode to transfer over to hardmode, such as food, potions, and lower tier gear such as black d'hide, or a rune crossbow. Everything else can be traded between the modes.
Hard mode also currently receives a 20% better drop rate over normal mode, so it has to be at a bit hard for it to be worth it to give that drop rate boost.