diff --git a/stepmania/src/LifeMeterBar.cpp b/stepmania/src/LifeMeterBar.cpp
index 5f71c5b7e9..8332df4140 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/LifeMeterBar.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/LifeMeterBar.cpp
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ void LifeMeterBar::Load( const PlayerState *pPlayerState, PlayerStageStats *pPla
 		PREFSMAN->m_bMercifulBeginner;
 	if( bMercifulBeginnerInEffect )
 	{
-		m_fBaseLifeDifficulty = 2.5f;
+		m_fBaseLifeDifficulty = 5.0f;
 		m_fLifeDifficulty = m_fBaseLifeDifficulty;
 	}
 }