Unlocking Characters: Laying the Foundation of Victory
Detailed Unlocks: The Journey Begins
Let’s break down the character unlocks, providing the necessary information needed to get them.
Isaac:
You begin your adventure with Isaac. He has no special starting items but possesses the D6, an active item that re-rolls any item that you pick up. This means that you have control over your items, and allows you to try different combinations.
Magdalene:
Magdalene, with her high health but low damage output, is an interesting character. To unlock her, you need to acquire 7 or more Heart Containers in a single run. This can be done by exploring the floor fully or even through the use of certain items.
Cain:
Cain is one of the more common characters, but is still very helpful for the player. To unlock him, collect 55 or more pennies, and bring them to the Treasure Room.
Judas:
Judas can deal a lot of damage, but his low health makes him risky to play. He can be unlocked by beating the game (Mom’s Heart/It Lives) for the first time.
Blue Baby (???):
Blue Baby is quite a unique character. He doesn’t start with any health, and can only gain health by picking up soul hearts. To unlock him, you must defeat Mom’s Heart/It Lives ten times.
Eve:
To unlock Eve, make two deals with the devil in a single run.
Samson:
Samson, a character that gets stronger as you take damage, is unlocked by getting two or more red heart containers in a single floor.
Lazarus:
Lazarus is similar to Isaac, however, he will start as a weak character, but has the chance to revive himself. To unlock Lazarus, you must use two or more soul hearts in a single room.
Azazel:
Azazel’s playstyle is more unique, as his short-range brimstone allows the player to deal a lot of damage. To unlock him, you must take three or more deals with the devil in a single run.
The Lost:
The Lost represents a significant challenge. The unlock requires you to die in specific ways across several runs. The first death needs to occur when Isaac is holding the Missing Poster. The second death must occur when Magdalene has the Cube of Meat or Bandage Girl. The third must happen when Judas is in possession of the Book of Belial. Finally, you must die as Azazel within the boss room. The Lost starts with flight, but has very little health, and must rely on a combination of items to deal damage.
Lilith:
Lilith’s playstyle is more unique. To unlock her, you must beat the game (Mom’s Heart/It Lives) with Azazel.
Keeper:
Keeper can pick up coins to regenerate health, but is very weak in the early game. You unlock this character by donating 1000 coins to the Greed Machine.
Apollyon:
Apollyon starts with the Void, and can consume items for unique benefits. Apollyon is unlocked by completing two Treasure Room items.
The Forgotten:
The Forgotten is a very unique character. To unlock him, you must first beat the game as the Lost on the first floor. Then you must transport the soul of the forgotten through the entire game by the end.
Bethany:
Bethany starts with a special item that gives her a lot of resources. This character is unlocked by beating the game as the Forgotten.
Jacob and Esau:
This character requires you to play as two separate characters at once. This character is unlocked by beating the game as Bethany.
Character Considerations:
Every character brings their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Learning how to adapt your playstyle to each one is essential for progressing towards that hallowed The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth completion status.
Tips for Unlocking Characters:
Rerolls can be key. When you’re aiming to meet the specific unlock conditions for certain characters, utilize active items like the D6 to re-roll any undesirable items. This is especially crucial if you’re trying to accumulate items, or reach specific numbers.
Defeating All Bosses: Triumph Over the Horrors
The heart of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth lies in the boss fights. Each boss represents a challenge to your skills and item synergies. Mastering these encounters is paramount to completing the game.
Boss Strategies: Facing the Nightmares
Here’s an insight into how to defeat the final bosses, from the standard to the unique.
Mom: The first true boss fight. Aim to deal damage while dodging her attacks.
It Lives: It Lives is located in the depths. Defeat it to move on with your runs.
Boss Rush: Boss Rush is located at the end of the floor after It Lives.
Isaac (and variations): Isaac is a unique boss. Different versions of the character occur through different run requirements. Learn what you have to do to defeat the boss.
??? (Blue Baby): This boss has a set of unique patterns and attacks.
The Lamb: Similar to the other final bosses.
Mega Satan: You’ll need to have found a key piece of the game through the use of the Devil or Angel Room.
Delirium: This is one of the most challenging fights. Delirium can teleport, and take a variety of forms.
Mother: To fight mother, you’ll need to explore the alternate floors.
The Beast: The Beast is found at the end of the alternate floors.
Tips and Tricks for Boss Fights:
Item combinations can trivialize many boss fights. Brimstone combined with other damage-dealing items can lead to quick wins. Master the art of dodging. Understanding enemy attack patterns can increase your survival rate.
Item Acquisition: The Art of Synergizing
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is all about items. Your arsenal is built through a mixture of luck, exploration, and strategic choices.
Item Categories Explained:
Active Items are triggered with a button press.
Passive Items remain in effect.
Pickups are temporary items, such as coins and bombs.
Trinkets are items that affect runs passively.
Strategies for Item Acquisition:
Exploiting Treasure Rooms: Treasure Rooms give access to great items.
Gambling with Devil and Angel Deals: These deals are your source of high-powered items.
Utilizing Shops: Shops allow you to buy items.
Understanding Item Pools: Every item is categorized to specific pools. Understanding this can maximize your chances of success.
Key Item Synergies to Know:
Brimstone + anything that increases your damage. These create massive damage.
Completing All Challenges: Conquering the Pre-Built Puzzles
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth features a set of challenges, each with unique rules. Completing these challenges adds significant playtime.
Challenge Strategies: Mastering the Obstacles
Each challenge forces you to approach the game in unique ways. Experimentation and patience are key.
General Tips and Tricks for Completion
Resource Management:
Learn when to spend your resources.
Room Layout and Enemy Patterns:
Understand how to make your way through each room.
Advanced Tactics:
Use pills to find the right item.
The Marks and Post-It Note Completion
The Post-It Note is your key to achieving 100% completion. The marks represent the completion goals for each character. To achieve 100% completion, you must get every mark on every character.
Strategies for Completion:
How to achieve completion with different characters.
Conclusion
Achieving complete mastery in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a monumental task. But as you spend more time with the game, you’ll be unlocking more secrets, mastering new strategies, and unlocking more characters. The pursuit of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth completion is a rewarding journey, and the completion of the game is even more so. The challenge pushes you to learn and adapt, making every victory feel earned. Now, embark on your journey, and may your runs be blessed with the right items!
