Shattered Shackle

[Water]

So basically, I do more damage when I have no boons, yes? But some rooms require that I take a boon to leave, like the very start of a run. Do I just have a useless keepsake until I can purge boons?

[Snugzy McMustard]

Its good at the start of a run when you have no boons on one of your abilities. I personally never keep it after the first level since I wind up with boons on each ability. Not useless, just useful only in particular builds/situations, like many of the keepsakes.

[Shadow Wolf]

Admittedly I think the wording might be a bit poor for the shackle but each of those are individual buffs

For example if you take a boon that empowers your special like 'tempest flourish' the shackle won't boost your special anymore but it will still boost your attack and cast damage

the shackle also as far as I know only counts the boons in your left bar (the boons that can be replaced by other boons) meaning chaos boons, daedalus hammer, and passive boons like ares urge to kill are also allowed

So it's an ok early run keepsake or one you can swap to if you're just having a bad run on getting good boons

[Noodles4Lyfe]

Shackled is insane early game (and mid if you don't have a good boon). 80% damage when maxed out is simply overkill in Tartarus. I occasionally keep it in Asphodel if RNGesus hasn't blessed me, but almost always switch it out by the time I reach Elysium.

[Water]

Originally posted by Shadow Wolf:

Admittedly I think the wording might be a bit poor for the shackle but each of those are individual buffs

For example if you take a boon that empowers your special like 'tempest flourish' the shackle won't boost your special anymore but it will still boost your attack and cast damage

the shackle also as far as I know only counts the boons in your left bar (the boons that can be replaced by other boons) meaning chaos boons, daedalus hammer, and passive boons like ares urge to kill are also allowed

So it's an ok early run keepsake or one you can swap to if you're just having a bad run on getting good boons

Thank you so much, I never would have figured that out on my own.

[Kosher Pork ✞ Jesus Saves ✞]

Thanks for making the topic, and Shadow for answering. I was wondering why on earth I'd ever use the shackle myself and just ignored it, at face value the shackle seemed to have no utility with its current description. Gonna start picking that bad boi up for Tartarus/Asphodel now for some of my builds. ^^

[Ascate]

Shattered Shackle
No boon on attack = bonus for attack
No boon on special = bonus for special
No boon on cast = bonus for cast

Once you take a boon for attack / special / cast it overwrites the bonus from shattered shackles. If you purge the boon (by selling it) you get back the Shattered Shackle bonus

As an example
You have 3 star shattered shackle (+80% attack) and you pick epic Heartbreak Strike from Aphrodite that gives you +95% attack at the start of your run. You effectively gained +15% to the basic attack because your +80% stopped working. Cast and special are meanwhile keeping +80%
Also if you pick utility boon, that doesn't boost your damage by percentage (e.g. Lightning Strike) you still loose that +80% and you only gain "the utility"

[Ben]

The shattered shackle is mediocre normally, but it is AMAZING if you go for a 32 heat run. You can crank up heat revolving around the boon selections and underworld customs. I was able to get the final skelly statue thanks to it.

[RCMidas]

Nice thought that. Wouldn't have considered it myself, but it gives you plenty to work with there. Can even get some added Heat from turning off the lowest of the Mirror upgrades for rerolls and better rewards that way.

[⭕TheSodaman]

Originally posted by Ben:

The shattered shackle is mediocre normally, but it is AMAZING if you go for a 32 heat run. You can crank up heat revolving around the boon selections and underworld customs. I was able to get the final skelly statue thanks to it.

Seconding this for the 32 heat run where you're selling boons, limiting boon selection, and losing the benefits of the mirror. But in exchange, keeping damage received low, no Extreme Measures 4, and still receive full healing where applicable.

[BIZaGoten]

I've heard if you reach Hades with no boons there will be secret dialogoue. Perfect oppurtunity to use shattered shackles.

[RCMidas]

Yup, three or four special lines. Same for beating Meg without any Mirror upgrades, as far as I'm aware.