Best character to run for Mom's Heart and Shoel?

[pokepunk]

I just finished Mom's Heart and Cathedral (or however you spell it(it was my first time killing the heart(I used bible like a noob))) and wondering what character to use for what I am doing next?

[SonicBoomNFA]

I recommend unlocking Azazel and then Lilith. My personal favorite character is Lilith, but runs with either character are always both awesome and easy in my opinion.

[Blargo]

Generally you want to beat every boss with every character to unlock lots of items, but I'd go with Issac first because beating Satan with him unlocks Mom's Knife, and beating Isaac (boss) gives him the D6.

[Jingka]

Originally posted by Dxpress:

Generally you want to beat every boss with every character to unlock lots of items, but I'd go with Issac first because beating Satan with him unlocks Mom's Knife, and beating Isaac (boss) gives him the D6.

Actually, to get the D6 you need to use Blue Baby and beat Isaac as him.

[pokepunk]

Originally posted by Brianna:

Azazel is good since he starts with flight which is very helpful if the first floor has a bunch of items behind a wall of rocks and you have no bombs. His mini-Brimstone means you need to be careful when you get close to an enemy (that shoots/dashes) since it has such a short range.

As Dxpress said, play as Isaac to unlock Mom's Knife. It's really powerful and it constantly ticks away a boss' health by just standing right next to them and pressing the tip against them (though it's safer to throw it). D20 can be used to re-roll empty chests into new ones though you won't be going to The Dark Room (or The Chest) for a while now.

Maggy's The Relic is something worth getting for when you get around to playing ??? (who cannot have red heart containers). Celtic Cross too when you can access The Chest.

Cain's unlocks aren't great so you shouldn't add those to the item pool yet. Judas doesn't have much going for him besides his tongue which cheapens Devil Deals.

Blue Baby (who you'll unlock after beating Mom's Heart 10 times) you should definitely get D6, Forget Me Now, and Fate.

Eve's Razor Blade and the Sacrificial Dagger are worthwhile.

Samson's Bloody Lust is okay since donating to blood machines counts towards its effect, His chains are an okay item if you can reach and defeat Mom as him in under 20 minutes. Doing so would allow you access to the Boss Rush room though you might get killed by the 15 waves if you're not careful. Anyway, the ball-and-chain can break rocks/mushrooms/skulls/pots for free without you needing to bomb them (it also serves as a shield against projectiles if you hide behind the ball). Definitely try to bomb mushrooms/skulls/tinted rocks if you have spare bombs. They might give you something good.

Azazel's stuff is all nice, though Daemon's Tail is not so good if you need red hearts to heal. Remember you can drop the pill/tarot card/trinket you're carrying by holding down the left ctrl key.

Lazarus' Pandora's Box can be good depending on where you open it (aim for the boss room item) and Store Credit will let you buy one item in the shop for free.

Eden, you should get the Blank Card. Assuming you've done the challenges and unlocked the runes: Pethro/Dagaz/Algiz/Jera, this spacebar item will let you mimic their effect without consuming the actual item. Works with Tarot cards too so it's still useful even if you haven't done those challenges. Chaos Card, Credit Card, SMB Super Fan, Death Touch, are definitely worth getting. I didn't bother with other runes since their effects aren't that great (and I don't want to lower my chances of getting the good runes by adding them to the item pool). A Card Against Humanity is best used in a large room and you can rack up a ton of coins if you're lucky to find the Petrified Poop trinket. Suicide King is debatable. It's good for Lazarus since he has a second life and so can afford to kill himself for the goodies. If you get Dead Cat/Lazarus Rags/Judas Shadow/Ankh early on when you haven't amassed many heart containers, using Suicide King is worthwhile.

You should donate coins to the shop donation machine if you haven't already. Unlocking Black Candle will definitely make your life easier since you won't have to worry about curses (provided you acquire the item on your run anyway).

Trying to find the secret room will definitely be worthwhile. If you have a ton of bombs but no keys to open a shop, you may end up being lucky enough to have the secret room right next door. In which case, you can bomb into the shop through the secret room. This is also applicable to entering a locked challenge room or accessing the contents behind a spiked door without getting hurt.

How would I make sure that Shoel spawns right after mom's heart? assuming I dont have goat head. I usually get angel rooms and I dont know why. and I already did cathedral

[SonicBoomNFA]

Originally posted by Pokepunk™ | iKoN Leader:

How would I make sure that Shoel spawns right after mom's heart? assuming I dont have goat head. I usually get angel rooms and I dont know why. and I already did cathedral

A requirement for opening Angel rooms is refusing to take offers from the Devil room on the run. If you open a devil room on any floor before Mom's Heart's floor, then that should gaurantee that the door that opens after her fight WON'T be an angel room, right? Also, if you defeat mom's heart 11 times, it will unlock an alternative version that will, upon defeat, always give you the option of sheol and the cathedral, so if you don't want access to be left up to chance, take that course (you're gonna have to eventually anyway).

[pokepunk]

Originally posted by SonicBoomNFA:

Originally posted by Pokepunk™ | iKoN Leader:

How would I make sure that Shoel spawns right after mom's heart? assuming I dont have goat head. I usually get angel rooms and I dont know why. and I already did cathedral

A requirement for opening Angel rooms is refusing to take offers from the Devil room on the run. If you open a devil room on any floor before Mom's Heart's floor, then that should gaurantee that the door that opens after her fight WON'T be an angel room, right? Also, if you defeat mom's heart 11 times, it will unlock an alternative version that will, upon defeat, always give you the option of sheol and the cathedral, so if you don't want access to be left up to chance, take that course (you're gonna have to eventually anyway).

Thanks :D

[SonicBoomNFA]

By the way, I meant to say opening a Devil room AND spending hearts on a deal will prevent Angel rooms, not just simply opening a Devil room. That might've been misleading.

[pokepunk]

I just played as isaac, got to moms heart and devil room came! :D I was kinda OP with like 23 damage and killed satan and got moms knife! :D:D:D and got judas :D:D:D