Special Items: The Best Ones
Special items are some of the most powerful items in the game. In fact, if you even see one of the items, you are less likely to see another one in the future. There are only 15 special items, and any of them has the potential to give you a winning run. The 15 items are as follows:
(The crossed out DLC symbol means that the way that the item functions was changed drastically in the Afterbirth DLC)
Although there are 15 special items in total, Iām going to be focusing on Brimstone for today.
Brimstone: Brimstone is an item that totally changes your attack. You no longer shoot tears, instead you spit out a powerful red beam that deals constant damage with unlimited range. However, your tears stat will still alter the charge rate of Brimstone. However, unlike other games, and even other items in this game, charging your attack does not raise the attack. Instead, you are not able to release the brimstone beam without fully charging it. So although it deals a major amount of damage, you are fully vulnerable while charging.
Brimstone Synergies: Brimstone is very powerful, and many items can combine with it to create super powerful synergies. The Common Cold and Dark Matter are two items that allow the beam to greatly increase the chance of applying a status effect to enemies. The Common Cold applies poison, dealing slow damage over time, and Dark Matter applies fear, which causes afflicted enemies to actively run away from you. Normally, it can be quite hard to have that special tear hit an enemy to apply the status effect, but with the constant damage output of the Brimstone beam, itās a lot more likely for the effect to take, well, effect. Items like 20/20 allow you to shoot two brimstone beams, effectively doubling your damage. The items that give homing tears allow your brimstone beam to bend, hitting enemies that arenāt directly in front of you, allowing you to mow down any enemies in your path. However, although all of these synergies are very powerful, one of the most powerful synergies with Brimstone is Tammyās head. Every room, youāre allowed to shoot 10 tears in a circle. However, if you have Brimstone, your ātearsā is the beam, and moving slightly can wipe an entire room of enemies. Therefore, you can clear entire floors in under a minute. Assume you also have flight, and you donāt even need to stop moving, just constantly go to the next room while activating Tammyās Head.
Brimstone is very powerful, and if you see it in a run, take it. As long as you play the rest of your cards well, and you donāt act stupid and cocky, you should be able to defeat whatever boss youāve been stuck on. Many items will combine with Brimstone, making your run very powerful, and hopefully getting you one step closer to Isaacās final journey. Good luck, and have fun!













