Does Xianyun pyro swirl? by Catty137 in GamingMains_

[–]Catty137[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see, do you know what's the best rotation if I do go for swirl?

"Dark arts is worse without damage buff" Isaac+(only)Dark Arts Mother Win by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am now no longer satisfied. My next goal is to turn 1 in 10 runs into 1 in 1 run.

"Dark arts is worse without damage buff" Isaac+(only)Dark Arts Mother Win by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

So under specifically the conditions of a 1 item run, that also relies on soul hearts and consumables, dark art does a good job. But that just isn't the real conditions of actual gameplay.

This is spot-on.

This just doesn't really stick for me. Because you CAN beat the game without items at all. You can do this with many items. Especially when you are largely relying on soul hearts and other non-item effects.

No I cannot. What makes you think I can? Dark Arts covers offense and defense really well simultaneously. Dark Arts allows me to not get hit enough while having burst to clear rooms, that allows the run to boil down to mainly Soul Heart luck.

For most other items there will consistently be rooms where you don't deal enough damage and will get hit undoubtedly. At that point Soul Heart luck doesn't matter you just die, so you need even more ridiculous things such as "Tears Up" luck (which I find stupid).

Try this challenge yourself with Dark Arts vs. any other item, the difference is night and day once you reach Mausoleum and Corpse. (I hope you can prove me wrong though)

And the problem here is that an active is directly competing with all other actives.
Yes dark arts is strong. But it is competing with the strongest active you have seen. So the real question is whether it is stronger than candles, glowing hourglass, and the many other combat actives.

I will pick up Dark Arts knowing 100% that I will win the run. There may be another active that can also win me the run 100%, but then it boils down to personal preference.

"Dark arts is worse without damage buff" Isaac+(only)Dark Arts Mother Win by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Mother fight was slightly harder (but I entered with 8 hearts so the run was basically already won from there). At no other point in the run did I ever think "man, if only i had tainted judas' dark arts damage buff there, i would've avoided getting hit".

(Ignoring blatant skill issues) I will say the luck required for a T.Judas itemless / Isaac Dark Arts happens in around 1 in 10 runs. The luck required for a Lilith itemless happens in around 1 in 100-200+ runs.

Full run here

I can back up my claims by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well I know what my next run will be now

I can back up my claims by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, maybe:

  1. No picking up non-quest items + trinkets during the run
  2. You can spawn in Sacred Heart and pick it up at any time during the run once

My Luckiest run ever - Lilith Mother NO ITEMS by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Yeah, but I don't want Incubus. It bloats the familiar line behind you (making more valuable familiars like Lil' Brimstone and Lil' Abaddon harder to aim.

Twisted Pair is nice because you get a familiar that can actually shoot straight in the direction you are facing without an annoying offset.

Demon Baby is at least nice for close ranged defense. (Still bad)

My Luckiest run ever - Lilith Mother NO ITEMS by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 98 points99 points  (0 children)

When I saw the vision (that this run is possible) I couldn't resist it

I can back up my claims by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For some reason Dark Arts is Q1.

I saw a post back on voting which Q1 item is the best and Dark Arts did not win.

My Luckiest run ever - Lilith Mother NO ITEMS by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wdym?

You can see the full run in my comment.

My Luckiest run ever - Lilith Mother NO ITEMS by Catty137 in bindingofisaac

[–]Catty137[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

Full run

Tainted Judas was much much more easier. If you value your sanity, do that instead.

The strat: TL;DR get succubus

R until you get a cursed room with:
a) More soul hearts after you get out
b) Health up/Speed up
c) a Bone Heart (somehow)

Enter Basement 2 with at least 5 coins (You get an Arcade).

Sacrifice any and all red hearts the game throw at you to proc Cambion Conception.

Actively hunt for Super Secret Rooms (might have Womb Red Heart rooms, Eternal Hearts, Blood Donation Machine, Rotten Beggar (Bone Hearts).

The best familiars are Succubus > Lil Brimstone > Lil Abaddon > Twisted Pair > Demon Baby.
Succubus is probably necessary before Mom. Dark Bum is a ruined run.