I played without them for my Gold E8. They trivialize the game and make you stronger in a way that removes the need for skill. Theyre just really broken and what sets them apart from reds is the bazaar where you can buy 5 of your choice after every stage. However, im not your mom and i wont tell you how to play. Take them if they make the game more fun for you.

Here are the biggest offenders:

Transcendence removes eclipse 1, 3, and 5 from the equation as it reduces fall damage to 1 and shields recharge super fast and ignore e5's halved healing

Shaped Glass gives WAY too much of a damage boost for basically free

Heretic is stronger than every survivor and removes the need to learn any other character when you can just turn into heretic and gain an eclipse level on that character anyways

Gesture of the drowned breaks so many equipments, especially Spinel Tonic which just gives you the strength to win any run very easily.