Unveiling The Forgotten: A Deep Dive into Its Rebirth Unlock
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The answer to the burning question, “Can you unlock The Forgotten in Rebirth?” is a resounding yes, but with a significant caveat. While The Forgotten is indeed an unlockable character in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, it’s not available through the traditional means of character progression that you might be used to. Unlike characters such as Cain or Judas, who are unlocked through specific in-game achievements, The Forgotten requires a unique and rather involved unlock sequence. This guide delves deep into the process, ensuring you’re equipped with all the knowledge needed to add this powerful and challenging character to your roster.
The Forgotten’s Unique Unlock Requirement
Unlocking The Forgotten isn’t as simple as completing a specific run or collecting a certain number of items. It requires a precise sequence of actions that must be executed correctly to trigger the unlock. Here’s a breakdown of the steps:
Step 1: The Prerequisite – The Lamb Must Fall
Before even attempting to unlock The Forgotten, you must have first defeated The Lamb at least once. This means you need to have successfully completed the Dark Room path, which requires unlocking “The Negative” by beating Sheol five times then killing Mom to access The Dark Room. Once you’ve accomplished this, you are ready to proceed.
Step 2: The Shovel Hunt – Finding and Using Mom’s Shovel
The unlock method for The Forgotten is tied to a special item, Mom’s Shovel. However, before Mom’s Shovel, you’ll first need the Broken Shovel.
- Broken Shovel Acquisition: To obtain the Broken Shovel, you must first defeat the Boss Rush. The Boss Rush, usually available after beating Mom in under 20 minutes, is always accessible when carrying the Broken Shovel. Completing this will award you the second piece and combine both parts into Mom’s Shovel.
- Mom’s Shovel’s Power: Unlike the Broken Shovel, Mom’s Shovel is permanent and will not disappear if left on a pedestal in the room.
Step 3: The Dirt Patch and The Grave Room
With Mom’s Shovel in your possession, you need to find the Dirt Patch – a small patch of dark, loose soil that appears randomly in a room. Once located, use Mom’s Shovel while standing on the Dirt Patch. This will open a secret Grave Room.
Step 4: Ascending the Soul
Inside the Grave Room, a soul will appear and begin ascending towards the top of the screen. It’s crucial that you allow the soul to reach the top of the screen completely before exiting the Grave Room. Exiting the room before this happens will prevent the unlock of The Forgotten. This is a critical point and often a cause for frustration if missed.
Step 5: The Unlocking
If all steps are performed correctly, The Forgotten should now be unlocked. Once successful, you can then select and play as the character in your subsequent runs.
Important Considerations
- Difficulty Doesn’t Matter: This unlock process can be done on both Normal and Hard difficulty so choose the one you are most comfortable with.
- Consecutive Attempt: There is no need for the run to be a successful one in terms of beating the game, focus on the steps of unlocking The Forgotten, even if you die after.
- Patience is Key: Unlocking The Forgotten is a test of patience and timing, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work the first few times.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Forgotten and More
Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of The Forgotten and related aspects of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth:
1. Can you unlock The Lost in Rebirth?
Yes, The Lost is an unlockable character in Rebirth, but it requires a specific and challenging sequence of four consecutive deaths with certain characters and under specific circumstances.
2. How many secrets are there in Rebirth?
There are a total of 178 unlockable secrets in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. These secrets range from characters and items to transformations and game modes.
3. How do you unlock Blue Baby (???) in Rebirth?
Blue Baby, also known as ???, is unlocked by defeating Mom’s Heart 10 times. After achieving this, Blue Baby will be found locked in a chest during the ending cutscene.
4. How do you unlock Apollyon?
Apollyon is not present in the base game of Rebirth. He was added in The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth †, and is unlocked by defeating Mega Satan for the first time.
5. How do you unlock Jacob and Esau?
Jacob and Esau were also added in a later DLC, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance. They are unlocked by defeating The Witness for the first time.
6. Can you unlock Greed Mode in Rebirth?
Greed Mode is not part of the base game of Rebirth. It was added in Afterbirth, and it can be unlocked by depositing 500 coins into the Greed Machine. Greedier Mode, however, is in Afterbirth ♰ and features an alternate Ultra Greed boss battle.
7. Why didn’t I unlock The Forgotten?
The most common reason for not unlocking The Forgotten is exiting the Grave Room before the soul reaches the top of the screen. Make sure you watch the soul completely ascend before leaving.
8. How do you unlock The Dark Room?
To access The Dark Room, you need to unlock “The Negative” by beating Sheol five times. After killing Mom, “The Negative” will appear. Taking it after the Sheol/Cathedral floor leads to The Dark Room which contains a host of challenging bosses.
9. How do you unlock The Keeper in Repentance?
To unlock The Keeper, you must donate 1000 coins to the Greed Machine. This can be time-consuming, as the machine has a chance to break after each use.
10. What does Mom’s Shovel do?
Mom’s Shovel is a permanent item used to unlock The Forgotten and it can also destroy rocks when Isaac is flying, similar to the We Need to Go Deeper! item.
11. How do you unlock Judas?
Judas is unlocked by defeating Mom’s Heart for the first time in The Womb or Utero.
12. Can Ankh unlock Blue Baby?
Yes, the Ankh item can change Isaac into Blue Baby upon death. You can also use Lazarus’ Rags to become Lazarus and the Broken Ankh (a trinket) also gives a chance to turn you into Blue Baby.
13. How do you unlock Azazel?
Azazel is unlocked by making three Devil Deals in a single run. Azazel starts with flight, a short-range Brimstone, and The Fool card.
14. What happens if you beat Boss Rush with the Broken Shovel?
Beating the Boss Rush while holding the Broken Shovel will give you the second piece of the shovel, combining them into Mom’s Shovel. The usual timer for boss rush is removed when carrying the broken shovel.
15. What does Apollyon look like and who is he in lore?
Apollyon is a hybrid being with features from dragons, bears, humans, and fish. He’s considered a bringer of war and chaos. Apollyon in lore is the greek name for Abaddon from the Christian religion. In the lore, he dies due to internal bleeding.
Conclusion
Unlocking The Forgotten in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a challenging and rewarding task. By understanding the detailed steps involved and avoiding common pitfalls, you can add this powerful character to your roster. Remember, patience and precision are key to success. Armed with the knowledge from this guide, you are now well-prepared to embark on this unlock journey. Good luck, and may your runs be blessed by the items of your choice!