Do Isaac Mods Disable Unlocks? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: yes, but with a significant caveat. In The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Repentance, enabling any mods through the in-game mod menu will initially disable your ability to unlock achievements and characters. This measure is implemented by the developers to encourage new players to experience the game in its vanilla form first, without any modifications. However, the restriction is not permanent. This article will explore the specifics, addressing common concerns, and providing essential information for mod users.
How Mods Initially Block Unlocks
The developers of The Binding of Isaac implemented a system where using mods effectively puts your game progression on pause. When mods are active, the game prevents you from:
- Earning Achievements: You won’t unlock any Steam achievements or in-game achievements, which are directly tied to character unlocks and progression.
- Unlocking Characters: New characters are unlocked by completing specific achievements. With mods active, this progress is halted.
- Making Seeded Runs Progress: Using any pre-determined seed, even without mods active, will also block any achievement progress.
- Progressing in Challenges: Similarly, using mods will not allow challenge progress to unlock anything.
This is a deliberate design choice to guide newcomers through the basic mechanics of the game without potentially game-breaking or confusing modifications.
The Key to Unlocking Achievements with Mods
The crucial detail is that the mod-induced lock on achievements is not permanent. The restriction is lifted once you defeat Mom (the boss of Depths II) at least once on a save file with all mods disabled. This means that before you delve into modded gameplay, you must first prove your competence on a vanilla run.
Here’s the process in clear steps:
- Disable all mods through the in-game mod menu.
- Start a new run, or load an existing save file.
- Defeat Mom. This is the boss at the end of the Depths II stage.
- After defeating Mom, your save file will allow unlocks and achievements to function even when mods are enabled.
Once you accomplish this, you are free to use mods, with very few exceptions, and still gain unlocks and achievement progress. You will be able to unlock characters and achievements, and continue progressing even with modifications enabled.
Exceptions and Important Considerations
While the core rule of defeating Mom to enable unlocks is fairly clear, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Challenge and Daily Runs: Defeating Mom within challenges or Daily Runs does not count towards unlocking the modded save file. Only a standard run through the base game will work.
- “Old Fashioned” Mods: If you are using mods that are applied through means other than the in-game mod menu (for example, through editing the game’s files), the achievement lock usually doesn’t apply. However, it is advised to stick to the in-game system for more stability.
- Local Game Achievements: Even with mods active, you may still achieve in-game “local” unlocks (not Steam achievements). These are typically associated with in-game collectibles or stat tracking.
- Dev Console: The console in The Binding of Isaac has been known to cause issues with achievements. As such, it is best to avoid this if you wish to make legitimate progress.
FAQ: Everything You Need To Know About Isaac Mods and Unlocks
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to clarify the matter further:
1. Will using mods always prevent me from unlocking things?
No. After defeating Mom at least once on a save file with all mods disabled, you can use most mods without losing your ability to unlock achievements and characters.
2. Does beating Mom in a Challenge count towards enabling unlocks?
No. Defeating Mom in a Challenge or a Daily Run does not fulfill the requirement to unlock modded progress. It must be a standard run through the game.
3. What happens if I enable mods before defeating Mom?
You will not be able to earn Steam achievements or unlock characters on that specific save file. This restriction will remain active until you defeat Mom on a save without mods.
4. Can I unlock characters with mods enabled?
Yes, you can. But only after defeating Mom at least once with no mods enabled on that save file,
5. What if I use a seed with mods active?
Using a pre-determined seed, even without mods active, will disable all achievements.
6. What is considered an “old fashioned” mod and does it work differently?
“Old fashioned” mods refer to those applied through methods other than the in-game menu. These mods typically don’t trigger the achievement lock, but may come with other issues.
7. Are there mods that specifically allow achievements while modding?
Yes, there are mods that claim to enable achievement progress despite other mods active. However, use these at your own discretion. It may be more stable to simply beat Mom once without mods.
8. Does the mod-lock affect local in-game unlocks?
No. The lock typically targets Steam achievements. You might still acquire local in-game achievements while modded.
9. Can I still get banned for cheating achievements?
Steam does have the ability to remove achievements if they suspect abuse. It’s better to unlock them legitimately or use a reputable mod.
10. Do mods disable unlocks on consoles?
The mod implementation differs on console platforms. It is best to look into console-specific details on relevant forums.
11. Can I transfer save files with the unlock to another computer?
This is possible, so long as the save file has defeated Mom on a non-modded run.
12. What is the “Antibirth” mod?
Antibirth is a massive, fan-made mod for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. It adds significant content but is harder than the base game.
13. How do I unlock the Isaac boss fight?
Isaac is the boss of The Cathedral, accessed by defeating Mom’s Heart 11 times or entering an Angel Room after defeating Mom’s Heart.
14. What is “God Mode” in The Binding of Isaac?
God Mode prevents your character from dying. While it doesn’t disable unlocks, God Mode runs are recorded separately.
15. Will using the Dev Console disable achievements?
Yes. Using the dev console is known to cause issues with achievements and is generally not advised when aiming for unlocks.
Conclusion
In summary, mods do initially block unlocks and achievements in The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Repentance. However, this restriction can be overcome easily by defeating Mom once in a standard, non-modded run. Once you’ve done that, you are free to explore the vast modding community while still making game progress. This balance ensures new players experience the game as intended while offering a rich modding experience for seasoned players. Remember to always check for specific details on mod compatibility and updates from the mod creators themselves.