Does Dead Eye Work With Azazel? A Comprehensive Guide
The simple answer is no, Dead Eye does not work with Azazel, unless his tear effect has been replaced. This might seem straightforward, but the intricacies of item interactions in The Binding of Isaac often lead to confusion. In this article, we’ll delve deep into why this interaction fails, and explore related mechanics, items, and synergies that impact Azazel’s gameplay.
Understanding Azazel’s Unique Mechanics
Azazel starts with a unique, short-range Brimstone laser that is his primary attack. This is not a standard tear effect. Dead Eye grants a damage bonus based on the player’s tear stat, but crucially, Azazel’s initial “tears” are not considered tears by the game, meaning they don’t benefit from tear-related items like Dead Eye. Instead, Azazel’s Brimstone damage is affected primarily by his damage stat and item combinations specific to brimstone.
The core issue is that Azazel’s base attack isn’t actually considered a tear projectile. Thus, it doesn’t have a base tear stat for Dead Eye to leverage. This is an important distinction that many players initially miss. So, if you pick up Dead Eye as Azazel with his default attack, the item does absolutely nothing. However, If Azazel’s Brimstone has been replaced with a different tear effect (for example, Mom’s Knife), Dead Eye will then benefit the replaced tears like normal.
The Key: Tear Replacement
The game mechanics mean that Dead Eye’s benefits only become apparent when Azazel’s default Brimstone is overridden or replaced by a standard tear effect. For instance, if you acquire an item like Mom’s Knife, which replaces Azazel’s Brimstone with a knife-throwing attack, then Dead Eye’s damage bonus based on tear stat will now be applied. This is because Mom’s Knife is considered a “tear” projectile.
Understanding this crucial aspect is key to making informed decisions when choosing items during an Azazel run. Simply picking up every item that appears might lead to a less powerful build compared to a more focused approach based on Azazel’s inherent strengths and weaknesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 FAQs to provide further clarity and understanding of Azazel’s mechanics and related item interactions:
1. What happens if you get Brimstone with Azazel?
Getting Brimstone as Azazel changes his short-range Brimstone into a long-range version. Additionally, it increases his fire rate because Brimstone’s fire rate multiplier is x1/3, and Azazel’s is x0.267. Chocolate Milk reduces the charge time, and his Brimstone laser takes longer to charge but can be released at any point.
2. Does tears up affect Brimstone charge time?
No, an increased tears stat does not reduce the charge-up time of Brimstone. It only affects the tear rate for tear-based projectile. The charge time is primarily affected by items like Chocolate Milk.
3. Does damage up affect Brimstone damage?
Yes, an increased damage stat does increase Brimstone’s damage. This makes damage-boosting items highly valuable for any Brimstone-focused build.
4. How do you unlock Azazel?
You unlock Azazel by making three Devil deals in a singular run. This makes him a moderately easy character to unlock and also a quite powerful one to play.
5. Does technology work with Azazel?
Technology overrides Azazel’s Brimstone. The Technology laser wraps around the Brimstone beam, dealing extra damage but does not increase the range of Brimstone.
6. Does Mom’s Knife work with Azazel’s Brimstone?
Yes, but they don’t synergize as you might expect. When Mom’s Knife is picked up with Brimstone, Brimstone is overridden leaving only the floating knife, meaning you lose the brimstone beam and replace it with a Knife that can be charged up for further damage.
7. What does shot speed do on Azazel?
A higher shot speed will increase the directional knockback of enemies hit by Azazel’s default “tears” (the very short-range beam). This does not affect Brimstone’s beam range or speed.
8. What happens if you get Brimstone twice?
Getting Brimstone twice further increases the width of the ring and grants +1 Damage, but it is overridden by Azazel’s unique Brimstone effect.
9. Does Ocular Rift work with Brimstone?
Yes, Rifts may appear where a Brimstone beam hits rocks, walls, or enemies. Synergizing with other items like Compound Fracture can create numerous smaller rifts.
10. Does Brimstone override Tough Love?
Yes, Brimstone is overridden by Brimstone. If you have Tough Love you will only occasionally fire a Brimstone beam with a damage multiplier from Tough Love.
11. Does Epiphora work with Brimstone?
No, Brimstone does not benefit from Epiphora’s increased damage based on higher tear rates. The increased damage from higher tear rates will only apply when the laser starts firing.
12. What are Azazel’s weaknesses?
Azazel’s primary weakness is the short-range of his default Brimstone beam. Players must adjust their positioning to deal damage effectively, and avoid attacks. Azazel is also quite vulnerable to enemies below him.
13. Does Brimstone override Mom’s Knife?
Yes, Mom’s Knife overrides Brimstone leaving you with only the floating knife. Therefore, do not get brimstone if you have acquired Mom’s Knife.
14. Does Brimstone work with The Forgotten?
Yes, when The Forgotten uses the charge attack, it spawns a Brimstone ball which floats in front of the Forgotten for a few seconds before disappearing. The Forgotten can still melee attack while the ball is present.
15. Does Spoon Bender work with Azazel?
No, Spoon Bender has no effect on Azazel’s base Brimstone, meaning it is not worth picking up over other items for Azazel. It is a bad item for this particular character. It may be useful if you have replaced Azazel’s tear effect with an alternative.
Conclusion
While Dead Eye might appear to be a powerful item in The Binding of Isaac, it highlights the complex nature of item interactions. It does not work with Azazel’s default Brimstone due to how the game classifies his attacks. However, If his attack is replaced, you will see a benefit. Understanding these mechanics allows players to optimize their runs and ultimately increase their chances of victory. Remember to consider the specific character you are playing and how they interact with various items. Azazel’s initial Brimstone is the key to his gameplay, but it can also be a trap if not understood correctly.