How to Unlock The Keeper in The Binding of Isaac

The Keeper, a challenging but rewarding character in The Binding of Isaac, isn’t unlocked through typical gameplay progression. Instead, you must demonstrate dedication and patience by contributing significantly to the Greed Machine. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:

The primary way to unlock The Keeper is by donating a total of 1000 coins to the Greed Machine, which appears at the end of each successful run in Greed Mode. This is a challenging task, as the Greed Machine is known for jamming after a certain amount of donations. The jamming chance increases with each consecutive donation, making the process of reaching 1000 coins a significant undertaking. However, strategic methods exist to speed up this arduous task.

Understanding The Keeper

Before diving into the how, it’s important to know why unlocking The Keeper is worthwhile. This character is unique in that:

• All red heart containers are converted into blue flies.
• The Keeper can only have a maximum of two coin hearts at any given time, making survivability a constant challenge.
• Despite its fragility, The Keeper’s strengths are its unique coin-based mechanics, allowing for powerful combos when played effectively.

Speeding Up the Donation Process

Donating 1000 coins can feel like a long slog, but here are some strategies to make it more efficient:

The Blank Card and Two of Diamonds Strategy

• The most efficient method involves using the Blank Card and Two of Diamonds combination. This combo allows you to duplicate coins multiple times within a single run. Once you have this combo, you’re able to essentially “break” the greed mode by endlessly donating while making more money.
• The method involves starting a Greed run with the goal of finding the Blank Card and Two of Diamonds combination.
• Once you have the combination, you will be able to duplicate coins allowing you to quickly and easily donate until the machine jams.
• Don’t restart the run after the machine jams. A common mistake is restarting when the machine jams, this will reset the chance of the next game’s jam. However, if you beat the final boss then restart the next run will start with the same chance of jamming, allowing you to quickly max it out.
• You are able to continue donating at a high rate, even after the machine jams and you only get a small amount of money per donation.
• By repeating this process, the 1000 coins will be donated in significantly fewer runs than otherwise needed.

Other Methods

While not as efficient, these alternatives are worth considering:

• Playing characters with coin-focused synergies: Some characters such as Lazarus and Eden have increased chances of having higher luck or finding items early on, thus leading to more opportunities to find combinations, such as the Blank Card and Two of Diamonds combination. Additionally, the Lost has an increased chance of finding better items.
• Maximizing Greed Mode Rewards: Focus on completing all waves in Greed Mode for higher payouts. Utilize items that provide more coins, such as The Piggy Bank.
• Using R Key: The R Key allows you to restart the entire run, keeping the progress you have made toward donations. This allows you to do several high donation runs in one go, saving you lots of time.

Dealing with the Jamming Greed Machine

The Greed Machine is intentionally designed to discourage rapid donations. The jamming chance:

• Increases with each donation you make in a single run.
• Resets if you restart the game, but only if you do not defeat the Ultra Greed boss. Beating the Ultra Greed boss will carry the machine’s jam chance to the next game.
• Requires careful planning, and an understanding of how to maximize the amount of coins you donate before the machine jams, then maximizing your donations on the next run, using the carried jam rate to your advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Unlocking The Keeper

1. Can the Keeper take Devil deals?

Yes, The Keeper can take 2-heart Devil Deals by exploiting a glitch: spawn a co-op baby, take the deal, and then remove the co-op baby, leaving The Keeper with a single coin heart. However, this is often risky and not recommended for beginners.

2. What is the easiest way to unlock the Keeper in a single run?

The quickest method involves the Blank Card and Two of Diamonds combination to generate endless coins in Greed Mode, allowing rapid donations. After you jam the machine, continue playing the same run and donate as many coins as possible, then start the next run and repeat. Do not restart the run after the machine jams or the jam rate of the machine will be reset.

3. What happens if I lose all my coins as The Keeper?

If you lose all coin hearts, The Keeper dies instantly. Unlike other characters, there are no red heart containers or other means of health, only a limited amount of coin hearts, making survivability the biggest challenge.

4. How do I unlock Blue Baby?

Blue Baby is unlocked by completing the game 10 times. After doing so, Isaac will find him locked in a chest during the ending cutscene.

5. Is there a way to heal as The Keeper?

While there is no direct healing for red heart containers, The Keeper can gain coin hearts from various items and effects, such as Greed’s Gullet or Mother’s Kiss, the latter of which allows for 3 Coin Hearts. Also, items that give blue flies act as temporary “health” since they will protect The Keeper from taking damage and will disappear instead.

6. What is the Greedier Mode and how do I unlock it?

Greedier Mode is a more difficult version of Greed Mode, unlocked by depositing 500 coins into the Greed Machine. This mode adds a second phase to the Ultra Greed boss.

7. How does the jam chance in the Greed Machine work?

The jam chance increases with each consecutive donation in a single run. This percentage is then carried over to the next run, if you defeat the Ultra Greed boss. This is to prevent you from farming greed mode. However, a higher jam rate can be used to your advantage when completing multiple donations over multiple runs.

8. Is the Tarnished Keeper the same as The Keeper?

Tarnished Keeper (TR Keeper) is a different character, available in the Epiphany mod. It is unlocked by opening a vault after defeating Ultra Greedier with Tainted Keeper using K.A.E.K.

9. How do I get to the Isaac boss?

Isaac is the boss of The Cathedral. You can reach it by defeating Mom’s Heart 11 times and then killing It Lives!, or by entering an Angel Room after defeating Mom’s Heart and touching the beam of light.

10. What is the easiest character to unlock in The Binding of Isaac?

Lazarus is considered one of the easier characters to unlock, requiring the player to have 4 Soul Hearts or Black Hearts at once.

11. How do I unlock Azazel?

Azazel is unlocked by making three Devil deals in a single run. This makes him a great character for new players, as he has strong starting stats with the ability to fly, a short ranged brimstone beam, and a free card.

12. How do I unlock Apollyon?

Apollyon is unlocked by defeating Mega Satan for the first time. He is a very strong character with high damage and utility, making him a great option.

13. What does Hush unlock?

The first time you defeat Hush, a golden chest will appear. This allows you to end the run and receive the 17th ending. If you have defeated him before, a ray of light and trapdoor will appear that lead to the Cathedral and Sheol respectively, if you have unlocked them.

14. What is the strongest item in Isaac?

Godhead is considered one of the strongest items, as it creates a damaging halo around your tears. It is often considered one of the most powerful angel room items.

15. Can the Tainted Keeper have more than 2 coin hearts?

Yes, Tainted Keeper can have 3 coin hearts with the Mother’s Kiss trinket. However, if you drop the trinket, you will lose the extra coin heart. Greed’s Gullet is another method of obtaining more coin hearts, but there are few other methods.

Conclusion

Unlocking The Keeper in The Binding of Isaac is no easy feat but well worth the effort. By utilizing strategic methods such as the Blank Card and Two of Diamonds strategy and understanding the mechanics of the Greed Machine, you can efficiently unlock this challenging character. Remember that patience and planning are key. The Keeper, while difficult to play, offers a unique and rewarding gameplay experience that will test your skills. Good luck, and may your coin donations be plentiful.