Who is the Final Boss in The Binding of Isaac?
The question of who the final boss is in The Binding of Isaac is surprisingly complex, as it depends on which version of the game and which specific conditions the player meets. There isn’t a single, definitive final boss across the entire series. Instead, the game features multiple “end bosses” that can be considered final, depending on context. In short, the answer is a layered one: for the base game and its expansions, the final boss can be Isaac, Satan, The Lamb, Delirium, or The Beast. Each represents a culmination of different gameplay loops and narratives within the Binding of Isaac universe. Let’s break it down further to understand each of these potential end-game encounters:
The Progression of Final Bosses
Isaac (Cathedral)
In the original The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the most straightforward “final boss” for many players is simply Isaac himself, found in the Cathedral. Reaching this boss after defeating Mom, Mom’s Heart, or It Lives! (a later form of Mom’s Heart) is typically the first victory most players achieve. Defeating Isaac the first five times will unlock new items and pathways deeper into the game. However, he is far from the true final challenge.
Satan (Sheol)
Once you’ve progressed through the game, you’ll eventually unlock a trapdoor after beating the Womb which leads to Sheol. Here, Satan is encountered as the boss. Defeating Satan opens up further pathways and unlocks new characters and items. The fight is challenging but not quite the ultimate challenge.
The Lamb (Dark Room)
Defeating Satan provides access to a new, more challenging pathway via a hole in the floor after defeating Satan. This leads to the Dark Room where players will face the boss known as The Lamb. This is a notably more difficult encounter, and it represents a key point in many players’ progression towards completion. Unlocking the Lamb ending will be crucial as you try to obtain 100% completion in The Binding of Isaac.
Delirium (Void)
Delirium is arguably the most difficult end-game boss. Unlocking this encounter requires a deep dive into the game’s lore, secrets, and mechanics. Delirium is found in the Void, and is accessed randomly from portal spawns after defeating specific bosses, or through the use of specific items. He is the main antagonist and final boss of the The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth DLC The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth †. Delirium can be considered the true final boss in the Afterbirth † and represents a challenging, unpredictable fight, as he transforms into other bosses during the fight. While Delirium is a significant hurdle, the Repentance DLC adds another layer of complexity to the game’s end.
The Beast (Corrupted Ascend)
The The Beast, found in a brand new chapter accessed through a series of specific actions, is the final boss of the Repentance DLC. Defeating her, along with the other new bosses on the way, is a major undertaking. This fight requires knowledge of game mechanics and a combination of skill and luck to overcome. This has come to be known as the true final boss of the entire Binding of Isaac game due to the fact that it requires players to unlock a brand new path to challenge this boss.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many bosses are there in total in The Binding of Isaac?
There are a total of 102 bosses and 20 mini-bosses in The Binding of Isaac, including those added by the various DLCs. Repentance added a substantial 30 bosses and 2 mini-bosses, making it the largest boss addition in the game’s history.
2. What is the “final chapter” of The Binding of Isaac?
The “final chapter” in the original The Binding of Isaac is Sheol. In order to access this chapter, a player must beat the game 10 times to unlock a trapdoor that will appear after beating the Womb.
3. How many endings does The Binding of Isaac have?
There are 16 endings in Rebirth, with 2 additional endings added in Afterbirth, another 2 in Afterbirth+, and 2 more in Repentance. These endings are unlocked by killing the boss at the end of chapters 3-6 and are viewable in the ‘stats’ section.
4. What do you unlock by beating Isaac 5 times?
Beating Isaac five times unlocks The Polaroid item, which is used to access additional pathways in the game. This also allows players to access new pathways to Sheol, leading to the fight against Satan.
5. What is the order I should play The Binding of Isaac DLCs?
The correct order for playing the Binding of Isaac DLCs is: Rebirth, Afterbirth, Afterbirth+, and finally, Repentance. Repentance includes a large portion of a fan made mod called Antibirth, which makes this DLC even more extensive.
6. What happens if you die during a Delirium fight?
Because of Delirium’s nature, players may be surprised to find out that dying in the fight against him does not add a mark to your completion note. On the contrary, beating Delirium does not add a mark to your completion note. However, winning on Hard mode will cause the mark to become tattered, indicating a win against this difficult boss.
7. What does the Dice Room One do in Isaac?
The Dice Room One rerolls all collected items into random ones from the same item pool. This can be a risky but powerful way to change your entire build. Activating this room can turn bad luck into good or even completely ruin your build, and as such, this item is best used carefully.
8. What does the item Judas’ Tongue do?
Judas’ Tongue can retroactively change the prices of devil deals, allowing players to potentially get stronger items for cheaper. It can also cause Angel room items to spawn as well.
9. How do you unlock Blue Baby in The Binding of Isaac?
Blue Baby is unlocked by completing the game 10 times. When that is done, Isaac will find Blue Baby locked in a chest during the ending cutscene of the tenth win.
10. What does the BFF item do in Isaac?
The item BFF visually increases the size of all familiars by 25%, and doubles the damage of Familiars that deal damage through tears and contact damage. Familiars that deal direct damage also have their damage increased when the BFF item is equipped.
11. Is The Binding of Isaac considered a hard game?
The Binding of Isaac is renowned for its high difficulty and complex gameplay, often requiring multiple playthroughs to master. The game’s roguelike elements mean each run is unique and presents new challenges.
12. Is there a max damage limit in The Binding of Isaac?
While there is no hard maximum damage value, there is a “soft cap” due to a square root in the damage calculation, which limits the impact of successive damage upgrades. It should be noted that, even with this soft cap, damage can still increase significantly.
13. What is considered beating The Binding of Isaac?
Beating the boss Isaac or Satan without items to continue to Chapter 6 counts as a win. Beating Mom’s Heart (before unlocking It Lives!) is also considered a win. Intentionally beating either of these bosses will provide the player a new character to play, or can allow the player to take the challenge and reach Chapter 6 to face a harder challenge.
14. Is The Binding of Isaac getting more DLC?
The developers have announced that the Repentance DLC is considered the “final” DLC for The Binding of Isaac. With the inclusion of Antibirth, the content added to the game through this DLC has likely finalized any further content to be added to this game.
15. Does Isaac survive the end of The Binding of Isaac?
The ending implies that Isaac suffocates to death, with the game’s events being his final delusions. His mother eventually finds his body after an extended search. It is this tragic ending that adds to the dark and complex themes of this game.