- The Binding of Isaac Repentance how to unlock all characters involves completing specific in-game milestones and secret quests.
- Normal Characters (17 total) are unlocked through health totals, coin counts, or defeating specific endgame bosses like Mother or Mega Satan.
- Tainted Characters (17 total) require reaching the Home floor and using a Red Key or Cracked Key on a specific hidden closet.
- Priority Unlocks include Isaac’s D6 and the Holy Mantle for The Lost to make difficult runs manageable.
- Hard Mode is highly recommended for all unlocks to secure exclusive completion marks and items simultaneously.
Unlocking Basic Normal Characters
Understanding the binding of isaac repentance how to unlock all characters begins with the core roster. Most early-game characters are unlocked by reaching specific resource thresholds or performing simple feats within a single run. These characters serve as the foundation for your save file, each introducing unique mechanics that help you learn the game's complex synergies.
| Character | Unlock Requirement | Starting Health | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac | Available from the start | 3 Red Hearts | Balanced stats, D6 (once unlocked) |
| Magdalene | Have 7+ Red Heart containers at once | 4 Red Hearts | High survivability, Yum Heart |
| Cain | Hold 55+ coins at one time | 2 Red Hearts | High speed, Lucky Foot, good pills |
| Judas | Defeat Satan (Sheol) | 1 Red Heart | High damage, Book of Belial |
| Eve | Clear 2 floors without picking up hearts | 2 Red Hearts | Whore of Babylon damage boost |
| Samson | Clear 2 floors without taking damage | 3 Red Hearts | Bloody Lust (damage on hit) |
| Azazel | Take 3 Devil Deal items in one run | 3 Black Hearts | Flight, short-range Brimstone |
| Lazarus | Have 4+ Soul/Black Hearts at once | 3 Red Hearts | Extra life, revives with more damage |
To easily unlock Magdalene, look for items like The Jar, Full Health pills, or health-up items in the Boss and Shop pools. Using a Strength card can also provide a temporary heart container that counts toward the requirement.
Endgame and Progression Characters
As you descend deeper into the basement, the requirements for the binding of isaac repentance how to unlock all characters become significantly more difficult. These characters are tied to the game's major boss milestones and alternate paths introduced in the Repentance expansion.
| Character | Unlock Requirement | Difficulty | Essential Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden | Defeat Mom's Heart for the first time | Easy | Requires Eden Tokens to play |
| ??? (Blue Baby) | Defeat Mom's Heart 10 times | Moderate | Only uses Soul/Black hearts |
| Apollyon | Defeat Mega Satan for the first time | Moderate | Void active item absorbs passives |
| Lilith | Defeat Ultra Greed (Greed Mode) as Azazel | Moderate | Fires via Incubus, Box of Friends |
| Bethany | Defeat Mom's Heart on Hard as Lazarus (no revives) | Hard | Book of Virtues, Soul Heart charges |
| Jacob & Esau | Defeat Mother (Corpse II) | Very Hard | Controls two characters at once |
When attempting to unlock Bethany, you must complete the run as Lazarus without triggering his revival mechanic. If you die and become Lazarus Risen, the unlock will not trigger even if you defeat It Lives!
The Secret Character Quests
Some characters require complex, multi-step quests that can span an entire run. Mastering the binding of isaac repentance how to unlock all characters means knowing the specific sequences for The Forgotten and The Lost.
How to Unlock The Forgotten
The Forgotten is perhaps the most unique unlock in the game, requiring you to survive a constant barrage of stomping feet.
Defeat the First Boss
Defeat the Floor 1 boss in under one minute. You will hear Mom yell "Isaac!" and hear footsteps.
Bomb the Starting Room
Return to the starting room and bomb the center to spawn the Broken Shovel. While holding this, Mom's feet will constantly stomp you.
Clear Boss Rush
Carry the Broken Shovel to Depths II and defeat Mom. If you reached her in under 20 minutes, Boss Rush will grant the second shovel piece.
The Dark Room Grave
Go to the Dark Room and find a room with a single dirt patch in the center. Use Mom's Shovel on the patch to release The Forgotten's soul.
To unlock The Lost, you must first find the Missing Poster trinket. Once held, enter a Sacrifice Room and die on the spikes. This will immediately unlock the character and end the current run.
Specialized Unlock Requirements
| Character | Unlock Method | Key Item/Trinket |
|---|---|---|
| The Lost | Die in Sacrifice Room with Missing Poster | Missing Poster |
| The Keeper | Donate 1,000 coins to the Greed Machine | Greed Mode / Coins |
| The Forgotten | Complete the Broken Shovel quest | Mom's Shovel |
Unlocking Tainted Characters
The Repentance expansion added a "Tainted" version for every character, doubling the roster. This is the final frontier of the binding of isaac repentance how to unlock all characters. These variants are unlocked through the "Home" route.
Step 1: The Strange Door
Defeat Mother once to unlock the Strange Door in Depths II. On subsequent runs, bomb a marked skull in Depths II to get a The Fool card. Defeat Mom, take the Polaroid/Negative, and teleport out to open the door.
Step 2: The Ascent
Travel through the Mausoleum/Gehenna to reach Dad's Note. This triggers The Ascent, where you travel backward through the floors you previously cleared.
Step 3: Reach Home
Once you reach the Basement, you will enter the Home floor. Enter Mom's room and open her chest to get the Red Key (on your first visit).
Step 4: The Hidden Closet
Go to the hallway leading to Mom's room. Use the Red Key or a Cracked Key on the faint red outline of a door on the wall. Touch the character inside to unlock their Tainted version.
If you have already unlocked the Red Key, you can find Cracked Keys during the Ascent. Drop a trinket in a Treasure Room or Boss Room earlier in the run; it will transform into a Cracked Key when you return to that room during the Ascent.
Character Unlock Strategy & Checklist
To efficiently finish the binding of isaac repentance how to unlock all characters, you should follow a specific progression path. Rushing for difficult characters like Tainted Lost without a strong item pool will lead to frustration.
Recommended Unlock Order:
- Unlock Azazel for fast Greed Mode clears
- Defeat Isaac as ??? to unlock the D6 for Isaac
- Donate 879 coins to the Greed Machine for The Lost's Holy Mantle
- Defeat Mother to unlock the Home route and Jacob & Esau
- Unlock Tainted Isaac and Tainted Lilith for high-tier item rewards
- Complete the Forgotten quest using Azazel for high mobility
Unlock Reward Comparison
| Unlock Target | Difficulty | Reward Value | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tainted Isaac | Moderate | ★★★★★ | Spawns Glitched Crown/Spindown Dice |
| Tainted Lilith | Easy | ★★★★★ | Unlocks Twisted Pair (S-tier familiar) |
| The Lost | Hard | ★★★★☆ | Free Devil Deals help with marks |
| Jacob & Esau | Very Hard | ★★★★★ | Unlocks Rock Bottom and Genesis |
Unlocking characters like Tainted Eden or Tainted Cain can significantly change how you play the game. Ensure you are comfortable with the base game mechanics before diving into the high-execution Tainted variants.
FAQ: Character Unlocks
Q: Can I unlock characters using seeds?
No. Using a seeded run disables all achievements and character unlocks. You must play on a standard unseeded run to progress.
Q: Do I need to play on Hard Mode to unlock characters?
Most basic characters can be unlocked on Normal Mode. However, Bethany and specific Tainted character completion marks require Hard Mode. It is best to play Hard Mode exclusively to avoid re-clearing content.
Q: What is the fastest way to unlock The Keeper?
The fastest way is to rotate different characters in Greed/Greedier Mode. Each character has a separate jam chance for the donation machine; switching characters keeps the jam chance low, allowing you to donate more coins per run.
Q: How do I get the Red Key if I already used it once?
After the first time you open Mom's chest in Home, the Red Key is no longer guaranteed. You must either find it in a Red Chest/Secret Room or use the 'Trinket-to-Cracked-Key' method during the Ascent.