Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Wiki
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(except in Rebirth)

Empty Vessel is an unlockable passive item added in The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth.

Effects

  • When Isaac has no Red Hearts:
    • Grants flight.
    • (except in Repentance) Every 40 seconds since activation or pickup, when the seconds on the timer hit 00, 20, or 40, while in a room with enemies, a shield triggers, nullifying all types of damage for 10 seconds.
    • (in Repentance) A 10-second shield activates when Isaac is in a room with enemies and the seconds on the timer hit 00, 20, or 40 at least twice.
  • Grants 2 Black Hearts on pickup.

Notes

  • Does not affect Character Keeper iconKeeper/ Character Tainted Keeper iconTainted Keeper.
  • (except in Repentance)This item is difficult to use for anyone with red health, as it is impossible to have no red hearts without removing all heart containers (such as through Devil deals). It is best used by characters that cannot gain red health at all, such as Character ??? (Character) icon???.
  • (in Repentance)Characters can now deplete their red health fully through sources like Blood Donation Machines while having other hearts like soul hearts. As a result, this item is usable for a wider amount of characters, and has synergies with characters who prefer to have no red health (such as Character Eve iconEve).

Synergies

  • (in Afterbirth † and Repentance)Collectible Brittle Bones iconBrittle Bones: The empty bone hearts will trigger Empty Vessel.
  • Collectible Gnawed Leaf iconGnawed Leaf: If the player has no Red Hearts, they can stand still and wait for the shield to activate, allowing the player to deal damage without leaving invulnerability.

In-game Footage

Trivia

  • The changed texture of the player's body is the same as Character The Lost iconThe Lost's, but recolored.
  • "Empty vessel" is a religious term for having an open mind so God can fill it with His divine wisdom.

Seeds

Switch Greedier mode only 6GW8 CG48 (The Basement Devil Room)


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