The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Retribution: 190 Items
batbrain55 27 Oct, 2023 @ 3:40pm
Suggestions for Item Pool Tweaks
I like this mod, but I have issues with some of its additions to item pools. I feel a lot of them are out of place or otherwise don't fit. The following is a list of changes to pools that I think would improve things.

Note: I realise some of these changes would result in some pools having few Retribution items, if any, but that's fine IMO. Items shouldn't be forced into pools just for the sake of it. If you want to make your stuff more available make you could make swine beggars more common or add some sort of new room type with Retribution items or something.

SHOP
Utility items, items that generate/interact with pickups, particularly money, items that you might or might not want dependant on your build [battery items, BFFs, King Baby, etc], mostly fairly mundane objects.

Consider adding:
Spoils Pouch, Some Options, Salesman's Eye, Meat Grinder (reduced weight?), Blazing Beak, Moonlit Mirror, Chastity Belt, Kombu Gacha

Consider removing:
Melatonin, Fry's Paw, Black Hammer, Cyst, Bygone Arm, Rapture, Hundred Dollar Steak, Tithe, Toy Drum, Bell Clapper, Melitodes, Derelict Anchor, Snap Bang, Puffstool, Shattered Dice, Stained Shard, Bandage Binder, Cactus

BOSS
Mostly simple, straightforward stat-ups and items that give you pickups. Numbers go bigger; with only relatively minor wacky bonuses.

Consider adding: EDIT: Hundred Dollar Steak doesn't immediately give you a heart container, so never mind.

Consider removing:
- Arrow of Light, Defibrillator, Silver Charm, Smooth Stone, Toy Drum, Bell Clapper, Milk of Baphomet, Kombu Gacha (don't fit the simplicity of the vanilla pool; Numbers Go Up)
- Moxie's Head, Mom's Suppository (the vanilla pool has no damage multiplier effects)

GOLDEN CHEST
Ordinary, day-to-day objects you could expect to find in a non-food chest or cabinet. Mostly small objects and a few clothes. No actives. Oh, Fate is in there too.

Consider adding: Yeah, I got nothing. Ya got some real weird items (not complaining).

Consider removing:
- Smooth Stone, Bag of Seeds (Don't fit the theme)
- Rewards Card (Too shop-y, and Member's Card isn't in here.)

SECRET
Items themed around secrets, hidden truths, memories, and the truth behind Isaac's situation. Mushroom items.

Consider adding:
Dowsing Rod, Defibrillator, Silver Charm, Swindler, Sinner's Prayer, Derelict Anchor, Salesman's Eye, Rapture

Consider removing:
Spoils Pouch, FOP, Lifeblood Syringe, The Pig Bang, Coinflip, Devil's Tooth, Baby's Breath, Corpse Flower, Moonlit Mirror

CRANE GAME
Video game reference items, toys, gizmos, doohickies, trophies, knick-knacks, plush toys, living creatures that look like (mostly) cute plush toys. Jars, too, for some reason.

Consider adding:
Bottled Fairy, False Idol, Gacha-Go, Coinflip, The Pig Bang, Axolotl, Cactus, Celestial Berry, Defibrillator, Mad Onion, Moxie's Head, Silver Charm, Snake Oil, Spoils Pouch, Milk of Baphomet

Consider removing:
Snap Bang, Bell of Circe, Bone Saw, Eve's Nail Polish, Philosopher's Stone

DEVIL ROOM
Dark, evil blessings.

Consider adding:
Bell of Circe, Effigy, F.O.P, Friend Folio (Monster Manuel is in the Devil pool), Heel Spur, Mark of Cain, Jet Feather

Consider removing:
Eve's Nail Polish, Slick Spade, Carapace

ANGEL ROOM
Holy blessings.

Consider adding:
Moonlit Mirror, Arrow of Light, Rapture, Bell Clapper

Consider removing:
- Friendly Monster (not holy enough, sorry lil' guy)
- Pride Pin (Christianity has, uhhhh, mixed opinions on the topic of Pride, and none of the other 'random tear' effect stuff is in the Angel pool.)

TREASURE
Tons of stuff.

Consider adding: Anything I've ended up recommending removing from all pools

Consider removing:
Some of the items I've suggested adding to other item pools.
Baptismal Font (D10 is already here, probably best to keep this holy version in the Angel Pool, yes I can hear you bruh-ing at me)

The rest of the item placements are fine in my books. Thanks for hearing me out!
Last edited by batbrain55; 28 Oct, 2023 @ 3:45pm