Lilith, the mother of incubuses, stands out as one of the most uniquely powerful characters in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Afterbirth, Afterbirth+, and Repentance. Her distinctive playstyle, centered around familiar-based damage, sets her apart from the tear-spamming hordes of other characters. While some may find her initial reliance on the Incubus daunting, mastering Lilith unlocks a path to incredible runs, where she can effortlessly mow down enemies and bosses alike with a relentless swarm of demonic minions. This guide will delve deep into the intricacies of playing Lilith, exploring her strengths, weaknesses, strategies, and the best ways to harness her monstrous potential to conquer the depths of the Basement, the Caves, and beyond.
Lilith: The Basics
Lilith begins her journey with a set of items that define her entire gameplay experience. Firstly, there’s Incubus. This familiar, a miniature version of Isaac, mimics the player’s tears but with independent targeting and positioning. Incubus doesn’t just replicate Isaac’s shots; it adapts to his damage stat, meaning any damage upgrades Lilith acquires directly enhance the power of her demonic companion. Secondly, and perhaps just as vital, is the Box of Friends. This active item doubles the number of familiars Lilith has in play, creating an exponential increase in damage output, especially when combined with items that generate additional familiars. Finally, Lilith starts with only one red heart container. This relatively low health pool forces players to approach encounters strategically, relying on their familiars to act as a buffer and deal damage from a safe distance.
This combination of starting items creates a character centered around familiar-based combat. Lilith’s primary focus should be on acquiring more familiars and enhancing their damage, rather than focusing on traditional tear-based upgrades. Clever positioning and strategic activation of the Box of Friends are key to her survival, especially in the early game when her health is at its lowest.
Harnessing Lilith’s Strengths
One of Lilith’s greatest assets is the sheer damage potential of Incubus. As Lilith’s damage stat increases, so does the damage dealt by Incubus. This consistent, independent source of damage allows Lilith to overcome challenging encounters with ease, provided she can keep her familiar safe and sound. The consistent nature of Incubus’s attacks is a huge boon, negating the inconsistencies that players experience with some of Isaac’s own tear builds.
Lilith’s true power blossoms when she synergizes with familiar-generating items. Items like Friend Finder, which spawns a random familiar on use, are incredibly valuable. Even more critical are items that generate charges for the Box of Friends, such as the Battery, the Nine Volt, and Lil’ Battery. These battery items allow for more frequent use of the Box of Friends, leading to exponential increases in familiar count and therefore exponentially more damage. With enough familiars, Lilith can create a veritable wall of demonic minions, shredding enemies before they even get close. This tidal wave of familiars is arguably the best and most fun way to defeat enemies.
Lilith excels at boss killing. Her ability to summon a swarm of familiars, all focusing their fire on a single target, makes her exceptionally efficient at taking down bosses. Bosses that typically pose a threat to tear-based builds often crumble before Lilith’s onslaught. Bosses with large hitboxes are particularly vulnerable, as the familiars can easily surround them, maximizing their damage output.
Another unique aspect of playing Lilith is her enhanced access to Devil Deals. Because her damage output is tied to Incubus and not necessarily her red health, Lilith is more willing to trade away health containers for powerful devil items. This makes powerful deals such as Brimstone, or even better, ones that interact with her Incubus, more common when playing as the mother of incubuses.
Overcoming Lilith’s Challenges
Despite her power, Lilith does have some significant weaknesses. A key aspect of her limitations is the limited direct control she has over her attacks. Unlike characters who can directly aim and control their tears, Lilith is reliant on her familiars’ AI. While Incubus’s targeting is generally competent, it can sometimes be unpredictable, leading to missed shots or inefficient targeting of enemies.
Furthermore, Lilith is quite vulnerable in the early game. With only one heart container, she is extremely susceptible to damage, especially in cramped rooms or against enemies that rush her. Her initial damage output, while consistent, may not be enough to quickly dispatch threats, forcing her to rely on clever positioning and careful maneuvering to avoid taking damage. She becomes a lot more powerful as she gets rolling but at the start she is at her weakest.
Certain item pools are less beneficial for Lilith. Traditional tear-based upgrades, such as increased shot speed or range, are generally less effective because they don’t directly impact Incubus’s attack. While damage upgrades are always welcome, finding items that specifically benefit familiars is paramount. Many items that could be run-defining for other characters are essentially useless on Lilith.
Finally, certain enemies and bosses can pose a challenge to Lilith. Swarms of fast-moving enemies can overwhelm her familiars, while bosses with specific attack patterns that target familiars can significantly reduce her damage output. The Haunt is an example of a boss that can be particularly challenging due to its ability to teleport and attack from unexpected angles.
Strategies for Lilith Success
To truly excel with Lilith, players need to prioritize familiar-generating items above all else. Items like Succubus, Lil’ Brimstone, and even lesser options like Demon Baby can dramatically increase her damage output. Items that generate more familiars will almost always be useful to the player.
Strategic use of the Box of Friends is crucial. Save it for difficult rooms or boss fights, and use it to quickly overwhelm enemies with a massive swarm of familiars. Managing battery charges effectively is key to maximizing the Box of Friends’ impact. Items like 4.5 Volt, AAA Battery, and Pandora’s Box (used correctly) can replenish batteries and enable more frequent activations.
Proper positioning is essential for Lilith’s survival. Stay behind your familiars, letting them act as a shield and deal damage while you remain safe. Avoid close-range combat whenever possible, and utilize cover to protect yourself from enemy attacks. In short, the goal is for the Incubus to be between the player and the enemy.
Exploiting item synergies can elevate Lilith to god-like status. Incubus combined with Succubus creates a devastating combination, where each tear fired by Incubus heals Lilith. The Twisted Pair, which spawns two powerful familiars, is also incredibly effective when doubled by the Box of Friends. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg but they perfectly demonstrate how good the items work together.
Good resource management is also very important. Make sure to use pills to gain an edge when available but don’t be wasteful. Prioritizing health ups can be difficult when going for devil deals, so consider it carefully before giving up your red heart containers.
Exploring Item Synergies for Lilith
A high-impact item combination that exemplifies Lilith’s power is Incubus combined with Brimstone or Technology. Brimstone gives Incubus a powerful beam attack, greatly increasing its range and damage output. Technology, on the other hand, adds a piercing laser to Incubus’s attacks, allowing it to hit multiple enemies at once.
The Incubus and Succubus synergy is also exceptionally strong, as mentioned above. This combination not only increases damage output but also provides Lilith with a consistent source of healing. Finally, Incubus and the Twisted Pair creates a massive swarm of familiars, overwhelming enemies with sheer numbers. And, who could forget the fun interaction with Incubus and Dark Bum? It allows for the player to keep on dealing with enemies without worrying too much about incoming fire.
Some commonly overlooked synergies can also be incredibly effective. For example, items that increase familiar size, such as the Metronome, can make Incubus easier to hit enemies, especially in cramped rooms. The best aspect of the binding of isaac is how everything works together and makes the game infinitely replayable.
Lilith in Comparison
Compared to other powerful characters like Azazel, Cain, and Judas, Lilith offers a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. While Azazel boasts incredible early-game power, he often struggles in the late game due to his limited range. Cain provides increased luck, but his damage output can be inconsistent. Judas has high damage, but his low health makes him risky to play. Lilith, on the other hand, offers consistent damage output and strong synergy with familiar-based items, making her a formidable force throughout the entire run.
Players might choose Lilith for her unique playstyle, her potential for immense damage output, and her enhanced access to Devil Deals. If you enjoy playing characters that require strategic positioning and resource management, Lilith is an excellent choice.
Conclusion
Lilith is a powerful character in The Binding of Isaac. Due to her starting item, ability to generate familiars, and synergy with specific item pools, but mastering her requires understanding her limitations and leveraging her strengths effectively. By prioritizing familiar-generating items, strategically using the Box of Friends, and exploiting item synergies, players can unlock Lilith’s full potential and conquer the depths of the Basement, the Caves, and beyond. So, dive into the game, embrace the swarm, and experience the power of Lilith, the mother of incubuses! Experiment with different item combinations, discover new synergies, and unleash the demonic horde upon the enemies of Isaac.
