The Binding of Isaac: A Guide to Completion Marks – What They Are & How to Get Them

Staring blankly at that character selection screen, those seemingly empty slots can be both daunting and intriguing. Those are Completion Marks, and they represent your journey through the challenging and often bizarre world of *The Binding of Isaac*. They’re more than just visual indicators; they are your keys to unlocking the game’s deepest secrets, its hidden characters, powerful items, and ultimately, the complete *Binding of Isaac* experience. If you want to unlock everything this roguelike treasure has to offer, understanding the importance of the Binding of Isaac Completion Marks is crucial. This comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know about these crucial indicators of progress, explaining exactly what they are, why they matter, and how to strategically earn them.

Unveiling The Mystery of Completion Marks

The Binding of Isaac Completion Marks are visual stamps of achievement displayed next to each character on the character selection screen. Think of them as your personal trophy case, showcasing the bosses you’ve conquered with each individual character. These marks come in a distinct pattern, a grid that fills up as you defeat different final bosses with a specific character on either Normal or Hard difficulty.

Each mark corresponds to a specific boss, and its presence signals your victory over that particular foe. The visual style of these marks can vary slightly depending on the version of the game you’re playing, ranging from simple icons to more elaborate illustrations, but their function remains the same: to clearly indicate which bosses you’ve overcome.

The following are the bosses you’ll need to defeat to earn those coveted Binding of Isaac Completion Marks:

• Mom
• Mom’s Heart / It Lives!
• Isaac
• Satan
• ??? (Blue Baby)
• The Lamb
• Hush
• Mega Satan
• Delirium
• Mother
• The Beast

Defeating these bosses with a character, on a specific difficulty, will award you a corresponding Completion Mark. Earning these marks involves perseverance, skill, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. Each character offers a unique play style, and mastering them to defeat each boss is an essential part of truly conquering *The Binding of Isaac*.

Why Completion Marks Are Essential

Completion Marks aren’t just for show; they’re intrinsically linked to your progression in *The Binding of Isaac*. Their primary function is to unlock a wealth of content, expanding your arsenal of items, introducing new characters to play as, and even opening up entirely new challenges to overcome. Ignoring Completion Marks is like only experiencing a fraction of what the game has to offer.

They unlock a treasure trove of items, significantly impacting your future runs. For example, defeating specific bosses with certain characters might unlock new passive items, active items, or even trinkets that can drastically alter your gameplay. These unlocked items then become part of the item pool, increasing the variety and strategic depth of future runs. The more you play, and the more marks you earn, the more items you’ll have access to, leading to increasingly powerful and unique character builds.

Beyond items, Completion Marks can unlock new playable characters. *The Binding of Isaac* boasts a diverse roster of characters, each with their own unique starting stats, items, and abilities. Unlocking these characters adds layers of replayability, as each one offers a distinctly different gameplay experience. Some characters start with an advantage, while others present a unique challenge, forcing you to adapt your play style and learn new strategies. The game is a significantly better experience after you unlock several characters, making each run feel more fresh.

Finally, Completion Marks are your key to unlocking new challenges, special scenarios with pre-determined rules and restrictions. These challenges push your skills to the limit, forcing you to think outside the box and master the game’s mechanics in unconventional ways. Completing challenges often unlocks even more content, further expanding the game’s depth and replayability.

Beyond these tangible rewards, Completion Marks provide a clear framework for progression and goal setting. In a game as vast and unpredictable as *The Binding of Isaac*, it can be easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. Completion Marks offer a tangible set of objectives to aim for, providing a sense of direction and motivation. Instead of aimlessly wandering through runs, you can strategically plan your approach, focusing on completing specific marks with specific characters. This structured approach can make the game feel more manageable and rewarding, especially for new players.

There’s a profound sense of accomplishment that comes with methodically filling out the Completion Marks grid. *The Binding of Isaac* can be a brutally difficult game, and earning those marks requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Each Completion Mark represents a hard-fought victory, a testament to your skill and determination. Seeing the character selection screen gradually fill up with those hard-earned marks is a visual representation of your progress and mastery of the game.

Strategies For Earning Completion Marks Effectively

Earning Completion Marks in *The Binding of Isaac* is a journey that demands strategic thinking, skillful execution, and a willingness to adapt. Here are some key tips and strategies to help you on your path to complete completion:

Difficulty Selection

Difficulty selection plays a crucial role in your Completion Mark journey. The game offers both Normal and Hard difficulty modes, and each has its own implications. Normal mode is generally recommended for beginners, as it offers a more forgiving experience. Enemies deal less damage, and some challenging room layouts are simplified. Hard mode, on the other hand, ramps up the difficulty significantly. Enemies are tougher, room layouts are more treacherous, and certain boss attacks become more frequent and aggressive.

The crucial difference lies in Completion Marks. While you can earn Completion Marks on both Normal and Hard mode, some unlocks are only available by defeating bosses on Hard mode. Therefore, the most efficient approach is to start on Normal mode to familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics, boss patterns, and character playstyles. Once you feel comfortable, switch to Hard mode to unlock the remaining content and truly test your skills.

Character Selection

Character selection is another key aspect of earning Completion Marks. Each character in *The Binding of Isaac* has their own unique strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles. Some characters, like Isaac with his starting D6, offer a balanced and versatile experience, while others, like The Lost, present a significant challenge.

When starting your Completion Mark journey, it’s wise to choose characters that align with your playstyle and offer a decent chance of success. Characters like Cain, with his starting key and increased luck, or Judas, with his high damage output, can be good choices for beginners. As you become more experienced, you can experiment with more challenging characters and develop strategies to overcome their inherent limitations.

Run Planning

Before diving into a run, take a moment to plan your approach. Consider which boss you’re targeting, which character you’re playing, and what items you hope to find. Having a clear goal in mind can help you make more informed decisions throughout the run, increasing your chances of success.

Prioritize Survival

Survival is paramount in *The Binding of Isaac*. Focus on avoiding damage and maintaining your health. Learn enemy attack patterns, prioritize defensive items, and don’t be afraid to use bombs or special abilities to escape dangerous situations.

Maximize Damage

While survival is important, you also need to deal damage to defeat bosses. Prioritize items that increase your damage output, such as tear upgrades, shot speed improvements, and damage multipliers. Experiment with different item synergies to discover powerful combinations that can melt even the toughest bosses.

Learn Boss Patterns

Each boss in *The Binding of Isaac* has their own unique attack patterns and weaknesses. Learning these patterns is crucial for dodging their attacks and exploiting their vulnerabilities. Watch videos of successful boss runs, read online guides, and practice fighting each boss until you feel comfortable with their moveset.

Item Synergies

Experiment with different item synergies. *The Binding of Isaac* is renowned for its intricate item synergy system. Discovering powerful combinations of items can dramatically enhance your character’s abilities and make even the most challenging runs feel manageable. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different item combinations, even if they seem unconventional. You might just stumble upon a game-breaking synergy that carries you to victory.

Conclusion: The Rewarding Path to Completion

The Binding of Isaac Completion Marks are more than just icons on a screen. They represent your journey through a complex, challenging, and endlessly rewarding game. They are your keys to unlocking the game’s full potential, its hidden characters, powerful items, and unique challenges. They are a visual representation of your progress, your skill, and your determination.

If you want to truly experience the depth and richness of *The Binding of Isaac*, mastering the art of earning Completion Marks is essential. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn. But the rewards are well worth the effort. So, embrace the challenge, experiment with different characters and strategies, and enjoy the journey of filling out that Completion Marks grid.