Azazel

Template:CharacterTable Azazel is a new character in The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth unlocked by making three deals with the devil in one run. Azazel starts with a short-ranged version of Brimstone, the ability to fly, the card 0 - The Fool, and three Black Hearts without any regular heart containers; however, unlike ???, Azazel can still obtain heart containers with items.

Item and Strategy Notes

• Azazel suffers from the shortest range of all characters; this is balanced with flight, additional power per hit via his Brimstone-like attack, and significant damage to all enemies in the room upon the loss of a Black Heart, killing most lesser enemies.
• Due to his inherent flight, Azazel takes damage only when leaving a Curse Room, not when entering, effectively letting him use these rooms at half-price. Additionally, he can use the Fool card he starts with to avoid the cost for one room entirely.

Good Items

• Brimstone itself, giving Azazel the long-ranged version.
• The Ludovico Technique gives a Brimstone ring, whether Azazel has the short or long-ranged version of it, giving him the ability to damage many enemies at a time due to its size and negates Azazel's short range, but halves Azazel's damage.
• Tammy's Head, which shoots 10 short-ranged Brimstone beams around him, which deals enormous amounts of damage.
• Sad Bombs, which shoots 10 short-ranged Brimstone beams around the explosion point, which deals enormous amounts of damage.
• Number One slightly decreases Azazel's range but significantly decreases the charge time of Azazel's Brimstone.
• It is possible to slightly increase attack range by taking Range-increasing items.
  • My Reflection greatly increases the range of Azazel's brimstone.
    • Template:Afterbirth Greatly increases the Brimstone laser's range and makes the laser curve as Azazel moves around the room.
  • Template:Afterbirth Tape Worm greatly increases the Brimstone laser's range.
  • With enough range, acquiring homing tears will make Azazel's Brimstone home in on enemies.
• Despite his lack of Heart Containers, unlike ???, Azazel can gain Heart Containers. Thus, health-increasing items are useful.
• Tiny Planet changes the path of Azazel's Brimstone into a circle, giving it an area of effect. The range increase becomes especially powerful if you add a homing tears effect.
• Proptosis doubles the Brimstone laser's damage without any downsides.
  • Template:Afterbirth The beam will decrease in damage the further it travels, but Proptosis still greatly increases damage at close range.
• Abaddon provides no downside, given Azazel still has no Heart Containers. As it costs 3 soul hearts, it will add 3 black hearts to his health bar, increase damage and speed, and give his Brimstone laser a fear effect.
• Technology 2 provides a laser while Brimstone is charging, allowing the player to do damage while the charge occurs. However, this also decreases the damage of Azazel's Brimstone.
• Template:Afterbirth Rubber Cement allows Azazel's laser to bounce off of walls. Unlike Azazel's normal mini-Brimstone, beams that bounce off of walls have infinite range.
• Template:Afterbirth Monstro's Lung gives several additional Brimstone beams around Azazel.
• Template:Afterbirth The Wiz Azazel fires two short diagonal Brimstone beams in the chosen direction.

Bad Items

• The following items have their effect reduced or nullified with Azazel's short-ranged Brimstone.
  • Items naturally overridden by Brimstone, such as:
    • Cricket's Body
    • Mysterious Liquid (Template:Afterbirth Creep will spawn at the edge of the laser)
    • Ouija Board
    • Strange Attractor (Until Anti-Gravity is picked up)
    • The Parasite
  • Template:Afterbirth Continuum Has no effect with Azazel's short Brimstone.
  • Template:Afterbirth Marked Brimstone's beam cannot be directed, but it does increase Brimstone's charge speed.

• The following items override Azazel's short-ranged Brimstone:
  • Dr. Fetus
  • Epic Fetus
  • Mom's Knife
  • Technology (Template:Afterbirth Technology wraps around the Brimstone laser, increasing damage)
  • Items that respawn Azazel as a different character, including Ankh, Lazarus' Rags, and Judas' Shadow

• Items that break rocks, like Leo or Thunder Thighs nullify part of the advantage Azazel gains from flight as he will no longer be able to hover over them to avoid enemy projectiles.

Unlockable items

• File:Achievement the nail.png The Nail - Complete the Boss Rush.
• File:Achievement wrapped baby.png Wrapped Baby - Defeat Mom's Heart or It Lives on Hard.
• File:Achievement daemon's tail.png Daemon's Tail - Defeat Satan.
• File:Achievement satanic bible.png Satanic Bible - Defeat Isaac.
• File:Achievement a demon baby!.png Demon Baby - Defeat The Lamb.
• File:Achievement abaddon.png Abaddon - Defeat ???.
• File:Achievement lilith.png Template:Afterbirth Lilith - Defeat Ultra Greed.
• File:Achievement maw of the void.png Template:Afterbirth Maw Of The Void - Defeat Hush.
• File:Achievement black baby.png Template:Afterbirth Black Baby - Defeat Mega Satan.
• File:Achievement sucky baby.png Template:Afterbirth Sucky Baby - Earn all Hard mode Completion Marks.

Trivia

• In the Bible, Azazel is referred to as a scapegoat that was cast into the wild as atonement. However, in certain traditions of Abrahamic religions, Azazel refers to the fallen angel who taught people to make weapons and jewelry and taught women the "sinful art" of painting their faces, as mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Enoch. Azazel is referenced three times in the Bible; this may be why he spawns with three Black Hearts.
• His appearance may also be a slight reference to Venger, the villain of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Both are missing their right horn, and with the other D&D references, it would seem to go along with it.

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