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(in Afterbirth † and Repentance)

Broken Modem is an unlockable passive item added in The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth † (Booster Pack #1).

Effects[ | ]

  • Enemies, enemy shots, tears and pickups will briefly freeze in place at random intervals.
    • The frequency of the effect depends on Isaac's luck.
    • (in Repentance) Frozen enemy shots will disappear.
  • Has a 25% chance to duplicate the room drop, similar to Collectible Contract From Below iconContract From Below.
    • Unlike the Contract, the Broken Modem cannot double chests, pills or cards.
      • (in Repentance) However, it can duplicate chests that are an alternate reward from Collectible Options? iconOptions?. These chests will have different contents from each other.

Synergies[ | ]

  • (in Repentance)Collectible Magneto iconMagneto + Collectible Options? iconOptions?: If Broken Modem duplicates a chest that was spawned by Options?, using Magneto to immediately open the chest while in its glitched form will create a Collectible TMTRAINER iconTMTRAINER item if the chest contained an item.

Interactions[ | ]

  • Collectible Contract From Below iconContract From Below: Contract from Below spawns two items, Broken Modem has an independent chance to duplicate each one.
  • Friendly enemies: Broken Modem also affects friendly enemies and projectiles created by them.

Note[ | ]

  • If Isaac exits the room before the glitching animation is completed on the loot, it will not be duplicated.

In-game Footage[ | ]

Gallery[ | ]

Trivia[ | ]

  • Broken Modem is based on this Steam Workshop item by freeze.
  • Broken Modem is a reference to an internet modem/box. Since the internet box is broken, there is a large amount of lag, as the client (player) computer is having trouble getting the data from the host server over the stuttering internet. This shows itself in the item through the following effects:
    • The client computer has trouble getting the inputs of other players over the broken internet, meaning the other clients freeze in place and look like they aren't moving, as the computer isn't getting the inputs fast enough to show them. (slows enemies, items, and tears)
    • The client computer gets the host's or other clients' inputs twice, as the client computer can't send the acceptance trigger to the host server fast enough. (double items)

Bugs[ | ]

Bug Bug! (in Repentance) If this item is rerolled (Collectible D4 iconD4, etc.) while the freezing effect is taking place in a room with enemies, those enemies will remain frozen permanently as long as Isaac remains in that room, making it a matter of time before the room is cleared. This includes bosses.[1]
Bug Bug! (in Repentance) If picked up as Character Tainted Lazarus iconTainted Lazarus, and the player has any friendly enemies frozen by Broken Modem, switching to the form without Broken Modem, will freeze the enemies until the player switches back to the form with Broken Modem.

References[ | ]


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