Tears

Attributes

Health

Damage

Tears

Range

Shot Speed

Speed

Luck

Hidden Attributes

This article is about the attribute. For Isaac's primary weapon, see effects.

The Tears attribute determines the rate of fire of the character, and is represented by 3 arrows. This attribute is also known as the tear delay (the delay between successive shots, as opposed to the inverse 'tears per second'); a higher tears stat means a shorter delay. The tear stat is a measurement of tear frequency, as opposed to Shot Speed, which measures how fast those shots move.

Tear Delay

The formula for tear delay is:

If TotalTears * 1.3 + 1 is negative, TearDelay = 16 - 6 * TotalTears.

"Total Tears" is equal to the normal tears stat. For example, picking up Sad Onion would grant 0.7 tears, making Isaac's tear delay 7.7, which is rounded down to 7.

Different characters start with different initial tears:

• Isaac, Magdalene, Cain, Judas, ???, Eve, Lazarus, The Lost, Lilith, Apollyon, and The Forgotten: 0
• Samson: -0.05
• Azazel: +0.5, x1/3
• Eden: ±0.75
• Keeper: -2

Several items directly modify tear delay after this main calculation:

• Anti-Gravity-2 Tear Delay. Tears float in position until firing ceases, after which they will fly off in the direction they were shot in.: -2 tear delay
• BrimstoneTears are replaced by a laser beam that pierces through all enemies and obstacles in its path and deals high damage. Can only be fired after a short charge-up period.: tear delay * 3
• Cancer-2 Tear Delay (effectively increases firerate of tears).: -2 tear delay
• CapricornAll stats up.: -1 tear delay
• Chocolate MilkGrants charged tears that deal greater damage when fully charged. + The Ludovico TechniqueInstead of firing tears, Isaac controls one floating tear that hover over obstacles. This tear deals constant damage when held in place over an enemy.: -1 tear delay
• Cracked CrownGrants extra stat upgrades based on Isaac's passive items that increase stats, -20% tear delay.: -20% tear delay
• Cricket's BodyGrants -1 Tear Delay and reduces Range. When tears hit an object or deplete their range, they spawn 4 smaller tears, whose Range and Damage scale with Isaac's.: -1 tear delay
• Dr. FetusTears are replaced by bombs that benefit from bomb-enhancing effects and slide for a fixed time after being fired.: tear delay * 2.5
• EpiphoraShooting in one direction increases Isaac's rate of fire until the cap is reached. As soon as Isaac changes direction or stops shooting, rate of fire is reset to its normal amount.: tear delay / 2 (while at max "charge")
• Eve's MascaraDoubles damage, halves tears stat, and greatly reduces shot speed.: tear delay * 2
• GuillotineIsaac's head is removed from his body and floats around him. Increases Damage by 1 and grants -1 Tear Delay.: -1 tear delay
• IpecacReplaces tears with explosive and poisoning projectiles fired in an arc from the mouth.: (tear delay * 2) + 10
• Milk!A glass of milk follows Isaac and spills on the floor upon taking damage. After the milk spills, Isaac's tear delay is decreased by 2 for the rest of the room.: -2 tear delay (after taking damage for the current room)
• Mom's PerfumeAdds a chance to shoot fear tears and decreases tear delay by 1.: -1 tear delay
• Monstro's LungIncreases damage and grants a charged shot that fires multiple tears in the same fashion as Monstro.: tear delay * 4.3
• Mutant SpiderGrants quadruple shot but decreases tears.: (tear delay * 2.1) + 3
• Pisces-1 Tear Delay, adds knock-back shots and increases tear size.: -1 tear delay
• PolyphemusMakes Isaac shoot one huge tear. Also reduces Tears to minimum. Damage increased . If tear does more damage than an enemy's life, the tear continues to travel with the extra remaining damage.: (tear delay * 2.1) + 3
• PurityThis item will boost one of Isaac's stats depending on the color of the aura around him. The aura will disappear upon taking damage and will reappear with a random color upon entering a new room. A red aura boosts damage, a blue aura boosts rate of fire, a yellow aura boosts speed, and an orange aura boosts range.: -4 tear delay while blue aura is active
• Soy MilkTears shrink and do much less damage, but fire in very rapid succession.: (tear delay / 4) - 2
• The Inner EyeGrants triple shot but decreases tears.: (tear delay * 2.1) + 3

The minimum tear delay that can be reached with regular tears up items is 5, but with items that directly reduce tear delay, tear delay can reach a minimum of 1.

The number of tears per second that the player fires is found by the formula: .

Notes

• Assuming no other modifications to the tears stat, +1.4 tears up is enough to bring you to the normal delay cap. In this case, it would reduce the delay to 5.92, which rounds down to 5.
• With a tear delay of 1, the maximum achievable rate of fire is 15 tears per second (every 4 frames).
• Polyphemus, Mutant Spider and Inner Eye's tear delay formulas do not stack with each other.

Items that affect tears

Activated Items

Name	ID	Icon	Quote	Description
D8	406		Reroll stats	Re-rolls Isaac's speed, range, tears, and damage.
Dataminer	481		109	Displaces enemy sprites for the current room, randomly increases one stat and decreases another.

Passive Items

Name	ID	Icon	Quote	Description
Analog Stick	465		360 tears!	+0.3 tears up. Allows Isaac to fire tears diagonally.
Anti-Gravity	222		Antigravity tears + tears up	-2 Tear Delay. Tears float in position until firing ceases, after which they will fly off in the direction they were shot in.
Apple!	443		Trick or treat?	Increases tears. Adds a chance to fire a high-damage razor blade.
Binky	438		Memories...	Tears up, adds 1 soul heart, and decreases Isaac's size.
Blue Cap	342		HP + tears up + shot speed down	Grants 1 heart container and increases tears, but decreases shot speed.
Brittle Bones	549		Everything hurts	Replaces all red hearts with 6 empty bone hearts. Upon losing a bone heart, Isaac fires bones in 8 directions and permanently gains a tears up.
Capricorn	307		All stats up	All stats up.
Chocolate Milk	69		Charge shots	Grants charged tears that deal greater damage when fully charged.
Cricket's Body	224		Tears up + splash damage	Grants -1 Tear Delay and reduces Range. When tears hit an object or deplete their range, they spawn 4 smaller tears, whose Range and Damage scale with Isaac's.
Dark Prince's Crown	442		Loss is power	Increases range, tears, and shot speed when at exactly one red heart.
Death's Touch	237		Penetrative shot + damage up	Increases Damage by 1.5, reduces Tears by 0.3 and increases tear size. Grants piercing tears. Tears are replaced by Death's scythes, which is a cosmetic effect only.
Divorce Papers	547		Tears up + you feel empty	Spawns a Mysterious Paper, increases tears, and grants a bone heart.
Dr. Fetus	52		???	Tears are replaced by bombs that benefit from bomb-enhancing effects and slide for a fixed time after being fired.
Eden's Blessing	381		Your future shines brighter	+0.7 tears up. Grants a random item at the start of the next run.
Epiphora	368		Intensifying tears	Shooting in one direction increases Isaac's rate of fire until the cap is reached. As soon as Isaac changes direction or stops shooting, rate of fire is reset to its normal amount.
Eve's Mascara	310		Shot speed down + DMG up	Doubles damage, halves tears stat, and greatly reduces shot speed.
Experimental Treatment	240		All stats up, then shuffled	Randomly increases and decreases some of the character's stats.
Godhead	331		God tears	Increases damage and range while reducing tears and shot speed. Grants homing tears and tears gain a damaging halo.
Guillotine	206		An out-of-body experience	Isaac's head is removed from his body and floats around him. Increases Damage by 1 and grants -1 Tear Delay.
Haemolacria	531		I'm seeing red...	Tears are now fired in an arc. Upon hitting the floor, an obstacle, or an enemy, they burst into many smaller tears in all directions. Increases tear delay.
Hallowed Ground	543		Portable sanctuary	Spawns a white poop familiar, which turns into a white poop when Isaac is hurt.
The Halo	101		All stats up	Grants one Heart Container, +0.3 Damage, +0.2 Tears, +0.25 Range, +0.3 Speed, and +0.5 Tear Height.
The Inner Eye	2		Triple shot	Grants triple shot but decreases tears.
Ipecac	149		Explosive shots	Replaces tears with explosive and poisoning projectiles fired in an arc from the mouth.
Libra	304		You Feel Balanced	Gives 6 coins, 6 bombs, and 6 keys and balances out all attributes.
Marked	394		Directed tears	Isaac will now fire tears automatically directed at a red target on the ground which is controlled by the player. This allows for a full 360 degree tear firing radius. Can be overridden by other tear modifiers such as Mom's Knife or Brimstone.
Milk!	436		Don't cry over it...	A glass of milk follows Isaac and spills on the floor upon taking damage. After the milk spills, Isaac's tear delay is decreased by 2 for the rest of the room.
Missing No.	258		Syntax error	Randomizes all passive items upon pickup and at the start of each succeeding floor.
Mom's Perfume	228		Fear shot	Adds a chance to shoot fear tears and decreases tear delay by 1.
Monstro's Lung	229		Charged attack	Increases damage and grants a charged shot that fires multiple tears in the same fashion as Monstro.
Mr. Dolly	370		Range + tears up	Tears and Range up. Spawns 3 random types of hearts on the floor when picked up.
Mutant Spider	153		Quad shot	Grants quadruple shot but decreases tears.
Number One	6		Tears up	+1.5 tears, -17.62 range
Odd Mushroom	120		Fire rate up	+1.7 tears, +0.3 speed, reduces damage.
The Pact	80		DMG + Tears UP	Increases damage by 0.5, tears by 0.7 and grants two soul hearts upon pickup.
Pisces	309		Tears up + knock-back shots	-1 Tear Delay, adds knock-back shots and increases tear size.
Polyphemus	169		Mega Tears	Makes Isaac shoot one huge tear. Also reduces Tears to minimum. Damage increased . If tear does more damage than an enemy's life, the tear continues to travel with the extra remaining damage.
Purity	407		Aura stat boost	This item will boost one of Isaac's stats depending on the color of the aura around him. The aura will disappear upon taking damage and will reappear with a random color upon entering a new room. A red aura boosts damage, a blue aura boosts rate of fire, a yellow aura boosts speed, and an orange aura boosts range.
Sacred Heart	182		Homing shots + DMG up	Increases damage and range while reducing shot speed and grants homing tears. Grants a Heart Container and replenishes all Red Hearts.
The Sad Onion	1		Tears up	Increases Tears by 0.7.
Screw	255		Tears and shot speed up.	+0.5 tears up, +0.2 shot speed up.
The Small Rock	90		DMG up	Increases damage by 1, increases tears by 0.2, and decreases speed by 0.1.
SMB Super Fan	189		All stats up	Increases all stats.
Soy Milk	330		DMG Down + Tears Way Up	Tears shrink and do much less damage, but fire in very rapid succession.
Squeezy	196		Tears up	Increases tears by 0.4, and spawns 2 Soul Hearts pickups.
Toothpicks	183		Tears + shot speed up	+0.7 tears, +16% shot speed.
Torn Photo	341		Tears + shot speed up	Tears + Shot speed up.
Tractor Beam	397		Control your tears	Isaac emits a beam from his face. Isaac's tears travel in the path of the beam.
Wire Coat Hanger	32		Tears up	Increases Tears by 0.7.
Zodiac	392		The heavens will change you	Zodiac will give Isaac a random zodiac item effect that changes after every floor.

Trinkets

Name	ID	Icon	Quote	Description
Cancer	39		Yay, cancer!	-2 Tear Delay (effectively increases firerate of tears).
Cracked Crown	92		Stat booster	Grants extra stat upgrades based on Isaac's passive items that increase stats, -20% tear delay.
Wiggle Worm	10		Wiggle waggle!	Gives Isaac's shots a wave-like trajectory. +0.3 Tears up.

Other

• Tears up pills increase tears by 0.35 and tears down pills decrease tears by 0.28.
• In co-op, Cry Baby will occasionally briefly increase tears. Dark Baby will occasionally briefly increase all stats, including tears. Buddy Baby will occasionally briefly grant the Guillotine effect, which increases tears.