A Lump of Coal is an unlockable passive item added in the Christmas Update.
Effects[]
Tears turn black and increases damage based on how long tears have been on the screen. The size of Isaac's tears is decreased initially, but increases as damage does.
Interactions[]
- The damage from A Lump of Coal is added when the tear hits, after any damage multipliers.
- If A Lump of Coal is rerolled with The Dice, it will be replaced with a Devil Room item, which will not cost any heart containers.
- With Brimstone, Technology or Technology 2 Isaac's damage will increase by 2 instead of the normal effect.
- Becomes less effective as Shot Speed increases. This is because damage increases based on how long Isaac's tears are on screen, and higher Shot Speed decreases that time (not rebirth).
- Makes Tammy's Head less damaging.
- Turns Mom's Knife black, but does not increase damage.
Synergies[]
- Can be very potent if combined with an item that causes tears to home in on a target (e.g. Magician tarot card or Spoon Bender) and if range has been increased by a large amount.
- Sacred Heart - The slow shot speed and homing can allow for a large damage increase with this item.
- IPECAC - Ipecac's long travel time allows for increased damage.
- Can make My Reflection tears much more powerful.
Trivia[]
- The item is a reference to the folk tale that any child who is 'naughty' will receive a lump of coal for Christmas.
- Collecting this item gave the player an achievement for the Gift Pile Steam Event 2011.
- In Rebirth, the item's effects were changed so that the tear's damage increases based on its distance from Isaac, an aspect Edmund claims was the original intended use of the item.[citation needed]