I like to go there on the Beast runs, when I'm skipping treasure rooms for planetarium. On the ascend, you can see both of those items, so it's an interesting strategy in doing this
Normally I just gather everything from the treasure rooms, but now I can see the benefits because if I open a room and I get Cursed Eye or Shard of glass, I realize I made a horrible mistake.
it depends really, the run itself can be pretty meh so you'll be even more underpowered without treasure items. But you could skip just a few of treasure rooms and try to keep going, I like to skip double treasure rooms from alt paths to see both of them later on. It's still one of the shortest (important) completion marks to do so it's not that big of a deal I guess
I do this a lot, it really only works for skipping 1-2 rooms usually in the middle of the run, and hinges around a strong character or skill, anything beyond that and you do end up hamstringing yourself.
Personally when I do that, if I’m balling I’ll skip entirely, but then if I’m not and I go in and the non blind item is mid/bad, I’ll just wait till accent to see the blind item, esp if it’s towards the end of the run. It’s a situational strategy, but what isn’t in this game.
I like to go alt path if I pick up Book of Revelations because horsemen aren't able to spawn on alt path, so I can still spam it while also getting normal boss items
I usually rush the boss and use book of revelation on that fight and afterwards while looking for the treasure room. You're guaranteed to have a soul heart for deals
they are good and the boss pool sucks
honestly as far as boss room items go tier 1 it fine. An orbital that blocks shots is better than like half the items in that pool.
Yes but that requires 4 items. Four boss items that could have been anything else. Also, once you pick up 3 you lose your orbital. Which kinda sucks. I will admit a free orbital from the boss is pretty great, but after that you have to weigh the benefit of getting soul hearts over losing out on potential items.
I usually do. It's more item choices plus the mirror dimension for another boss item, potential shop, and another item room if you have rerolls. Downpour/dross 2 is the place to get stacked even if I don't plan on going mines/ashpit.
I feel like any run that NEEDS the knife familiar is a struggling to doomed run. I guess if you’re streaking you want to squeeze out all value you can.
It's legitimately the only guaranteed damage item in the game, and it's *not* a last resort. A high-damage, spectral and piercing familiar by floor 5 makes up for a lot, so I get it even on normal runs.
If you're not great at Mines (main reason I see people avoid the knife), then only enter it at the end of Caves 2 to only do the necessary bit.
If J and E, always chapters 1 and 2. *Maybe* chapter 3.
Otherwise it really depends. Downpour is worth it a decent amount of times, Mines rarely is and Mausoleum almost never is. Although you can use the alt path as a way to get one more floor of treasure rooms and shops, for what it’s worth.
I read here last time someone asked that they always do B1 - B2 - Alt. B2 - C2 - Alt. C2 for the boss challenge rooms and as a Lost/T.Lost enjoyer, that changed my whole life, now I always do that.
Plus the other reasons people mentioned.
Always! It's a free alt choice to on a bad basement treasure room and the only way for Jacob and Hitbox not to be flattened by the time they reach womb.
always downpour/dross 2 for that sweet extra boss item( and the best music in the game) , never mines unless i am going for mother or i have 25+ bombs and fuck it, always mausoleum unless it actually kills me to do it.
most tainted lost streakers go downpour 2 for a couple of reasons: more boss items, 100% confirmed boss challenge room spawn, potential restock machine in mirror shop, no xxl caves, etc.
even most speedrunners (modded and vanilla) go to downpour 2 if they have the key, because the floors are shorter on average than in caves 1!
Sometimes Downpour, almost never Mines and usually requires a good run, never Gehenna. I’m not fond of the alt floors and usually only do it for the item variety. But even when I have a good run, I think to myself that the last thing I want to do is screw it up or lose extra health because of going alt.
Downpour is well worth, Mausoleum well worth as well, but theres fuck all reason to go Mines especially since its SO much harder than the normal path. Ashpit is about as hard as Gehenna imo at a whole chapter earlier. there needs to be more incentive to go there because rn its just a blind pedastal and the secret Gideon room if you have a chaos card, which isnt even guarunteed with the card
What’s the reason to go to Gehenna? I know if you go there on a Beast route, you get an extra shop/item room. But it sounds like there may be something I’m missing on a regular route
Knife Piece 1 can be Voided, Abyssed, rerolled, Flipped, or Spun Down (into Mega Mush). So if you have one of those items you should always go to Downpour 2.
Another thing to keep in mind is that T Forgotten and T Laz can fight the mirror world boss with their health bar intact, so it is a less risky fight for them.
Another "trick" I learned recently is that if you have Satanic Bible, you can claim a free Devil Deal item in the boss room when you play through the mirrored level as temporary The Lost. Useful!
I always go to Downpour 2 for the double boss item (mirror world), whatever my character is and whatever my final goal (apart from Boss Rush and Hush).
I go there basically whenever I reasonably can because I find those floors, and their bosses, more fun and flavorful than the regular ones (probably also influenced by playing all the regular ones so much before Antibirth/Repentance came out).
Especially getting a full, proper floor with a shop and item room instead of Womb I is SO MUCH BETTER even if you're not going toward Mother (which I'm usually not, all because the 2nd knife piece is just too time-consuming and repetitive). The series of lategame floors without item rooms is one of the worst things about Isaac's progression, the alt path helps remedy that considerably.
Still, I'm by far most likely to skip Mausoleum/Gehenna though because the HP cost of entry combined with the absolute fuckers some of those rooms and bosses can be will deter me if my run isn't going pretty good.
I do and here's why:
1- Second option for treasure rooms in case the visible one is shit. Sometimes the blind item turns out to be shit as well but that's just unavoidable bad luck.
2- Double boss items thanks to the mirror dimension
3- Get items that require flight thanks to the white fire
4- If you have a reroll item, you can easily reroll the first knife piece for an extra item
5- Boss Rush timer for alt floors is 25 minutes instead of 20. Obviously this comes at the expense of increased difficulty both with the floors and the mom fight, but if you're rushing, it can be worth it.
6- You eventually get bored of the normal path floors.
Always Downpour 2 if I can. Caves has a difficulty spike that can end a run where you don't have proper damage or movement speed so going to Downpour instead evens out the curve. Additionally, you get the extra mirror dimension item, and sometimes an extra shop even if there's a reroll machine in the shop. It also gives Book of Revs synergy like someone said and removes the chance for Curse of the Labyrinth.
I'll also usually go Mines 2 if I can afford the bombs but unlike Downpour I wont save them to make it in. The knife familiar is very decent.
Mausoleum I'll go to if I can afford the health for the extra item room/shop. The difficulty spike goes up so I take into account the difficulty of the area. I'll avoid if I have bad stats and bad health
I LOVE downpour, I think it's my favorite floor in the whole game. The atmosphere is just so dreary and the music is incredible, not to mention the mirror dimension being such a unique mechanic.
One of my favorite little details are the enemies who you can only see in the reflections on the floor and in the mirror dimension.
Vinegar's Tip: you always go mausoleum
Is it harder? Absolutely. But it's worth it! Extra item room AND an extra shop if you don't get an XL floor. Not to mention the fact that every single floor on the alt path has infinitely better music than base game. 100% always worth it. Unless you'd die to the Mausoleum door. Then it isn't worth it.
Always go to downpour, very rarely go to mines, and I go to mausoleum 50/50, mainly because of the extra floor of shop/treasure/potential planetarium you get and the slightly easier boss rush timer
Always if possible.
The knife piece can potentially be rerolled into an item if I get a dice shard or dice item.
If I don't like the visible item in the item room, I have the option to take the mystery item.
If I'm going for the beast, I get two options in almost every treasure room on the way up.
For flying characters, getting both the knife pieces is super easy and safe and basically a free item.
I almost always do downpour 2 and both maus floors. The extra items are very worth the bit of added difficulty in most runs.
Caves can go fuck itself tho
Jacob and Esau are unplayable for me without going alt path.
If I have enough keys I'd go dross. It's neat and if you're strong enough you get the extra boss room. Also I think that Caves are boring
Also I like mausoleum because I absolutely hate Womb I and I'd prefer the harder overall floors with normal damage than the womb floors with full heart damage (also you get an extra shop and treasure
as a wise man once said:
'picture this, you go to cellar 2, enter the treasure room and find abel. You then quit the game and hang yourself. Buuut you go to dross, se abel, choose the blind item and get c section.'
that's why you go alt, also free item on mirror floor
Oh yes yes! I go to alt path on even numbered floors to attempt to obtain an extra boss room item from Boss Challenge Rooms ☺️
Second floor of Dross is usually a must for the mirror room bonuses 😁
Going to Mausoleum/Gehenna is also a must because it replaces Utero/Womb with Mausoleum/Gehenna 2, thus guarantees an extra item room and shop. Plus, on slower runs, it makes me able to obtain a Boss Rush item.
i usually go to downpour 2 for the extra boss item. i also always skip the first item room for planetarium chance, and if i don't get it by depths 1 i'll sometimes go mausoleum to get an additional floor where it can spawn
I always go alt floor at least downpour and dross unless I'm going for like only boss rush and want to guarantee I hit it. If I don't get a key basement 1 its a restart.
It's almost mandatory if I'm doing a Jacob and Esau run. Since the alt. routes always have 2 items in there for both of them to pick up it makes the runs go by smoother.
I pretty much always go there. The only things I dislike about the alt path are the circleing fire flies in downpour and pretty much all of Ashpit(except music)
-you get extra item choices in item rooms
-Downpour/Dross 2 is an extra boss item
-Mausoleum/Gehenna 2 is an extra Shop and Item room (it replaces Womb 1)
-its for me personally more fun in a masochistic kinda way
Alt path for mirror demension is a must for the free 2nd boss item. The other floors are optional if you are having trouble getting a good item. Having a second choice can really benefit you if you are struggling with bad item luck.
Downpour - About 80% of the time. I usually go if I get a terrible item or a good item first floor. Double items in the mirror zone is extremely good and the bosses aren't tough.
Ash Pit/Boneyard - About 50% of the time. I usually gauge how the character is and if it's middling I don't go
Mausoleum - Only if I'm extremely strong or specifically targeting Mother. I want to say there still open shops here which aren't around on the regular path, but I may be mistaken.
I've played the game since 2012 and have close to 5k hours in the various versions. After unlocking everything multiple times, I pretty much only play Eden streaks now, and the alt path is significantly more difficult. So while i do take the alt path sometimes, i have to have a pretty good start to feel like it's worth the risk.
I like to go there on the Beast runs, when I'm skipping treasure rooms for planetarium. On the ascend, you can see both of those items, so it's an interesting strategy in doing this
Wow, that’s a great idea!
Normally I just gather everything from the treasure rooms, but now I can see the benefits because if I open a room and I get Cursed Eye or Shard of glass, I realize I made a horrible mistake.
New Isaac strat unlocked, thank you random redditor 
Wow I’m going to try that on my next run, do you skip every single one? Don’t you feel underpowered to get through alt route?
it depends really, the run itself can be pretty meh so you'll be even more underpowered without treasure items. But you could skip just a few of treasure rooms and try to keep going, I like to skip double treasure rooms from alt paths to see both of them later on. It's still one of the shortest (important) completion marks to do so it's not that big of a deal I guess
I do this a lot, it really only works for skipping 1-2 rooms usually in the middle of the run, and hinges around a strong character or skill, anything beyond that and you do end up hamstringing yourself. Personally when I do that, if I’m balling I’ll skip entirely, but then if I’m not and I go in and the non blind item is mid/bad, I’ll just wait till accent to see the blind item, esp if it’s towards the end of the run. It’s a situational strategy, but what isn’t in this game.
I mean 3 floors skipped means %61 planetarium chance and you can definitely beat downpour 2 with no item rooms
Not only that, but ascent downpour/dross is easier than ascent basement.
I like to go alt path if I pick up Book of Revelations because horsemen aren't able to spawn on alt path, so I can still spam it while also getting normal boss items
The horseman item pool is the number one reason I avoid book of revelations.
I usually rush the boss and use book of revelation on that fight and afterwards while looking for the treasure room. You're guaranteed to have a soul heart for deals
What do horsemen have to do with book of revelations
After you use Book of Revelations, the boss of the current floor becomes a horseman, replacing the usual boss (Story bosses exempt from this)
Not epic
Wait but aren't meat boy and specially bandage girl OP? (Tier 3 I mean, tho tier 1 is fine and tier 2 BG is pretty nice)
they are good and the boss pool sucks honestly as far as boss room items go tier 1 it fine. An orbital that blocks shots is better than like half the items in that pool.
Yes but that requires 4 items. Four boss items that could have been anything else. Also, once you pick up 3 you lose your orbital. Which kinda sucks. I will admit a free orbital from the boss is pretty great, but after that you have to weigh the benefit of getting soul hearts over losing out on potential items.
I usually do. It's more item choices plus the mirror dimension for another boss item, potential shop, and another item room if you have rerolls. Downpour/dross 2 is the place to get stacked even if I don't plan on going mines/ashpit.
The knife is also a genuinely good familiar if you ever need damage.
I feel like any run that NEEDS the knife familiar is a struggling to doomed run. I guess if you’re streaking you want to squeeze out all value you can.
It's legitimately the only guaranteed damage item in the game, and it's *not* a last resort. A high-damage, spectral and piercing familiar by floor 5 makes up for a lot, so I get it even on normal runs. If you're not great at Mines (main reason I see people avoid the knife), then only enter it at the end of Caves 2 to only do the necessary bit.
I'm gonna try this out. Never actually looked at its damage numbers. 25 damage per hit is substantial for sure.
Potential shop?
Yeah, if the shop has a reroll machine you can pay it and it'll eventually lay out like the normal shop of the floor
If J and E, always chapters 1 and 2. *Maybe* chapter 3. Otherwise it really depends. Downpour is worth it a decent amount of times, Mines rarely is and Mausoleum almost never is. Although you can use the alt path as a way to get one more floor of treasure rooms and shops, for what it’s worth.
Always downpour. Never mines. Sometimes Mausoleum
I read here last time someone asked that they always do B1 - B2 - Alt. B2 - C2 - Alt. C2 for the boss challenge rooms and as a Lost/T.Lost enjoyer, that changed my whole life, now I always do that. Plus the other reasons people mentioned.
Sometimes gehenna if I've seen greed twice and have a lot of money for an extra shop.
Always! It's a free alt choice to on a bad basement treasure room and the only way for Jacob and Hitbox not to be flattened by the time they reach womb.
It really depends on what am I playing but it's usually not worth the risk if I'm not playing J&E or going to The Beast. (except Downpour II)
Always when it's with the lost, tainted lost and Jacob and esau. Otherwise always downpour, never mines and sometimes mausoleum
Only if I have to. I can't stant Alt Path.
Literal skill issue the downpour is not that much harder than basement and easier than caves 1 but gives so much more
always downpour/dross 2 for that sweet extra boss item( and the best music in the game) , never mines unless i am going for mother or i have 25+ bombs and fuck it, always mausoleum unless it actually kills me to do it.
As J&E it's a must
most tainted lost streakers go downpour 2 for a couple of reasons: more boss items, 100% confirmed boss challenge room spawn, potential restock machine in mirror shop, no xxl caves, etc. even most speedrunners (modded and vanilla) go to downpour 2 if they have the key, because the floors are shorter on average than in caves 1!
When I'm playing as J&E.
I always go alt floors because they’re more fun and better items overall is nice
Sometimes Downpour, almost never Mines and usually requires a good run, never Gehenna. I’m not fond of the alt floors and usually only do it for the item variety. But even when I have a good run, I think to myself that the last thing I want to do is screw it up or lose extra health because of going alt.
I just go to DP 2 for the 2 extra BOSS ítems (plus a possible knife piece reroll)
Downpour is well worth, Mausoleum well worth as well, but theres fuck all reason to go Mines especially since its SO much harder than the normal path. Ashpit is about as hard as Gehenna imo at a whole chapter earlier. there needs to be more incentive to go there because rn its just a blind pedastal and the secret Gideon room if you have a chaos card, which isnt even guarunteed with the card
What’s the reason to go to Gehenna? I know if you go there on a Beast route, you get an extra shop/item room. But it sounds like there may be something I’m missing on a regular route
Depths 1 > Mauso 1 > Mauso 2 > Womb 2, you get mauso 2 instead of womb 1 so thats another shop and item room, well worth it
Aha! That’s pretty clever!
Secret Gideon room? 🧐
chaos card Great Gideon
Almost always do downpour for extra items in the mirror dimension and unless I'm going for Mother, I never bother with mines.
I alternate after b2. It eliminates alot of risk for curse of XL. Can only get it on basement and gehenna.
Knife Piece 1 can be Voided, Abyssed, rerolled, Flipped, or Spun Down (into Mega Mush). So if you have one of those items you should always go to Downpour 2. Another thing to keep in mind is that T Forgotten and T Laz can fight the mirror world boss with their health bar intact, so it is a less risky fight for them.
Another "trick" I learned recently is that if you have Satanic Bible, you can claim a free Devil Deal item in the boss room when you play through the mirrored level as temporary The Lost. Useful!
With Jacob & Esau to build both of them
Once i got magic mush from picking the question mark so almost always if im strong enuf
I do the first 2 when doing J and E to get double items.
I always go to Downpour 2 for the double boss item (mirror world), whatever my character is and whatever my final goal (apart from Boss Rush and Hush).
I go there basically whenever I reasonably can because I find those floors, and their bosses, more fun and flavorful than the regular ones (probably also influenced by playing all the regular ones so much before Antibirth/Repentance came out). Especially getting a full, proper floor with a shop and item room instead of Womb I is SO MUCH BETTER even if you're not going toward Mother (which I'm usually not, all because the 2nd knife piece is just too time-consuming and repetitive). The series of lategame floors without item rooms is one of the worst things about Isaac's progression, the alt path helps remedy that considerably. Still, I'm by far most likely to skip Mausoleum/Gehenna though because the HP cost of entry combined with the absolute fuckers some of those rooms and bosses can be will deter me if my run isn't going pretty good.
I do and here's why: 1- Second option for treasure rooms in case the visible one is shit. Sometimes the blind item turns out to be shit as well but that's just unavoidable bad luck. 2- Double boss items thanks to the mirror dimension 3- Get items that require flight thanks to the white fire 4- If you have a reroll item, you can easily reroll the first knife piece for an extra item 5- Boss Rush timer for alt floors is 25 minutes instead of 20. Obviously this comes at the expense of increased difficulty both with the floors and the mom fight, but if you're rushing, it can be worth it. 6- You eventually get bored of the normal path floors.
free curse room with with fire too
Always Downpour 2 if I can. Caves has a difficulty spike that can end a run where you don't have proper damage or movement speed so going to Downpour instead evens out the curve. Additionally, you get the extra mirror dimension item, and sometimes an extra shop even if there's a reroll machine in the shop. It also gives Book of Revs synergy like someone said and removes the chance for Curse of the Labyrinth. I'll also usually go Mines 2 if I can afford the bombs but unlike Downpour I wont save them to make it in. The knife familiar is very decent. Mausoleum I'll go to if I can afford the health for the extra item room/shop. The difficulty spike goes up so I take into account the difficulty of the area. I'll avoid if I have bad stats and bad health
I LOVE downpour, I think it's my favorite floor in the whole game. The atmosphere is just so dreary and the music is incredible, not to mention the mirror dimension being such a unique mechanic. One of my favorite little details are the enemies who you can only see in the reflections on the floor and in the mirror dimension.
Vinegar's Tip: you always go mausoleum Is it harder? Absolutely. But it's worth it! Extra item room AND an extra shop if you don't get an XL floor. Not to mention the fact that every single floor on the alt path has infinitely better music than base game. 100% always worth it. Unless you'd die to the Mausoleum door. Then it isn't worth it.
Vinegar's Bonus Tip: Ashpit has the best song in the game by the way just thought I'd remind you haha you're welcome no need to thank me!
i would rather be skinned alive than go to mausoleum or gehenna, but ill go downpour most times, mines sometimes depending on the run
Real talk? I stopped playing this game like i'm on crack YEARS ago. If i feel like doing a run i just go to blue baby by the regular floors.
Always go to downpour, very rarely go to mines, and I go to mausoleum 50/50, mainly because of the extra floor of shop/treasure/potential planetarium you get and the slightly easier boss rush timer
Always if possible. The knife piece can potentially be rerolled into an item if I get a dice shard or dice item. If I don't like the visible item in the item room, I have the option to take the mystery item. If I'm going for the beast, I get two options in almost every treasure room on the way up. For flying characters, getting both the knife pieces is super easy and safe and basically a free item.
I almost always do downpour 2 and both maus floors. The extra items are very worth the bit of added difficulty in most runs. Caves can go fuck itself tho
Jacob and Esau are unplayable for me without going alt path. If I have enough keys I'd go dross. It's neat and if you're strong enough you get the extra boss room. Also I think that Caves are boring Also I like mausoleum because I absolutely hate Womb I and I'd prefer the harder overall floors with normal damage than the womb floors with full heart damage (also you get an extra shop and treasure
I do downpour if I'm not weak AF. I only do mines if I'm steamrolling everything. I don't really go to gehenna.
as a wise man once said: 'picture this, you go to cellar 2, enter the treasure room and find abel. You then quit the game and hang yourself. Buuut you go to dross, se abel, choose the blind item and get c section.' that's why you go alt, also free item on mirror floor
Oh yes yes! I go to alt path on even numbered floors to attempt to obtain an extra boss room item from Boss Challenge Rooms ☺️ Second floor of Dross is usually a must for the mirror room bonuses 😁 Going to Mausoleum/Gehenna is also a must because it replaces Utero/Womb with Mausoleum/Gehenna 2, thus guarantees an extra item room and shop. Plus, on slower runs, it makes me able to obtain a Boss Rush item.
I go alt floors when I do beast runs because the hidden item pedestals are revealed on the ascent
downpour/dross 2 pretty much always, other alt floors just every now and again to mix things up
i usually go to downpour 2 for the extra boss item. i also always skip the first item room for planetarium chance, and if i don't get it by depths 1 i'll sometimes go mausoleum to get an additional floor where it can spawn
I always go alt floor at least downpour and dross unless I'm going for like only boss rush and want to guarantee I hit it. If I don't get a key basement 1 its a restart.
Sometimes, but only because the stages have good music.
It's almost mandatory if I'm doing a Jacob and Esau run. Since the alt. routes always have 2 items in there for both of them to pick up it makes the runs go by smoother.
I go downpour 2 all the time for 2 boss items and if i have twisted pair/incubus i will go masoleum for lullaby items other times i never go
I like to go Downpour/Dross for the extra boss item in the Mirror world
I always go to dross/downpour for the double boss item, everything else not really
Just to get the extra boss item. But I always avoid mines/mausoleum
I pretty much always go there. The only things I dislike about the alt path are the circleing fire flies in downpour and pretty much all of Ashpit(except music) -you get extra item choices in item rooms -Downpour/Dross 2 is an extra boss item -Mausoleum/Gehenna 2 is an extra Shop and Item room (it replaces Womb 1) -its for me personally more fun in a masochistic kinda way
Alt path for mirror demension is a must for the free 2nd boss item. The other floors are optional if you are having trouble getting a good item. Having a second choice can really benefit you if you are struggling with bad item luck.
I only ever do downpour 2 for the extra boss item and I only do it like 10% of the time because I cbf usually
I go the alt path with Jacob and Esau, since you can get both items with them.
Downpour - About 80% of the time. I usually go if I get a terrible item or a good item first floor. Double items in the mirror zone is extremely good and the bosses aren't tough. Ash Pit/Boneyard - About 50% of the time. I usually gauge how the character is and if it's middling I don't go Mausoleum - Only if I'm extremely strong or specifically targeting Mother. I want to say there still open shops here which aren't around on the regular path, but I may be mistaken.
I've played the game since 2012 and have close to 5k hours in the various versions. After unlocking everything multiple times, I pretty much only play Eden streaks now, and the alt path is significantly more difficult. So while i do take the alt path sometimes, i have to have a pretty good start to feel like it's worth the risk.