Cricket's Head
A severed head that bites back with power.
Cricket's Head is a severed, insectoid head that, when absorbed, transforms Isaac's tears into a caustic flood of grief and fury. This artifact grants a massive damage boost and a minor tears-up, making it one of the most coveted items in the game. It's a direct and heartfelt tribute to Cricket, Edmund McMillen's beloved cat, whose memory haunts the basement in the form of this twitching, antennae-waving relic. For any run, picking up this head is like finding a loaded gun in a nursery—simple, brutal, and run-defining.
- type
- Passive Item
- effect
- Increases damage and tears rate
- affiliation
- Item Pool
- first_appearance
- The Binding of Isaac (original Flash version)
- status
- Commonly available in item pools
Lore & Background
In the twisted basement of Isaac's imagination, even the memory of a beloved pet can manifest as a grotesque relic. Cricket's Head is one such artifact: a decaying insect head that still twitches with residual life, its mandibles clicking softly as if searching for a final meal. It is said that this head belonged to a creature that was once a loyal companion, now transformed by the sorrow and anger of the child's world into a source of raw, destructive energy. The item's presence whispers of a bond between boy and beast, corrupted by the darkness that surrounds them, and those who pick it up can almost hear a faint, mournful purr in the back of their skull.
In Their Own Story
Isaac stumbled upon the head in a forgotten corner of the womb, its antennae still quivering in the stagnant air. As he reached out, a faint chirp echoed in his mind—a sound of comfort twisted into a promise of pain. The head fused to his own, and his tears turned into a torrent of acid, each drop a memory of a lost friend. He wept not from sadness, but from the joy of destruction, the cricket's spirit guiding his aim as he painted the walls with the remains of his nightmares.
Reader's Guide
Cricket's Head is a passive item that provides a flat damage increase and a small tears rate boost, making it one of the most effective early-game pickups for any character. Its effects stack multiplicatively with other damage modifiers, allowing for devastating synergies with items like Brimstone or Mom's Knife. In-world, it is believed that the head channels the ferocity of the cricket, turning Isaac's tears into venomous projectiles that tear through enemies with ease. It is wielded by Isaac himself, who absorbs the item upon contact, forever changing his form and his tears. Players should prioritize this item for its consistent power, especially when building towards a high-damage run.
Did You Know?
- Cricket's Head is named after Edmund McMillen's real-life cat, Cricket, who passed away during the game's development.
- The item's sprite is a direct reference to a photo of Cricket's head, which McMillen used as a tribute.
- It is one of the few items that appears in both the original Flash version and the remake, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.
- The item's damage boost is considered one of the highest flat increases in the game, making it a favorite among speedrunners.
More in Powers & Artifacts
Elsewhere in the The Binding of Isaac universe
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