Tainted Jacob's Soul#39

Tainted Jacob is a character added in The Binding of Isaac: Repentance. He is the alternate version of Jacob. Tainted Jacob is unlocked by reaching Home and using the Red Key, Cracked Key, or Soul of Cain to access a special room in one of the walls while playing as Jacob & Esau. Tainted Jacob spawns with 3 red heart containers and Anima Sola in his consumable slot, which freezes the nearest enemy for 5 seconds. However, he is pursued through the entire game by Dark Esau, who will try to charge into and kill Tainted Jacob. Anima Sola always affects Dark Esau if he is on screen. If Dark Esau touches Tainted Jacob, Tainted Jacob "dies" and becomes functionally identical to The Lost but will not have Holy Mantle. While in this form, having an Eternal Heart in his last heart slot will block the next hit like a Holy Card. Upon reaching a new floor, Tainted Jacob will return to his living state.

• The Sun and the Moon - Defeat Ultra Greedier as Tainted Jacob.
• Soul of Jacob and Esau - Defeat Hush and Boss Rush as Tainted Jacob.
• Golden Trinket - Defeat Mega Satan as Tainted Jacob.
• Anima Sola - Defeat Delirium as Tainted Jacob.
• Found Soul - Defeat Mother as Tainted Jacob.
• Esau Jr. - Defeat The Beast as Tainted Jacob.

• Dark Esau may be based on a story in the Book of Genesis, in which Esau attempts to kill Jacob after both Jacob and their mother tricked their father Isaac into giving Jacob a blessing intended for Esau, resulting in Jacob fleeing from Esau's wrath.
• This is also further backed up by Tainted Jacob's unlock achievement name, "The Deserter."
• This is also supported by Tainted Jacob's Birthright effect, which benefits Dark Esau more than Jacob himself. The Birthright was originally intended for Esau.
• Tainted Jacob unlocks both XIX - The Sun? and XVIII - The Moon?, presumably since Dark Esau clears the unlocking run alongside Tainted Jacob. The effect of the former has the user resemble Dark Esau (and might be his unlock), while the latter whisks the user somewhere two rooms separate from the rest of the floor (possibly as a reference to the biblical Jacob's flight).
• The reversed Sun has no uniformly agreed-upon meaning in Tarot readings, but it may represent negativity and some yet-unattained goal. This fits Dark Esau's unending pursuit for his brother's body, which he still hasn't moved on from after death.
• The reversed Moon represents deep-seated insecurity and perhaps-justified paranoia, which fits Tainted Jacob's miserable state and fear of his brother.
• Dark Esau is referred to as "The Revenant" in his Four Souls card.
• A Revenant is a spirit that has come back from the dead to enact their revenge on somebody that has wronged them. This fits as Dark Esau is a demon trying to kill Jacob for stealing his birthright and blessing from their father Isaac.
• Anima Sola targeting Dark Esau may be a reference to Genesis 27:40 where Isaac tells Esau that he will live by the sword and serve his brother, but throwing his yoke from his neck when grown restless.
• The item description which appears when obtaining Birthright as Tainted Jacob may be a reference to a story in Genesis, where Esau sells Jacob his birthright for stew.
• Dark Esau's behavior is similar to that of Mother's Shadow.
• Prior to v1.7.5, Dark Esau had a health bar. Upon death, he would be dragged into a pit by Big Horn and create a Mama Mega!-like explosion that would turn Tainted Jacob into his Lost form.
• He can now only be killed via the Debug Console and will have the effect, but this won't turn Jacob into his Lost form.
• Dark Esau still shows that he has 250 Hp in the bestiary despite after v1.7.5 he is invulnerable and does not have any health. Jacob and Esau Unlocks Tainted Jacob Unlocks Characters Rebirth Afterbirth Afterbirth † Repentance Tainted Mini-Bosses Seven Deadly Sins Lust
• Gluttony
• Greed
• Sloth
• Wrath
• Envy
• Pride Super Sins Super Lust
• Super Gluttony
• Super Greed
• Super Sloth
• Super Wrath
• Super Envy
• Super Pride
• Ultra Pride Devil Room / Angel Rooms Krampus
• Uriel
• Gabriel Repentance Mother's Shadow
• Dark Esau The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
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