So, you want to play as the Goat.
It’s been a long time coming. For the longest time, Cult of the Lamb was a lonely endeavor, just one fluffy sheep against a world of eldritch horrors and heretical bishops. But the "Unholy Alliance" update changed the math. Massive Massive Games basically handed us a second protagonist, a dark, edgy mirror to our beloved Lamb, aptly named the Goat.
Let’s be real for a second. Most people thought adding a second player would break the game's delicate balance of dungeon crawling and poop-scooping. It didn't. Instead, it turned the game into a chaotic, friendship-testing gauntlet. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to summon this caprine companion or wondering if you can play as the Goat in single-player, you’re in the right spot.
How the Cult of the Lamb Goat Actually Works
Getting the Goat on screen isn't just a matter of pressing 'Start' on a second controller at the main menu. Massive Monster integrated it into the lore. Sorta.
To get started, you need to head over to your central hub—your cult's home base. Look for the summoning circle. If you have a second input device connected (like a PlayStation DualSense or a second keyboard), the option to "Summon Co-op Partner" will appear. It’s instantaneous. One second you're alone, the next, a red-furred, chaotic entity is standing right next to you.
The Goat isn't just a reskin. Well, mechanically they are, but the vibe is totally different. They’ve got these jagged horns and a more "I've seen things" expression than the Lamb.
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But here is the kicker: local co-op only. I know, I know. It’s 2026 and we still want native online multiplayer for everything. But Cult of the Lamb stays strictly local. If you want to play with a buddy across the country, you're going to have to rely on workarounds like Steam Remote Play Together or PlayStation’s Share Play. They work, but they depend heavily on your upload speed. If your internet is trash, the Goat is going to be lagging behind while you’re trying to dodge Heket’s tongue attacks. It’s not ideal, but it’s what we have.
Can You Play the Goat Solo?
This was the number one question on Reddit the day the update dropped. Everyone wanted to know if they could ditch the Lamb and just be the Goat.
Yes. You can.
But there’s a catch. You can't just pick the Goat from a character select screen at the start of a new save. You have to unlock the "Goat Fleece" first. Once you’ve engaged with the co-op mechanics or progressed far enough to access the Fleece menu at your altar, you can spend Sin (the resource introduced in the Sins of the Flesh update) to buy the Goat Fleece. Equip it, and boom—you are the Goat. Every cutscene, every crusade, every sermon. It’s purely cosmetic for the most part, but for those of us tired of being the "Good Shepherd," it’s a necessary change of pace.
Combat, Synced Attacks, and Chaos
When you bring the Goat into a crusade, the gameplay shifts. It’s not just "double the damage." The game scales. Enemies get a bit tankier, and the screen gets a lot more crowded.
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One of the coolest things Massive Monster added was the sync attack. If both players time their heavy attacks or certain spells together, you trigger a massive burst of energy. It’s incredibly satisfying. However, the chaos is real. Cult of the Lamb is already a visual feast of projectiles and blood. Adding a second player, their own set of curses, and their own dodging hitbox means you’re going to lose track of yourself. Frequently.
Honestly, the best part of the Cult of the Lamb Goat addition isn't even the combat. It's the mini-games. Fishing with a friend? Great. Playing Knucklebones? Even better. It turns the downtime between crusades into a genuine social experience rather than just a management sim checklist.
The Technical Reality of Local Play
Let's talk specs for a minute. If you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch, things can get a bit hairy. The "Unholy Alliance" update is optimized, but having two players casting curses simultaneously during a boss fight with 50 minions on screen will cause frame drops. It’s manageable, but noticeable. PC and next-gen console players won’t see much of a dip, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning a marathon session on a handheld.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Update
A common misconception is that the Goat has its own separate progression tree. It doesn't. The Goat shares everything with the Lamb. You share the same cult, the same resources, and the same upgrades. This is a design choice to keep the game from becoming a grind-fest for two different people.
Think of the Goat as an extension of the Lamb's power.
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Another thing: the Goat cannot interact with followers in the exact same way the Lamb does during a crusade if the Lamb is "dead." If Player 1 goes down, Player 2 can revive them by sacrificing some of their own health. It creates this frantic "save me!" dynamic that was completely missing from the base game. It makes the stakes feel higher even though you technically have a backup life.
Why This Matters for the Long-term Life of the Game
Games like Cult of the Lamb usually have a shelf life. You beat the bishops, you finish the post-game content, you stop playing. By adding the Goat and the co-op layer, Massive Monster gave people a reason to come back and show the game to someone else.
It’s about the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the developers. They didn't just dump a skin and call it a day. They rebalanced the entire game's combat flow to accommodate two players. That’s why this update felt like a sequel-lite rather than just a patch.
I've spent dozens of hours in the cult since the Goat arrived. There's something inherently funny about watching two demonic farm animals try to decide which follower should be sacrificed to an ancient god. It leans into the dark comedy that made the game a hit in the first place.
Actionable Steps to Master the Goat
If you’re ready to jump in, don’t just start mashing buttons. Follow this sequence to get the most out of your "Unholy Alliance" experience:
- Unlock the Fleece Early: Don't wait. As soon as you have enough Sin, go to the Altar and unlock the Goat Fleece. Even if you aren't playing co-op, it’s the best cosmetic in the game.
- Coordinate Your Curses: If one player runs a melee-heavy build (like the Hammer), the other should focus on long-range Curses or the Blunderbuss. Having two people with Hammers is a recipe for getting hit while you’re stuck in a long swing animation.
- Use the Transmogrification Hub: You can change your appearance at the new Transmog station. If you like the stats of one Fleece but want the look of the Goat, you can finally mix and match.
- Abuse the Revive Mechanic: In boss fights, don't play hero. If your partner is low on health, have them hang back. It’s better to have one player doing 50% damage than both players dead and restarting the whole crusade.
- Check Your Settings: There are new accessibility options specifically for co-op, including "outline" colors for players. Turn these on. With all the particles on screen, you will lose your character. Setting the Goat to a bright red outline and the Lamb to white makes a world of difference.
The Goat isn't just a gimmick. It’s a fundamental shift in how Cult of the Lamb is played. Whether you’re dragging a friend onto the couch or just rocking the red fur solo, the game feels more complete now. Go to your altar, spend that Sin, and embrace the unholy partnership. The Old Belief won't stand a chance against two of you.