Honestly, if you haven’t touched the game since the Relics of the Old Faith update, you’re playing a different version of Cult of the Lamb entirely. It’s wild how much one single mechanic changed the flow of combat. Before the update, crusades felt a bit like a rhythm game—dodge, strike, dodge, strike—but now? Now you’re basically a god with a weird collection of body parts and ancient junk that can clear an entire room in two seconds.
Cult of the Lamb relics are these strange, consumable-ish power-ups that the Lamb finds during crusades, and they completely break the game in the best way possible. They aren't just minor stat buffs. They are chaotic. You might find a literal eyeball that freezes everyone on screen, or a decaying heart that turns your enemies into tiny, exploding ghosts. It’s gross, it’s fast, and it’s exactly what the game needed to stay fresh after the initial hype died down.
The lore behind them is actually kind of tragic if you pay attention. These aren’t just random items; they are pieces of the Old Faith, the remains of the bishops you’ve spent the whole game hunting. It’s weirdly personal. You’re using the body parts of your enemies' siblings to murder them. That’s dark, even for this game.
The Logic Behind Your New Arsenal
So, how do you even get these things? You don’t just start with them. You have to meet Chemach. She’s this twitchy, bird-like creature surrounded by piles of junk, and she is easily one of the coolest NPCs Massive Monster has ever designed. She’s basically the relic dealer. Once you meet her, relics start appearing in chests, shops, and after boss fights.
There are over 30 of them. Some are "Blessed," some are "Damned," and most are just... weird. A Blessed relic might heal you when you use it, while a Damned one might cost you health but deal massive damage. It’s a gamble. Every time you pick one up, you have to decide if the risk is worth the potential carnage.
Which Cult of the Lamb Relics Actually Matter?
Most people just spam whatever they pick up, but that’s a mistake. If you want to actually survive the later Purgatory runs, you need to know which ones are top-tier.
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The Heavy Hitters
Clauneck’s Shoe is a personal favorite. It’s simple: you use it, and you get a massive boost to your movement speed and attack speed for a short burst. In a game where positioning is everything, being able to zip around a boss like Heket while they’re mid-animation is life-saving. Then there’s Turua’s Tentacle. It summons a massive strike from the ground. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it deletes smaller mobs instantly.
But if we're talking about pure utility, The Transmuted Eye of Enoch is probably the goat. It turns all enemy projectiles into blue hearts. Think about that for a second. You’re in a bullet-hell situation against a late-game boss, you’re down to half a heart, and suddenly the screen is full of healing items instead of death. It’s a literal game-changer.
The Weird Stuff
Some relics are just plain strange. Take Beak of the Fowler. It creates a whirlwind of feathers that pushes enemies away. It doesn't do a ton of damage, but if you're using a slow weapon like the Hammer, it gives you the breathing room you desperately need.
- Galvanic Flail: Shoots out chains of lightning. Great for crowd control.
- Laplace’s Dice: This one is pure chaos. It has a chance to drop a bunch of loot or just explode in your face. Don't use it if you're on a "no hit" run.
- Amulet of the Old Faith: This one actually recharges your Fervor. If you have a high-damage Curse, this relic lets you spam it.
The Blue, Red, and Green Variations
It's not just about the item itself; the "alignment" matters. When you find a relic, it’ll often have a colored glow.
- Green (Standard): Does exactly what the description says. No surprises.
- Blue (Blessed): Usually adds a defensive or healing bonus. These are the "safe" picks.
- Red (Damned): These are for the high-skill players. They might drain your Fervor or hurt you, but the output is insane.
I’ve seen players ignore the Red relics because they’re scared of the debuff, but honestly? The damage scaling on a Damned relic like The Weeping Moon is so high that the boss will be dead before the debuff even matters. Be bold. You're a cult leader, not a pacifist.
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Why Some Relics Feel "Broken" (And Why That's Good)
There’s a lot of talk in the community about balance. Some players think Cult of the Lamb relics make the game too easy. I disagree. The game was always meant to be an "unbalanced" power fantasy. You're building a cult! You're supposed to feel overpowered by the end.
The introduction of relics shifted the meta away from just "dodge and poke" toward actual build-crafting. Now, you’re looking for synergies. If you have a relic that drops poison pools, you’re going to look for Tarot cards that increase poison damage. It adds a layer of depth that the base game was arguably missing at launch.
How to Unlock the "Secret" Relics
You won’t find everything just by running through the Darkwood. Some relics are locked behind specific quests or interactions. For example, you need to finish the "Peer into the Darkness" questline to get some of the more Eldritch-themed items. You also need to keep an eye on the graveyard in your cult's base. Sometimes, digging around (literally) leads to finding things you shouldn't have found.
Also, don't ignore the bishops after you defeat them. Without spoiling too much, the post-game content involves "recruiting" the former bosses. Doing this unlocks their specific relics, which are—as you can imagine—ridiculously powerful. Leshy's Ear is particularly nasty for slowing down enemies in a huge radius.
Practical Strategy for Your Next Crusade
Stop hoarding your relic charge. I see so many people waiting for the "perfect moment" to use their relic, and then they finish the crusade without ever pressing the button. Relics recharge! Some recharge based on time, others based on kills or damage dealt.
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If you have a relic like The Eye of the Storm, use it at the start of a crowded room. Don't wait for the boss. Clearing the small fry quickly keeps your health high for the actual fight. Also, pay attention to the "fragile" relics. These break after a few uses but offer massive buffs. If you find one, use it immediately. There is no point in carrying a broken relic into a boss room.
Making the Most of Your Runs
- Check the Map: Look for the Chemach symbol (the little bird head). She will often give you a choice between two relics or upgrade your current one.
- Tarot Synergy: Always pick Tarot cards that reduce relic cooldowns if you get a high-tier offensive relic early on.
- The Fleece Factor: The Fleece of the Glass Cannon is incredible with relics because it boosts the damage of everything "magical," including your relic's active abilities.
Cruisades are shorter than they used to be because of the sheer damage output these items provide. It makes the "grind" for resources way less of a chore. You can fly through a dungeon in five minutes if you get a lucky drop.
The Verdict on Relics
They saved the game's longevity. Before this, the combat could feel a bit repetitive after the twentieth hour. Now, every run has a "wildcard" element. You might get a relic that turns you into a giant invincible ball of spikes, or you might get a dud that just drops a few coins. That variance is what makes roguelikes work.
If you’re struggling with the Silk Cradle or the post-game bosses, stop focusing so much on your weapon level and start looking at your relic synergy. The right relic can carry a bad weapon, but a great weapon can’t always save you from a bad playstyle.
Next Steps for Your Cult
Go talk to Chemach in the Darkwood. If you haven't triggered her encounter yet, just keep playing through the first few rooms of a new crusade; she'll show up eventually. Once she does, your first goal should be to unlock the Transmuted Eye of Enoch. It’s the single best survival tool in the game. After that, start experimenting with the Damned versions of the bishops' relics. They require a bit more finesse, but the payoff in raw damage is worth the learning curve. Focus on upgrading your "Relic Room" in the cult's sermon tree as early as possible to increase the spawn rate of Blessed items.