Ashpit

*(chapter 2.5)*

The **Ashpit** is an alternative floor to the Mines and is unlocked by defeating all of the bosses inside the Mines. The floor can be accessed by using bombs on the Exit Door of the Caves/Catacombs/Flooded Caves I or II, or at the end of Downpour/Dross. Ashpit's theme is centered around a dry, crumbling wasteland, with an abundance of skeleton enemies and brutal-looking foes.

The Ashpit is significantly more difficult than their standard counterparts, filled with stone and fire-themed enemies that boast greater health and aggression. Most obstacles are rocks or spiked rocks, and poops are almost non-existent. Tinted rocks have a high chance of spawning Tinted Rock Spiders. Travelling through it is only advised if you have already acquired  in Downpour and intend to access the Corpse.

## Unique Elements

* **Minecarts** - Several rooms in the Ashpit will contain rail tracks with minecarts racing around on them, usually containing enemies or hazards. These enemies can be defeated as normal.
* **Throwable Bombs** - Occasionally, you can find Bomb Grimaces with throwable bombs on the floor in front of them. You can pick up the throwable bomb by walking into it, lighting the fuse and giving you a few seconds to throw the bomb before it goes off. Once the bomb explodes, the Bomb Grimace will produce another, providing you with an unlimited source of bombs in these rooms.
* **Dark rooms** - Some rooms are dark, even without the Curse of Darkness being active.

## Acquiring the Knife Piece 2

If you have , a special double-sized room will spawn in Ashpit II containing a minecart and a broken length of rail track leading to a boarded up door, just like those that lead to a Bedroom. Behind this door lies the area in which  can be acquired. There are two methods for accessing this area:

* If you have flight and 2 Bombs, you can simply fly over to the boarded up door and blow it open.
* Otherwise, you can repair the track. There are three yellow buttons spread throughout the floor. One will be in the same room as the broken rail track, but the other two are randomly placed. Once all three buttons are pressed, the rail track will be repaired and you can touch the minecart to access the area.

Upon entering this area, all passive and active items will be rendered inactive, and your bombs, coins, and keys will be set to zero. New pickups can still be obtained, however, and will persist after Isaac leaves the area. You will pass through several empty rooms before reaching a room with the . Once you pick it up, Mother's Shadow will spawn and your race back to the entrance begins. This enemy cannot be defeated by any means, and escape is your only option.

Unlike your initial trip to reach the , the path back will be obstructed by rocks and poops. While flying characters can handle all of this with ease, walking characters will have a significantly harder time. Using your tears and the conveniently-located throwable bombs, you will need to break through the obstructions, press buttons, and grab keys for key blocks to make it back to the main dungeon. Making it out taking little or no damage is possible, particularly if you are fast and accustomed to dodging the shadow's attacks. Once you escape, all your items will be reactivated, and the shadow will end its pursuit.

* It is possible for the floor's crawl space to appear on your escape path. Upon entry, your items will temporarily be reactivated, and you will be able to pick up any items/consumables available. Items will become inactive again after exiting. Mother's Shadow will still appear in the crawl space, and the enclosed area makes the dodging of her attacks very difficult.