Holy Mantle

### Collection Grid

*(page 4, column 8, row 1)**(page 3, column 8, row 4)**(page 3, column 9, row 4)*

**Holy Mantle** is a passive item.

## Effects

* Grants a shield that negates the first instance of damage taken in each room.
* This item belongs to the  set. Collecting three items from this set will transform Isaac into an angel.

## Notes

* When the shield is broken, Isaac gets invincibility frames like he does when he would normally take damage, based on the damage it negated; 1 second for half a heart of damage, 2 seconds for a full heart, and 4 seconds for 2 full hearts.
	+ Holy Mantle breaking only grants one second of invincibility frames, regardless of the damage source.
* Holy Mantle won't be active when initially appearing in the starting room of a floor if it was lost in the room where Isaac left the previous floor.
	+ If Holy Mantle's shield is broken prior to using , the shield won't be active in the new Basement / Cellar / Burning Basement I's starting room initially.
* As the shield gets restored whenever another room is entered, Holy Mantle allows Curse Rooms to be entered and exited without taking damage.
* Unlike every other protective effect, Holy Mantle (and similar effects) does not prevent damage from Blood Donation Machines, Devil Beggars, and .
	+ However, Blood Donation Machines and Devil Beggars can be played practically for free during the invincibility frames granted when losing the shield, by taking damage from touching a Fire Place, etc.
* Damage from Sacrifice Room spikes can be blocked by Holy Mantle, but no payout is rewarded.
* The blocked hit does not count as damage taken for related achievements and will not trigger items that activate upon taking damage, like .
* The Lost starts with this item after donating 879 coins to the Greed Donation Machine.
* When Holy Mantle's shield is broken, a white cross symbol will briefly appear overlaid on top of Isaac and a smashing sound will play.
* While Holy Mantle is in effect, a blue cross  icon appears in the HUD next to Isaac's health.

## Synergies

* /  /  / : The chance of blocking projectiles is applied before the Holy Mantle, allowing the Holy Mantle shield to be saved.
* /  /  / : All stack with Holy Mantle. Holy Mantle applies last.
* : Doubles the invincibility frames given when damage is negated.
* : The nullified first hit does not trigger the chance of the sword falling. It will not, however, protect Isaac from the falling sword.
* / : On-contact effects still apply to enemies if Holy Mantle negates the contact damage taken.
* : The shield effect transfers to the heart.
* : If damage is blocked with Holy Mantle, Stop Watch will trigger the slow effect.
* Tainted Lazarus + Greed Mode: The shield regenerates every wave if broken. This allows one form of Tainted Lazarus to press the button for free on every wave.

## Interactions

* Bad Trip: Damage is blocked by Holy Mantle.
* : Ignores Holy Mantle's shield and works normally.
* : Holy Mantle's effect will apply after Glass Cannon reduces Isaac's health to half a heart.
* /  The Lost: An extra shield is given in the room it was found in, but the shield is removed when leaving that room and does not reapply.
* : Holy Mantle blocks the damage from Sharp Plug, but also prevents it from adding charges.

## Trivia

* This may be a reference to the card of the same name from Magic: the Gathering, a collectible card game Edmund McMillen played since his childhood.