The Iron Coin is a unique active item in Enter the Gungeon that offers both room-clearing capabilities and valuable passive benefits. Inspired by iconic pop culture references, this item allows players to eliminate threats across a floor without engaging in direct combat. Understanding how to unlock, acquire, and effectively utilize the Iron Coin can greatly enhance your survival during challenging Gungeon runs.
How to Unlock and Locate the Iron Coin
To unlock the Iron Coin, players must defeat the boss of the Gungeon Proper without taking any damage. Once unlocked, it joins the general item pool and can appear inside chests during subsequent runs. It can also be purchased directly from shopkeepers or acquired through various item drops.
Players can occasionally encounter multiple instances of the Iron Coin in a single playthrough. Picking up an additional coin stacks the available charges, giving you more opportunities to use its room-clearing power. This stacking mechanic makes it a versatile tool when navigating larger floors later in the game.
Active Ability and Instant Room Clearing
Activating the Iron Coin causes it to vanish, instantly killing all enemies in a random, unexplored room on the current floor. The cleared room will contain a pool of blood and a small note reading Valar Morgunis as evidence of the item's intervention. Each coin comes with three total uses before it is fully consumed.
While this effect eliminates combat danger, it does come with specific drawbacks regarding loot generation. Enemies defeated by the coin do not drop casings, and any cleared room drops may be stolen by the Resourceful Rat before you reach the area. However, chest spawns and special companion abilities like the Dog's digging can still trigger normally.
Passive Stat Boosts and Shop Discounts
Beyond its active room-clearing ability, simply holding the Iron Coin grants significant passive advantages. It provides a flat twenty percent discount at all merchant shops throughout the Gungeon. This price reduction stacks with other passive discount items, such as Disarming Personality, to drastically lower purchase costs.
Additionally, keeping the coin in your inventory increases your character's hidden Coolness stat by two. Higher Coolness reduces active item cooldown times and increases the likelihood of chest drops after clearing rooms. These passive benefits make holding onto the coin valuable even if you decide not to trigger its active uses immediately.
Strategic Tips for Managing the Iron Coin
The Iron Coin is particularly powerful on late-game floors like Bullet Hell, where room layouts are notoriously difficult and money is no longer essential. Using the coin on these final levels saves precious ammunition and preserves health points for boss encounters. It can also instantly clear rooms assigned by the Gunsling King, fulfilling his challenge requirements effortlessly.
However, players should avoid using the coin on early floors where casing generation is critical for building a strong arsenal. Balancing when to hold the coin for discounts and when to spend its charges is key to maximizing its value. Managing these trade-offs effectively ensures a safer and more prosperous descent into the Gungeon.
