Brass Knuckles
UNCOMMON ITEMEffect: Deal +20% damage to nearby enemies.
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🔓 How to Unlock
Defeat enemies with the Sword until you reach 5,000 kills in total. Once achieved, Brass Knuckles enters your item pool for future runs.
Tip: If you’re actively farming the unlock, run a melee-leaning build (Sword/Katana) on easier maps to keep enemies close and clear waves quickly.
🧪 What Brass Knuckles Actually Does
- Flat bonus near targets: Attacks against enemies within a short radius gain +20% damage.
- Best for melee/close-range: Ranged/kite builds benefit less because they avoid proximity.
- Patch v1.0.17: Changed “additive → flat” and the effective area scales per stack, improving consistency for close-range builds (see Notes).
🧭 Strategy & Uses
When to pick Brass Knuckles
- You're on a melee or mid-range plan and can consistently stay close to enemies.
- You need a simple, reliable global damage bump for horde clearing.
Synergy ideas (safe & general)
- Sword or Katana: continuous close contact.
- Aegis / Corrupted Sword: brawling playstyles that sit in pack range.
Not ideal if your plan is to full-kite or rely on long-range projectiles. Consider other multipliers instead.
📋 Patch & Balance History
- v1.0.17 (Oct 19, 2025): Brass Knuckles changed from additive to flat scaling; area increases per stack. Improves scaling for melee builds. See “Notes & Sources”.
❓ FAQ
Q: What does Brass Knuckles do?
A: Adds +20% damage versus nearby enemies.
Q: How do I unlock it?
A: Accumulate 5,000 Sword kills across runs.