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Unlocking Terraria: The Spoils and Sequels of Slaying the Eye of Cthulhu

So, you’ve finally stared down that massive, pulsating eyeball and emerged victorious in Terraria. Congratulations, adventurer! But what does your hard-won battle actually unlock? The short answer is: a world of new possibilities. Defeating the Eye of Cthulhu is a crucial stepping stone that opens up new avenues for progression, resource gathering, and even boss encounters.

Killing the Eye of Cthulhu primarily unlocks two crucial things:

Metals for Better Gear: The Eye of Cthulhu drops either Demonite Ore (in Corruption worlds) or Crimtane Ore (in Crimson worlds). These ores can be smelted into bars used to craft new armor, weapons, and tools, significantly boosting your capabilities.
Increased Spawn Rate: The defeat of the Eye of Cthulhu increases spawn rate for slimes. In addition to slimes increased spawn rate, The defeat of the Eye of Cthulhu also gives you a chance for the Goblin Army to begin spawning. A Goblin Army will invade the world with multiple Goblin enemies spawning for you to kill.

Beyond these immediate benefits, defeating the Eye of Cthulhu is a key trigger for several important game events and unlocks. It signals to the game that you’re ready to face greater challenges and pushes the world forward. The world is ever-evolving, and taking the time to defeat the Eye of Cthulhu will increase your chances of becoming a more powerful and dangerous player.

What Lies Beyond the Gaze: Post-Eye of Cthulhu Adventures

The rewards are well worth the effort, now lets talk about the many things you can do and will see after you defeat the Eye of Cthulhu:

The Goblin Army: With the Eye of Cthulhu defeated, the Goblin Army can now invade your world. Defeating the Goblin Army not only rewards you with useful items but also paves the way for the Goblin Tinkerer to appear in your world, and you can free him from a dungeon somewhere. The Goblin Tinkerer will become a valuable NPC who can reforge your equipment.
The Dungeon Awaits: The Dungeon, guarded by the formidable Skeletron, becomes a more enticing prospect. The Dungeon is located at the end of either side of the map, and has an Old Man in front of the Entrance. However, be warned, you must defeat Skeletron before you can enter the Dungeon. While you can technically enter before defeating Skeletron, doing so will mean your ultimate demise, as a stronger version of him will kill you instantly.
Crimson or Corruption Deeper Dive: Now that you can mine Demonite or Crimtane, delve deeper into the Corruption or Crimson biomes to fight the Eater of Worlds (Corruption) or the Brain of Cthulhu (Crimson). These bosses will provide you with Shadow Scales and Tissue Samples respectively, that you will need to make the end game gear for this stage of the game.
Crafting and Progression: Utilize your new ores and materials to craft better armor sets (like Shadow or Crimson armor), powerful weapons, and essential tools like the Nightmare Pickaxe or Deathbringer Pickaxe, which will allow you to mine other Ores such as Hellstone. This allows you to build a set of Molten Armor which will get you ready to take on the wall of flesh.
Possible Boss Battles: After you kill the Eye of Cthulhu, three possible boss battles await you and it really is your choice which one you want to tackle first.

Eye of Cthulhu: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the path after defeating the Eye of Cthulhu.

1. What should I do immediately after killing the Eye of Cthulhu?

Smelt the Demonite or Crimtane Ore you received and craft the best possible armor and weapon upgrades. Begin exploring the Corruption or Crimson biomes, gather materials, and prepare for the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu fight.

2. When will the Goblin Army invade after defeating the Eye of Cthulhu?

The Goblin Army has a chance to invade any day after the Eye of Cthulhu is defeated. They won’t invade if you are already fighting a boss or during a special event like a Blood Moon. Be sure to stay inside your base when first starting as the Goblin Army will quickly overwhelm new players.

3. What is the best armor to get after defeating the Eye of Cthulhu?

Crafting a full set of either Shadow Armor or Crimson Armor is an excellent next step. These sets offer significant defense and stat boosts compared to pre-Eye of Cthulhu options. A good in between armor set, that is easy to craft is Obsidian armor, which is a magic armor set that will significantly increase damage with magic weapons.

4. What weapons should I craft with Demonite/Crimtane?

Consider crafting the Light’s Bane (Demonite) or Blood Butcherer (Crimtane) sword, as well as the Demon Bow or Tendon Bow. These will serve you well in subsequent battles. Otherwise focus on crafting a pickaxe from either Crimtane or Demonite, as this will allow you to mine Hellstone to continue getting even more powerful gear.

5. How do I summon the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu?

To summon the Eater of Worlds, destroy three Shadow Orbs within the Corruption biome. To summon the Brain of Cthulhu, destroy three Crimson Hearts within the Crimson biome. Alternatively, you can craft Worm Food or a Bloody Spine, respectively, using materials gathered from these biomes.

6. What’s the significance of the Dungeon?

The Dungeon, guarded by Skeletron, contains valuable loot, including powerful weapons and accessories. Defeating Skeletron allows you to explore the depths of the Dungeon, but be warned, it’s filled with challenging enemies and traps.

7. How do I prepare for the Skeletron fight?

Create a wide, flat arena near the Dungeon entrance. Equip yourself with the best armor and weapons available. Bring healing potions and buffs. Focus on destroying Skeletron’s hands first before targeting his head.

8. What is the Nightmare/Deathbringer Pickaxe used for?

The Nightmare Pickaxe (Demonite) or Deathbringer Pickaxe (Crimtane) is necessary to mine Obsidian and Hellstone, which are essential for crafting powerful late-pre-Hardmode equipment.

9. What does exploring the Underground Jungle unlock?

The Underground Jungle is home to valuable resources like Jungle Spores and Stingers, which are used to craft Jungle Armor and other useful items. Defeating the Queen Bee in the Jungle also unlocks new crafting recipes and items.

10. Is the Eye of Cthulhu necessary to beat the game?

While not strictly necessary, defeating the Eye of Cthulhu unlocks essential progression pathways and significantly improves your chances of success in later stages of the game. It’s a highly recommended, if not mandatory, step for most players.

11. Can the Eye of Cthulhu spawn again after being defeated?

Yes, the Eye of Cthulhu can spawn again naturally if you meet the spawn criteria (200+ HP, 10+ Defense, 3+ NPCs housed) or you can summon it manually using a Suspicious Looking Eye at night.

12. What’s the best strategy for fighting the Goblin Army?

Build a defensible base with multiple layers of protection. Use ranged weapons and piercing attacks to deal damage to multiple goblins simultaneously. Focus on eliminating the Goblin Summoner first, as he can summon powerful Goblin Warlocks. A good strategy is to dig a hole 3 blocks deep that the Goblins cant jump out of, and then fire down into it.

13. What items should I look for in the Dungeon?

Key items to look for in the Dungeon include the Muramasa, Cobalt Shield, Magic Missile, and Shadow Key. These items are crucial for progressing further in the game. However, make sure you do not touch any of the Pots, Chests, or Books until you defeat Skeletron, as this can cause the Dungeon Guardian to appear and kill you instantly.

14. How do I prepare for Hardmode?

Craft the best pre-Hardmode armor and weapons available. Build a defensible base and prepare for the increased difficulty and new enemies that will appear after defeating the Wall of Flesh.

15. What’s the connection between Terraria and learning?

Games like Terraria, especially when integrated into educational settings, can foster problem-solving skills, creativity, resource management, and collaboration. The Games Learning Society and GamesLearningSociety.org are dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education. Consider checking out their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for more information on the educational benefits of gaming.

Conquering the Eye of Cthulhu is just the beginning of your Terraria adventure. Embrace the challenges ahead, explore the depths of your world, and uncover the secrets that await you. Good luck, and happy digging!

What does killing the Eye of Cthulhu unlock?