The Unholy Truth: Breaking Beyond Three Demon Altars in Terraria
So, you’ve got your Hammer, you’ve found some Demon Altars (or Crimson Altars for those in a Crimson world), and you’re feeling a bit…destructive. You’ve broken a few, heard that satisfying (or unsettling) sound, and now you’re wondering, “What happens if I keep going? What happens if I break more than three?”
Here’s the straight answer: breaking more than three Demon/Crimson Altars in Terraria will continue to spawn new hardmode ores in your world. The first three altar breaks guarantee the generation of Cobalt/Palladium, Mythril/Orichalcum, and Adamantite/Titanium respectively. Breaking subsequent altars will continue to spawn these ores, but the quantity and distribution become increasingly diluted. You’ll see less ore spawn overall and it will be spread out over a wider area. While it might seem like you’re getting more ore overall by breaking dozens of altars, the reality is that it becomes less efficient than simply mining the ore generated by the initial few breaks. There are also some less obvious, and potentially negative, consequences to consider, which we’ll delve into below.
The Deep Dive: Beyond the Initial Ore Generation
The core function of breaking Demon/Crimson Altars in hardmode is to introduce the new, essential ores needed to progress. Each altar break has a chance to trigger the generation of a different hardmode ore. As mentioned, the first three altar breaks are guaranteed to spawn one of each tier, but in a random order.
However, each time an altar is broken, there’s a chance of a Wraith spawning near the player. These enemies can be dangerous, especially early in hardmode, when your equipment is still weak. Furthermore, each broken altar also has a small chance to trigger the creation of a Corrupted/Crimson block somewhere in the Cavern layer, further spreading the corruption/crimson biomes. While this can be beneficial for farming certain items, uncontrolled spread can also consume valuable biomes and make navigation more difficult.
The key takeaway here is diminishing returns. After the initial three ore spawns, breaking more altars is less about getting a concentrated vein of valuable ores and more about spreading out smaller deposits, while simultaneously increasing the chances of dangerous enemies and biome spread.
Why Not Break Every Altar?
While the idea of breaking every altar for maximum ore might seem appealing, there are several practical reasons to avoid this:
- Enemy Spawns: Wraiths are annoying and can be deadly early in hardmode. Breaking numerous altars increases the frequency of their spawns, making mining and exploration more dangerous.
- Corruption/Crimson Spread: The uncontrolled spread of the Corruption/Crimson can consume your Jungle, Hallow, or even your base, necessitating extensive and expensive cleansing efforts.
- Time Efficiency: Spending hours breaking altars for minimal ore gains is simply not an efficient use of time. There are far better ways to acquire resources, such as fishing for crates or defeating bosses.
- World Aesthetics: A world ravaged by uncontrolled Corruption/Crimson can be visually unappealing and make certain areas difficult to navigate.
Alternative Methods for Acquiring Hardmode Ores
Instead of relying solely on breaking Demon/Crimson Altars, consider these alternative methods for obtaining hardmode ores:
- Fishing: Fishing in the Ocean during hardmode has a chance to yield crates containing hardmode ores. This is a safe and relatively consistent source of ores.
- Boss Battles: Defeating mechanical bosses (The Destroyer, The Twins, and Skeletron Prime) will drop Hallowed Bars, which can be used to craft powerful weapons and armor. This also reduces the need to excessively mine for ores.
- Mining Potions: Using a mining potion or spelunker potion makes ore locating far easier, if you still desire to find ore.
FAQs: All You Need to Know About Demon Altars
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the mechanics surrounding Demon/Crimson Altars:
1. What exactly are Demon/Crimson Altars?
Demon Altars (found in Corruption worlds) and Crimson Altars (found in Crimson worlds) are indestructible furniture pieces that can be used to craft certain pre-hardmode boss summoning items, as well as hardmode ore. They are identifiable by their dark, spiky appearance and pulsating glow.
2. Why do I need to break Demon/Crimson Altars in Hardmode?
Breaking these altars is the primary way to introduce the first three tiers of hardmode ores into your world: Cobalt/Palladium, Mythril/Orichalcum, and Adamantite/Titanium.
3. Can I break Demon/Crimson Altars with any hammer?
No. You’ll need a hammer with at least 80% hammer power to break them. The Pwnhammer, dropped by the Wall of Flesh, is the most common and readily available option.
4. What happens if I break a Demon/Crimson Altar before defeating the Wall of Flesh?
Nothing. The altars are indestructible until you defeat the Wall of Flesh and enter hardmode.
5. Is there a limit to how many times I can break Demon/Crimson Altars?
No, there is no hard limit. You can break them indefinitely. However, as discussed earlier, the returns diminish significantly after the first few.
6. Does the order in which I break the altars affect which ore spawns?
No. The ores are assigned randomly to each altar break, so there’s no way to control which ore spawns first.
7. Will breaking altars spawn more than just Cobalt/Palladium, Mythril/Orichalcum, and Adamantite/Titanium?
Yes, once you defeat a mechanical boss, breaking additional altars will eventually start spawning Hallowed ore.
8. I broke an altar, but I didn’t see any new ore spawn. Why?
The ore spawns randomly throughout the underground and cavern layers. It might be hidden behind walls or in areas you haven’t explored yet. Use a Spelunker Potion to make ore location much easier.
9. Is it better to break all the altars or just a few?
Breaking just the first few (3-5) is generally the most efficient approach. It guarantees the generation of all ore types without excessive enemy spawns and biome spread.
10. How do I stop the Corruption/Crimson from spreading?
Dig a 3-block wide trench around the affected area and line it with a non-corruptible/crimsonable block like wood, stone bricks or ash. Alternatively, use the Clentaminator with Green Solution to purify infected blocks.
11. Can I move Demon/Crimson Altars after breaking them?
No, once broken, the altars disappear permanently.
12. Are there any advantages to letting the Corruption/Crimson spread?
Yes. Some enemies only spawn in those biomes, and they drop valuable items needed for crafting powerful weapons and armor. Additionally, Corruption/Crimson worlds have unique items and challenges not found in standard worlds.
13. What are some good strategies for mining the new hardmode ores?
Use a pickaxe with sufficient mining power and consider using mining potions, spelunker potions, and shine potions. Mining gear and accessories can also increase your mining speed and efficiency.
14. Can I reset the world generation of hardmode ores by using a specific tool or item?
No, there is no tool or item available to reset hardmode ore generation after you’ve broken altars. Once the ores are spawned, they are permanently placed in the world.
15. Where can I learn more about game strategies and development?
The Games Learning Society is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the intersection of games and education. You can find more information at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The Games Learning Society offers insights into how games can be used for learning, research, and development across various fields.
Conclusion: Breaking Altars Wisely
While the allure of breaking every Demon/Crimson Altar might be tempting, remember the principle of diminishing returns. Focus on efficient resource gathering methods like fishing and boss battles, and be mindful of the potential consequences of uncontrolled biome spread. With a bit of planning and strategy, you can conquer hardmode without turning your world into a chaotic, corrupted wasteland. Good luck, and happy mining!