Unlocking Time Travel: A Comprehensive Guide to Obtaining the Enchanted Sundial in Terraria
So, you want to bend time itself in Terraria, eh? The Enchanted Sundial is your key! This nifty furniture item allows you to skip one day/night cycle, setting the time to 4:30 AM. But acquiring it requires patience and a bit of luck. You obtain the Enchanted Sundial from crates obtained via Fishing during Hardmode. Specifically, you’re looking for Wooden, Iron, or Golden Crates. The drop rates vary:
- Wooden Crate: 1/200 (0.5%) chance
- Iron Crate: 1/60 (1.67%) chance
- Golden Crate: 1/20 (5%) chance
Now, let’s delve into the details and answer some frequently asked questions to make your time-bending journey a success!
Mastering the Art of Fishing for Time
Getting your hands on the Enchanted Sundial hinges on efficient fishing. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Enter Hardmode: The Sundial only becomes available after you’ve defeated the Wall of Flesh and entered Hardmode. This unlocks new enemies, biomes, and most importantly, new crate contents.
- Gear Up for Fishing: Invest in the best fishing pole, bait, and tackle box you can acquire. A higher fishing power significantly increases your chances of catching crates. Recommended poles include the Golden Fishing Rod (obtained from completing Angler quests) or the Mechanic’s Rod (crafted with Mechanic’s ruler).
- Location, Location, Location: The biome doesn’t affect the chance of obtaining crates, so find a large body of water where you won’t be interrupted by enemies. The Ocean is a reliable choice, but any sufficiently large lake will work. Remember to use Sonar Potions to know what you have hooked!
- The Waiting Game: Cast your line and wait for a bite. Remember that patience is key. Fishing can be repetitive, but the reward of manipulating time is well worth it.
- Open Those Crates: Once you’ve hauled in a crate, open it up! Keep fishing until you finally snag that elusive Enchanted Sundial. Don’t forget to use crate potions to increase your chances to fish up crates!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly does the Enchanted Sundial do?
The Enchanted Sundial is a furniture item that, when used, immediately advances the time to 4:30 AM, the start of a new day in Terraria. It essentially skips the current day or night cycle.
2. Is there a cooldown on the Enchanted Sundial?
Yes, there is a cooldown. You can only use the Enchanted Sundial once every in-game week.
3. Is the Sundial’s cooldown per character or per world?
The cooldown is per world. This means that if you use the Sundial in one world, you won’t be able to use it again in that same world for a Terraria week, regardless of which character you use.
4. What are the best strategies for efficient crate fishing?
Maximize your fishing power by using:
- High-quality fishing rod: Golden Fishing Rod is considered best.
- Good bait: Master Bait, Buggy, or Worms.
- Tackle Box or Angler Tackle Bag: Reduces the chance of losing bait.
- Fishing Potion: Temporarily increases fishing power.
- Crate Potion: Increases the chance of fishing up crates.
- Sonar Potion: Lets you know what you have hooked.
Also, create a suitable fishing spot with at least 300 tiles of water to maximize your fishing power and chances to catch crates.
5. What is the Enchanted Moondial?
The Enchanted Moondial is an upgraded version of the Enchanted Sundial, added in Desktop 1.4.4. It allows you to skip the day to dusk.
6. How do I get the Enchanted Moondial?
You obtain the Enchanted Moondial by throwing the Enchanted Sundial into the Shimmer. The Shimmer is a hidden biome found in the Aether biome in the outer fifth of the world, in the cavern layer.
7. Is the Enchanted Sundial affected by luck?
Yes, luck affects the rarity of fishing catches, including the chance of obtaining crates and the items within them. Maximize your luck using gnome statues, Ladybug pets, and Luck Potions to increase your odds.
8. Besides the Sundial, what other ways are there to manipulate time in Terraria?
Beds allow you to sleep, speeding up time five times faster and providing a health regeneration boost. However, this is only a temporary speed-up and doesn’t skip the entire day/night cycle.
9. What’s the difference between the Enchanted Sundial and sleeping in a bed?
Sleeping in a bed accelerates time, but doesn’t skip the day/night cycle entirely. The Enchanted Sundial instantly advances time to the start of the next day.
10. How rare is the Enchanted Sundial compared to other rare items?
While not as excruciatingly rare as items like the Slime Staff (0.01% – 1.4% drop rate) or the Rod of Discord, the Enchanted Sundial still requires dedication. The best strategy is maximizing the Golden Crates fished up, which have the highest chance of dropping the item.
11. Does the size of the world affect the drop rate of the Enchanted Sundial?
No, the size of the world does not affect the drop rate of the Enchanted Sundial from crates. The drop rates are consistent regardless of the world size.
12. Can I obtain the Enchanted Sundial in pre-Hardmode?
No, the Enchanted Sundial is exclusively available in Hardmode after defeating the Wall of Flesh. Crates obtained before Hardmode will not contain the item.
13. Does using the Enchanted Sundial affect boss summoning?
Using the Enchanted Sundial can affect boss summoning, particularly bosses that can only be summoned at night. For instance, skipping to daytime will cancel a started fight with The Twins, Skeletron Prime, or The Destroyer. Plan accordingly!
14. What happens if I use the Enchanted Sundial during a special event like a Blood Moon or Goblin Army?
Using the Enchanted Sundial will end most special events, such as Blood Moons, Goblin Armies, or Pirate Invasions. However, some events might continue if they are specifically tied to a boss fight (like the Martian Madness after Golem).
15. Is the Enchanted Sundial necessary for completing Terraria?
No, the Enchanted Sundial is not necessary to complete Terraria. It’s a convenience item that helps you manage your time more efficiently, especially if you’re waiting for specific events or NPC arrivals. However, it can drastically improve quality of life for players running farms that only work during the day.
Conclusion
The Enchanted Sundial is a valuable tool for any Terraria player looking to control their time. By focusing on crate fishing in Hardmode, using the correct gear and potions, and understanding the item’s limitations, you can significantly increase your chances of adding this time-bending artifact to your collection. Happy fishing, and may your days always be sunny! And remember, gaming, like learning, is often about exploration and discovery, something the Games Learning Society seeks to promote. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the intersection of games and education.