Mastering Time: How to Skip a Day in Terraria

So, you’re a Terrarian with places to be and bosses to slay, but the sun just won’t cooperate? You’re not alone! Time management is a crucial skill in Terraria, and fortunately, there are several ways to fast-forward through the day or night. The primary method for skipping time to dusk involves using the Enchanted Moondial. You get it by throwing the Enchanted Sundial into the Shimmer. However, if you are playing with the Calamity mod, you might be able to use the Cosmolight, or if you’re running the server console, you have the option of changing the time of day with a command. Let’s dive into the nuances of manipulating the in-game clock!

Methods for Manipulating Time in Terraria

The Enchanted Moondial

This item is probably the easiest and most straightforward way to skip to dusk in vanilla Terraria. The Enchanted Moondial is obtained by throwing the Enchanted Sundial into the Shimmer, which can only be done once Hardmode is enabled. Once you use the Enchanted Moondial, the current day will be skipped and immediately changed to dusk. Keep in mind that this item has a seven day cooldown.

The Enchanted Sundial

Before the Enchanted Moondial became available, the Enchanted Sundial was how most people sped up time. Instead of instantly skipping to dusk, the Enchanted Sundial accelerates the passage of time by a factor of 60. This means that 1 in-game hour passes every real-world second while the sundial is active. This item also has a seven day cooldown.

Modded Solutions: Calamity’s Cosmolight

If you’re playing with mods, you have even more options. For example, the Calamity mod introduces the Cosmolight, a Hardmode tool that instantly changes the time to the next dawn (4:30 AM), noon (12:00 PM), dusk (7:30 PM) or midnight (12:00 AM). This item will choose whichever time of day is the soonest. This can be incredibly useful for preparing for boss fights or triggering specific events.

Server Commands

If you are hosting a server, you have the ability to directly control the game’s time via console commands. Running the TerrariaServer.exe gives you access to commands like “dusk,” “midnight,” “dawn,” or “noon,” immediately setting the time accordingly. This is the most direct way to manipulate time.

Additional Tips & Tricks for Managing Time

• Beds: While you can’t skip an entire day by sleeping, using a bed will accelerate time five times faster than normal. This is great for boosting health regeneration and passing the night quickly, but it won’t skip the night entirely.
• Watches: Equipping a watch (Tin, Copper, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) lets you see the exact in-game time. This is essential for planning your activities, like summoning bosses at night.
• Patience: Sometimes, the best thing to do is simply wait! Use the time to gather resources, build, or explore.

Terraria Time Manipulation: FAQs

1. How long is a full day in Terraria?

A full day/night cycle in Terraria lasts 24 minutes in real-time. 12 minutes for the day and 12 minutes for the night.

2. Can you skip a Blood Moon by sleeping?

No, you cannot skip a Blood Moon by sleeping. Once a Blood Moon starts, it will continue until the next dawn.

3. How do I summon bosses that only appear at night?

To summon bosses that only appear at night, you need to use their respective summoning items during the nighttime hours (7:30 PM to 4:30 AM). For example, the Eye of Cthulhu is summoned with a Suspicious Looking Eye.

4. How do I get the Enchanted Sundial?

The Enchanted Sundial is a rare drop from enemies in the Desert biome, so you need to find a desert and start defeating all the enemies there. It has a much greater chance of dropping after Plantera is defeated.

5. What does the Shimmer do?

The Shimmer is a unique liquid found in the Aether biome that transforms certain items when thrown into it. It is crucial for obtaining the Enchanted Moondial by throwing the Enchanted Sundial.

6. Can I use the Enchanted Moondial or Sundial multiple times in a row?

No, both the Enchanted Moondial and Enchanted Sundial have a 7-day cooldown before they can be used again.

7. Does sleeping increase enemy spawn rates?

No, sleeping in a bed does not affect enemy spawn rates. It only speeds up the passage of time and provides a health regeneration boost.

8. Are there any other ways to control time in Terraria other than items or commands?

Not in the vanilla game. Time control is limited to the Enchanted Sundial, Enchanted Moondial, beds, and server commands. Mods can introduce additional methods.

9. What is the best time to fight bosses in Terraria?

The best time to fight bosses depends on the boss itself. Nighttime bosses like the Eye of Cthulhu and Skeletron must be fought at night. Other bosses can be fought at any time, but daytime might be preferable for visibility.

10. Do events like Solar Eclipses have a set duration?

Solar Eclipses last for the entire daytime duration, from dawn to dusk. You cannot skip them by sleeping.

11. How do I use server commands to change the time?

To use server commands, you need to have access to the server console (usually TerrariaServer.exe). Type “dusk”, “midnight”, “dawn”, or “noon” and press Enter to change the time.

12. What happens if I use the Enchanted Sundial or Moondial during an event?

The effect depends on the event. Using the Enchanted Sundial or Enchanted Moondial during a Blood Moon or Solar Eclipse will end the event after the day is skipped.

13. Is there a way to predict when a Blood Moon or Solar Eclipse will occur?

No, Blood Moons and Solar Eclipses are random events. However, possessing a Celestial Magnet will allow you to see rare events that are about to happen such as the previously mentioned events, the arrival of a traveling merchant, and the spawning of a boss.

14. How do I get the materials needed to craft summoning items for bosses?

The materials needed to craft summoning items are typically obtained by defeating enemies, mining ores, or finding them in chests in the relevant biomes.

15. Can you skip a day to avoid an invasion?

No. You cannot skip an invasion. Once an invasion begins it continues until it is over.

Understanding and manipulating time in Terraria is a key aspect of mastering the game. Whether you’re speeding up the night to avoid pesky enemies or skipping to dawn to prepare for a boss fight, the tools and techniques outlined above will help you become a true master of time!

To further explore the educational aspects of gaming and game design, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. You might be surprised at how much learning happens through play!