Do Coins Melt in Terraria? A Comprehensive Guide to Terrarian Currency and Lava
The short answer is no, coins do not technically “melt” in Terraria, but their existence is far from guaranteed around lava. Coins, like many items in Terraria, can be destroyed by lava under certain conditions. The fate of your precious pennies, silver, gold, and platinum depends on the depth of the lava and a little bit of game mechanics regarding item rarity.
Lava’s Lethal Embrace: Coin Survival Explained
Terraria treats items, including coins, differently based on their “tier,” which is often reflected in their item rarity. Coins fall into the White rarity category. This means they are susceptible to lava’s destructive properties. However, there’s a catch: not all lava is created equal.
Lava Depth and the Point of No Return
Lava will destroy any item of White rarity, including coins, if it’s deep enough for the item to sink past its midpoint. Think of it like this: a small coin can survive briefly in a shallow puddle of lava, but if submerged completely in a deep pool, it’s toast (or, rather, it’s gone!). The larger the item’s sprite, the deeper the lava needs to be to destroy it.
Other Methods of coin destruction
- Quick stacking coins to chests is fine. However, quick stacking coins into the piggy bank is not fine. If there is no space for them, the other coins are lost.
The Despawn Timer: A race Against Time
Even if lava isn’t a factor, coins aren’t permanent fixtures in your Terraria world. All dropped coins, regardless of type, will despawn after 12 minutes of real-world time. This timer starts ticking the moment the coin hits the ground. So, if you’ve just slain a boss and a shower of gold rains down, start collecting quickly.
Saving Your Savings: Protecting Your Terraria Riches
Losing coins can be frustrating, especially when saving up for that expensive item or reforge. Thankfully, Terraria offers several ways to safeguard your hard-earned currency.
The Piggy Bank: Your Personal Mobile Vault
The Piggy Bank is your best friend when it comes to coin management. This portable container allows you to store your money safely. The best part? Vendors can still access the money stored in your Piggy Bank when you’re making purchases. More importantly, coins stored in the Piggy Bank won’t be dropped upon death.
The Safe and Defender’s Forge: Bigger and Better
As you progress, you can upgrade your storage capacity with the Safe and, later, the Defender’s Forge. These function similarly to the Piggy Bank but offer significantly more storage space.
Tips For keeping coins safe.
- Use the Piggy Bank, Safe, or Defender’s Forge: Regularly deposit your coins into these safe storage options to prevent loss upon death or despawning.
- Be mindful of lava: Avoid dropping coins near lava pools. If you must venture into lava-filled areas, ensure your money is safely stored.
- Collect quickly: Don’t dawdle when coins drop. Collect them promptly to prevent despawning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Terraria Coins
1. How do I get more coins in Terraria?
Coins drop from a variety of sources, including killing enemies, breaking pots, opening chests, and completing quests. Farming enemies, especially during events like the Goblin Invasion or Pumpkin Moon, is an efficient way to accumulate wealth.
2. What are the different types of coins in Terraria?
There are four types of coins in Terraria: Copper, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. 100 Copper coins convert into 1 Silver coin, 100 Silver coins convert into 1 Gold coin, and 100 Gold coins convert into 1 Platinum coin.
3. How do I craft coins in Terraria?
You cannot craft coins in Terraria. They are solely obtained through drops and conversions.
4. Does luck affect coin drops in Terraria?
Yes, luck plays a role in the quantity and quality of coin drops. Higher luck increases the chances of enemies dropping more coins or higher-tier coins. Increasing your luck can be done through using potions, biome placement, torch placement, and throwing coins into the shimmer.
5. What happens if I die in Terraria?
Upon death, you will drop a portion of the coins you’re carrying, depending on the difficulty level. This is why storing your money is so crucial.
6. Can I use coins as ammunition in Terraria?
Yes, the Coin Gun is a Hardmode ranged weapon that uses coins as ammunition. The damage and velocity of the bullets depend on the type of coin being fired.
7. How rare is the Coin Gun?
The Coin Gun is a rare drop from Pirate Invasion enemies, with a 1/4000 (0.025%) chance on Desktop and Console versions and a 1/8000 (0.0125%) chance on Mobile and Old-gen console versions.
8. Where can I place a Piggy Bank?
The Piggy Bank requires a 2×1 space and must be placed on a Work Bench, Table, or Platforms.
9. What happens if I have over 100 platinum coins in Terraria?
On the Console version of Terraria, exceeding 100 Platinum Coins will convert them into a Fallen Star.
10. How does the quick stack feature work with coins?
Using the quick stack feature will attempt to deposit coins into nearby chests. This function also can cause a bug with the piggy bank, losing the coins.
11. Is there an item to protect me from lava in Terraria?
The Obsidian Skull grants immunity to the burning damage inflicted by Meteorite and Hellstone, but does not grant immunity to lava. To survive lava immersion, you’ll need items like the Obsidian Skin Potion or late-game gear with lava immunity.
12. How can I stop the Corruption from spreading?
To prevent the spread of Corruption or Crimson, dig a 3-tile wide trench around the biome. Lined with non-corruptible materials like wood, it will act as a quarantine zone. In Hardmode, you can use the Clentaminator to purify corrupted blocks.
13. How long does a full day last in Terraria?
One full day in Terraria (day and night) lasts 24 real-world minutes (15 minutes of day and 9 minutes of night).
14. What is the point of luck in Terraria?
Luck influences a variety of random events and items, including item drops, rare enemy spawns, NPC appearances, and the Traveling Merchant’s inventory. By creating good luck, players can increase the chances of acquiring rare and valuable items.
15. Are there any educational aspects to games like Terraria?
Absolutely! Games like Terraria can foster creativity, problem-solving skills, resource management, and even collaboration in multiplayer settings. The Terraria platform is even used in learning environments. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org are dedicated to researching and promoting the educational potential of video games. Games are a source of entertainment, learning, and even a way to develop real-world skills.