How to Find the Aether Biome in Terraria: A Comprehensive Guide
Finding the Aether biome in Terraria can be a bit of a treasure hunt, but with the right knowledge, you’ll be swimming in shimmer in no time! This guide will provide you with a clear path to locating this unique mini-biome and answer all your related questions.
Locating the Aether Biome: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Aether biome is a special mini-biome that generates only once per world, making it a rare and valuable find. It’s the only place where you can encounter a natural pool of Shimmer, a crucial liquid for transforming items, enemies, and NPCs. Here’s how to find it:
1. Understanding the Basics:
- Generation: The Aether biome is generated upon world creation. This means it won’t appear on worlds created before the 1.4.4 update.
- Location: It’s located in the Underground or Cavern layer, specifically within the outer fifth of the world, on the same side as the Jungle biome.
- Depth: Vertically, it can be found anywhere from 100 to 2200 blocks down, depending on the world size.
- Visual Cue: The most common visual cue is when the background transitions to a darker stone, indicating you’ve entered the Cavern layer. The Aether will have a unique starry background.
2. The Search Process:
- Identify the Jungle Side: Determine which side of your world contains the Jungle biome. This is crucial, as the Aether will always be on the same side.
- Dig Down: Start digging down vertically from the surface on the Jungle side of your world.
- Enter the Cavern Layer: Continue digging until you see the background change to darker stone, signifying that you’re in the Cavern layer.
- Explore Horizontally: Once in the Cavern layer, begin exploring horizontally, systematically searching the outer fifth of the map. The Aether is not always directly below the jungle, but in a general “zone”.
- Look for the Starry Background: As you explore, keep an eye out for the distinctive starry background, which is the most obvious indicator of the Aether biome.
- Listen for Unique Music: The “Aether” song will start playing when you’ve entered the biome.
- Pool of Shimmer: Once you find the starry background, look for a large pool of Shimmer at the center of the biome.
3. Additional Tips:
- Large Worlds: If you are in a large world, the Aether is usually between 1800-2000 blocks down.
- Medium Worlds: On medium worlds, the Aether can be around 1200-1500 blocks down.
- Small Worlds: Small worlds can have the Aether as shallow as 600 blocks down.
- Visual Aids: Consider using a spelunker potion to help you see the unique tiles that can be found in the Aether.
- Patience: The Aether biome is rare. Be prepared to explore a good portion of the cavern layer.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Aether Biome
1. Does the Aether biome spawn in every world?
Yes, the Aether biome generates once upon world creation in every new world created after the 1.4.4 update. It does not spawn in pre-existing worlds.
2. Can I create an Aether biome if I can’t find it?
Yes, you can create your own Aether biome by placing 300 or more tiles of Shimmer in the Underground or Cavern layers. This will mimic the visual and audio cues of the generated biome.
3. What is Shimmer, and where can I find it?
Shimmer is a unique liquid found at the center of the Aether biome. It can also be obtained after defeating the Moon Lord using the Bottomless Shimmer Bucket. Shimmer has the ability to transform various items and entities.
4. Can the Aether spawn in pre-existing worlds?
No, Aether biomes only generate on worlds created after the 1.4.4 update, and it will not spawn in pre-existing worlds. You would need to make a new world to access this biome.
5. How do I obtain unlimited shimmer in Terraria?
After defeating the Moon Lord, you can obtain the Bottomless Shimmer Bucket, which provides an unlimited source of shimmer. You can also craft it at an Ancient Manipulator using a Bottomless Water Bucket and 10 Luminite Bars.
6. What happens when I submerge items in shimmer?
Submerging items in Shimmer can transform them into different items. For example, throwing Luminite into Shimmer yields Chlorophyte Ore, and Gold Worms will turn into Gummy Worms.
7. Can I use shimmer to transform enemies or NPCs?
Yes, you can transform enemies and NPCs by submerging them in Shimmer. This often results in unique or altered versions of those entities, sometimes into Faelings.
8. What are Faelings, and where can I find them?
Faelings are critters that naturally spawn in the Aether biome. They are also created when critters are submerged in shimmer. Faelings are known for their unique rainbow glowing effect.
9. What are the Gem Trees, and why are they in the Aether?
The Aether biome is often surrounded by Gem Trees, which are a unique feature of this biome. They are purely decorative and don’t produce harvestable gems.
10. How can I get the “Aether” background?
The starry background of the Aether can be replicated using the Aether Monolith. This special item allows players to bring the unique background to their own bases.
11. Can I fish in the Shimmer?
Yes, you can fish in Shimmer. Shimmering is a debuff inflicted when the bobber touches the liquid. It causes the player to fall through blocks until reaching an open space or liquid.
12. What is Coin Luck, and how do I use it with Shimmer?
Coin Luck is a buff you get by throwing coins into Shimmer. All players within a radius will receive the Coin Luck counter based on the coin types. This increases the chance of finding higher value coins.
13. How do I know when I’ve reached the Cavern Layer?
The Cavern Layer is identified by the background changing to a darker stone. The music will also change, indicating a deeper level of the world.
14. Is there Shimmer in the Calamity Mod?
Yes, the Calamity Mod includes the Aether biome and Shimmer. It has tweaked shimmer transmutations and some recipes require proximity to Shimmer for crafting. The mod also provides a reliable method of finding the Aether via the soul of a Zombie in water pointing towards it.
15. What is the modified jungle edge, and is it related to the Aether?
The modified jungle edge is a Minecraft biome unrelated to the Aether. It is extremely rare and not in Terraria.