How Far to Dig to Stop Corruption in Terraria: A Comprehensive Guide
The relentless spread of Corruption (or Crimson) in Terraria is a constant concern for players, especially as they progress into Hardmode. Understanding how far you need to dig to contain this invasive force is crucial for protecting your builds and the world around you. So, how far exactly do you need to dig?
The core answer is this: to effectively stop Corruption (or Crimson) spread, you need to dig a trench that is at least 3 blocks wide, filled with non-corruptible material, around the area you wish to protect. However, for optimal safety, a 6-block wide trench is highly recommended.
The 3-Block Minimum: Basic Containment
At its most basic, the spread of Corruption and Crimson works in a 3-block radius. This means that a corrupted or crimson block can convert any other corruptible block within a 3-block distance. Therefore, a 3-block wide gap acts as a basic buffer, preventing the direct spread. This is the minimum requirement to isolate a biome. However, relying on this width can be risky, especially in Hardmode when the spread is significantly accelerated.
Why 6 Blocks is Recommended: Enhanced Protection
While 3 blocks might stop a direct conversion, there are situations where it’s not enough. Some tiles are able to spread through walls, and minor errors in digging can leave small bridges or pathways for the evil biomes. A 6-block wide trench creates a far more robust barrier, significantly reducing the risk of infection. The extra space also provides an easier buffer for your world when a hardmode biome spawns. Think of it as a fire break, the wider it is the better it stops the fire.
Material is Key
The width of your trench isn’t the only factor in this equation. What you fill that gap with is just as important. You’ll need non-corruptible and non-hallowed materials.
Ideal Barrier Materials:
- Dungeon Bricks: Readily available in the dungeon, these are immune to Corruption/Crimson and Hallow.
- Ores: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and all hardmode ores are non-corruptible.
- Bricks: Any crafted brick, including clay bricks, will prevent spread.
- Ash, Silt, and Slush: These are readily available and cannot be converted.
- Crafted Blocks: The majority of crafted blocks are immune to all forms of biome spread.
Materials to AVOID:
- Dirt: Dirt blocks are a prime target for conversion.
- Stone: Most stone types are corruptible in Hardmode
- Sand: Like Stone, Sand is corruptible in Hardmode
- Ice: Like Stone, Ice is corruptible in Hardmode.
- Grass: Grass spreads easily, so you should avoid these.
Hellevators: The Vertical Solution
You also need to consider vertical spread. That’s where hellevators come into play. A hellevator is a straight vertical tunnel that can be used to quickly access different depths of your world. Two hellevators, one on each side of your base and connected with a horizontal tunnel at a lower level are a very good method to prevent your base from getting the corruption. You should make these at least 3-blocks wide to function as a barrier. These create a perimeter that is extremely effective when stopping both vertical and horizontal corruption spread.
The Depth of Corruption
The Underground Corruption extends all the way down to the Underworld, especially after entering Hardmode. This means your hellevators need to go all the way down to the very bottom to be fully effective. Understanding this vertical reach is vital when planning your defenses.
Summary
In essence, to effectively stop Corruption (or Crimson) spread in Terraria, you need to:
- Dig a trench that is at least 3 blocks wide around the area you wish to protect, though 6 blocks wide is highly recommended.
- Fill the trench with non-corruptible blocks like dungeon bricks, ores, crafted bricks, etc.
- Create two, 3-block wide hellevators on either side of your base, connecting them at the bottom.
By implementing these strategies, you can keep your base safe from the relentless biome spread and enjoy the rest of your Terraria journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you further understand how to deal with Corruption in Terraria:
How far down can Corruption spread?
The Corruption can spread all the way to the Underworld, especially after Hardmode is activated. This emphasizes the need for complete vertical barriers.
Can Corruption spread through walls?
Yes, Ebonstone Walls can spread the corruption to other nearby walls, so it’s crucial to be mindful of the wall type as well when building your walls.
What counts as underground corruption?
The Underground Corruption is a Hardmode biome that spawns beneath the surface. It’s a direct counterpart to the surface Corruption and shares the same mechanics.
Do demon altars spread Corruption?
Demon Altars do not contribute to the spread of corruption directly, despite being associated with the Corruption/Crimson biomes. However, destroying them will generate new ores that can be converted, making spreading harder to control.
How many blocks are needed to make a new corruption biome?
You need at least 200 Corruption blocks to artificially create a new Corruption biome. This can be useful for summoning the Eater of Worlds if you have a Crimson world.
How deep is the Underworld in Terraria?
The depth of the Underworld depends on your world size. Small worlds start around 1000-1500 feet, medium worlds around 3000-3200 feet, and large worlds around 5000 feet.
What is the easiest way to find underground Corruption?
The easiest way is through using map editors like TEdit. Otherwise, manual exploration is your only option, making it a slow process.
How does Hallow interact with Corruption?
The Hallow and Corruption can both spread to each other, but Hallow cannot spread through mud blocks which is different from the Corruption. In Hardmode, all three evil biomes can spread through grass and other convertable blocks.
Do sunflowers stop Corruption?
Sunflowers prevent Corruption, Crimson, and Hallow from spreading to the two tiles directly underneath them and each sunflower decreases an areas total corruption by 5. While this can be helpful they are not a substitute for building a barrier.
Is it possible to have 0% Corruption in Terraria?
Yes, it is possible to have 0% Corruption in Terraria. This requires a lot of effort, especially in Hardmode, but it’s achievable through thorough cleaning using tools like the Clentaminator.
Can Crimson infect Corruption, and vice-versa?
While the initial world generation may only spawn one evil, you can artificially create both biomes in the same world. They will spread independently of each other.
Can Hallow spread through jungle?
Hallow cannot spread through mud, which forms the basis of the Jungle biome. This offers the jungle a form of natural protection against biome spread.
What are the types of Corruption?
While there are many types of corruption in the real world, in terraria there is only one version that can be spread within your world.
How do I find my depth meter if I can’t craft one?
If you can’t craft a Depth Meter, you may have to make another world to obtain the ingredients needed. Or you could get gold using the extractinator, then craft a gold one, which will always show depth.
Should I destroy Demon/Crimson altars?
Destroying Demon/Crimson altars is necessary to spawn Hardmode ores. However, destroying too many can negatively impact ore spawn rates. Keep at least one altar for crafting.