Crimtane Conundrum: Ore or Bar – Maximizing Your Terraria Profits

The Definitive Answer: Crimtane Bars Reign Supreme for Profit

The short answer is: sell Crimtane Bars, not Crimtane Ore. While it might seem intuitive that raw materials hold more value, in Terraria, this isn’t always the case. With Crimtane, converting your ore into bars before selling yields a significant return. One Crimtane Bar sells for the same price as three pieces of Crimtane Ore. This might initially sound like there’s no difference in value, but the key is in how much each item is worth. One piece of Crimtane ore sells for roughly 13 silver coins (SC), whereas a Crimtane bar sells for 39 silver coins (SC). Thus, you do not lose value when converting ore to bars; but you sell 1 item versus 3, making the sale much more efficient.

Therefore, the most profitable method is to refine your Crimtane Ore into Crimtane Bars at a furnace and then sell the bars. This will streamline your transactions and maximize your earnings. It’s a straightforward process with a significant payoff, especially when dealing with large quantities of Crimtane gathered after defeating bosses like the Eye of Cthulhu and Brain of Cthulhu.

Unpacking the Economics of Crimtane

While the game tells you a single bar is worth the same as three ores, the ease of selling and efficiency make bars the clear winner. The sheer act of selling one item instead of three makes converting to bars beneficial and helps you manage your inventory much easier.

The importance of this can’t be overstated. Whether you’re looking to amass wealth for rare items, build a sprawling base, or just have enough to craft the gear you need, squeezing every bit of profit from your resources is key to progression in Terraria. Understanding these nuances of the game’s economy is vital to any ambitious player.

Why Bars Often Trump Ores for Profit

The underlying reason that bars have higher sell values often ties into the crafting system. Crafting bars provides the player a benefit, and a profit. This incentive can be seen across a select few ores in the game, generally the more powerful ones. Ores like Meteorite, Hellstone, and Demonite/Crimtane follow this logic. They’re often the necessary component to create weapons and armor to fight bosses, and so their bar value is greater than the equivalent ore value. This gives players who craft gear a resource that also translates to money more easily.

The Exception to the Rule: When Ores Might be Better

While Crimtane Bars are better than Crimtane Ore in terms of sales, other ores might not be. The game features many ores that actually sell for more when sold in ore form. The most notable are the precious gems. Diamonds and Amber are the most valuable, valued at 30 silver coins each. Thus, a general rule is that precious gems and early tier ores are better to sell as ores, whereas late pre-hardmode and later ores are better sold as bars.

How to Obtain Crimtane

Defeating the Bosses

The primary source of Crimtane Ore is defeating the Eye of Cthulhu and the Brain of Cthulhu. These early-game bosses drop substantial amounts of ore, which can be smelted into bars. Farming these bosses can therefore be very lucrative. Especially when taking into account bosses like Golem, which are also farmable and yield decent gold, Crimtane and Demonite ore remain the most consistent method of generating income.

Mining the Crimson Biome

While less common, Crimtane Ore can also be found by mining within the Crimson Biome. Utilizing the Deathbringer Pickaxe, Nightmare Pickaxe, Molten Pickaxe, or Reaver Shark will allow you to effectively mine the Crimstone blocks where the ore spawns. While less plentiful than boss drops, this is a reliable method of accumulating ore.

Converting Demonite Ore

In worlds generated with the Corruption biome, Demonite Ore can be converted into Crimtane Ore through the use of a special consumable obtained in a Crimson world. This allows you to use Demonite as well as a source of Crimtane.

Crafting and Uses for Crimtane Bars

While selling Crimtane Bars is profitable, their primary purpose lies in crafting. Crimtane Bars are the fundamental ingredient in creating Crimson-tier items.

Key Crimson Items

• Crimson Armor: While its primary advantage is when standing still, Crimson armor is a viable option for early to mid-game melee classes.
• Crimson Weapons and Tools: Swords, bows, axes, pickaxes, and other essential tools can be crafted using Crimtane Bars, enabling access to higher-tier content.
• Crimson Furniture and Decorations: If you are looking to create a Crimson-themed base, Crimtane is necessary for creating many of the furniture and decorative items.

Therefore, even though selling Crimtane Bars is recommended for maximizing profits, do not forget their value in equipping you and enabling you to progress!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions players have regarding Crimtane Ore and Crimtane Bars:

1. How much does one Crimtane Ore sell for?

One Crimtane Ore sells for approximately 13 silver coins.

2. How much does one Crimtane Bar sell for?

One Crimtane Bar sells for approximately 39 silver coins.

3. Is Crimtane Armor worth crafting?

Crimson armor is best when out of combat or when standing still; when standing still for 25 seconds with no damage taken, it is superior to Palladium armor. However, Palladium armor is superior in all other situations.

4. How many Crimtane Bars are needed for a full set of Crimson armor?

You’ll need 60 Crimtane Bars and 45 Tissue Samples for a full set of Crimson armor.

5. What other ores sell for more as bars?

Meteorite, Hellstone, and Demonite also sell for more as bars.

6. What is the most profitable gem to sell?

Diamonds and Amber are the most profitable gems to sell at 30 silver coins each.

7. Is there a Crimtane Pickaxe?

Yes, the Deathbringer Pickaxe, Nightmare Pickaxe, Molten Pickaxe, and Reaver Shark are pre-hardmode pickaxes that can mine Crimstone and can be crafted with crimtane.

8. Which boss drops the most gold?

Golem is a good boss to farm for gold, as it drops a significant amount and can be summoned anytime with a commonly farmable item.

9. Is the Brain of Cthulhu harder than the Eye of Cthulhu?

The Brain of Cthulhu is generally considered slightly more difficult than the Eye of Cthulhu, but both are relatively equal.

10. How does Crimtane compare to Demonite?

Crimtane and Demonite are functionally equivalent in the game. They are counterparts from different evil biomes, the Crimson and Corruption, respectively.

11. What is the rarest ore in Terraria?

Luminite ore is the rarest ore in the game but cannot be found and is only dropped by the Moon Lord. Chlorophyte is the rarest naturally generating ore and can be found in the underground jungle after defeating Plantera.

12. What are Tissue Samples?

Tissue Samples are crafting materials dropped by the Brain of Cthulhu, and are required for making Crimson tier items alongside Crimtane bars.

13. Can you convert Demonite Ore to Crimtane Ore?

Yes, you can convert Demonite Ore to Crimtane Ore using a special consumable found in a Crimson world, allowing you to make use of Demonite in a Crimson world.

14. Are there any items that are better to sell than Crimtane Bars?

Yes, as mentioned, Diamonds and Amber sell for 30 silver coins each, making them better options if you want to amass wealth by selling.

15. Does Crimtane count toward corruption percentage?

No, Crimtane Ore and altars do not contribute to the corruption percentage in your world.

Conclusion

To maximize your profits in Terraria, always convert your Crimtane Ore into Crimtane Bars before selling. This simple step ensures you get the most out of your hard-earned resources, allowing you to buy the items you want or build the base of your dreams. Happy mining!