Should You Stop Hallow Spread in Terraria? A Comprehensive Guide
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The simple answer to the question, should you stop Hallow spread in Terraria?, is: it depends on your priorities and playstyle. There isn’t a universally correct answer, as the Hallow offers both advantages and challenges. While it’s tempting to view the Hallow as a purely beneficial force against the evil biomes, it’s more nuanced than that. Let’s delve into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding the Hallow’s Nature
The Hallow is a biome that emerges after defeating the Wall of Flesh, marking your transition into Hardmode. It appears alongside either the Corruption or the Crimson, forming a “V” shape across your world. The Hallow is characterized by its vibrant colors, unique enemies, and exclusive resources. Unlike its evil counterparts, it is not inherently “bad,” but that doesn’t mean it’s always desirable to let it spread uncontrollably.
The Pros of Allowing Hallow Spread
- Resource Gathering: The Hallow biome is home to a variety of essential items. You’ll find Souls of Light, used for crafting high-tier gear. Furthermore, Hallow mimics drop valuable weapons and accessories. Without access to the Hallow, certain crafting recipes and powerful gear will be out of reach.
- Biomal Balance: The Hallow serves as a crucial counter to the Corruption or Crimson. It slows the spread of these evil biomes, preventing your world from becoming completely consumed by them. By letting the Hallow spread, you are essentially creating a natural barrier.
- Visual Variety: The Hallow’s vibrant palette of colors contrasts starkly with the more sinister tones of the evil biomes. This aesthetic difference can enhance your enjoyment of the game and give your world visual diversity.
The Cons of Allowing Hallow Spread
- Enemy Difficulty: The Hallow is not a peaceful place. Its enemies, while not as aggressive as those in the evil biomes, can still pose a significant challenge, especially early in Hardmode. Creatures like Pixies, Unicorns, and Gastropods can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
- Unwanted Overlap: While the Hallow and evil biomes cannot convert each other, they can still overlap, creating mixed biomes. These can be confusing or less ideal for building or housing NPCs.
- Inconvenient Spreads: The Hallow can spread to areas where you might not want it, potentially affecting your farms, builds, or favorite biomes. It can also spread through ice, which may not be your intention.
- Pylon Restrictions: Pylons are an important transport tool, but they have specific biome restrictions. The Forest Pylon is unusable when you are in a Hallow, Corruption, or Crimson biome. Letting the Hallow spread can reduce the places you can use pylons.
Strategies for Managing Hallow Spread
Instead of viewing Hallow spread as something that must be completely stopped or completely embraced, consider managing it. Here are some ways to do that:
- Containment Trenches: Digging a 3-block wide tunnel around areas you want to protect is the most reliable method. The Hallow cannot spread across such a gap. This works for the corruption and crimson as well.
- Strategic Hallow Planting: You can use Hallowed Seeds to spread the Hallow to desired areas or create barriers to prevent evil biome spread. Think of it as controlled chaos.
- Clentaminator Use: Once you have the Steampunker NPC after defeating a mechanical boss, the Clentaminator and Blue Solution become your best friend. Use them to strategically convert blocks into Hallow or remove it from undesirable locations.
- Sunflowers: They might seem basic, but they are useful! They prevent corruption, crimson, and hallow spread in the 2 blocks below and also reduce the corruption rating by 5.
Conclusion: A Balanced Approach
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to stop Hallow spread depends on how you want to experience the game. It’s not a simple black or white decision. Consider what you want to accomplish in your world. Do you prioritize access to Hallow-exclusive items? Do you want a vibrant counter to the evil biomes? Or do you want complete control over your world? By understanding both the benefits and drawbacks, you can make an informed choice that best suits your gaming goals. A controlled spread of the Hallow is often the most balanced approach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Hallow override Corruption or Crimson?
No, the Hallow cannot directly convert Corruption or Crimson blocks, and vice-versa. They can both exist together in the same world and spread around each other, but neither will replace the other.
2. Can you purify the Hallow?
Yes, but not with Purification Powder. You need Vile Powder to turn Hallow blocks into Corruption blocks and remove it in this manner. The Green Solution from the Clentaminator can also purify the Hallow.
3. Does the Dryad like the Hallow?
Yes, the Dryad considers the Hallow to be a “good” biome, as opposed to the “bad” Corruption and Crimson. She will mention the percentage of each biome in her reports.
4. Do Crystal Shards spread the Hallow?
No, Crystal Shards do not spread the Hallow. They are a resource obtained in the biome but do not contribute to its spread.
5. Does the Hallow spread to Ice?
Yes, Hallow can spread to Ice in Hardmode, turning it into Pink Ice. It cannot, however, spread to Snow Blocks.
6. Can the Hallow spread through Mushroom biomes?
No, the Hallow cannot affect Mushroom Grass Blocks. This makes them good places to build housing without fear of corruption or hallow spread.
7. Do Sunflowers stop Hallow Spread?
Yes, Sunflowers prevent the spread of Hallow on the two blocks directly below them. They also reduce the total corruption or hallow count in the surrounding area.
8. Can Crimson overtake Hallow?
No, Crimson cannot overtake Hallow. They spread at the same speed, but they do not convert each other.
9. Is the Hallow biome dangerous?
Yes, the Hallow can be deceptively difficult due to its unique enemies, despite not being considered an “evil” biome.
10. Do pylons work in the Hallow?
The Forest Pylon will not work in the Hallow, along with many other biomes. You need to place it in an open forest area with no evil, hallow, snow, jungle, mushroom, or desert influence.
11. Can Gray Bricks be Corrupted?
No, Gray Brick is resistant to the spread of Corruption, Crimson, and Hallow.
12. What items do you need to completely remove the Crimson?
You will need the Steampunker NPC, the Clentaminator, and Green Solution to permanently remove the crimson.
13. Do Altars count toward the corruption percentage?
No, Altars do not count toward the corruption percentage. Only the blocks and walls that are infected are counted.
14. Can the Hallow spread in the Underworld?
No, the Hallow, as well as the evil biomes, cannot spread in the Underworld. The Dungeon, if reaching all the way down to the Underworld, can also stop the spread.
15. Is the Crimson or Corruption better?
It depends on your playstyle. Corruption is easier early-game, but Crimson has better hardmode items, such as Vampire Knives and Ichor. Both offer advantages.