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Why Won’t the Martian Saucer Spawn? A Terrarian’s Troubleshooting Guide

So, you’ve downed Golem, geared up, and are itching to blast some alien invaders with your Terra Blade. But the Martian Saucer, the fearsome flagship of the Martian Madness event, remains stubbornly absent. Fear not, fellow Terrarian! The spawn rate is not for the faint of heart, and we’ll decode the mystery behind its elusive appearance and help you bring those little green men to justice.

The most common reason for the Martian Saucer’s absence is that the Martian Madness event has not progressed far enough. The Martian Saucer will only start spawning once you’ve defeated a certain number of Martian invaders – roughly 30% of the event. This means simply triggering the event isn’t enough; you need to actively fight and thin out the Martian ranks. Other factors, such as other bosses, or even world events, can prevent the Martian Saucer from spawning.

Understanding the Martian Madness Event

Before diving into specific solutions, let’s recap how the Martian Madness event works. Post-Golem, a Martian Probe can spawn in the outer two-thirds of the world (never near the center). This probe is a passive enemy until it detects a player. If it successfully scans you (a green beam will emanate from the probe), it will trigger the Martian Madness event.

Key Requirements:

Golem Defeated: This is the trigger for Martian Probes to start spawning.
Hardmode World: Martian Madness is a Hardmode event.
Outer Two-Thirds of the World: Probes don’t spawn near the world’s center.
Surface or Space Layer: Probes only spawn in these layers.

Troubleshooting the Saucer’s Absence

Now, let’s address the likely reasons why the Martian Saucer is refusing to make its grand appearance:

Insufficient Event Progress: As mentioned, this is the most common culprit. Keep fighting! Track your progress and ensure the progress bar is filled more than 30%. Focus on clearing waves efficiently.
Lunar Events: If the Lunar Events (pillars and Moon Lord) are active, Martian Probes will NOT spawn, thus preventing you from even starting Martian Madness. Finish the Lunar Events first.
Bosses Active: If any boss is currently alive in your world, Martian Drones will NOT spawn, thus preventing Martian Saucers from appearing. Defeat any active boss first.
Martian Saucer Already Present: Only one Martian Saucer can exist at a time. If one is alive elsewhere in the world (perhaps you didn’t finish it off during a previous attempt), another won’t spawn until it’s defeated. Scout around.
Incorrect Spawn Location: Martian Saucers will spawn in the biome you started the invasion (where the Martian Probe first spotted you) once the event progress is high enough. If you’re not in that area, you might miss it.
Spawn Rate Interference: Certain events or items can affect spawn rates. Blood Moons and Solar Eclipses INCREASE spawn rates. However, excessive town NPCs can significantly DECREASE spawn rates in their vicinity. Try moving away from large town areas.
Event Ended: The Martian Madness event doesn’t last forever. If you took too long to reach 30% progress, the event might have ended naturally. You’ll need to wait for another Martian Probe to trigger it again.
AFK Farms & Inactivity: While AFK farms are popular, they might not be optimal for progressing the Martian Madness event. The game likely requires a certain amount of player activity (damage dealt, movement, etc.) to maintain the event’s momentum and trigger the Saucer spawn. Make sure your farm has you actively engaged.

Optimizing Martian Madness

To maximize your chances of encountering the Martian Saucer, consider these strategies:

Battle Potions & Water Candles: These items significantly increase spawn rates.
Jungle Biome: Creating a jungle biome increases spawn rates.
Arena Setup: Build a large, flat arena in the biome where you triggered the invasion. This facilitates movement and dodging.
Powerful Gear: Martian Madness is a challenging event. Ensure you have appropriate weapons, armor, and accessories.
Multiplayer: Having multiple players increases the overall spawn rate and makes the event easier to manage.
World Size: Smaller worlds might lead to events ending quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions that will help you understand even more on the Martian Saucer spawn mechanics.

Q1: Why isn’t my Martian Probe spawning?

A: Martian Probes spawn in the outer two-thirds of the world, at the surface or in space, after Golem has been defeated. If the Lunar Events are active, or if a Martian Madness event is already in progress, or if another Martian Probe is already present, they won’t spawn. If you are too close to the center of the world, Martian Probes wont appear. Try moving farther away from the center.

Q2: How do I trigger Martian Madness?

A: You need to find a Martian Probe and allow it to scan you. A green beam will connect to the Probe and shortly after, the Martian Madness event will be triggered.

Q3: Can I summon Martian Madness with an item?

A: No, there is no item to directly summon the Martian Madness event. It must be triggered by a Martian Probe.

Q4: Does the Martian Probe count as a rare creature?

A: Yes, the Martian Probe is a rare Hardmode enemy.

Q5: What happens if I leave the world during Martian Madness?

A: The event will end. When you leave, the progress resets. However, the screen in the main menu will still have Martian probes flying around after exiting a world during a Martian Madness event.

Q6: What are Martian Conduit Platings used for?

A: Martian Conduit Plating is a block dropped during the Martian Madness event and is used to craft Martian-themed furniture.

Q7: How do I get the Xeno Staff?

A: The Xeno Staff has a 1/6 (16.67%) chance of being dropped by the Martian Saucer during the Martian Madness event.

Q8: What’s the best modifier for the Xeno Staff?

A: The best modifier is Ruthless, but Mythical provides the widest array of stat bonuses, mainly affecting the initial summon.

Q9: Does a Blood Moon or Solar Eclipse affect Martian Probe spawn rates?

A: Yes, spawn rates are increased during a Blood Moon or Solar Eclipse.

Q10: How rare are probes spawned by the Destroyer?

A: These probes have a 1/25 (4%) chance of spawning when a part of the Destroyer’s body is damaged. This is completely different from the Martian Probes.

Q11: How do I get the Martian NPC?

A: The Martian NPC appears when the player has defeated the Martian Madness event, there is an available house, and the Steampunker is present after Skeletron has been defeated.

Q12: How do I fight the Martian Saucer?

A: The Martian Saucer cycles through three attacks: rapid lasers to the side (stay above), homing rockets (circle down and underneath), and a downward laser (dodge to the side).

Q13: What happens if I ignore the Martian Probe?

A: If you ignore it, it will eventually fly away. If it doesn’t spot you first. It doesn’t attack. It won’t trigger the event.

Q14: What is the loot from the Martian Saucer?

A: The loot from the Martian Saucer can be found in the article above in the question about the Xeno Staff.

Q15: Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?

A: The Games Learning Society promotes research and understanding of how games can be used for education. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.

By understanding the mechanics of the Martian Madness event and troubleshooting potential issues, you’ll be well on your way to summoning and defeating the Martian Saucer. Good luck, Terrarian, and may your loot be plentiful!

Why won’t the Martian Saucer spawn?