Solar Eclipse

Sun and moon as seen during the event

"A Solar Eclipse is happening!"

A Solar Eclipse is a Hardmode event that occurs rarely after at least one Mechanical Boss has been defeated. A Solar Eclipse has a 1/25 (4%) chance of occurring on any particular day. On the Desktop version. it is also possible to summon a Solar Eclipse using a Solar Tablet (crafted from Solar Tablet Fragments dropped by Lihzahrds and Flying Snakes in the Jungle Temple ).

During a Solar Eclipse, unique and difficult enemies spawn at very high rates, even near NPCs. The event lasts for one entire day, from sunrise to sunset, regardless of the number of enemies that have been killed. The moon is visible in front of the sun, causing the ambient light level to drop to near-nighttime levels.

A Solar Eclipse is announced at the beginning of a day with the status message. "A solar eclipse is happening!" The event only affects the surface layer. and can be avoided by burrowing well into the underground layer or below.

Eyezor Frankenstein Swamp Thing Vampire

Creature from
the Deep

Fritz Reaper The Possessed

After defeating all
Mechanical Bosses :

Baby Mothron Mothron Reaper

Butcher Deadly Spheres Dr. ManFly Nailhead Psycho

Eyezor Banner Frankenstein Banner Reaper Banner Swamp Thing Banner Vampire Banner Butcher Banner Creature from the Deep Banner Deadly Sphere Banner Dr. Man Fly Banner Fritz Banner Mothron Banner Nailhead Banner Psycho Banner The Possessed Banner

Eye Spring

Death Sickle

Broken Bat Wing Moon Stone

Butcher's Chainsaw

Neptune's Shell

Deadly Sphere Staff

Toxic Flask

Broken Hero Sword

Survive a solar eclipse.

• There is a 4% chance for a Solar Eclipse to occur each dawn, even if one happened the previous day. It is possible for multiple Solar Eclipses to occur in a row. It is also possible for a Blood Moon to follow a Solar Eclipse, or vice-versa.
• It is possible for other events to occur at the same time as a Solar Eclipse, such as a Goblin Invasion or a Pirate Invasion. Other events may cancel Solar Eclipse enemy spawns (except in the Desktop version after 1.3.0.1 ).
• Unlike a Blood Moon, a Solar Eclipse only allows its own enemies to spawn on the surface, except for in Corruption. Crimson. and Ocean areas.
• On the Mobile version. if you quit the game when the Solar Eclipse message is shown, the event will not occur.
• On the Mobile version and Console version. instead of getting the Broken Hero Swords from Mothron. you get them from Frankensteins and Swamp Things .

For more elaborate strategies on defeating Solar Eclipse, including Weapon and Arena recommendations, see Guide:Defending against events .

• Like the Blood Moon. the effects of Water Candles and Battle Potions stack with the event's spawn rate, increasing the chances for rare drops.
• Solar Tablet Fragments, which are used to create the event summoning Solar Tablet, can be acquired before gaining access to the Jungle Temple. This can be done by waiting just outside the Jungle Temple, and killing the Lizhards that spawn, who will drop the Solar Tablet Fragments.
  • However, crafting the Solar Tablet requires a Hardmode Anvil. so gathering the fragments pre-hardmode won't be of any benefit until one is obtained.

Solar Eclipse enemies and their relationship to classic 20th century horror films.

• Every enemy that spawns during a Solar Eclipse (except the Reaper and Eyezor) share the theme of classic 20th century horror films. (See image on the right and each enemy's individual page for movie references.)
• The type of Solar Eclipse displayed is an annular solar eclipse.
• When loading a world with a Solar Eclipse in progress, the sun that rises and sets on the loading screen is also in its eclipsed state.
• During an Eclipse, the moon icon on the Sextant will turn red.
• Originally, another enemy was planned for the Solar Eclipse, named the Severed Hand (it can still be seen in the image to the right). It was never added to the game, for unknown reasons. Despite this, there is still an unobtainable Severed Hand Banner .