Cursor modes

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Cursor modes are a type of game mechanic in Terraria. Auto Select and Smart Cursor are the two major cursor modes implemented to make using tools and placing objects more convenient. Desktop version Additionally, there are several special sprites for the cursor that appear when specific hotkey is pressed, informing the player the current function of the cursor.

Auto Select

Desktop versionConsole versionMobile version
Desktop/Console/Mobile-Only Content: This section's information applies only to the Desktop, Console, and Mobile versions of Terraria.

Auto Select will automatically select an item to use, depending on where the cursor is pointed. The item does not need to be in the hot bar. By default, Auto Select is activated by pressing ⇧ Left Shift on PC, R3 on PS3/PS4, or pressing down the right thumbstick on Xbox 360/Xbox 1.

Target Item Selected
Blocks and most Furniture Pickaxe
Tree, Giant Glowing Mushroom, or Cactus Axe
Altar, Shadow Orb or Crimson Heart Hammer
Extractinator Silt or Slush
Cannon Cannonball
Bunny Cannon Explosive Bunny
When pointing at an empty space or a wall, a light source will be selected based on the following criteria
Cursor is far from the player Glowstick, Spelunker Glowstick or Flare Gun
Player and cursor are in water (or other liquid) Cursed Torch, Ichor Torch, Glowstick or Flare Gun
Player in water but cursor is not Cursed Torch or Ichor Torch
If none of the above apply Any torch

A Flare Gun without Flares will not be selected. Nor will other light sources such as candles. If more than one item is equally appropriate it will normally select the first one in player's inventory. And if the preferred item is unavailable it will usually fall back to something else.

Smart Cursor

Smart Cursor selects a target based on the active item. By default, it is toggled on and off Desktop version by pressing Left Ctrl, or Mobile version by the SmartCursorOn.png / SmartCursorOff.png Smart Cursor button. On Desktop version Desktop version, there is also an option in General Settings to make it last only while the key is held down. Smart Cursor mode is indicated by a slightly wider cursor, and the tile targeted is shown with a yellow box. On the Nintendo 3DSNintendo 3DS version version, Smart Cursor is on by default unless the D-Pad or Touch Screen is used to target an area.

Active Item Behavior
Pickaxe Digs a passage wide enough to pass through in the direction indicated by the cursor. A tunnel going diagonally upwards will often have to be widened to go back down.

As of 1.3.0.1(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), a vertical tunnel will have a width of 2 tiles, this is reduced from 3 tiles in previous versions.

Axe Chops the base of the tree nearest the cursor. It will target branches when the base is out of range. An item that functions like an axe/pickaxe will target trees first then blocks. This can be easily seen with the Laser Drill(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions).
Hammer Removes the wall nearest the cursor.
Block Places a block at the nearest legal space to the cursor. If the space under the cursor already contains a block or other object, it will do nothing. However if the cursor is over an NPC or player, it will encase them in multiple layers. This is currently the only way to automatically fill a large area with blocks. On the Mobile version Mobile version, this is quite unreliable.
Wall Places a wall at the nearest legal space to the cursor. Unlike other items, walls will only be placed by Smart Cursor within line of sight of the player. This makes it easy to fill a room without the walls "spilling" out.
Platform Adds to existing platforms (in any direction, including vertical).
Minecart Track Extends existing tracks horizontally or diagonally.
Wrench Extends existing wires of the same color.
Wire Cutter Removes the wire nearest the cursor.
Acorn Places an acorn on top of grass if two blocks beside it are free. Accounts for optimal range, so that saplings have at least three empty tiles between them.
Paint Roller Using the Paint Roller on one spot (holding it without moving the cursor) will make the cursor grow in a circle from the nearest wall tile, painting every wall including ones behind furniture and platforms but ignoring walls that are behind solid blocks.

Using Smart Cursor with a multi-function tool, like Drax or a Hamaxe, may have unexpected results. These tools will behave as an axe by default, meaning they always target a tree if one is in range.

Smart Cursor can backfire unexpectedly, especially if the player has not realized it is active. For example, when extending platforms, if the player's aim is off, platforms can be built off in unexpected directions. Use of the ruler function can help with this. Similarly, when digging near lava (or other liquids), the Smart Cursor can blindly mine blocks supporting the liquid.

Desktop version Smart Cursor can be re-enabled to be used for common blocks (as in 1.2(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)) by editing Terraria's config.json file manually. See config.json to know how to do it.

Special cursors

Desktop version
Desktop-Only Content: This section's information applies only to the Desktop version of Terraria.

The cursor will change accordingly when specific hotkey is pressed. Most of the special sprites are related with inventory management functions.

Function Default key Description
Favorite Cursor Favorite.png Alt Favorite/unfavorite an item.
Loot
Deposit
Cursor Loot.png
Cursor Deposit.png
⇧ Left Shift Quick transfering items between opened storage items and main inventory.
Sell Cursor Sell.png ⇧ Left Shift Quick selling items when an NPC vendor's shop is opened.
Unequip Cursor Unequip.png ⇧ Left Shift Quick moving equipped items back to main inventory.
Trash Cursor Trash.png Left Ctrl[a] Quick moving items from main inventory to trash slot.
Camera Mode Camera Mode Pin 1.png
Camera Mode Pin 2.png
F4 Cursors in Camera Mode's "Pin Frame" selection.

Footnotes

  1. Can be changed to ⇧ Left Shift in Settings at main menu.