Metal Detector

  

Desktop/Console/Mobile-Only Content: This information applies only to the Desktop, Console, and Mobile versions of Terraria.

Metal Detector

• 

Statistics

Type	AccessoryCrafting material
Tooltip	Displays the most valuable ore around you
Rarity	01*
Sell	1
Research	1 required

• Internal Item ID: 3102

 Obtained from

 Classic

 Expert

 Master

Entity	Qty.	Rate
Lost Girl Lost Girl	1	50%100%
Nymph Nymph	1	50%100%

The Metal Detector is an informational accessory which informs the player about valuable objects, such as ores, chests, or Life Crystals, in their vicinity. It has a 50*1/2 (50%) / 100% chance to be dropped by the Nymph, a rare cavern enemy.

The Metal Detector displays the specific type of what was detected, for instance, "Chlorophyte detected nearby!" When multiple valuables are detected, only the one with the highest value is noted. Like most informational accessories, it does not reveal the location or direction of the detected object.

Crafting

Used in

Result	Ingredients	Crafting station
Goblin Tech	Metal Detector Stopwatch DPS Meter	Tinkerer's Workshop

Object value

Only the following tiles are detected. The name of the most valuable tile present will be shown by the Metal Detector.

Tile	Value
Pot(any)	100
Sturdy Fossil	150
Desert Fossil	150
Copper Ore	200
Tin Ore	210
Iron Ore	220
Lead Ore	230
Silver Ore	240
Tungsten Ore	250
Gold Ore	260
Platinum Ore	270
Demonite Ore	300
Crimtane Ore	310
Meteorite	400
Chest(any)	500
Dead Man's Chest	500
Trapped Chest(any)	500
Life Crystal	550
Life Crystal Boulder	550
Repaired Mana Crystal	550
Cobalt Ore	600
Palladium Ore	610
Mythril Ore	620
Orichalcum Ore	630
Adamantite Ore	640
Titanium Ore	650
Gelatin Crystal	675
Chlorophyte Ore	700
Strange Plant	750
Glow Tulip	760
Life Fruit	810

Notes

• Unlike most accessories, informational accessories such as the Metal Detector do not need to be equipped in an accessory slot. The Metal Detector may be carried in the player's inventory without loss of functionality, unless equipped to a social slot. Additionally, the info it provides will be shared with nearby players of the same team in multiplayer. Keep in mind modifiers will no longer apply to the player when not equipped.
• The Metal Detector detects treasure within a rectangular area of 170×125 tiles centered on the player.
• It does not display the specific type of detected Chest.

Tips

• The Spelunker Potion and Magic Lantern pair well with the Metal Detector, as they will also reveal the item location.
  • Additionally, they reveal items the Metal Detector cannot detect, such as gems, and display lower-tier ores when higher tier ores are masking their detection from the Metal Detector.
• Since Life Fruit and Life Crystals are prioritized over ores, it may be preferable to continue collecting them even if they are no longer needed, to prevent them from blocking the display of other valuable items.
• If you are having trouble finding an uncommon ore or other item, such as Adamantite Ore or a Strange Plant, you can try a simple trick to narrow down its location. Maintaining the same vertical position, go left or right until it no longer detects the item you are trying to find, and mark the position where it changes. Do the same in the opposite direction. Stand about halfway between those two points and search the vertical area above and below where you're standing. You will likely find what you are looking for.
  • This is easier with a Compass or a Depth Meter, for when you're at the edge of the metal detector's range, you can calculate either the exact depth or the exact latitude of it.
    • For example, if you're at 1618 feet east, and the most valuable nearby object is an ore, but at 1622" east, it says there's a chest nearby, you know that the chest is 170 feet east of you, or at latitude 1790 east, meaning you can go there and know that it's either directly above or directly below you, be significantly reducing the area you need to search
  • Another easier trick if you're playing at 1080p, is to zoom out and use either Binoculars, Sniper Rifle, or Rifle Scope and its variants paired with Spelunker Potions.
    • In example, if you're searching for Life Fruits, move around until it says, "Life Fruit detected nearby". Then, use those items and search every part you can possibly see using said items. This can significantly decrease the time to search for Life Fruits.

Trivia

• Though they are all detected by the Metal Detector, Life Fruit, Sturdy Fossils, Strange Plants, and pots are not metallic.
• Despite the tooltip, it also detects objects other than ores.
• Even though Hellstone is the most powerful ore in pre-Hardmode, it will not be detected. Other valuable items like gems are not detected either.

History

 Desktop version

• Desktop 1.4.4:
  • Gelatin Crystals are now detected.
  • Reduced the value of Life Crystals from 800 to 550.

• Desktop 1.4.0.1:
  • Desert Fossils, Trapped Chests, and Strange Plants are now detected.
  • Increased the value of Meteorite from 300 to 400.
  • Reduced the value of Demonite and Crimtane Ore from 310/320 to 300/310.
  • Reduced the value of Gold and Platinum Ore from 400/410 to 260/270.
  • Reduced the value of Sturdy Fossils from 350 to 150.

• Desktop 1.3.0.1: Introduced.

 Console version

• Console 1.0.933.1: Introduced. ()

• Console 1.0.750.0: Introduced. ()

 Nintendo Switch version

• Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

 Mobile version

• Mobile 1.3.0.7: Introduced.