Sandstorm

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Desktop/Console/Mobile-Only Content: This information applies only to the Desktop, Console, and Mobile versions of Terraria.
BiomeBannerSandstorm.png
This article is about the event. For the items, see Sandstorm in a Balloon and Sandstorm in a Bottle.
The flying sand effect of a sandstorm.

The Sandstorm is an event specific to the Desert, and occurs in all Deserts at the same time. While this event is active, the Mighty Wind debuff will be continuously inflicted upon the player, though it can be counteracted by standing in front of a background wall. The Weather Radio and its upgrades will switch between "Sandstorm" and its standard display while a Sandstorm is occurring.

During a Sandstorm, many particles of sand can be seen flying across the screen. The color of these particles will depend on whether the Desert is pure, Corrupt, Crimson, or Hallow. Vision is also limited. While the effects are amplified with Color and White lighting, which may be resource-intensive on some devices, using the Retro or Trippy setting will remove much of the effects.

Certain enemies often found in the Underground Desert will spawn on the surface during a Sandstorm, as well as several new and dangerous enemies.

Details

In order for a Sandstorm to occur,[1] the wind speed must exceed 30 mph. Once this criterion is met, there is a chance of 1/64,800 (0.0015%) every tick[2] that a Sandstorm begins. This means that when the wind speed reaches (and stays above) 30 mph, it takes on average 12 minutes 28.59 seconds until a Sandstorm occurs. Sandstorms are 50% more common in Hardmode: The chance each tick is increased to 1/43,200 (0.0023%), resulting in an average duration of 8 minutes 19.06 seconds until the beginning of a Sandstorm.

A Sandstorm lasts anywhere between 8 minutes and 24 minutes. The duration is random and is determined when the Sandstorm starts.[3]

If the wind speed drops below 30 mph during a Sandstorm, the remaining time of the Sandstorm will be divided by 15. For example, if a Sandstorm has 15 minutes remaining, the wind speed drops below 30 mph and does not reach 30 mph again, then the Sandstorm will stop 1 minute later.

Contents

Characters
Pre-Hardmode:
Hardmode:
Unique Drops
From Angry Tumblers, Sand Sharks, Crystal Threshers, Bone Biters, and Flesh Reavers:
  • NachosNachos(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
From Sand Sharks, Crystal Threshers, Bone Biters, and Flesh Reavers:
From Sand Elementals:
Music

Notes

The game's check for whether a Sandstorm enemy can spawn. For spawning an enemy at the location of the Torch at the top, blue Sand Blocks are counted, red Sand Blocks are blocked off from being counted by a non-Sand Block. This arrangement has 36 valid Sand Blocks, which is not enough to spawn a Sandstorm enemy on this Torch.
  • Sandstorm enemies require Sand Blocks (including their infected variants) to spawn on,[4] much like surface Antlions. Furthermore, they also require at least 40 fully interconnected Sand Blocks of any variant (10 in Don't dig up and Get fixed boi worlds) within a 9×9-tile square, with the selected Sand Block at the top-center.[5] See the image on the right for a visualization.
  • Sandstorms can never be initiated manually.
  • No status messages are displayed when a Sandstorm starts and ends, so if one wants to experience it from start to finish, the Desert will have to be checked frequently. Alternatively, the player can use the Weather Radio and its upgrades to see if there is a Sandstorm currently happening.

Tips

  • Since the Sandstorm only occurs in the Desert biome and on the surface layer, one can simply fly over the biome or go underground to avoid it.
  • One way to dodge attacks from enemies like the Angry Tumbler is to use movement accessories, e.g. Dunerider Boots or Lightning Boots.
  • The Basilisk Mount or similar high-speed mounts are resistant to the Mighty Wind debuff when the player is in motion. This can ease the player's task of crossing the Desert during this event. However, the Mighty Wind will still push the player around when standing still.
  • Placing walls in the middle tile of where the player walks will stop the Mighty Wind debuff, making movement normal.
  • The effects of the Mighty Wind can lead to the player falling and getting stuck in one of the entrances to the Underground Desert. This can be avoided by blocking off all entrances, e.g. with platforms.

Trivia

  • The Sandstorm is similar to the Blizzard event in that it reduces visibility and spawns new enemies, however unlike the Blizzard (and some real-life sandstorms), it is not tied to rain in any way. It is also similar in that it happens simultaneously with another event – in this case, the Windy Day.
  • The wind direction is related with the pushing direction of the Mighty Wind debuff.
    • When the Weather Radio indicates that the wind is moving at 0 mph, the Sandstorm pushes the player west (left).
  • The player squints their eyes while they are in a Sandstorm.

History

  • Desktop 1.4.4: When a Sandstorm is active, the Weather Radio info accessory will display it, alternating between it and the standard weather display.
  • Desktop 1.4.1: Increased Sandstorm chances by 2× in Hardmode, and by 1.33× pre-Hardmode.
  • Desktop 1.4.0.1:
    • Sandstorms only occur when wind speed is above 30 mph.
    • Sandstorms are now significantly less common in pre-Hardmode.

References

  1. ↑ Information taken from the Desktop version Desktop 1.4.4.9 source code, method UpdateTime() in Terraria.GameContent.Events.Sandstorm.cs.
  2. ↑ A tick is a time unit countable by the software. Most of Terraria's updating logic happens every tick. A tick has the length of 1/60th of a second, hence there are 60 ticks in a second and 3600 ticks in a minute.
  3. ↑ Information taken from the Desktop version Desktop 1.4.4.9 source code, method StartSandstorm() in Terraria.GameContent.Events.Sandstorm.cs.
  4. ↑ Information taken from the Desktop version Desktop 1.4.4.9 source code, method SpawnNPC() in Terraria.NPC.cs.
  5. ↑ Information taken from the Desktop version Desktop 1.4.4.9 source code, method Spawning_SandstoneCheck() in Terraria.NPC.cs. All tiles in the 9×9-tile zone will be checked in order. If the checked tile is a Sand Block (or an infected variant), the Sand Block count is incremented by 1 (it starts at 0). The check order can be divided into four steps: 1st: the central Sand Block (starting from the selected Sand Block); 2nd: 4 tiles to the right of the Sand Block, from left to right; 3rd: 4 tiles to the left of the Sand Block, from right to left; 4th: move to the next row below and repeat all steps. In the 2nd and 3rd step, if the tile is unoccupied or is not a Sand Block, skip to the next step immediately; In the 1st step, if the tile is unoccupied or is not a Sand Block, end the check immediately.
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