The
Guide undergoing transformation via Shimmer.
For the debuff inflicted by Shimmer, see
Shimmering.
Shimmer is a shiny, lavender-colored, pearlescent liquid. Before Moon Lord has been defeated, a limited amount of Shimmer can be found in the Aether, a mini-biome which generates once per world in the Underground or Cavern layer, always on the same half of the world as the Jungle. After Moon Lord has been defeated, it can be obtained by using the Bottomless Shimmer Bucket.
Shimmer has the unique function of transforming ("transmuting") certain dropped items and entities submerged in it:
- Most crafted items are transformed back into their crafting materials.
- Certain items are transformed into other items. A few items can only be obtained via this transformation, such as Ambrosia. Some item transformations only work under certain conditions.
- The sprite of town NPCs is changed.
- Certain enemies are transformed into other enemies.
- Most critters are transformed into Faelings.
Items will float upwards after transformation until they leave the liquid, then linger in midair and producing vibrant lights until a player picks them up, similarly to souls. Items that cannot be transformed will sink to the bottom of the Shimmer.
In addition to its transforming effect, Shimmer also has an effect on other entities that enter it:
- When a player is submerged in the liquid, they will be inflicted with the Shimmering debuff, beginning to fall slowly and phasing through all blocks until they reach an opening.
- When certain projectiles enter Shimmer, such as a falling Fallen Star, they will bounce upwards upon contact with the Shimmer pool.
- When enemies without special transmutations and not immune to the Shimmering debuff (e.g. the Werewolf) enter Shimmer, they will slowly become more transparent, and eventually turn completely invisible. Then they will slowly become more and more opaque. Attacking the enemy will make them turn opaque faster.[1]
Unlike other liquids, the player cannot fish or use items in Shimmer, nor can it be picked up with an Empty Bucket. It can still be moved by pumps, however.
Upon contact with any other liquid, Shimmer will form Aetherium Blocks.
Item transmutations
Below is a list of special item transmutations.[2] The common decrafting transmutations are not included.
Decrafting exceptions
Below is a list of crafted items that cannot be decrafted, decraft into a specific set of ingredients, or transform into only part of their ingredients.[3] Crafted items that already have a special item transmutation are not included.
Critter and enemy transmutations
Below is a list of critter and enemy transmutations. Any critter or enemy not included will not transmute into anything, and they will turn temporarily invisible instead.
NPC transmutations
When submerged in Shimmer, any NPCs (except town pets) will transform into their Shimmered form. This has no impact on gameplay or dialogue and is only a visual change. They can be returned to their classic looks by being submerged in Shimmer again.
Notes
- Projectiles that are reflected upon touching the Shimmer will only be reflected when they reach the Shimmer pool's upper surface. Shooting them at the sides or the bottom of the Shimmer pool (by using Bubbles) will instantly destroy the projectile.
- Statue-spawned creatures will not be transformed in shimmer, despawning instead.
- Enemies made invisible by the Shimmer can be seen with a Hunter Potion.
- Despite both being designed for use with water, the Super Absorbant Sponge can also soak up Shimmer, as well the Liquid Sensor (Water) being able to detect Shimmer.
- Items that are crafted differently depending on world evil, such as the Night's Edge or Void Bag, will change what items are provided when decrafted depending on the current world evil.
- When decrafting items whose crafting recipe produces multiple items, the same amount of items need to be thrown into Shimmer for decrafting.
- Fallen Stars produced from decrafting will not disappear at daytime. However, if they failed to be picked up by the player (e.g. If they are attracted towards the player, but are not picked up by the player eventually), they will still disappear.
- In Expert and Master Mode, touching Shimmer located in Snow or Ice biome will inflict the player with the Chilled debuff.
Achievements
Tips
- The decrafting properties of Shimmer can be utilized in several ways:
- It is possible to farm good modifiers on crafted gear by repeatedly crafting and decrafting the gear.
- Extra or outclassed gear can be decrafted to get the materials back.
- Items found throughout the world can be looted, then decrafted. Some examples include Underground Cabin furniture and Magic Mirrors.
- In multiplayer, excess Recall Potions can be decrafted to potentially get Specular Fish. The Specular Fish can then be crafted into Wormhole Potions.
- Similarly, in singleplayer, any Wormhole Potions that may be obtained can be decrafted to potentially get Specular Fish.
- Items can be bought from NPCs, then decrafted to get resources.
- Since pumps can move Shimmer, it is possible to move Shimmer from the Aether biome as soon as Skeletron is defeated.
- However, since Teleporters are sold by the Mechanic, it may be more convenient to set up Teleporters at the Aether biome instead of relocating Shimmer.
- If a lot of certain ore is needed, a kind of higher tier ore can be transmuted down into what is needed. This can be helpful for getting Iron/Lead Ore which is used in a lot of recipes, or obtaining the materials for the Drill Containment Unit.
- Shimmer makes it far easier to obtain some items with the most complex crafting recipes by swapping their components, which means that one only needs to obtain a sufficient number of any of them instead of one of each.
- Similarly, Shimmer makes it easier to complete a set of Mining armor, or to get a certain emblem dropped by the Wall of Flesh.
History
- Desktop 1.4.4.5:
- All Torches are now transmuted in Shimmer to Aether Torches.
- Bones can no longer be obtained via Shimmer decrafting before Skeletron.
- Lihzahrd Bricks can no longer be obtained via Shimmer decrafting before Golem.
- Adding a failsafe that will protect players who get stuck in an excessively long Shimmering state.
- Fixed a potential softlock caused by Shimmer and bouncy blocks.
- Fixed Shellphones being unable to be decrafted in Shimmer.
- Fixed another exploitable item with Shimmer decrafting.
- Desktop 1.4.4.3:
- Fallen Stars produced via decrafting no longer instantly disappear during daytime.
- Some items are set to be non-decraftable to fix an exploit which granted infinite coins.
References
- ↑ Information taken from the
 Desktop 1.4.4.9 source code, method UpdateNPC_BuffApplyVFX() in Terraria.NPC.cs.
- ↑ Information taken from the Desktop 1.4.4.8.1 source code, method
GetShimmered() in Terraria.Item.cs and field Sets.ShimmerTransformToItem in Terraria.ID.ItemID.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current Desktop version is 1.4.4.9.
- ↑ Information taken from the Desktop 1.4.4.2 source code. There may be inaccuracies, as the current Desktop version is 1.4.4.9.
Other Items Made Near Liquids |
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