Vilethorn
Projectiles created
Vilethorn (base)
Vilethorn (tip)

Obtained from
Animation of Vilethorn use in-game.
The Vilethorn is a magic weapon that extends a 15-tile-long spear-like projection from the player's position. It passes through blocks, pierces multiple enemies, and scores a rapid succession of up to 7 hits per enemy. Its total effect lasts roughly 1.5 seconds. It is one of the possible drops from destroying a Shadow Orb in the Corruption, but it can also be obtained from Corrupt Crates(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and Defiled Crates(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), which are caught from fishing in the Corruption.
The Vilethorn also inflicts minuscule knockback for each hit, which can stun-lock enemies.
Its best modifier is Mythical.
Tips
- The Vilethorn is the earliest weapon available to players that consistently travels through blocks.
- It is rather mana-efficient for its damage potential.
- With appropriate modifiers and accessories, it is possible to recover full mana between shots if the player stands still, allowing for sustained fire.
- Because it needs to hit multiple times in order to reach its full damage potential, the Vilethorn is susceptible to enemies with high defense, as the damage reduction is applied to each hit rather than the total amount. This weapon scales very poorly in Hardmode as a result. It shares this trait with other low-damage but high-firing rate weapons, such as the Minishark.
- For the same reason, accessories, modifiers and buffs that increase damage or lower enemies' defenses can be especially useful for the Vilethorn.
- The most useful trait of the Vilethorn is its ability to fire through solid blocks and pierce all enemies caught in it. Exploiting this, whenever a threat is encountered, the player can quickly set up a sealed bunker made of solid blocks and attack enemies with impunity from within.
- Because enemies that are vulnerable to knockback are essentially stopped in their tracks, and the Vilethorn has a duration just barely long enough for a player to recover all their mana and fire again before the effect ends, a player can essentially just lay down a constant thorn that paralyzes any enemy that passes nearby.
- Caster-type enemies such as the Fire Imp, Dark Caster, and Tim cease attacking once they take any damage, and will not resume attacking for a while after. The Vilethorn can be useful for reaching these enemies so as to stop their assault.
Trivia
- The Vilethorn is the counterpart to the Crimson's Crimson Rod, as the Crimson Rod is the magic weapon drop from Crimson Hearts and also pierces through enemies.
- Until the release of 1.2, the Vilethorn was unique in its ability to attack through blocks. Since then, however, other similar weapons have been introduced – the Nettle Burst, Crystal Vile Shard(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and Blood Thorn(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) – which can be considered the Vilethorn's Hardmode upgrades. Many other weapons have also been introduced that allow attacking through blocks while hiding from enemies, such as the Chlorophyte Partisan, Death Sickle, and Mushroom Spear.
History
- Desktop 1.4.0.1: Aligned sell value with all other Shadow Orb/Crimson Heart loot, increasing it from 20 SC to 1 GC50 SC.
- Desktop 1.3.4.4: Fixed projectiles making liquid ripples when they should not.
- Desktop 1.2:
- Damage increased from 8 to 10.
- Mana cost reduced from 12 to 10.
- Use time decreased from 29 to 27.
Pre-Hardmode
- Wooden Sword
- Cactus Sword
- Zombie Arm
- Gladius(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Breathing Reed ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Ruler ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Umbrella ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions))
- Tragic Umbrella(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tentacle Spike(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Mandible Blade(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Bladed Glove
- Stylish Scissors(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Candy Cane Sword(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Bat Bat(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Bone Sword
- Flymeal(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Katana(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Ice Blade
- Muramasa
- Exotic Scimitar(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Phaseblade
- Starfury
- Purple Clubberfish
- Enchanted Sword
- Bee Keeper
- Blade of Grass
- Falcon Blade
- Night's Edge
- Pearlwood Sword
- Classy Cane(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Waffle's Iron(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Ham Bat(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Slap Hand(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Breaker Blade
- Phasesaber
- Ice Sickle
- Cutlass
- Frostbrand
- Excalibur
- Seedler(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Beam Sword
- Bladetongue(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Brand of the Inferno(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Death Sickle
- Fetid Baghnakhs(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Keybrand
- Psycho Knife(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Flying Dragon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- The Horseman's Blade
- Christmas Tree Sword
- True Excalibur
- True Night's Edge
- Terra Blade
- Influx Waver(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Starlight(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Star Wrath(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Meowmere(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tizona(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)
Yoyos(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Other
- Terragrim(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Arkhalis(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadowflame Knife(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Jousting Lance(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
(
- Hallowed(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
- Sleepy Octopod(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Scourge of the Corruptor
- Vampire Knives
- Sky Dragon's Fury(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Daybreak(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Solar Eruption(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Zenith(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
Bows- Wooden
- Copper
- Tin
- Iron
- Lead
- Silver
- Tungsten
- Gold
- Platinum
- Blood Rain(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Demon
- Tendon
- Hellwing(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- The Bee's Knees(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Molten Fury
- Marrow
- Phantom Phoenix(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Daedalus Stormbow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Ice
- Shadowflame(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Aerial Bane(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tsunami
- Pulse(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Eventide(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Phantasm(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Sharanga(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)
Consumable
- Paper Airplanes(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Snowball
- Rotten Egg
- Shuriken
- Throwing Knife
- Star Anise(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Spiky Ball
- Frost Daggerfish(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Javelin(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
(
- Bone(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
- Holy Water
- Bone
- Molotov Cocktail(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Beenade
- Grenade
(
- Sticky(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Bouncy(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Happy(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
)
Direct
Other- Wand of Sparking(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Wand of Frosting(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Gray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Aqua Scepter
- Thunder Zapper(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Space Gun
- Ice Rod
- Golden Shower
- Demon Scythe
- Laser Rifle
- Magic Dagger
- Orange Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Sky Fracture(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Shadowflame Hex Doll(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Crystal Serpent(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Leaf Blower
- Frost Staff
- Poison Staff
- Razorpine
- Heat Ray
- Venom Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Unholy Trident
- Bubble Gun
- Laser Machinegun(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Charged Blaster Cannon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Last Prism(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Betsy's Wrath(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Zapinator(3DS version)
Minions
- Finch Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Slime Staff
- Flinx Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Abigail's Flower(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Vampire Frog Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Hornet Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Imp Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Blade Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Spider Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Sanguine Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Optic Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Pirate Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
- Pygmy Staff
- Desert Tiger Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Raven Staff
- Deadly Sphere Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Tempest Staff
- Terraprisma(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Xeno Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Stardust Cell Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- Stardust Dragon Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
Whips(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)