Hornet
Venomous guardians of the deep jungle fire unbreakable stingers from the shadows
The Hornet is a pre-Hardmode flying enemy found in the Underground Jungle . They follow the Flying AI , floating just out of reach and then charging the player, while also firing stinger projectiles (at an increased rate in Expert Mode ). The stingers cannot be destroyed with weapons and travel at about the same speed as the darts from a Dart Trap . Stingers have a 1/3 (33.33%) chance to inflict the Poisoned debuff on the player for 10 seconds. In Expert Mode, the chance is 1/3 (33.33%) for 20 seconds and 2/3 (66.67%) for 2–10 seconds. - Item (Quantity) Rate - Only one of the following three items can drop - Ancient Cobalt Helmet 0.33% - Ancient Cobalt Breastplate 0.33% - Ancient Cobalt Leggings 0.33% - Stinger 66% 100% - Bezoar 1% 1.99% - Stinger - Internal Buff ID : 20 - Internal Projectile ID : 55 - 1 Variants - 2 Notes - 3 Trivia - 4 See also - 5 History
- Type
- Flying Enemy
- Environment
- Bee Hive Underground Jungle
- AI Type
- Flying AI
- Banner
- Hornet Banner
- Debuff
- Poisoned
- Debuff tooltip
- Slowly losing life
- Chance
- 33% 100%
- Duration
- 10 seconds 2–10 or 20 seconds 2.5–12.5 or 25 seconds
Lore & Background
Deep within the humid, root-choked caverns of the Underground Jungle, a chorus of high-pitched whirring signals the approach of nature's most relentless sentinels. The Hornet is not merely an insect but a living manifestation of the hive's wrath, patrolling the Bee Hives with an intelligence that belies its small stature. These aggressive flyers hover just beyond the reach of clumsy adventurers before darting forward to unleash their venomous barbs, which detach from their bodies and soar through the air at terrifying velocities. While real-world hornets rely on repeated stings, these Terraria guardians have evolved a grotesque adaptation: they discharge their stingers as independent projectiles that can strike from great distances, leaving a trail of poison in their wake.
The venom they carry is no trivial nuisance; it is a slow-acting toxin that drains vitality over precious minutes, turning a momentary skirmish into a desperate race against time. In the depths of Expert Mode, their aggression escalates, with stingers firing at double the rate and lingering longer to ensure the intruder feels the full weight of their fury. Even in death, they do not yield easily, sometimes releasing a final burst of venomous barbs in random directions if provoked within the twisted realities of For the Worthy or Zenith worlds. To the ancient flora and fauna of the jungle, they are the ultimate protectors, ensuring that those who seek the honey without respect meet a poisonous end.
In Their Own Story
The air grows thick with the scent of nectar and decay as you step deeper into the cavernous hive. A low hum vibrates against your skin before the first shadow breaks the gloom. A Hornet hovers, its yellow and black stripes a stark warning in the dim light. It does not wait for you to strike; it dances just out of reach, a blur of motion that defies gravity.
Suddenly, with a sharp crack, a stinger detaches from its abdomen and screams toward your chest. You barely dodge, feeling the air displace as the projectile whizzes past. Another follows instantly, then two more in rapid succession. The venom burns your skin even before it lands, a cold poison seeping into your veins that saps your strength with every passing second. You raise your weapon, but the creature is already gone, circling back for another charge. It hovers again, its compound eyes locking onto yours, and you realize too late that in this jungle, the stinger is not just a weapon—it is a projectile of death fired from a distance.
Reader's Guide
Hornets are pre-Hardmode flying enemies exclusive to the Underground Jungle, specifically within Bee Hives. They utilize Flying AI, hovering at a safe distance before charging and firing unblockable stinger projectiles. These stingers travel at Dart Trap speeds and cannot be destroyed by weapons.
The primary threat is the Poisoned debuff, which inflicts damage over time. In normal mode, there is a 33% chance to poison for 10 seconds. Expert Mode increases this duration to 20 seconds with a 33% chance, or reduces it to 2-10 seconds with a 66% chance. In For the Worthy and Zenith worlds, they fire twice as fast and release a burst of stingers upon death.
Combat requires constant movement to dodge the barrage while maintaining pressure. Since the projectiles are unblockable, ranged weapons or magic that tracks enemies are effective. Melee users must time their dashes carefully. Farming Hornets is essential for acquiring Stingers (66-100% drop chance) and the rare Bezoar (1-2% drop), which cures poison.
Rarely, they may drop a single piece of Ancient Cobalt armor with a 0.33% chance each. Note that Moss Hornets are distinct entities and do not share these drops.
Did You Know?
- Stingers fired by Hornet cannot be destroyed by player weapons.
- In Expert Mode, the chance to inflict Poisoned lasts up to 20 seconds or varies between 2-10 seconds with higher frequency.
- Hornets in For the Worthy and Zenith worlds fire stingers roughly twice as quickly and release a burst upon death.
- Despite real hornets not shooting their stingers, the Terraria version fires unbreakable projectiles that travel at Dart Trap speeds.