Moss Hornet
Flora-fused sentinels of the deep jungle unleash venomous storms
The Moss Hornet is a Hardmode flying enemy similar to the pre-Hardmode Hornet , being encountered in the Underground Jungle biome and requiring blocks of Jungle Grass in order to spawn. Compared to the more random flying patterns of pre-Hardmode Hornets, Moss Hornets act more aggressively, hovering closer to the player's position and shooting their stingers in rapid bursts. The stingers have a 1/3 (33.33%) chance to inflict the Poisoned debuff to the player for 10 seconds. In Expert Mode (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) , the chance is 1/3 (33.33%) for 20 seconds and 2/3 (66.67%) for 2–10 seconds. They cannot be destroyed with weapons and travel at about the same speed as the darts from a Dart Trap . Moss Hornets have a (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 1/100 (1%) / (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 1/150 (0.67%) chance to drop the Tattered Bee Wing . On the Desktop version , Console version , and Mobile version , the Tattered Bee Wing will only drop once any mechanical boss has been defeated in the current world. - Item (Quantity) Rate - Stinger 16.67% (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) - Tattered Bee Wing ( (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Only after one mechanical boss has been defeated (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) At any time) (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 1% / (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 0.67% - 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
- Moss Hornet Banner (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
- 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
When the mechanical gears of the world begin to turn and shake the foundations of the earth, these guardians awaken fully. They are the keepers of the Tattered Bee Wing, a relic so rare that it only manifests its potential after the defeat of a mechanical titan has proven the world's worthiness. Their stingers carry the potent venom of the deep jungle, capable of poisoning intruders for long durations, draining their vitality as they struggle against the relentless swarm. To face them is to challenge the very heart of the Jungle itself, an entity that refuses to yield its secrets without a fight.
In Their Own Story
The air grows heavy with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves as you descend into the caverns. Suddenly, a low hum vibrates through your armor, not from machinery, but from wings beating in unison. From the shadows, a Moss Hornet emerges, its body a grotesque fusion of insectile grace and plant life. It hovers with unnatural stillness, eyes fixed on you, before unleashing a rapid burst of stingers that tear through the darkness like green lightning. One grazes your shoulder, and immediately a searing heat spreads through your veins as the Poisoned debuff takes hold. You dodge frantically, but another follows, its movements precise and predatory, unlike the erratic flight of lesser hornets. It is not just an enemy; it is a guardian testing your resolve, forcing you to navigate the treacherous hive while the poison drains your strength.
Reader's Guide
Moss Hornets are Hardmode flying enemies found exclusively in the Underground Jungle biome, requiring blocks of Jungle Grass to spawn. They appear as aggressive counterparts to pre-Hardmode Hornets, hovering closer to players and firing stingers in rapid bursts rather than erratic patterns.
Their primary threat is their venomous attack: stingers have a 33% chance to inflict the Poisoned debuff for 10 seconds on normal difficulty, while Expert Mode increases this duration significantly or applies it with higher frequency. In For the Worthy and Zenith worlds, they fire twice as fast and release stingers in all directions upon death.
To farm them effectively, clear a large area of Jungle Grass to attract spawns, then use ranged or magic weapons that can hit flying targets from a distance. Avoid melee combat due to their speed and venom. Notable drops include the Stinger (16.67% chance) and the Bezoar (1-2% chance). The Tattered Bee Wing is a rare 1% drop on modern versions, but only becomes available after defeating at least one mechanical boss; on older consoles, it can drop anytime.
Did You Know?
- In For the Worthy and Zenith worlds, Moss Hornets fire stingers roughly twice as quickly.
- The Bestiary describes them as empowered flora merged with hornets to strengthen their exoskeletons.
- On Old-gen console and 3DS versions, they do not drop Stingers despite having one in the sprite.
- Old-gen consoles award a standard Hornet Banner instead of a unique Moss Hornet Banner.