Tim
A spectral enchanter of the deep who guards his hat with chaotic fire
Tim is a rare pre-Hardmode enemy found in the lower Cavern layer . With an appearance similar to Dark Casters , he can be distinguished by his Wizard Hat , which is guaranteed to drop when he is defeated. Like other casters , Tim will fire three destructible Chaos Balls that pass through solid blocks before teleporting to another visible location on the screen. On the Desktop version , Console version , and Mobile version , equipping one of the Gem Robe variants in the armor slot without a Wizard Hat will boost Tim's spawn rate by 5 times. He is one of the few entities that can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or its upgrades. Tim requires 10 kills to be awarded completion of his Bestiary entry and corresponding banner , as opposed to the usual 50 kills. - Item (Quantity) Rate - Wizard Hat 100% - Internal NPC ID : 45 - 1 Notes - 2 Achievements - 3 Trivia - 4 History - 5 References
- Type
- Undead Enemy
- Environment
- Cavern
- AI Type
- Caster AI
- Damage
- 20 / 40 › 36 / 60 › 54
- Max Life
- 200 / 400 › 440 / 600 › 660
- Defense
- 4
- KB Resist
- 40% / 46% / 52%
- Banner
- Tim Banner (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
Lore & Background
In the suffocating warmth where stone turns to molten rivers, Tim wanders as a ghost of forgotten magic. Unlike the frantic Dark Casters that haunt the upper depths, this enchanter is a creature of deliberate, rhythmic patience, bound to the lowest reaches of the Cavern layer. He is the younger brother of the Rune Wizard, a lineage of sorcery that has faded into myth and monsterhood. His presence is marked by the iconic conical hat he refuses to part with, a symbol of arcane authority even in undeath.
Tim does not merely attack; he performs a ritualistic dance of displacement. He materializes on solid ground, pauses to let the chaos within him coalesce, and unleashes three spheres of unstable energy before vanishing into the shadows. This cycle repeats with mechanical precision, interrupted only by the sudden violence of combat which resets his magical focus. The miners who seek him out know that finding a Tim is rare, often requiring the specific resonance of gem-forged robes to draw his gaze from the darkness.
To the world's history, he is a footnote in the Bestiary, yet to those who hunt him, he is a necessary trial. His hat is not merely loot but a key to unlocking greater magical potential for the living. He stands as a guardian of the deep, ensuring that only the worthy or the desperate can claim his legacy. In life he was an enchanter; in death, a stubborn defender of his own attire.
In Their Own Story
The air down here is thick with sulfur and the heat of cooling stone. You descend past the usual clamor of bats and slimes, seeking the deeper silence where lava pools glow like open veins. Suddenly, the shadow detaches itself from the wall. It is a small figure, draped in tattered robes, topped by a pointed hat that seems to defy the gloom.
Tim materializes on a ledge above you, his form flickering with an eerie stillness. He does not rush. Instead, he waits, counting down seconds in the silence of your own heartbeat. Three spheres of chaotic energy begin to swirl around him, burning with a violet hue that illuminates the jagged rock face. You brace yourself as they launch, phasing effortlessly through the solid stone before exploding against your shield.
Before you can retaliate, he vanishes, leaving only the echo of his departure. The air shimmers again, and he reappears to your left, teleporting with a sound like tearing fabric. He is untouchable, a ghost in the machine of the caverns. You realize then that this is not a fight of speed, but of timing. You must wait for his rhythm, strike when his magic falters, and claim the prize he so fiercely protects.
Reader's Guide
Tim is a rare Pre-Hardmode enemy exclusive to the lower half of the Cavern layer, typically spawning near lava pools or deep underground where the depth exceeds the midpoint between the Underground and Underworld boundaries. On the Desktop, Console, and Mobile versions, equipping any Gem Robe without a Wizard Hat increases his spawn rate by five times, making farming efficient for those seeking his hat.
His combat pattern is predictable yet dangerous. Upon spawning, he waits 2.5 seconds before teleporting to a valid location within a 41-tile radius of the player. After each teleport, he fires three destructible Chaos Balls that pass through blocks with a 1.67-second windup. If hit, his teleport cooldown resets and he delays firing until his next cycle. He requires solid ground to appear and cannot spawn if lava is directly above or if space is obstructed.
Tim drops the Wizard Hat at a guaranteed 100% rate upon defeat. While his Bestiary entry usually demands 50 kills, Tim only requires 10 completions. His banner provides damage resistance when placed nearby. Be prepared for high mobility; he teleports every 10.83 seconds if undisturbed. Use ranged or magic attacks to keep your distance while dodging the Chaos Balls.
Did You Know?
- Tim is named after Tim the Enchanter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, confirmed by former Re-Logic employee Blue.
- The Bestiary identifies Tim as the younger brother of the Rune Wizard.
- In the Remix seed, Tim can spawn anywhere in the Underground layer rather than just the bottom Caverns.
- Wearing a Mystic Robe does not increase Tim's spawn rate; only Gem Robes trigger the bonus.