Blood Moon
The crimson tide rises as the night turns against you
A Blood Moon is an event that takes place over the course of an entire night , from 7:30 PM to 4:30 AM, affecting only the surface layer. Blood Moons are signaled by the status message “ The Blood Moon is rising... ” . All of the water in the world, even in the Underground and Cavern layers, will turn blood-red for the duration of the event, including rain and the moon itself. The event will spawn regular nighttime enemies as well as new, more dangerous enemies in large numbers, while also changing their behavior and spawning conditions (see below ). During a Blood Moon, the ability to speed up time by sleeping in a bed is disabled, but time can still be sped up using an Enchanted Sundial or Enchanted Moondial . Also, the player's Fishing Power is increased by 1.1 times. However, fishing may also spawn unique enemies, the Surly Slime town pet , and a few other unique items. - 1 Criteria - 2 Contents 2.1 NPC quotes - 3 Effects 3.1 Enemies - 3.2 Visual effects - 3.3 Other effects - 4 Achievements - 5 Notes - 6 Tips - 7 Trivia - 8 History - 9 References
Lore & Background
When the moon bleeds and the sky weeps a scarlet hue, the veil between the safety of civilization and the chaos of the wilds dissolves. This is the Blood Moon, a celestial omen that transforms every pool of water from the surface to the deepest caverns into a vessel of gore. It is not merely an attack, but a corruption of reality itself, where the moon's red gaze compels the innocent Bunnies and Goldfish to twist into their vicious, corrupted forms. The very air grows heavy with the scent of iron as the usual laws of nature bend; doors that once barred entry now swing open at the hands of shambling zombies, and towns that offer sanctuary become hunting grounds for hordes denied rest.
The event is a capricious guest, appearing only when the moon refuses its new phase and a traveler's heart has grown strong enough to hold more than a hundred hit points. It defies the rhythm of time, locking the night in an endless loop until dawn breaks or the moon surrenders to the sun. Even the Enchanted Sundial cannot speed this torment away, for the world must endure its full course from the first gong of dusk at 7:30 PM until the false dawn of 4:30 AM. It is a night where commerce continues despite the apocalypse, as shopkeepers barter under the red sky, and the only solace found is in the increased power of the angler's line amidst the carnage.
In Their Own Story
You stand upon your wooden platform, the familiar creak of the floorboards silenced by a sudden, oppressive stillness. Above, the moon has swollen into a bruised eye, casting a sickly crimson light that bleeds into every puddle and raindrop. The status message flickers in your mind: 'The Blood Moon is rising...' Before you can retreat indoors, the front door groans. It does not just open; it is forced wide by a zombie whose skin has taken on the pallor of the night sky, its arms outstretched with a hunger that ignores the safety of walls.
From the darkness beyond your torchlight, they pour forth. Goldfish leap from the garden pond, now twisted into Corrupt Goldfish that slash at your heels. A Chattering Teeth Bomb rolls across the floor, its grin mocking your panic as it detonates in a shower of sparks. You hear the distant howl of the Dreadnautilus rising from the ocean, a shadow in the red water. Your bed is useless here; time refuses to accelerate. You grip your weapon, watching the spawn count shatter its limits as enemies swarm beyond what should be possible. The night is no longer yours to command; it belongs to them.
Reader's Guide
A Blood Moon triggers naturally at dusk if a player has over 120 health and the moon phase is not new, with a base chance of 1/9 (or 1/6 in special worlds). It can be summoned manually anytime after dusk using a Bloody Tear. The event lasts from 7:30 PM to 4:30 AM, affecting only surface layers while turning all water blood-red.
Threats are severe: spawn rates skyrocket, and enemies ignore town suppression. Zombies can open doors, requiring closed or lava-locked entrances. Corrupted versions of Bunnies, Goldfish, and Penguins appear, alongside new horrors like the Dreadnautilus, Clown, and The Groom. The Surly Slime may also spawn from fishing.
Construct an arena with high walls to prevent door-opening zombies and use campfires for regeneration. Utilize the increased Fishing Power (1.1x) to catch unique items or fish out the Surly Slime pet. Prioritize hunting Clowns for Money Troughs and Dreadnautilus for the Sanguine Staff or Shark Tooth Necklace. Defeating them yields rare drops like the Blood Moon Monolith, Haemorrhaxe, and various Corrupt/Crimson seeds.
Did You Know?
- A Blood Moon can naturally occur four or more times in a row, as every night has an equal chance of triggering it regardless of previous events.
- Sleeping in a bed is disabled during the event to prevent time skipping, though Enchanted Sundials and Moondials still function.
- The Event changes the behavior of standard wildlife, turning Bunnies, Goldfish, and Penguins into their Corrupt or Vicious counterparts.
- Even if the Eye of Cthulhu is scheduled to spawn that night, a Blood Moon will not occur.