Pumpkin Moon
The jack-o'-lantern moon rises as nightmares descend upon the land
The Pumpkin Moon is a Hardmode , post- Plantera , Halloween-themed event summoned with the Pumpkin Moon Medallion any time at night , ending at dawn (4:30 AM). It can be summoned any time of year and does not require the actual Halloween season . During the event, unique and highly difficult enemies spawn at high rates and attack the player. It is similar to the Frost Moon event, but is slightly less difficult. Visually, the moon turns into a jack-o-lantern, though remaining in its current phase . The entire event consists of 20 waves. Waves progress as the player reaches certain kill scores. After a wave's required score is met, the next wave begins, and the kill score is reset to 0. Status messages will indicate when the wave has advanced, and which wave has been achieved. See the table below for the points awarded for each enemy and the score required for each wave. Expert Mode worlds will gain a 2× point multiplier and Master Mode worlds will gain a 2.5× multiplier. When the event is over, the total score will be displayed by a status message: " The Pumpkin Moon has passed! (Score: <''Total Score''>) " The Pumpkin Moon event always ends at 4:30 AM. The goal of the event is to progress through all 20 waves before the event ends, although the achievement for the event is awarded at wave 15. The Pumpkin Moon Medallion , which summons the Pumpkin Moon, requires materials only available in Hardmode worlds where the player has already defeated Plantera (although it can still be summoned in pre-Hardmode worlds). As such, it is intended to present a challenge even to players with mid-to-late Hardmode equipment. In the final waves, multiple boss -level enemies are fought at once. Pumpkin Moon enemies drop powerful weapons and accessories , as well as pet and vanity items . M
Lore & Background
Long after the autumn leaves have fallen, a dark magic stirs within the soil. The Pumpkin Moon is not merely a seasonal occurrence but an ancient invocation, summoned only by those who have proven their strength against Plantera and the jungle's guardians. When the medallion is cast into the night air, the celestial sphere twists, its face carved by invisible hands into a grinning jack-o'-lantern that watches with malevolent glee. This event can be called forth in any month, for the spirits care nothing for calendars, only for blood and courage.
Spirits of the harvest, forgotten by time, rise from the earth to exact their vengeance. Scarecrows twitch with life, and hellhounds howl at a sky that bleeds orange light. This is no simple invasion; it is a trial of endurance against twenty waves of escalating fury. The spirits grow bolder as the night wears on, culminating in the arrival of the spectral horseman and the towering wrath of the Mourning Wood. In Expert realms, their malice intensifies further, demanding greater sacrifice for victory. Only by dawn's first light does the curse lift, leaving behind only scorched earth and the treasures of the fallen—weapons forged from nightmare itself.
In Their Own Story
You stand atop your arena as the clock strikes night. Above, the moon smiles down, a grotesque pumpkin carved from starlight. The first wave begins with the creaking of wooden stakes and the rustle of dry leaves. Scarecrows shamble forward, but you do not flinch. As the score climbs, the air grows thick with the scent of burning wood. Hellhounds phase through the ground, their eyes glowing like embers. You feel the weight of the twenty waves pressing against your chest.
Then comes the Horseman, galloping on a headless steed through the darkness. Behind him rise the Mourning Wood and the Pumpking, towering monstrosities that laugh at walls and physics alike. Your heart pounds in rhythm with their attacks. Dawn approaches, 4:30 AM ticking closer like a bomb. The bosses rush toward the horizon if not slain, desperate to escape the light. You fire your final shot as the sun crests, watching the jack-o'-lantern fade back into a normal moon. The silence returns, heavy with victory and the promise of next year.
Reader's Guide
Summon the Pumpkin Moon using a Pumpkin Moon Medallion during any night in Hardmode after defeating Plantera. The event lasts until 4:30 AM dawn and consists of twenty waves driven by kill score rather than time.
Prepare an arena with layered platforms to handle vertical movement from the Mourning Wood and Pumpking. Note that Pumpking flies through blocks like Skeletron, while Mourning Wood phases upward to reach you. Early enemies are weak to Ichor debuffs, making Golden Shower or Ichor arrows essential for crowd control.
Survival depends on killing spawns immediately to maintain wave progression. Do not rely on Water Candles or Battle Potions; they have no effect here. If you die, the event continues upon respawn, but exiting the world cancels it entirely. Focus on reaching Wave 15 for the achievement, though Wave 20 guarantees maximum drop rates.
Chase rewards like The Horseman's Blade and Dark Harvest for their power, or the Witch's Broom for Expert Mode flight. Keep in mind that rare drops are guaranteed by Wave 12 in normal worlds, while Expert Mode calculates as if five waves higher. Farm coins efficiently by clearing waves quickly before dawn despawns lingering enemies.
Did You Know?
- The Pumpkin Moon event always ends at 4:30 AM regardless of when it was summoned.
- Pumpking is the only boss in the event that flies consistently through blocks.
- In Expert Mode, drop rates are calculated as if they were five waves higher.