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PC versionConsole versionMobile versionOld Chinese versiontModLoader versiontModLoader 1
PC/Console/Mobile/Old Chinese/tModLoader/tModLoader 1.3-Legacy-Only Content: This information applies only to the PC, Console, Mobile, Old Chinese, tModLoader, and tModLoader Legacy versions of Terraria.
Monoliths
  • Solar Monolith item sprite Vortex Monolith item sprite Nebula Monolith item sprite Stardust Monolith item sprite Blood Moon Monolith item sprite Void Monolith item sprite Aether Monolith item sprite
Auto-use
Stack digit 9Stack digit 9Stack digit 9Stack digit 9
Statistics
Type
Placeable✔️ (2 wide × 3 high)
Use time15 (Very fast)
Research1 required
  • Internal Item ID: 3536–3539, 4054, 4318, 5347
  • Internal Tile ID: 410, 480, 509, 658
Monoliths
Monoliths in their active and inactive states (from top to bottom: Vortex and Stardust, Nebula and Solar, Blood Moon and Void).

Monoliths are mechanisms that activate backgrounds and other screen effects normally seen during events. They can be toggled with the  Interact button, via wire, or by equipping them in the vanity slot.

There are seven / four different monoliths: the Solar, Vortex, Nebula, Stardust, and Void Monoliths can be crafted, while the Blood Moon Monolith is dropped by the Dreadnautilus with a 11.11*1/9 (11.11%) chance, and the Aether Monolith is obtained after dropping an angel statue into Shimmer.

  • The Blood Moon Monolith mimics the effects seen during a Blood Moon.
  • The Nebula, Solar, Stardust, and Vortex Monoliths mimic effects that normally surround the corresponding Celestial Pillar during the Lunar Events.
  • The Void Monolith mimics the screen effects of the Moon Lord boss fight.
  • The Aether Monolith mimics the effects surrounding the Aether mini-biome.

Types[]

Monolith Placed Tooltip Rarity Sell
Inactive Active
Vortex Monolith Vortex Monolith
Internal Item ID: 3536
Vortex Monolith placed Vortex Monolith (placed) (active) 'Wield a small amount of power from the Vortex Tower' Rarity level: 9 20
Nebula Monolith Nebula Monolith
Internal Item ID: 3537
Nebula Monolith placed Nebula Monolith (placed) (active) 'Wield a small amount of power from the Nebula Tower' Rarity level: 9 20
Stardust Monolith Stardust Monolith
Internal Item ID: 3538
Stardust Monolith placed Stardust Monolith (placed) (active) 'Wield a small amount of power from the Stardust Tower' Rarity level: 9 20
Solar Monolith Solar Monolith
Internal Item ID: 3539
Solar Monolith placed Solar Monolith (placed) (active) 'Wield a small amount of power from the Solar Tower' Rarity level: 9 20
Blood Moon Monolith Blood Moon Monolith
Internal Item ID: 4054
Blood Moon Monolith placed Blood Moon Monolith (placed) (active) 'Sustain a bloody fraction of the Moon' Rarity level: 3 1
Void Monolith Void Monolith
Internal Item ID: 4318
Void Monolith placed Void Monolith (placed) (active) 'Harness a small amount of power from the Void' Rarity level: 9 25
Aether Monolith Aether Monolith
Internal Item ID: 5347
Aether Monolith placed Aether Monolith (placed) (active low)Aether Monolith (placed) (active) 'Witness a glimpse of the Aether's power.'
Can be used to manifest or suppress the Aether
Rarity level: 9 1

Crafting[]

Recipes[]

ResultIngredientsCrafting station
Nebula MonolithNebula Monolith
Ancient ManipulatorAncient Manipulator
Solar MonolithSolar Monolith
Stardust MonolithStardust Monolith
Void MonolithVoid Monolith
Vortex MonolithVortex Monolith
Aether MonolithAether Monolith
ShimmerShimmer Transmutation

Notes[]

  • Monoliths have a range of 90 tiles in each direction.
  • Monoliths do not stack their effects when placed. The one placed furthest to the bottom-right takes precedence. If 2 monoliths, one at the bottom-left, and one at the top-right are active, the one to the top-right will be active. However, the Blood Moon Monolith does stack its effects with the others.
    • If multiple monoliths are equipped in vanity slots, their effects can stack. For example, equipping a Void Monolith and an Aether Monolith will combine the visual effects from Moon Lord boss fight and Aether mini-biome, whereas combining a Solar Monolith and a Vortex Monolith displays an apple green and shows the comet from Solar Monolith and the lightning from Vortex Monolith simultaneously.
      • When multiple lunar monoliths are equipped, the last equipped monolith will determine the background. For example, if a Vortex Monolith is equipped first, a Solar Monolith is equipped second, the background will show the one from the Solar Monolith, whereas the other way around will show the Vortex background instead.
        Solar plus Vortex

        Combination of a Vortex Monolith with a Solar Monolith.

    • Activating a lunar monolith first and then a Blood Moon Monolith will result in different colors than vice versa. For example, activating a Stardust Monolith, then a Blood Moon Monolith will display a dark blue, whereas activating a Blood Moon Monolith, then a Stardust Monolith will display a purple similar to the Nebula Pillar.
      Stardust and Blood Moon tint demonstration

      Combination of a Blood Moon Monolith with a Stardust Monolith.

  • Monoliths only cause modified visuals. They do not spawn any event enemies or bosses, and they do not change the music.
  • If a Monolith is left active when exiting a world, the background will remain when selecting a character and world for single player. Exiting the game returns the background to normal.

Tips[]

  • Crafting monoliths is the most profitable way to monetize extra Lunar Fragments. Even crafting the Celestial Sigil, beating the Moon Lord, and selling off all of its drops will net less money per fragment on average.
  • The monoliths' effects can sometimes raise the apparent light level in an area, which may be useful.
  • The lunar monoliths have a luminescent effect on them (similar to special dyes such as the wisp dye), although the luminescent effect will only appear when there is light already casted onto it. This can be used for the monolith effects without having them visible.
    • It could be the lowest light level, and the effect will still work.
  • The Aether Monolith has an extra state that will negate any Aether biome effects. This can be useful for visibility around the Aether Biome.

Trivia[]

  • When used during a Blood Moon, a monolith will combine its light color with the red tint.
  • The lunar monoliths appear to be miniature versions of the Celestial Pillars.
    • They are the only Lunar Event items that do not have the Rarity level: 10 base rarity.
  • The Party Center is internally named PartyMonolith. Unlike monoliths, it triggers an actual Party event instead of only the background adjustment.
  • The design of the Void Monolith is based on the Monoliths from the science fiction novel series Space Odyssey.
  • The ideas for the void and lunar monoliths came from the Re-Logic staff member Leinfors.

History[]

  • Desktop 1.4.4.1: Fixed some monoliths not properly being "pushed down" into the ground.
  • Desktop 1.3.5: Fixed Vortex Monolith not selling for as much as it should.
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