Skeletron Prime is a HardmodeMechanical Boss which is a much harder version of Skeletron. He is summoned with the Mechanical Skull at night. Players have until dawn to kill him. He can also randomly spawn at dusk in Hardmode if he has not yet been defeated, in this case signaling his approach via the chat message, "You feel the air getting colder around you" or "The air is getting colder around you".
What does 'the air is getting colder around you' mean regarding Skeletron Prime?
In the game Terraria, the phrase 'the air is getting colder around you' is a significant indicator that the boss Skeletron Prime is about to spawn. This phrase appears as a status message to alert players of the impending challenge. Skeletron Prime, a Hardmode mechanical boss, can also be manually summoned using a Mechanical Skull, but this phrase typically signifies its natural appearance in the game.
Provided by: Fandom
How can you summon Skeletron Prime using a Mechanical Skull?
Skeletron Prime, the weaponized mechanical variation of Skeletron, can be summoned using a Mechanical Skull. This boss-summoning item is used to call upon Skeletron Prime, a Hardmode version of Skeletron. However, it's important to note that the Mechanical Skull can only be used at night. So, if you're planning to summon Skeletron Prime, make sure to wait until the sun goes down and the air is getting colder around you!
Provided by: Fandom
What is the chance of Skeletron Prime spawning naturally at dusk?
Skeletron Prime has a 10% chance to spawn naturally at dusk in the world of Terraria. This event is usually announced with the status message 'The air is getting colder around you...'. Remember, this only happens if Skeletron Prime has not yet been defeated at least once in the current world.
Provided by: Fandom
What are the differences between Skeletron and Skeletron Prime?
Skeletron Prime is essentially a more difficult version of Skeletron, a boss character in Terraria. Unlike Skeletron, Skeletron Prime is a Hardmode mechanical boss with a head and four limbs. The limbs are unique, consisting of a vice, a laser gun, a saw, and a cannon that shoots bombs. While both bosses require only the head to be defeated, Skeletron Prime's head spins, increasing its Defense, unlike Skeletron whose Defense drops to zero when spinning. Additionally, Skeletron Prime is more mobile, often flying off-screen, making targeting more challenging. It's also worth noting that Skeletron Prime can be summoned as many times as you want in a world by crafting and using a Mechanical Skull, but only at night. Remember, when you're about to face this boss, 'the air is getting colder around you'.
Provided by: Fandom
What happens when you defeat only the head of Skeletron Prime?
When you defeat only the head of Skeletron Prime, you've essentially won the battle! Despite Skeletron Prime having four limbs – a vice, laser gun, saw, and cannon – only the head needs to be defeated for a successful victory. This is a unique feature of this boss in Terraria, making the 'air getting colder around you' a thrilling moment for players as they summon Skeletron Prime.
Provided by: Fandom
Attacks
Skeletron Prime has four limbs which are all immune to the Poisoned and On Fire! debuffs:
Prime Cannon fires flashing bombs that do not destroy blocks, usually up into the air rather than directly at the player.
Prime Laser shoots Death Lasers similar to those of Retinazer and The Destroyer, and is always pointed at a player.
Prime Saw and the Prime Vice swipe around dealing hefty amounts of damage on contact.
Skeletron Prime will occasionally enter into a "Rage Mode," in which his attacks become more aggressive:
Skeletron's Head will grow spikes and start spinning towards the player slowly. Damage and defense is doubled.
Prime Cannon will aim at the player directly and fire rapidly.
Prime Laser will fire more frequently.
Prime Saw will begin homing directly towards the player's location.
Prime Vice becomes more aggressive and frequently lunges towards the player.
Prime himself is much more mobile than his predecessor, and will regularly move off-screen, which can make him difficult to hit reliably with ranged weapons.
Like Skeletron, if he is not dead by dawn he will begin to dish out instant kills and will take only 1 damage from attacks (2 for critical hits).
While it is possible to continue the fight during the day without dying, Skeletron Prime will continually headspin and barely take any damage (1 damage per hit and 2 damage per crit), while killing players instantly. Due to the similarities, he is sometimes referred to as Dungeon Guardian Prime. He will do this indefinitely, even if the next night comes before he's gone.
The bombs fired by the Prime Cannon will only detonate if they hit solid blocks (they will not destroy blocks). They pass through platforms without detonating.
If the player is deep enough underground, Skeletron Prime will not spawn randomly, even when the chat message indicates he's coming.
Using a Mechanical Skull while Skeletron Prime is already spawned can cause it to headspin continuously as if dawn has arrived, instantly killing players.
In the mobile version, each limb is treated as if it was a boss on it's own, but does not have its own summoning message. When you defeat a limb, it says (name of limb) has been defeated! Also will drop hearts and Greater Healing Potions.
If (in singleplayer) the player dies, Skeletron Prime will not come back.
Unlike the Skeletron, Skeletron Prime defense raises when it is spinning.
Tips
Standing on platforms far from blocks can mostly nullify the effects of the Prime Cannon, as its projectiles only detonate on blocks, while passing through platforms harmlessly.
Skeletron Prime can be the most profitable boss in the game, as the Souls of Fright can be crafted into Naughty Present to summon the Frost Moon, netting large amounts of money per 5 souls.
In multiplayer, the Prime Cannon and the Prime Laser will point at the player Skeletron Prime is attacking.
Skeletron Prime can be debuffed by the Golden Shower which can make destroying the limbs easier
Focus mostly on taking out his melee limbs, then his head.
Trivia
The boss Cortez, from "Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door" may have influenced Skeletron Prime, as Cortez's final form is a floating skull surrounded by four different levitating weapons, all of different attack powers and methods.
His name may have been inspired by Optimus Prime, a robotic character from the Transformers franchise.
1.2.3: Increased health, damage and defense of most parts. May now drop Skeletron Prime Mask. Fixed bug where you can respawn skeletron prime if you kill its prime cannon hand and not skeletron prime himself.