Dirt Block

Dirt Blocks are one of the most common block types in the game, covering a huge chunk of the world's surface. They are almost surely the most visible and accessible block to new players, which makes them useful for building a rudimentary shelter to take refuge in during a player's first night. These blocks may be covered by grass or corruption, which spread from adjacent dirt blocks. It can be moved around freely with a Dirt Rod.

Dirt blocks are one of the most fragile blocks in the game. A single hit from most Pickaxes will successfully mine them, but dirt blocks with grass or corruption on them may take two hits.

As natural caverns close to the surface are made of dirt, NPCs won't accept a house made with naturally occurring dirt walls. The background walls must be crafted and placed by the player to be considered safe for habitation. Player placed dirt walls have different data values than the generated dirt wall, but still merge with the natural dirt wall.

History
Bloc de terre