Solar Eclipse

A Solar Eclipse is an event that occurs rarely in Hardmode after at least one of the Mechanical Bosses has been defeated. It is announced at the beginning of a day with the message, "A solar eclipse is happening!", and lasts from sunrise to sunset. A Solar Eclipse has a 1 in 25 (4%) chance of occurring on any particular day (for comparison, the Blood Moon has a 1 in 10 (10%) chance each night).

A Solar Eclipse is akin to a daytime Hardmode version of a Blood Moon. Enemy spawn rates are very high even near NPCs. It is different in its rarity, and in that the event takes an entire day rather than the shorter night period (15 minutes vs. the Blood Moon's 9 minutes). It also spawns more of its own unique enemies, which can each drop unique rare items: Death Sickle, Eye Spring, Broken Hero Sword, Moon Stone, and Broken Bat Wing.

Day will be only slightly brighter than at night, and the moon is visible in front of the sun.

The event only affects the surface layer, and can be avoided by burrowing well into the underground layer or below.

Tips

 * Every enemy but the Reapers and Vampires use standard Fighter AI, and even share the same jump range as basic Zombies.
 * Reapers, like Wraiths, do not fly but instead hover just a few feet off the ground. Without blocks to float through they cannot reach high places.
 * Like the Blood Moon, the effects of Water Candles and Battle Potions stack with the event's spawn rate. If you are farming the Death Sickle or Broken Hero Sword, these will indirectly help increase the rate of drops.

Trivia

 * Enemies that spawn during a Solar Eclipse share the theme of classic 20th century horror films.
 * Vampires are a reference to 1931 "Dracula."
 * Frankenstein is a reference to the namesake 1931 film.
 * Swamp Things are also a reference to the namesake 1982 film.
 * The new Solar Eclipse enemies coming in 1.3 are also taken straight from classic horror films.