Block Swap



Block Swap is a useful building mechanic introduced in the 1.4 update. Block Swap allows to break and replace blocks with blocks from your inventory without having to remove them first. When swapping blocks, the game first checks the pickaxe power of your current pickaxe and compares it to the block being broken. If the pickaxe power is sufficient, the block is swapped. Some blocks cannot be swapped (see below). For example, you cannot swap out sand, you must break it first.

Unlike other mechanics and buffs that aid in building, Block Swap does not require the player to consume a certain potion or equip an accessory; instead, it is a toggleable option. The button to toggle Block Swap is in the top right corner of the inventory, in between the edge of the screen and the hotbar.

Unswappable blocks
Besides blocks that are too strong for the pickaxe being used, some blocks cannot be swapped using this feature.


 * Gravity affected blocks, such as sand and silt cannot be swapped. This is likely because the player could swap sand out above their head for a block not affect by gravity, like stone, and completely avoid the danger of falling sand. However, gravity affected blocks can be swapped for solid blocks.


 * All furniture items cannot be swapped, except for chests.
 * Blocks supporting trees cannot be swapped.
 * Dirt cannot be swapped with any types of grass, including the Corruption, Crimson, and Hallowed variants.
 * Mud cannot be swapped for Jungle grass and Glowing Mushroom Grass. It can, however, be swapped for dirt and the grass blocks.

(Note for other editors: not sure if a table is needed for this, but it would be rad.)

Tips

 * Block Swap can be used to
 * extract ore veins that are hanging over a cliff and would cause the player to fall when broken.
 * replace the bottom of a pile of gravity affected blocks (e.g. sand, silt, slush) without affecting the rest of the pile.
 * This is useful for digging horizontal tunnels through the desert without having to enter or go around the Underground Desert