Truffle Worm

The Truffle Worm is a rare critter that spawns in the underground Glowing Mushroom biome during Hardmode. It is solely used to summon the Duke Fishron boss. In order to use it, it must be caught with a Bug Net and used as bait with a Fishing Pole in an Ocean biome. It only spawns in the Cavern layer and below, so it will not appear in surface Glowing Mushroom biomes.

The Truffle Worm is more difficult to catch than other critters, as it burrows away when a player comes too close. It must be approached quickly in order to successfully catch it.

Unlike most critters, the Truffle Worm cannot be used for ordinary fishing. When attempting to use it as bait, the bobber will simply sit in the water indefinitely, unless fishing in an Ocean (where anything reeled in will summon Duke Fishron).

The Truffle Worm will always be consumed upon summoning the Duke Fishron. Items that reduce the chance of bait consumption such as the Tackle Box will have no effect.

On the, Truffle Worms can be killed by enemies.

Spawning

 * Since the Truffle Worm is not considered a critter, NPCs should not be used as a means to increase the proportion of critters in the total number of creatures spawned.
 * Each existing enemy may reduce the spawn rate of the next. Getting rid of excess enemies will give the Truffle Worm more opportunities to spawn.
 * Water Candles and/or Battle Potions will increase its spawn rate. However, they will also greatly increase the likelihood of it dying to additional enemies (not to mention the hazard for the player).
 * Despite being considered an enemy, other enemies can kill the Truffle Worm. This includes all enemies present in an Underground Glowing Mushroom biome. If simply using a flattened stretch of Mushroom grass, be wary of other enemies, as they can make catching even a single Truffle Worm an aggravating task. Instead of just flat ground, a platform can be built below the grassy blocks, with most of the space above the Mushroom grass blocked off and leaving only a one-block high corridor to keep the worms safe from other enemies. The worms can then be collected up by swinging a net through the blocks from below.
 * One way to increase the chances of finding Truffle Worms is to convert a large section of the Underground Jungle into an Underground Glowing Mushroom biome, using the Clentaminator with Dark Blue Solution. A slower alternative would be to use Mushroom Grass Seeds on plain mud blocks.
 * A simple (but perhaps slow) way to farm them is to move away from and back to a Glowing Mushroom biome repeatedly, causing new monsters to spawn and potentially a Truffle Worm.
 * The can be used to make an infinite falling loop. If it is high enough, going in can cause other enemies to despawn, allowing the Truffle Worm to have more chances to spawn.

Catching

 * Truffle Worms will burrow themselves (eventually despawning) if the player is near them for about 1 second, so the use of a speed-enhancing item is suggested. Hooks, wings, or Lightning Boots grant speed improvements; Tabi, Master Ninja Gear, a full set of Crystal Assassin armor, or Shield of Cthulhu (though this item deals damage and thus may be less suitable) allow dashing.
 * If a Truffle Worm is let free by a player, it will also burrow, and despawn almost immediately if approached or stood near to for more than a few seconds.
 * It should be noted that, if the Truffle Worm burrows offscreen, it will despawn as soon as it is offscreen. If it falls, however, like a normal enemy and the same way a worm would, it will follow normal NPC despawning rules, and can be followed for more distance.
 * Using an Invisibility Potion will make catching a Truffle Worm much easier as they will wait longer before they run away. Note that taking any damage will cancel the buff, however.
 * The Truffle Worm can be caught even while burrowing. If the Truffle Worm is in a small pit where it is impossible or very difficult to catch from above, and there is a cave below it, a player can jump up directly under it and swing the bug net to catch it as it tries to burrow downward.
 * Summoned minions do not directly target the Truffle Worm, but can inadvertently kill it.
 * A Rod of Discord makes catching Truffle Worms easier, since it greatly facilitates getting near them.
 * A has a longer reach and swings faster than a regular Bug Net, making the catch easier.
 * Since the Lifeform Analyzer can announce the presence of a Truffle Worm, it is highly recommended to carry it.
 * Furthermore, since enemies despawn further than the Lifeform Analyzer's reach, one can estimate the location of the Truffle Worm and accelerating the process of hunting it.

Trivia

 * The number 666 in the Truffle Worm's "666% bait power" is a reference to the, commonly associated with.
 * The fishing power this item possesses might have to do with the fact it is the only thing that will lure in Duke Fishron.
 * When carrying the Truffle Worm as the first bait (top- and leftmost in the inventory), the (and its upgrades, the, , and ) will display a player's fishing power simply as "", due to the fact that Duke Fishron will spawn when using this as bait in an Ocean biome and no fish will be caught when not in an Ocean biome.
 * It can be theorized that Duke Fishron is heavily associated with Cthulhu as the tornadoes he shoots out are called "Cthulunadoes" (according to the death message), the Fishron Wings are narrow and share a similar color scheme to Cthulhu, Duke's color scheme seems as if it's Cthulhu's but with lighter colors, and they both utilize sharks.
 * The combination of truffle and worm represented by the Truffle Worm ties in with the combined fish-and-pig-like nature of Duke Fishron.
 * Traditionally, pigs have been utilized for the.
 * This is also referenced by the Truffle's quote "".