Chasms

A Chasm is a deep vertical tunnel whose walls are made of Ebonstone, with Ebonstone Wall backgrounds, found throughout The Corruption. They are usually home to continuously-spawning swarms of Eater of Souls. Chasms generally reach depths around where the Cavern layer begins.

At the bottom of most Chasms, a Shadow Orb can be found behind a small wall of Ebonstone. To reach the Shadow Orb, the player must use at least a Nightmare Pickaxe, Bombs/Dynamite, or use Purification Powder to turn the Ebonstone into common Stone and mine it with any Pickaxe.

There is usually a horizontal underground tunnel connecting most of the Chasms in a given Corruption area. Demon Altars are common in and around this adjoining tunnel.

Tips

 * Players without the ability to mine Ebonstone, and who have not yet obtained a climbing aid like the Grappling Hook, will want to avoid falling into Chasms. Some Chasms can be very difficult or impossible to climb out of by merely jumping between ledges.
 * A fun little way to get down the Chasm is to use a Grappling Hook; grapple to one side and then the other until the player is all the way down. Then use the same method to get back up. Another way is to use the Grappling Hook is to cling to a wall and repeatedly hit the grapple hook's button. You will climb up one block at a time, and when you are stuck, go to the other side.
 * Its best to use a weapon that has long reach when going down the Chasms to knock out Eater of Souls that usually cluster on the other side of the Chasm; another option is using a fast weapon, such as Light's Bane. The Fiery Greatsword is also a good item to have handy in Chasms. You can swing once and take out most little eaters and twice for Eater of Souls, usually. Also, if you swing it, it gives off particles, therefore allowing light and helps most items be easy-to-see.
 * Try any type of Wings, because you can fly out if you are stuck.