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 left 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.
 * All furniture items cannot be swapped, except for chests, which can be swapped with other chests regardless of contents.
 * 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 Mushroom Grass. It can, however, be swapped for dirt and the grass blocks.
 * Blocks touched by lava cannot be swapped
 * Hive blocks cannot be swapped at all, regardless if they are the block being broken or the block being placed. It is currently unknown whether they can be swapped using a Hive Wand.
 * Bubbles cannot be swapped.
 * Meteorite and Hellstone cannot be swapped.

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.
 * This is especially useful for replacing Chlorophyte Ore with mud to allow it to grow back.
 * If players find a Demon Altar/ Crimson Altar placed on ores or corrupted blocks that could corrupt nearby structures, but refuses to break more additional altars as it damages the world, block swap could come in handy to quickly replace/ obtain the blocks.
 * If one decides to build an arena for the moon events, and blows up the Corruption for spaces the arena demands, this might come in handy.