Traps

. Traps are randomly generated mechanisms that harm the player. Depending on the player's progress in the game and the type of trap, this harm can range from minor nuisance to instant death. All traps are wired, but the actual damaging component can be a falling Boulder, Explosives, or a Dart Trap.

In general, the Dungeon has a large number of traps.

Dart Traps
When used in traps, Dart Traps are always wired up to a pressure plate that is at the same altitude as they are and has a clear line of fire. The pressure plate can actually be very far away from the dart shooter. The shooter may be at foot level, chest level, or head level, but will always hit you if you stand still on the pressure plate.

The Dungeon has a large quantity of Dart Traps.

Boulder Traps
Boulders are always directly above the pressure plates that trigger them, are always contained within a 2x2 space, and always have a 2x3 area of Active Stone Blocks beneath them, which becomes inactive when the pressure plate is stepped on. The boulders do hefty damage and will probably instantly kill any new players that are hit by them. This kind of trap can only be triggered once, and often, monsters will trigger it before the player ever reaches it.

As the Dungeon is made of Dungeon Brick rather than Stone, these traps are not found in it.

Explosive Traps
Explosives are the most deadly trap by far, instantly killing anyone who triggers them (even with full Hallowed Armor and well-prefixed accessories), as they deal over 500 damage. Like Boulder Traps, they can only be triggered once, but they are much harder to see, especially in dark caves.

Explosive Traps are also problematic because they cause massive damage to the environment, possibly causing drastic floods of either fluid. Because they drop around 200 blocks as items, mediumcore characters may lose some of their inventory when they fall prey to this trap as their items will despawn.

These traps are very rare, even in the Dungeon. Note that unlike in caves, in the Dungeon these traps will deal no environmental damage, and thus players' inventories are not in danger.

Tips
You can see the wiring of a trap while holding a Wrench, Wire Cutter, Wires, or anything wireable (except torches, statues and doors).

You may want to use a pressure plate to see the wiring, after removing the pressure plate with a Hammer. This can be very useful in the beginning of the game for avoiding traps, as they are extremely lethal early on.

Natural traps are a very cost-effective method of acquiring Wire once you have a Wire Cutter, saving you for every bit of wire collected instead of bought from the Mechanic. This can also be profitable if you're low on cash, as they sell for each.

Sometimes mobs will set off traps before you get anywhere near them.