Shadow Orb

A Shadow Orb is a floating purple sphere, found deep in the Chasms of the Corruption. Destroying at least three of these orbs (in a single world) will usually be a crucial step in game advancement. This can be done using any Hammer, or Bombs/Dynamite. Shadow Orbs emit a purple, flickering light, similar to Demon Altars.

Multiple Shadow Orbs are found in the Corruption, with each located at the bottom of a Chasm, surrounded by Ebonstone. While mining Ebonstone requires at least a Nightmare Pickaxe, Ebonstone can be converted to normal Stone Blocks with Purification Powder, and mined with a lower-tier Pickaxe. Alternatively, Bombs or Dynamite can be used to destroy Ebonstone.

Shadow Orbs are the Corruption counterpart to the Crimson's Crimson Hearts, and serve a similar purpose.

Consequences of destruction

 * The first Shadow Orb destroyed will always drop a Musket and some Musket Balls. Carrying the Musket or Musket Balls will fulfill the criteria for the Arms Dealer to arrive.
 * Destroying at least one Shadow Orb fulfills one of the two criteria for a Goblin Army to attack (having at least 200 health is the other requirement).
 * The third Shadow Orb destroyed summons the Eater of Worlds, which spawns immediately. The Eater of Worlds is re-summoned with every third Shadow Orb destroyed.
 * Each Shadow Orb destroyed provides a chance for a Meteorite to land. Each Shadow Orb gives a separate 50% chance of immediately causing a Meteorite to fall when destroyed between midnight (12:00am) and dawn (4:30am). However, destroying any number of Shadow Orbs between dawn and midnight only allows one 50% chance of a Meteorite falling the following midnight.

Messages
The following status messages appear upon destruction of Shadow Orbs:
 * First Orb: "A horrible chill runs down your spine..."
 * Second Orb: "Screams echo around you..."
 * Third Orb: "Eater of Worlds has awoken!"