Life Crystal

The Life Crystal permanently increases the player's maximum health by 20, creating another heart "container" on their life bar. It also heals the player 20 health points, slightly more than a Mushroom.

Life Crystals are obtained by smashing a Crystal Heart with a Hammer. Crystal Hearts are found in large numbers in the Dungeon, and The Underworld. Finding them in the Dungeon is useful for players who fought Skeletron with the minimal amount of health, and wish to fully increase their health. Finding them in The Underworld is slightly more useful, because for players who wish to fight Skeletron, obtaining 300 health is easy in The Underworld.

Maximum health can be increased up to 20 hearts, or 400 health points. If used at maximum, a Life Crystal will not have any effect, though the same animation will commence. Doing this won't consume the Life Crystal, nor will it restore any health. Even after acquiring maximum health, they are still useful for their high sell value.

Trivia

 * In the alpha version, bosses dropped Life Crystals.