The Destroyer


 * For strategies on defeating The Destroyer, see Guide:The Destroyer strategies. For the painting, see The Destroyer (item).

"You feel vibrations from deep below..."

The Destroyer is a Hardmode Boss (one of the three Mechanical Bosses) that is essentially a harder, robotic version of the Eater of Worlds. Like the Eater of Worlds, The Destroyer is a very large Worm. Though it appears to be similarly made up of many segments, individual segments cannot die, and The Destroyer will not split apart into multiple enemies. The entire body has a single shared Health, and will remain at full size until it is killed.

The Destroyer is summoned using a Mechanical Worm at Night. Night time is the only condition required for summoning. In the PC version, it can also spawn randomly on any given night once Hardmode begins, if you haven't defeated it yet in the current world. Its arrival is announced by one of two messages: "You feel a quaking from deep underground..." or "You feel vibrations from deep below...." It must be killed before dawn, otherwise it despawns.

Each of The Destroyer's segments contains a red-lit Probe, which are independent flying enemies that are launched periodically as The Destroyer takes damage. They fire lasers at the player, both while within The Destroyer and when detached. Probes can be killed individually once detached. If the red light is missing from a segment, it means the Probe was already launched from that segment.

In the PC version, the Destroyer's body is immune to all debuffs, though launched Probes are not.

Tips

 * The Destroyer is the only one of the three "mech" bosses whose movement can be somewhat confined. Being a worm-type, it needs blocks in order to maneuver, and will not launch high above-ground as much as it tends to stay low. By standing on a bridge of Wood Platforms high above the ground, The Destroyer will not reach the player as often, and the player can fire down on it through the platforms. With a high enough bridge, the boss may never make contact with the player at all, even though its easier flying Probes will.
 * Penetrating weapons are most effective. The Ice Sickle, Heat Ray, Dao of Pow, Poison Staff, Star Cannon, Demon Scythe, Nimbus Rod, Cursed Flames, Golden Shower, Magic Dagger, Frost Staff, and Traps are useful. Useful ammunition types are Meteor Shots, Explosive Bullets, Hellfire Arrows, Jester's Arrows and Holy Arrows. Using a large quantity of Grenades can also be somewhat effective. If Skeletron Prime has been defeated, using the Flamethrower is also a good option, and if The Twins have been defeated, the Magical Harp is perfect. The Optic Staff is also useful.
 * For farming purposes, the use of strong, penetrating weapons can kill the Destroyer in a matter of seconds, if appropriate modifiers and accessories are used. Endgame weapons that are especially useful include the Stynger, Flower Pow, Death Sickle, Mushroom Spear, Paladin's Hammer, Terra Blade, Rainbow Gun (especially if the arc of the rainbow runs through The Destroyer's body) North Pole, Stake Launcher, Elf Melter, Rocket-firing weapons, Unholy Trident, The Horseman's Blade, Venom Staff, Nettle Burst, Shadowbeam Staff, Inferno Fork, and Razorblade Typhoon, Heat Ray, Magical Harp, as well as any endgame Ranged weapon while using the ammo stated above.
 * The Gatligator with Exploding Bullets can also be useful due to the wide spread of the Gatligator and the splash damage of the Exploding Bullets.
 * On the mobile version, if you shoot Heart Arrows at his head, he will be immobilized entirely. Combined with a well-reforged Hallowed Repeater, and the fight is much easier, especially if most of The Destroyer is embedded in the ground.
 * If you use a Thorn Chakram and stand relatively close to The Destroyer you can get a lot of shots off really quickly. This also works with a light disc.
 * The Nimbus Rod is an exceptional weapon against the Destroyer, mostly because of its ability to do DPS while the player is busy dealing with probes.
 * Orichalcum armor is useful, because the flower petal it summons pierces all enemies.

Trivia

 * The Destroyer has the most health of any current Boss.

History

 * Drops now appear at the location of the segment that was closest to the player on defeat, instead of from the head.