Gastropod

GastropodHardmode exclusive

 Classic

 Expert

 Master

Statistics

Type	Slime
Environment	The Hallow + Night
AI Type	Hovering AI
Damage	60/120/180 (melee) 50100150 (ranged)
Max Life	220/440/660
Defense	22
KB Resist	20%/28%/36%
Banner	Gastropod Banner
Immune to

Drops

Coins	615

• Item (Quantity)Rate
• Chocolate Chip Cookie
  1.33%
• Gel (5-10)
  100%
• Blessed Apple
  0.5%0.67%

Sounds

Hurt
Killed
Attack

• Internal NPC ID: 122

 Old-gen console and 3DS
Exclusive Variant

Spectral GastropodHardmode exclusive

Statistics

Type	Enemy
Damage	45
Max Life	250
Defense	5
Banner	Spectral Gastropod Banner

Drops

Coins	6

• Item (Quantity)Rate
• Gel (10-25)
  100%

Sounds

Attack

• Internal NPC ID: 1007

The Gastropod is a flying Hardmode slime that spawns frequently at the surface of The Hallow at night, and fires pink lasers which emit a faint light.

The  Old-gen console version,  Windows Phone version, and Nintendo 3DS version also feature the exclusive Spectral Gastropod variant. The Spectral Gastropod fires a slow-moving orb that disappears after a short time.

Notes

• Gastropods will enter water to chase the player, and can continue flying and firing while submerged, unlike many other flying enemies.
• Gastropod lasers will keep traveling as long as they are in sight.
• Striking the Gastropod while it is preparing its laser will interrupt the attack and prevent it from firing.
• Gastropods do not look like Slimes, despite technically being considered slimes.
  • While they are considered slimes, they do not drop the Slime Staff.

Tips

• Like all slimes, Gastropods become harmless when the Royal Gel is equipped.
  • Once acquired, it can provide an easy and safe way to farm for the Blessed Apple, as Gastropods will not attack the player and can be attacked freely once the accessory is equipped.
• Newer Hardmode players may want to avoid the Hallow's surface at night entirely, as Gastropods fire frequently, spawn often, and their lasers are difficult to dodge – especially when more than one Gastropod is on the screen (and there usually are). In Expert mode, the Hallow is less dangerous at night as players can equip Royal Gel.
• Gastropods drop much more Gel than any other non-boss slime, making them useful for gathering Flamethrower ammo. Using the Flamethrower to kill Gastropods is fast and will yield more Gel than the weapon consumes.
• The Bee Gun and similar weapons are effective at preventing Gastropods from firing, as its bees can attack continuously, leaving no pause for Gastropods to fire.

Trivia

• Real-life gastropoda are a class of mollusk that includes snails and slugs.
• Sometimes Gastropods can be seen flying in the Hallow background at night as ambience.

The Bestiary entry for the Gastropod: "Touched by the blessing, these nocturnal slimes evolved into a levitating snail-like creature which spits powerful beams of light."

• This entry explains that the Gastropods are Hallow-enhanced nocturnal slimes, though it is not clear what connection these have with real-life gastropods. Two possible reasons are that both have very soft and jelly-like bodies, and that both are said to leave behind a trail of ooze-like substances as they move.

Gallery

Sprite of ambience Gastropod from  PC,  Console,  Mobile, and  tModLoader.

• 

  Gastropod depicted on pre-1.4 Hallow splash screen from  PC,  Console,  Mobile, and  tModLoader.

• 

  Gastropod on Hallow splash screen from Console and 1.4.

History

 PC version

• Desktop 1.4.0.1:
  • Now has a chance to drop Chocolate Chip Cookie.
  • No longer has a chance to drop the Blessed Apple.

• Desktop 1.3.5: Sprite updated.

• Desktop 1.3.0.1: Now has a chance to drop the Blessed Apple.

• Desktop 1.1: Introduced.

 Console version

• Console 1.0.933.1: Removed Spectral Gastropod. ()

• Console 1.0.750.0: Removed Spectral Gastropod. ()

• Console-Release: Introduced.

 Nintendo Switch version

• Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

 Mobile version

• Mobile 1.3.0.7: Removed Spectral Gastropod.

• Mobile-Release: Introduced.

Nintendo 3DS version

• 3DS-Release: Introduced.