Terraria is a game full of powerful accessories, and the Putrid Scent is one of the more valuable items for ranged characters. It provides a combination of increased damage and critical strike chance, along with a stealth benefit, making it ideal for players who want to deal high damage while avoiding enemy aggression. However, the process of obtaining the Putrid Scent isn’t always straightforward, especially for players unfamiliar with post-Plantera mechanics. This guide will explain how to get the Putrid Scent in Terraria, including where to farm it, what enemies to target, and how to increase your chances of success.
Understanding the Putrid Scent
Item Overview
The Putrid Scent is a Hardmode accessory that boosts the player’s ranged damage by 5% and critical strike chance by 5%. Additionally, it decreases enemy aggression (aggro) toward the player. This stealth effect allows ranged characters to maintain distance more effectively, especially in situations with many enemies or boss fights.
Why It’s Useful
Unlike many damage-boosting accessories, the Putrid Scent does not require a trade-off in defense or movement. It blends offensive and defensive benefits in one item, making it especially useful for ranged builds in both solo and multiplayer gameplay. The accessory also serves as a component in crafting other advanced items later in the game.
Requirements to Unlock the Putrid Scent
Defeat Plantera First
The Putrid Scent can only be obtained after defeating Plantera, one of the major Hardmode bosses. Plantera’s defeat unlocks new content in the dungeon and changes enemy behavior in different biomes, including the Underground Crimson, where the item is found.
Access to the Crimson Biome
Unlike some items that can drop in both Corruption and Crimson worlds, the Putrid Scent is exclusive to Crimson worlds. If your world has the Corruption biome instead, you’ll need to create or access a Crimson world separately.
- Check your world’s evil biome before starting the game.
- You can create a new world with Crimson or use seeds that guarantee a Crimson biome.
- Putrid Scent cannot drop in Corruption worlds there is no substitute drop from Corruption enemies.
Where to Get the Putrid Scent
Farm in the Hardmode Crimson
After defeating Plantera, head to the Underground Crimson. Enemies in this biome will now include tougher creatures such as Crimson Mimics. These special enemies have a chance to drop the Putrid Scent.
- Location: Underground Crimson (not surface level).
- Time: Any time of day, but preferably with buffs and traps for efficient farming.
- Enemy: Crimson Mimic (not regular Mimics or Corrupt Mimics).
Spawn Crimson Mimics Manually
Crimson Mimics don’t spawn frequently on their own. The best way to get the Putrid Scent is to manually spawn them using a Key of Night placed inside a chest. This method guarantees a Crimson Mimic spawn in a Crimson world.
- Step 1: Collect Souls of Night from enemies in the Underground Crimson.
- Step 2: Gather 15 Souls of Night to craft one Key of Night.
- Step 3: Place the Key of Night into an empty chest in the Crimson biome or a valid Underground housing area.
- Step 4: The chest will instantly turn into a Crimson Mimic, starting the battle.
Farming Tips and Tricks
Build an Efficient Mimic Farm
To farm Putrid Scent faster, build a mimic farm in the Underground Crimson. This controlled setup increases safety and kill speed.
- Use a platform-based arena: Mimics can jump and hit hard. Platforms give mobility while avoiding melee damage.
- Include traps and lava: Dart traps or lava pools help deal passive damage during the fight.
- Use summoner minions: Let minions do the work while you maintain distance and avoid damage.
Boost Drop Rate Efficiency
While the drop from Crimson Mimics is random among multiple items, you can improve your overall farming efficiency with the following strategies:
- Use Battle Potions: Increases spawn rates of enemies, useful if you’re farming Souls of Night.
- Use Water Candles: Further increases spawn rate in underground areas.
- Farm during Blood Moon: While not directly tied to Crimson Mimics, increased mob spawns help gather Souls faster.
Other Items from Crimson Mimics
Shared Drop Pool
Keep in mind that Crimson Mimics have several possible drops, and the Putrid Scent is just one of them. Other items include:
- Flesh Knuckles Boosts aggro and defense, useful for tank builds.
- Life Drain Drains life from enemies, ideal for close combat builds.
- Dart Pistol Effective ranged weapon with high fire rate.
- Clinger Staff Summons a wall of cursed flame for crowd control.
Due to the multiple potential drops, you may need to defeat several Crimson Mimics before obtaining the Putrid Scent.
What to Do if Your World Has Corruption
Create a Crimson World
If your current world has the Corruption biome, you won’t be able to find Crimson Mimics or the Putrid Scent. The simplest solution is to create a new world with Crimson settings.
- Start a new world: Choose Crimson during world creation.
- Use a character from your main world: Bring powerful gear to speed up progression.
- Defeat Plantera: Unlock Hardmode Mimics and access the item.
Multiplayer or Trading
If you’re playing with others, consider trading with a friend who has access to Crimson drops. Alternatively, use multiplayer sessions to join another player’s Crimson world and farm Mimics there.
Using the Putrid Scent
Ranged Character Synergy
The Putrid Scent is perfect for players using bows, guns, or magic weapons from a distance. The extra critical chance and reduced aggro allow you to deal sustained damage while enemies focus on other players or summoned minions.
Crafting Upgrades
The Putrid Scent is also used in crafting theRecon ScopeandSniper Scope, powerful accessories that combine critical damage boosts with zoom and enemy detection.
- Combine with Rifle Scopeat a Tinkerer’s Workshop for the Sniper Scope.
- Combine with Destroyer Emblemand Rifle Scope for the Recon Scope.
- These items are essential for endgame ranged builds and boss fights.
Obtaining the Putrid Scent in Terraria requires a bit of effort, especially due to its exclusive drop from Crimson Mimics in Hardmode. First, you must defeat Plantera and make sure you’re in a Crimson world. Then, by collecting Souls of Night and crafting Keys of Night, you can summon Crimson Mimics and fight them for a chance at the Putrid Scent. Building an efficient farm and using spawn-rate-boosting items can save a lot of time. Once acquired, this accessory will significantly enhance your ranged character, both offensively and defensively, especially when combined with other post-Plantera gear. Whether for direct use or crafting into even stronger items, the Putrid Scent is worth the effort for any dedicated Terraria player.