Gastropod

The Gastropod is a flying Hardmode slime that spawns frequently at the surface of The Hallow at night, and fires which emit a faint light.
The 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 ignore the Shroomite/Vortex armor's set bonus.
** They can still fire lasers at stealthed/invisible players, but will not move towards the player during this time.
* Unlike most slimes, Gastropods do not drop the Slime Staff.
== Tips ==
* The Royal Gel allows easily and safely farming Gastropods for the Blessed Apple, as it turns them into sitting ducks that are always passive around the player.
* 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 several of them appear at once. In and above, the Hallow is less dangerous at night as players can equip the Royal Gel to neutralize the threat it presents.
* Gastropods drop much more Gel than any other non-boss slime, making them useful for gathering Flamethrower ammo. Even using the Flamethrower against them will yield more than its consumption.
* The Bee Gun and similar weapons are effective at preventing Gastropods from firing, as its bees can stunlock them.
== Trivia ==
* Real-life are a class of mollusk that includes snails and slugs.
* Sometimes Gastropods can be seen flying in the Hallow background at night as ambience.
:* 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 ==
File:Ambience Gastropod.png|Sprite of ambience Gastropod from .
File:Relogo-3.png|Gastropod depicted on pre-1.4 Hallow splash screens from .
File:Hallow Splash.png|Gastropod on Hallow splash screen from Console and 1.4.
== History ==