Antlion

Antlion Classic Expert MasterStatistics

Drops

* **Item (Quantity)****Rate**
* Antlion Mandible (1–2
1 )33.3%
14.29%
* Banana Split2%
Sounds

* Internal NPC ID: **69**
Old-gen console and 3DS
Exclusive VariantAlbino AntlionStatistics

Drops

* **Item (Quantity)****Rate**
* Antlion Mandible14.29%
* Internal NPC ID: **1001**

The **Antlion** is an enemy found in Deserts during the day and in Underground Deserts. It remains stationary with its head sticking out of the ground, and will shoot sand projectiles at the player every 3.33 seconds when they are in its line of sight. It can only launch its projectile at an upwards angle (within about 45 degrees to the left and right), so players approaching from lower ground are usually out of its line of fire. The sand projectiles turn into clumps of Sand Blocks when hitting an object, and will gather on the ground, similarly to the projectiles fired by the Sandgun.

On the Old-gen console version, Windows Phone version, and Nintendo 3DSversion, the **Albino Antlion** variant also appears.

## Notes

* Because the Antlion creates Sand Blocks as it attacks, sand is a renewable resource, although one renewed slowly.
* If faced with an incline facing directly upward, Antlions will climb very slowly toward the player. This happens on all versions, and prevents them from burying themselves.
* The Antlion's head is the only part that takes/deals damage. Thus, arrows or bullets aimed at its body will fly through. Likewise, a player that touches the Antlion's body will not take damage.
* To make Antlion spawn, you need to place 40 Sand Blocks within a 9 tile wide range unless in front of a natural desert wall.

## Trivia

* The Antlion is based on real-life antlion larvae, which dig sand pits as traps for other insects. The antlion will throw sand at escaping prey, causing its victims to tumble down into the center of the pit where the hungry antlion is waiting. When the larvae grow up, they resemble the Antlion Swarmer.
	+ Due to the large presence of Antlion enemies in the Underground Desert and its funnel-like entry point, it could be assumed that the Underground Desert is in fact a large Antlion nest.
* The NPC ID image contains only the head. The body is stored not by an ID, but rather by its name, ``AntlionBody.xnb``.
* While the projectile itself does not do any damage to enemies, any falling sand that the Antlion places can damage other enemies, not just the player.
* *Antlion* is commonly mispronounced as *antillion*, when, since it is based on the insect, it can be assumed that one would pronounce it the same as the insect – *ant-lion*.
* This is one of only two or three creatures besides the player that can place blocks in the world, the others being the Snow Balla and, debatably, the Wall of Flesh.

The Bestiary entry for the Antlion: *"When antlions are nesting, they hide in the surface. To defend their eggs, they projectile vomit hard globs of sand at trespassers."*

## History

PC version
* Desktop 1.4.0.1: Now has a chance to drop Banana Split.

* Desktop 1.3.5: Sprite updated.

* Desktop 1.3.0.1:
	+ May now drop up to two Antlion Mandibles.
	+ Sprite updated. Old sprite was:
	+ Now has new sound effects.

* Desktop 1.2.0.3: Can now drop its respective banner.

* Desktop 1.1:
	+ Chance of dropping Antlion Mandible increased from ~~10\*~~1/10 (10%) to ~~14.29\*~~1/7 (14.29%).
	+ Projectile damage reduced from 20 to 10.

* Desktop 1.0.5: Introduced.

Console version
* Console 1.0.933.1: Added new sounds from Desktop 1.3.0.1. Removed Albino Antlion. ()

* Console 1.0.750.0: Added new sounds from Desktop 1.3.0.1. Removed Albino Antlion. ()

* Console-Release: Introduced.

Nintendo Switch version
* Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

Mobile version
* Mobile 1.3.0.7: Removed Albino variant.

* Mobile-Release: Introduced.

Nintendo 3DSversion
* 3DS-Release: Introduced.

## References

1. ↑ Information taken from the PC 1.4.2.3 source code, method `AI()` in `Terraria.NPC.cs`. There may be inaccuracies, as the current  PC version is 1.4.4.9.

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