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While those enjoying Terraria will likely have much more important missions than seeking out critters in the Underworld biome, there are still some great reasons for collecting these tiny organisms. As with other critters in the game, the 3 that can be found in the most lava-filled areas of this digital adventure can be great for lighting up areas, used as unique fishing bait, or even sold for a decent amount of coins.
However, these 3 critters of the Underworld (the Lavafly, Magma Snail, and Hell Butterfly respectively) will need a special tool to be obtained in Terraria, so be sure to make it before setting forth to find and capture any Underworld critters.
What Tools Are Needed To Catch Underworld Critters
The only tool (besides the Golden Bug Net) that will help the player catch Underworld critters in Terraria is the Lavaproof Bug Net, as the 3 fiery little fiends will burn through any other kind of net. It is also worth noting that the Lavaproof Bug Net has a faster swing speed than the basic Bug Net and can also cut tall grass and vines.
While sinister-looking, it has a pretty simple crafting recipe. To make a Lavaproof Buf Net, players will need a regular Bug Net and 15 Hellstone Bars, however, this item can only be crafted at a Hellforge.
How To Get Hellstone Bars
Each Hellstone Bar is made from 1 Obsidian and 3 Hellstone, though, can also only be crafted at a Hellforge.
How To Get A Hellforge
Hellforges cannot be created and must be found within a Ruined House structure in the Underworld biome. Thankfully, players can pick them up by mining them with a Nightmare Pickaxe or a Deathbringer Pickaxe.
About The Lavafly
Like all the critters native to the Underworld, if one tries to catch a Lavafly with a regular Bug Net, the player will receive some burning damage instead of catching the small creature. The Lavafly only spawns at night, which is the only time that players can find and catch one in the Underworld.
What The Lavafly Is Good For
Firstly, since these little fellows are variants of the Firefly, they can be used to illuminate an area after they are captured. To do so, simply craft a Lavafly in a Bottle by combining a captured Lavafly with an empty Bottle. This item can be used as a lighting fixture anywhere one needs some extra luminance.
Furthermore, Lavaflies can be used as bait for fishing and have a Bait Power stat of 25%. While this statistic is not impressive on its own, players will be interested to learn that Lavaflies are one of the few bait options that allow for fishing in lava--just be sure to bring a lava-proof fishing rod (like the Hotline Fishing Hook) for obvious reasons.
About The Magma Snail
Like the other Underworld critters, players should not try to catch Magma Snails with anything other than a Lavaproof Bug Net or a Golden Bug Net if they want to avoid some burning damage. Magma Snails spawn during any time of the day or night, so there's no need to wait around--simply jump into the Underworld to snag these gastropods whenever one wants.
What The Magma Snail Is Good For
Similar to the Lavafly, Magma Snails can be both used in furniture items and for fishing. To acquire a Magma Snail as a neat little pet, players will have to combine one with a Terrarium to craft a Magma Snail Cage. This item can be placed anywhere as a decoration.
In terms of fishing, Magma Snails are even better for hooking fish in lava, as it has a Bait Power of 35%--10% more than Lavaflies.
However, arguably the best feature of Magma Snails is their monetary value. Each Magma Snail is worth 50 silver coins, and, as such, they can be a great way to make a lot of money by selling them to NPC merchants.
About The Hell Butterfly
Another critter to be careful around unless one has a Lavaproof Bug Net or Golden Bug Net, the Hell Butterfly can offer similar boons to its Underworld invertebrate brethren. Inverse to the Lavafly, however, Hell Butterflies can only be found during the day whilst one is traversing the Underworld.
What The Hell Butterfly Is Good For
Potentially the least useful out of all the Underworld critters, Hell Butterflies are pretty much the same as other, less rare Butterflies, however, they can still be used as bait for fishing in lava. The Bait Power of the Hell Butterfly is only 15% though, so is it inferior to the Lavafly and Magma Snail in this regard.
Besides lava-fishing, players can place a Hell Butterfly into an empty Bottle for a pleasant little decoration.
Terraria is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia.