A Terraria player in the Aether biome hovering over a pool of Shimmer with Faelings.

Terraria: How to Find Shimmer

Ooo, shiny!

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Maya is a professional writer currently based in the South of England, with her niche being esports and video games. Having written for several popular websites, Maya thinks she has a trick up her sleeve for most games and is passionate about sharing them!

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Reyadh is a writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction who loves to play video games full of monsters and magic. When he's not scribing unique and unrelenting speculative fiction or slaying demons in virtual worlds, he is writing strategy guides to help others reach their gaming goals.

Key Takeaway

Shimmer can always be found in the Aether mini-biome, which is located Underground in the outer fifths of any randomly generated world created after the 1.4.4 Terraria update.

Due to its immense power, you’ll want to find Shimmer in Terraria. It lets you transmute loads of common items into those of more use—such as Life Crystals! However, Shimmer is incredibly rare and can only be found in one mini-biome.

How to Find Shimmer

Shimmer is found naturally underground within the rare Aether biome, which only spawns once in a world. However, Shimmer only naturally appears in worlds created after the Terraria 1.4.4 update. You’ll know as soon as you hit an Aether biome, because it has a starry Space background, with gem trees, Faelings, and a large pool of Shimmer in the center.

Note
At the same time, you can craft a Bottomless Shimmer Bucket with 10 Luminite Bars and a Bottomless Water Bucket at the Ancient Manipulator if you’ve already defeated the Moon Lord.

Another key point is that Aether biomes spawn in the outer fifth of the world—close to the Oasis biome, so make sure you dig around this area. Furthermore, they’re always on the same side as your Jungle. Keep an eye out for Faelings, as they’ll explicitly let you know you’re close to finding Shimmer.

How to Use Shimmer

A Terraria player throwing Life Fruit into Shimmer to transform it into Aegis Fruit.
Maya Sattar / VGKAMI

In essence, throwing certain objects in Shimmer will automatically transform them into something else. With this purpose in mind, throwing crafted items into Shimmer will transmute them back into its base crafting materials. Unfortunately for players, they cannot use Shimmer to craft the Zenith!

Living objects are also transformable by Shimmer. When critters and mobs walk into Shimmer, they become little flying sprites called Faelings. While Faelings have no real purpose, they can be bottled up and placed in your house. Any Slime that bounces in Shimmer will also become a Shimmer Slime!

While Shimmer does not transform the player, it does make them travel through the ground until they reach an Underground opening. When doing this, the player will become invulnerable to damage and unable to use any items.

Shimmer Transmutations

Now that you know how to use Shimmer, we’ll go over a Shimmer Transmutation guide.

ItemShimmer TransmutationNotes
Adamantite OreOrichalcum Ore
Adhesive BandageBezoarThis works both ways.
Alchemy TableBewitching Table
Angel StatueAether Monolith
Angler EarringTackle Box
Any Coins (Copper, Silver Gold, Platinum)Coin Luck Counter Increase
Any FruitsAmbrosia
Any TorchesAether Torches
Any Other Wood TypesWood (Normal)
BlindfoldPocket MirrorThis works both ways.
Bottomless Shimmer BucketBottomless Water BucketThis works both ways.
Can of WormsHerb BagThis works both ways.
Chlorophyte OreTitanium Ore
ClentaminatorTerraformerOnly available after defeating the Moon Lord.
Cobalt OrePlatinum Ore
Copper OreStone Brick
DiamondRuby
Discount CardLucky Coin
Fast ClockTrifold MapThis works both ways.
Fisherman's Pocket GuideSextant
Gold RingDiscount Card
Gem CritterRespective Gem Type
Gold OreTungsten Ore
Gold WormGummy Worm
High Test Fishing LineAngler Earring
Iron OreTin Ore
Jungle Grass SeedsMushroom Grass SeedsThis works both ways.
Lead OreIron Ore
Life CrystalVital Crystal
Life FruitAegis Fruit
Lucky CoinGold Ring
LuminiteChlorophyte Ore
Magma StoneLava Charm
Mana CrystalArcane Crystal
MegaphoneNazarThis works both ways.
Mythril OrePalladium Ore
OrichalcumMythril Ore
Palladium OreCobalt Ore
Pharaoh's MaskSandstorm In A Bottle
Pharaoh's RobeFlying Carpet
Pink PearlGalaxy Pearl
Platinum OreGold Ore
Rod of DiscordRod of HarmonyOnly available after defeating the Moon Lord.
SapphireTopaz
SextantWeather Radio
Spell TomeAdvanced Combat Techniques: Volume Two
Star CloakChromatic Cloak
Tackle BoxHigh Test Fishing Line
Titanium OreAdamantite Ore
Tungsten OreSilver Ore
VitaminsArmor Polish
Water BucketLava Bucket
Weather RadioFisherman's Pocket Guide

The Best Terraria Shimmer Seed

In reality, finding Shimmer on your own can be time-consuming and involve endless digging. Not to worry, though, because this Shimmer seed is tried and tested. In the Terraria seed generator menu, enter 1.1.2.1799838345, and select a Small World and Crimson. You should eventually load into a Forest biome with Sunflowers nearby.

The world creation menu for the best Shimmer seed in Terraria.
Maya Sattar / VGKAMI

Secondly, you should run East from the World Spawn Point, past the Jungle biome, towards the Oasis biome. At this point, between the palm trees at 3632 East, go against your Terraria morals and dig straight down. At 565 Caverns, you will eventually land in a large, dark Aether cavern with a huge pool of Shimmer to use!


Shimmer is a fun, new addition to Terraria; it adds a much-needed dimension to the game. It lets you transmute ore you’ve stockpiled into ones you’re lacking, and even gives your town NPCs a much-needed makeover. Become the alchemist you’ve always wanted to be!

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