How to Summon Biome Mimics: Keys, Drops & Stormbow Rate
Hallowed Mimic
Guide

How to Summon Biome Mimics: Keys, Full Drop Tables & the Stormbow Drop Rate

Craft a Key of Light or Key of Night from 15 Souls, drop it in any empty chest, close the lid: biome Mimic. Below are the summon steps, every drop with its exact rate (1.4.4 vs 1.4.5 marked), and what to bring.

Quick Overview

Health3,500 / 7,000 (Expert) / 10,500 (Master)
Damage90 contact (180 Expert / 270 Master)
Defense34
Coin Drop3 Gold (7 Gold 50 Silver Expert)

Mid-Hardmode: 3,500 HP, 90 contact damage, 34 defense. Hits harder than most things you've fought so far.

Fight these the moment you can craft a key. Daedalus Stormbow (20% from Hallowed Mimic on 1.4.5.7+, 25% on 1.4.4) with Holy Arrows carries you through The Destroyer, and every class gets something useful here.

Spotting a Mimic Before It Spots You

Every gold chest in Hardmode underground could kill you. Before you click on anything, here are three ways to tell real chests from Mimics:

Visual Identification

Mimics have a slightly open mouth with visible teeth. Real chests sit flush and stay closed. Zoom in if you're unsure — the difference is subtle but consistent.

  • The shadow under a Mimic looks off
  • Mimics float slightly above the ground
  • Zoom in — teeth are the giveaway

Interaction Test

Point your smart cursor at the chest. Real chests show a "Chest" label and let you open them. Mimics show nothing — no name, no prompt, just silence before violence.

  • Smart cursor reveals the truth instantly
  • No label = Mimic, back away
  • Works 100% of the time

Shoot First, Ask Later

Hit the chest with a ranged attack from a safe distance. Mimics pop out immediately and charge at you. Real chests just sit there.

  • Any ranged weapon works — bow, gun, spell
  • Clear nearby mobs first so you don't get swarmed
  • Safest method, takes 2 seconds
Spotting a Mimic Before It Spots You
In Hardmode underground, assume every gold chest is hostile until proven otherwise. One careless click = 80 damage to the face.

How to Summon

Put a Key of Light in an empty chest, close it, boom: Hallowed Mimic. Key of Night works the same way, but whether you get a Corrupt or a Crimson Mimic depends on which evil your world generated with, not where the chest sits. No biome requirement, no altar, just a key and a chest.

Passive Encounter (Natural Spawn)

Regular Mimics hide as chests underground in Hardmode: 500 HP and their own loot pool (Cross Necklace, Philosopher's Stone, Titan Glove and friends). Biome Mimics can also spawn naturally below the surface, but rarely, so don't plan around it.

Active Summoning (Recommended) Recommended

Keys give you biome Mimics on demand, and they carry the drops you actually want: Stormbow, Dart Rifle, Life Drain and the rest. This is the method you want.

📦
Empty Chest
icon
Key × 1
icon
Mimic!

Warning:Closing the lid eats the key AND the chest. Buff up and clear the area before you do it.

Summoning Steps

1
🔑

Obtain Corresponding Key

Farm 15 Souls from biome enemies, then craft the key at a Work Bench

2
📦

Prepare an Empty Chest

Any chest type works — just empty every slot

3
✨

Place the Key

Any slot works, as long as nothing else is in the chest

4
💀

Close the Chest

Key and chest are gone, the Mimic is here. Fight's on

Mimic Types & Drops

Three biome Mimics, three loot pools, and every kill drops exactly one item from its pool. Hallowed is the priority: the Daedalus Stormbow alone solves The Destroyer. Your world has one evil, so Key of Night gives you the Corrupt pool or the Crimson pool, not both.

Hallowed Mimic

Hallowed Mimic

Hallowed Mimic
The Hallow
Required to Summon
iconKey of Light
Key Drops
iconDaedalus Stormbow →
iconFlying Knife
iconCrystal Vile Shard

Full Drop Pools & Rates

MimicPool (one item guaranteed per kill)Chance per item
Hallowed MimicDaedalus Stormbow, Flying Knife, Crystal Vile Shard, Illuminant Hook, Chaos Cylinder (added in 1.4.5.7)20% on 1.4.5.7+ / 25% on 1.4.4 (4-item pool)
Corrupt MimicDart Rifle, Chain Guillotines, Clinger Staff, Putrid Scent, Worm Hook20%
Crimson MimicDart Pistol, Fetid Baghnakhs, Life Drain, Flesh Knuckles, Tendon Hook20%

Every biome Mimic also drops Greater Healing and Greater Mana Potions. Since 1.4.5.0 there's a rare bonus roll on top (0.5%, 0.67% in Expert): Crystallize from Hallowed Mimics, Eater of Life from Corrupt and Crimson Mimics.

Not sure which drop to chase first? Part 2 ranks them and does the key math

Getting Your Keys

You need Key of Light (Hallowed Mimic) or Key of Night (Corrupt/Crimson Mimic). Both are crafted from 15 Souls at a Work Bench — no rare drops, no RNG, just a bit of grinding.

Key of Light

Craft with Soul of Light ×15

Kill anything in the underground Hallow — every enemy drops Souls of Light

Key of Night

Craft with Soul of Night ×15

Same deal in Corruption or Crimson underground

icon
Key of LightKey of Light
Materials
iconSoul of Light x15
Crafting StationWork Bench
Farm LocationThe Hallow
icon
Key of NightKey of Night
Materials
iconSoul of Night x15
Crafting StationWork Bench
Farm LocationCorruption/Crimson

Farming Tip:

Build a small farm in the target biome, place a Water Candle, drink a Battle Potion, and AFK for 5–10 minutes. You'll have 15 Souls before you know it.

Pre-Fight Checklist

Biome Mimics deal 90 contact damage and have 3,500 HP. They're fast, they jump high, and they chase you straight through blocks. Get ready before you summon one:

0% Complete
Battle Potion
Water Candle
Prepared Arena
Sufficient Healing Potions
Ironskin / Regeneration Potion
Ranged Weapon (Recommended)

Recommended Loadouts

Pick the tier that matches where you are in Hardmode. You don't need endgame gear — but showing up in pre-Hardmode armor is a death sentence.

Minimum Setup

Fresh into Hardmode. You can win, but it'll be tight.

Cobalt / Palladium ArmorBare minimum — don't go lower
Lifeforce Potion+20% max life keeps you alive
Ironskin Potion+8 defense adds up fast
Bow / HandgunStay ranged, stay alive

Recommended Setup

Post-Mech Boss gear. This is the sweet spot for consistent farming.

Titanium / Adamantite ArmorComfortable defense for farming
Daedalus StormbowHoly Arrows = arrow rain from the sky
Wings (any)Dodge the lunges easily
Battle Potion + Water CandleSpeeds up Soul farming

Speed Farm Setup

Post-Plantera overkill. Each fight takes under 15 seconds.

Beetle / Spectre ArmorFacetank everything
Terra Blade / MegasharkMelts 3,500 HP in seconds
Battle Potion + Water CandleMax spawn rate for Souls
Lava-floor farm arenaFull build in Part 2
Continue to Part 2How to Farm Mimics Fast: Arena Builds, Class Strats & Drop Priority

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you summon biome Mimics in Terraria?

Craft a Key of Light (15 Souls of Light) or Key of Night (15 Souls of Night) at a Work Bench. Put the key in any slot of an empty chest and close it. The chest turns into the matching biome Mimic on the spot, and both the key and the chest are used up. You can do it anywhere; the chest doesn't need to be in the Hallow or an evil biome.

What is the Daedalus Stormbow drop rate?

20% from Hallowed Mimics on 1.4.5.7 and later, because the Chaos Cylinder joined the pool and made it 1 of 5. On 1.4.4 it was 1 of 4, so 25%. That's 5 kills on average now, 4 on 1.4.4.

What does each Mimic type drop?

Each kill drops exactly one item from its pool. Hallowed: Daedalus Stormbow, Flying Knife, Crystal Vile Shard, Illuminant Hook, plus Chaos Cylinder on 1.4.5.7+ (20% each; 25% on 1.4.4). Corrupt: Dart Rifle, Chain Guillotines, Clinger Staff, Putrid Scent, Worm Hook (20% each). Crimson: Dart Pistol, Fetid Baghnakhs, Life Drain, Flesh Knuckles, Tendon Hook (20% each).

Does Key of Night summon a Corrupt or Crimson Mimic?

It depends on your world's evil, not on where you place the chest. A Corruption world always gives Corrupt Mimics, a Crimson world always gives Crimson Mimics. In a normal world you only get one of the two pools.

What's the difference between regular and biome Mimics?

Regular Mimics spawn on their own underground in Hardmode, disguised as chests: 500 HP, 80 contact damage, and a loot pool of Dual Hook, Magic Dagger, Philosopher's Stone, Titan Glove, Star Cloak and Cross Necklace. Biome Mimics have 3,500 HP, hit for 90, and carry the Stormbow-tier drops. You summon those with keys.

Can I get my key back after putting it in the chest?

No. The moment you close the chest, the key and the chest are both consumed and the Mimic spawns. Buff up and clear the area first.