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Desert Scourge
Desert Scourge
Statistics
TypeBossBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeRetinazer AI
Max Life3,500 / 6,000 / 8,500
KB Resist100%
Immune toPearl AuraConfused
Drops
Coins 30 Gold Coin 
Sounds
If you were looking for something other than the Desert Scourge, see Scourge (disambiguation).

Desert Scourge Trophy "...A dried up and gluttonous husk, constantly on a veracious search for it's next meal.” Desert Scourge Trophy

The Desert Scourge (Japanese: 砂漠の惨劇 Sabaku no sangeki) is a Pre-Hardmode boss. It is intended to be one of the first bosses fought by the player and is considered to be one of the weakest of all of the bosses added by the Calamity Mod. It is intended to be fought before the Eye of Cthulhu, but it is likely a considerable challenge even to experienced players.

Spawn[]

The Desert Scourge does not spawn on its own, and requires the player to summon it with the Desert Medallion at Night. It must be summoned in the Underground Desert.

Segments[]

Desert Scourge Head
Desert Scourge Head
Statistics
TypeBossBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeRetinazer AI
Damage30 / 66 / 84 / 99
Max Life2,600 / 4,160 / 4,800
Defense0
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration5 seconds
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Stab (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)
Desert Scourge Body
Desert Scourge Body
Statistics
TypeBossBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeRetinazer AI
Damage16 / 32 / 40 / 44 (Contact)
60 / 68 (Sand Blast)
Max Life2,600 / 4,160 / 4,800
Defense8
DR5%
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration2 seconds
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Slash (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)
Desert Scourge Tail
Desert Scourge Tail
Statistics
TypeBossBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeRetinazer AI
Damage12 / 24 / 30 / 32
Max Life2,600 / 4,160 / 4,800
Defense18
DR10%
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration1.5 seconds
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Slash (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)

Behavior[]

In its 1st phase, the Desert Scourge behaves similarly to a regular worm enemy, moving through blocks and attempting to charge at the player. The Desert Scourge has 54 / 64 / 74 / 84 segments in total.

It becomes enraged if the player leaves the Desert biome or the underground, increasing its speed and acceleration by 75% (150% if both enrage conditions are met).

Attacks[]

  • Upon reaching 85% / 90% / 95% health, the Desert Scourge will occasionally burrow underground and roar, then rapidly lunge at the player while firing sand blasts before burrowing again from a height 37.5 tiles above the player.
    • This attack occurs every 9 / 6 seconds. After performing the attack, this timer resets on the apex of its lunge.
    • If the attack takes longer than 10 seconds, it will automatically reset to its default behavior.
  • There are 3 different variants of the sand blast attack:
    • A common attack where the Desert Scourge lunges at the player from underground along with 20 sand blasts upwards in a semicircle formation.
    • A rare attack where the Desert Scourge leaps behind the player, going above them, and fires 10 sand blasts downward.
    • A rare attack where the Desert Scourge leaps below the player, firing 2 sets of 15 sand blasts upwards.

In Expert Mode[]

  • Segments are increased from 54 to 64 and lunge speed increased by 25%.
  • Gains up to 50% bonus acceleration and speed as its health lowers.
  • Sand blasts travel 50% faster.

In Revengeance Mode[]

  • Segments are increased from 64 to 74 and speed increased by 50%.
  • 2 A Desert NuisanceDesert Nuisances are spawned alongside the main worm, each with a total of 14 segments.
    • These worms act independently and are not required to be defeated to progress through the fight.

In Death Mode[]

  • Segments are increased from 74 to 84 and lunge speed increased by 75%.
  • Gains up to 25% bonus acceleration and speed as its health lowers, on top of the boost in Expert Mode.

In Malice Mode[]

  • Fires Sand Blasts constantly and very rapidly.
  • Movement speed and aggressiveness greatly increased.
  • Makes much sharper turns.
  • Desert Nuisances are much faster and make sharper turns.

On the For the worthy seed[]

  • Is 50% smaller, but has double the amount of segments.
  • Players take twice as much knockback and knockback immunity is removed.
  • Significantly more aggressive.
  • Desert Nuisances are even more aggressive.

Summons[]

Image Name Condition
A Desert Nuisance A Desert Nuisance Always in Revengeance Mode or in Boss Rush
Desert Nuisance Head
A Desert Nuisance Head
Statistics
TypeBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeWorm AI
Damage60 / 70
Max Life1,120
Defense0
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration3 seconds
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Immune toPearl AuraConfused
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Stab (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)
Desert Nuisance Body
A Desert Nuisance Body
Statistics
TypeBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeWorm AI
Damage32 / 36
Max Life1,120
Defense4
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration1 second
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Immune toPearl AuraConfused
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Slash (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)
Desert Nuisance Tail
A Desert Nuisance Tail
Statistics
TypeBurrowing Enemy
EnvironmentDesert
AI TypeWorm AI
Damage20 / 24
Max Life1,120
Defense7
KB Resist100%
Inflicts debuffBleedingBleeding
100% chance
Debuff duration0.5 seconds
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Immune toPearl AuraConfused
Vulnerable to:Water (element)Slash (element)
Resistant to:Fire (element)

Aftermath[]

Resistances[]

  • All segments take reduced damage from non-minion piercing projectiles in Expert Mode. Projectile damage is divided by the number of times it pierces. Infinite piercing deals 50% damage.
  • All segments reduce damage from grenade-type projectiles by 80%. A list of affected projectiles is below.
Resisted grenades
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Notes[]

  • Desert Scourge, along with The Leviathan and the Aquatic Scourge, can drop items rewarded by the Angler for completing his quests.
  • All of the Desert Scourge's loot will spawn at the nearest segment with the exception of the Sand Blocks and Hearts, which will always spawn at the head.

Tips[]

For more elaborate strategies on defeating the Desert Scourge, including weapon and arena recommendations, see Guide:Desert Scourge strategies.
  • Building a few layers of platforms across the Desert will make avoiding the Scourge much easier. Be careful to not enrage the Desert Scourge.
    • Another alternative is to build a rope, however make sure the rope is inside the Desert or the Desert Scourge will become enraged.
    • The Scourge will tunnel through platforms if it reaches them, keeping platforms around 40 blocks above the ground and each other can help prevent this.
    • Be careful: If platforms are too high the player might leave the Desert while on them, enraging the Scourge.
    • Despite this, it is still suggested to build a bridge roughly 30-40 blocks up, as this will give the player a height advantage over the Scourge as long as they make sure to stay moving.
    • Make sure the rope is inside the Desert or the Desert Scourge will become enraged.
  • Avoid its head at all costs, especially in Expert Mode or higher difficulties.
  • Always keep moving as the Desert Scourge can easily kill an immobile target.
    • This becomes even more important in Revengeance Mode or higher, as it's speed is boosted.
  • While the player can fight the Desert Scourge as the first boss, caution is still advised as its size and speed can easily take down an unprepared player.
  • The Desert Scourge is a good boss to farm for money in Pre-Hardmode, dropping 30 gold per kill.

Trivia[]

  • Desert Scourge's theme is Guardian of the Former Seas, which was composed by the artist DM DOKURO.
    • If the Calamity Music add-on mod is disabled, Boss 1 will play instead.
  • The Aquatic Scourge is a hydrated version of the Desert Scourge, although it has been mutated by the toxic waters of the Sulphurous Sea.
  • If the desert scourge were to stay in the Sulphurous Sea for over 3 minutes, it will get slower until it goes 10 mph, then turn into a passive Aquatic Scourge.
  • This boss and the Aquatic Scourge can both drop several fishing drops, making them the only two bosses to share a drop outside of crafting materials, or potions.
  • The Desert Scourge can be fought before any boss is defeated, as its summoning item only requires Sand Blocks, Cacti, Antlion and Stormlion Mandibles.
  • The Desert Scourge used to spawn small worms called Dried Seekers when it reached 75% health.
  • The Desert Scourge was one of the first bosses to be added to the Calamity Mod, along with The Slime God and The Devourer of Gods.
  • If the Boss Checklist Mod is installed, its unique despawn message will be "The scourge of the desert delved back into the sand.

Ancient Sprites[]


See also[]

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