Terraria: How To Make A Cell Phone & What It Does

This article is part of a directory: Terraria Guide - Weapons, Items, Tips, Tricks, Bosses & More

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These days, no one can go without a smartphone due to how versatile and useful they are for everyday life. These complex cell phones have amalgamated the functions of many other devices, making physical watches, calendars, and even lower-end cameras completely obsolete.

This trend has been well noted by the developers of the hit indie title Terraria, as it features the supremely useful Cell Phone item that is very much an allegory for real-world smartphones despite not looking much like any real models.

However, unlike in real life, gamers cannot simply buy one of these complex and handy devices; they will have to painstakingly craft one in arguably the most intense crafting recipe in the whole game. The benefits of a Cell Phone are worth it, though, as they are unparalleled when it comes to displaying information about the world as well as for quick and easy transportation.

Step #1 - Gather The 13 Base Devices

The notoriously tedious crafting recipe is composed of 13 separate devices that need to be combined in specific pairings in order for one to compile the final components needed to assemble a Cell Phone. Each of these devices also needs to be crafted (or found) themselves, so get ready to spend a lot of time gathering resources and sitting in front of a workbench. While a lengthy process, the reasoning for the arduousness of the task is appropriate as the devices that are needed to craft the Cell Phone all possess a function which the in-game smartphone amalgamates.

Device #1 - Gold Watch or Platinum Watch

Only one of these time-keeping devices is needed for a Cell Phone, so pick whichever one is easiest to craft. For a Gold Watch, players will need 10 Gold Bars and 1 Chain while for a Platinum Watch, players will need 10 Platinum Bars and 1 Chain.

Device #2 - Depth Meter

This little meter, which allows players to gauge how deep they are, can be crafted from 10 Coppers Bars, 8 Silver Bars, and 6 Gold Bars.

Device #3 - Compass

Ideal for simple navigation, a Compass, unfortunately, cannot be crafted and must be found as a drop from one of the following enemies.

Mimic - 14.29% Drop Chance
Mother Slime - 2% Drop Chance
Armored Viking - 2% Drop Chance
Undead Viking - 2% Drop Chance
Snow Flinx - 2% Drop Chance
Piranha - 1.33% Drop Chance
Crawdad - 1.23% Drop Chance
Giant Shelly - 1.23% Drop Chance
Salamander (any kind) - 1.23% Drop Chance

Device #4 - Radar

This device for detecting nearby threats also needs to be found, as it cannot be crafted. Here are the kinds of containers that can be looted for a Radar.

Regular Chest - 8% (PC & Mobile) or 9% (Console) Drop Chance
Wooden Crate - 0.44% Drop Chance
Pearlwood Crate - 0.44% Drop Chance

Device #5 - Tally Counter

Once more, players will have to venture out and slay mobs in order to find this device meant to keep track of one's kill count. It can be dropped from the following enemies who are all found in the Dungeon area.

Angry Bones - 1% Drop Chance
Cursed Skulls - 1% Drop Chance
Dark Casters - 1% Drop Chance

RELATED: Terraria: How To Make A Bucket

Device #6 - Lifeform Analyzer

A handy tool that lets one know the name and some other information about encountered enemies, the Lifeform Analyzer cannot be crafted or found as a drop and must be bought from the Traveling Merchant for 5 gold coins.

Device #7 - DPS Meter

Again, here's a device that can only be bought from the Traveling Merchant, and once more for 5 gold coins. Be sure to pick up a DPS Meter early, as it can help one gauge how effective various weapons are by displaying damage information.

Device #8 - Stopwatch

The Traveling Merchant must be in on how to make Cell Phones, as they seem to have a monopoly on many items required to craft it. Head to this salesperson to pick up a Stopwatch, which tracks the player's movement speed, at the cost of 5 gold coins.

Device #9 - Metal Detector

This aid for treasure seekers has one of the higher drop rates for Cell Phone components, though, the enemies that possess them can be tricky to find.

Nymph - 50% (Normal mode) or 100% (Hard mode & Expert mode) Drop Chance
Lost Girl - 50% (Normal mode) or 100% (Hard mode & Expert mode) Drop Chance

Device #10 - Fisherman's Pocket Guide

Understandably, quite a bit of angling will be required to get this item that displays one's fishing power. Players have a 3.33% chance (PC & Mobile) or 2.5% chance (Console) to get one of these guides every time that they complete a fishing quest for the Angler.

Device #11 - Weather Radio

For the same chances as the Fisherman's Pocket Guide, players also have opportunities to get a Weather Radio, which displays the weather and wind speed, from the Angler by doing fishing quests for them.

Device #13 - Sextant

The Angler might also be another individual in on how to take advantage of those seeking a Cell Phone, as they are also in possession of the Sextant, another of the crucial items for crafting the marvelous in-game smartphone as well as for tracking the phases of the moon. The chances of receiving one from the Angler after doing their fishing quests are the same as for the Fisherman's Pocket Guide and the Weather Radio.

Step #2 - Assemble The 5 Higher-Tier Accessories

player with the items to craft a PDA in their inventory.

For the next stage of this complex crafting recipe, players will need to find a rare item as well as combine all the devices in Step #1 into the next tier of needed accessories.

Accessory #1 - Magic Mirror or Ice Mirror

These tools for teleporting are what allow the Cell Phone to perform the same function and can only be looted from chests found in the world. The Magic Mirror can be found in chests that spawn Underground or in Caverns while Ice Mirrors can only be found in frozen chests located in ice biomes.

Accessory #2 - GPS

Similar to its real-world equivalent, the GPS tracks the player's location as well as the time and it can be craft by combining a Gold Watch (or Platinum Watch), Depth Meter, and Compass.

Accessory #3 - R.E.K. 3000

This accessory that combines the functions of all its crafting components can be made from a Radar, Lifeform Analyzer, and Tally Counter.

Accessory #4 - Goblin Tech

A novel device that actually improves on the function of its components, the Goblin Tech performs all the expected functions as well as a few more bits of information. It can be crafted by merging a Metal Detector, Stopwatch, and DPS Meter.

Accessory #5 - Fish Finder

Another accessory that amalgamated some lower-tier devices is the Fish Finder, which can be crafted by combining the Fisherman's Pocket Guide, Weather Radio, and Sextant.

Step #3 - Combining Everything & Using The Cell Phone

player crafting a cell phone in their house.

Finally, after all of the higher-tier components are ready, players can combine them all to form the much-desired Cell Phone. But first, they have to craft the PDA, which is much like a mini Cell Phone in appearance and functions.

How To Craft A PDA

To craft a PDA, players will need to combine a GPS, R.E.K. 3000, Goblin Tech, and Fish Finder in the penultimate crafting recipe for the Cell Phone.

Final Crafting Stage

Following the acquisition of the PDA, players must then combine it with either a Magic Mirror or an Ice Mirror to get the legendary Cell Phone.

What The Cell Phone Does

As mentioned before, the Cell Phone amalgamates all of the functions of its component devices and accessories, though, here they are again to more easily keep track of this marvelous tool's varied uses.