Red Centipede



Red Centipedes are a centipede variant that only spawn naturally in hardmode. Larger than overgrown centipedes, with bright red armor plates covering their entire body, reds are considered one of the more dangerous creatures in-game. They are also rare, with only two appearing, in hardmode, outside of the lineage system: one in western Subterranean and one in central Garbage Wastes.

Behaviour
Red Centipedes are extremely fast and aggressive, able to quickly pursue targets, investigate sounds, and cover rooms in a matter of seconds. Unlike normal centipedes, reds will move non-stop when homing in on prey and have excellent hearing and vision. They pursue and are capable of killing slugcat, scavengers, lizards and even vultures without hesitation.

Strategy
Each armored segment of the body must be hit by a spear before that segment can be stabbed. Reds will not flinch when armor is removed, making the early fight extremely difficult. The more armor is removed, the more vulnerable the centipede becomes to close quarters stabbing and being stunned by spears. Knocking armor off the head sections is invaluable for throwing spears while running away. Being caught out in the open, on poles or in tunnels is often fatal, but slidejumping can be used to keep distance between slugcat and the centipede. Defeating red centipedes with spears alone in game, while not impossible, can be challenging due to unfavorable terrain.

Weakness
As with all other arthropod-like creatures, red centipedes are extremely vulnerable to Spore Puffs, found in Farm Arrays. A single Spore Puff will weaken and eventually kill, and multiple will take effect much more quickly.

Resistance
Red Centipedes have a base health of 9.195, with some caveats. The two head segments and any segments with an embedded spear take only half damage. Removing all embedded spears from a segment also removes this resistance. Head segments that also have a spear embedded only take 20% of base damage.

Trivia

 * Monk does not do enough spear damage to remove armoured segments. However, there is still a random chance that it might still make the shell fall off; this chance varies depending on the amount of armor segments already removed, but averages close to 40%.
 * Red Centipedes take only 1/29th of base damage when armoured segments are hit.