Minecart Tracks are placeable furniture-type blocks that allow for rapid transportation over long distances. They form a continuous track when placed next to each other, and form slopes when placed diagonally. They cannot be walked on, as you will fall straight through them, though they can be grappled using a Hook.
When the player is nearby a track, the Mount hotkey or right-clicking a point on the track causes a minecart to spawn, which the player is automatically placed in. Once inside, the right and left direction keys either accelerate, decelerate, or reverse the cart's movement. The cart can also "jump" with the jump key. To exit the minecart, which makes it despawn, the player can use a hook, right-click the buff icon, or press the mount hotkey. It will also despawn if the player jumps off the tracks, lands on blocks, and attempts to move sideways.
Weapon and tools (as well as any other item except Hooks) can be used while riding a minecart.
Track end[edit | edit source]
When the end of the track is reached, the minecart will follow one of three behaviours, depending on the state of the final Track tile. The final Track tile can be shaped using a Hammer, which will cause it to cycle through closed, open, and bumper states.
The closed state resembles a wooden fence, and causes the minecart to stop harmlessly when reached.
The open state resembles ordinary Track, and causes the minecart to run off the track. Fall damage will be incurred as usual, if there is a sufficient fall after leaving the tracks, unless the cart lands on minecart Tracks again.
The bumper state resembles a metal fence, and causes the minecart to reverse direction on impact.
Intersections[edit | edit source]
Two separate intersecting track lines can be connected together into an intersection, using a Hammer, which will then be capable of allowing a Minecart to switch from one track to the other.
You can switch tracks on-the-fly by holding the up or down key as you travel through an intersection.
Intersections will automatically act as mechanisms if wired. Activating them will toggle their default direction. Pressure Plate Tracks can be used to create complex switching arrangements.
The default direction can also be toggled manually with a Hammer.
Notes[edit | edit source]
Graphically, a player right-clicking a Track is automatically moved there via a Hook-type tool that appears to latch the track. This is always a basic gray grappling hook. No Hook actually needs to be in the player's inventory. If the player is using a dye, it will be applied to this hook.
Hitting an enemy will do 60-100 damage. The more speed you obtain, the more damage you do to enemies that are on the track. Note that you have to reach a certain speed to hurt the enemy.
When Water Walking Boots or any of its upgrades are equipped, a Minecart will not sink into water.
Pressing a direction while on the minecart or running over Booster Tracks only adds velocity up to a point. It takes a few seconds to gain full speed. Once the cap has been reached, the Minecart does not slow down unless it reaches an obstacle.
If you hit enemies at full speed and the collision kills it, you won't be damaged.
The collision damage seems to be unaffected by anything, but the critical chance seems to be the highest among the player's melee, ranged or magic critical chance.
Mixing water and lava together will not create obsidian if there is a minecart track submerged at the block which would otherwise become obsidian. It is likely to happen that, at the lower layers of the world, an Abandonded Minecart Track may spawn submerged in lava, making it impossible to dig through it using a Hellevator flooded with water unless the minecart track is destroyed.
It is actually possible to go beyond the speed limit (see above) by jumping with the minecart.
A regular track can't connect diagonally to a Booster Track; only a horizontal connection is possible.
The player will fall through platforms while in the minecart.
Tips[edit | edit source]
Be sure to exit a Minecart that runs off a high track before hitting the ground. It can be done by right-clicking the buff, using a Grappling Hook or pressing R.
Using a Minecart to build a skybridge is a very efficient mean of travel, and as a bonus, it doesn't block Meteorites.
To build a track without touching the ground, the tracks must be laid while mounted inside the cart (it is possible to use anything while mounted), as the tracks don't function as platforms and can't be walked on. This method is very effective, as the speed of the cart can be set to match exactly your laying speed, allowing to automate the process, requiring only that the mouse button stays pressed.
When activated, a Teleporter will affect all living entities in a 3x3 grid directly above its surface, not just what happens to be standing on it. Because of this, teleporters will also work while riding in a minecart. This is useful for getting around particularly troublesome obstacles, and for making complex switching stations.
Running on asphalt is faster than travelling on the rails, unless you use the Mechanical Cart. Because of this, it is not a good idea to use minecarts on hardcore character difficulty (unless the player wants to use it for fun). However, a minecart track is easier and cheaper to craft, in addition to the fact that you don't need to press anything once at top speed.
Minecart tracks remain useful on hardcore character difficulty as means of AFK Fallen Star collection, so long as they are built low enough to not spawn sky mobs.
