Extinction Spear
The Extinction Spear is the most powerful weapon in the Primordial Caves biome in Alex’s Caves. This legendary spear can be thrown like a trident and summons dinosaur spirits to fight alongside you. Each melee hit summons a Tremorsaurus spirit that bites the target, while charging the spear summons orbiting Grottoceratops spirits for defense.
With 9 attack damage and the ability to be thrown at high velocity, the Extinction Spear functions as both a melee weapon and a ranged projectile. It sets targets on fire for 5 seconds on each melee hit and can be retrieved after throwing, similar to a Loyalty trident.
Crafted from Tectonic Shards dropped by the Luxtructosaurus boss, the Extinction Spear represents the pinnacle of Primordial Caves technology. It accepts two unique enchantments: Herd Phalanx (more Grottoceratops spirits) and Chomping Spirit (stronger Tremorsaurus bites).
Crafting
The Extinction Spear requires rare materials from across the Primordial Caves. The recipe uses a shaped pattern: 1 Tectonic Shard at the top center, 1 Tectonic Shard on the left of the middle row, 1 Limestone Spear in the center, 1 Tectonic Shard on the right, 2 Amber Curiosities in the bottom corners, and 1 Heavy Bone at the bottom center.
Tectonic Shards are the rarest component, dropping only from the Luxtructosaurus boss. You need 3 shards per spear, meaning you may need to defeat the boss multiple times. Amber Curiosity has a 1.5-5% chance to drop when mining Amber without Silk Touch, making it another bottleneck. The Limestone Spear is crafted from 2 Limestone and 2 Sticks.
Given the difficulty of obtaining materials, the Extinction Spear is typically a late-game reward for players who have conquered the Primordial Caves boss fight.
Combat Mechanics
The Extinction Spear deals 9 attack damage with standard attack speed (-3.0 modifier), making it comparable to a diamond sword in damage output. Each melee hit ignites the target for 5 seconds and summons a Tremorsaurus spirit that charges toward the target and delivers a powerful bite dealing 3 base damage.
The Tremorsaurus spirit appears between you and the target, faces the enemy, and rushes forward to attack. It fades after striking or after about 1 second if it can’t reach the target. This effectively adds bonus damage to every melee attack, making the spear exceptionally powerful in sustained combat.
The spear can also be thrown by holding and releasing the use button. Thrown spears travel at high velocity (up to 3.5x charge multiplier) and can be retrieved from where they land or stick. The thrown spear does not trigger dinosaur spirits but excels at long-range engagement against flying enemies or for initiating combat from a safe distance.
The thrown Extinction Spear is excellent for the Luxtructosaurus rematch. You can throw it from outside the Primal Magma range, retrieve it, and repeat without risking the hazardous volcanic terrain. The fire damage stacks nicely against the boss, though Luxtructosaurus is fire-resistant.
Dinosaur Spirits
The Extinction Spear summons two types of dinosaur spirits: Tremorsaurus spirits on melee hits and Grottoceratops spirits while charging.
When you begin charging the spear (holding the use button), a summoning sound plays and 3 Grottoceratops spirits appear and orbit around you. These spectral triceratops provide a defensive presence, though their primary function is visual and atmospheric. They persist as long as you hold the spear and will fade when you switch items or throw.
The Tremorsaurus spirit summoned on melee hits is more aggressive. It materializes facing your target, charges forward, and delivers a bite attack dealing 3 base damage (increased by Chomping Spirit enchantment). The spirit appears semi-transparent with a ghostly amber glow and fades after attacking or timing out.
Both spirit types are visual representations of the dinosaurs you’ve encountered in the Primordial Caves, channeled through the Tectonic Shards’ ancient power.
Enchantments
The Extinction Spear accepts two unique enchantments alongside standard weapon enchantments like Unbreaking, Mending, and Sharpness.
Herd Phalanx (max level 3) increases the number of Grottoceratops spirits summoned while charging. The base count is 3 spirits, and each level adds 1 more spirit, for a maximum of 6 spirits at level 3. This creates an impressive spectral herd orbiting you during combat. The enchantment has a minimum enchantment cost of 13.
Chomping Spirit (max level 2) enhances the Tremorsaurus spirit’s bite damage. The base bite deals 3 damage, and each level adds 2 more damage (5 at level 1, 7 at level 2). It also slightly extends the Subterranodon spirit’s lift duration by 5 ticks per level when killing flying creatures. The minimum enchantment cost is 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Craft it using 3 Tectonic Shards (from Luxtructosaurus), 1 Limestone Spear, 2 Amber Curiosities, and 1 Heavy Bone. Defeating the Luxtructosaurus boss is required since Tectonic Shards only drop from it. Mine Amber without Silk Touch for a chance at Amber Curiosities.
Melee hits summon a Tremorsaurus spirit that charges and bites your target for 3+ damage. Charging the spear summons 3+ orbiting Grottoceratops spirits. The spirits are spectral manifestations that add extra damage and visual flair to combat. Both types fade after a short duration.
Yes, hold the use button to charge and release to throw. The spear travels at high velocity and can be retrieved where it lands. Thrown attacks don’t summon dinosaur spirits but are excellent for ranged combat. The spear uses durability when thrown and must be collected manually.
Repair it at an anvil using Tectonic Shards. Since these only drop from the boss, consider applying Mending and Unbreaking enchantments to reduce repair frequency. The spear has standard tool durability, so careful use and enchantments extend its lifespan significantly.
Herd Phalanx increases the number of Grottoceratops spirits summoned while charging the spear. Each level adds 1 spirit beyond the base 3, for a maximum of 6 spirits at level 3. This creates an impressive spectral herd orbiting you during combat, enhancing the weapon’s visual presence.
Chomping Spirit increases the damage dealt by Tremorsaurus spirits summoned on melee hits. The base spirit bite deals 3 damage; level 1 increases it to 5, and level 2 increases it to 7. This significantly boosts your effective damage per hit, making melee combat even more devastating.