Finding Etheria’s Enigma, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo Structures and Biomes
Overview
This guide explains how to locate the major Etheria structures and their associated biomes: Enigma, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo. Each structure spawns under specific conditions, and knowing the biome tags and spacing rules will save you time when exploring.
Enigma and Hydro Biomes
Both Enigma and Hydro share a temperate climate with a temperature value of 0.5. Neither biome experiences rain. Because these two biomes have identical climate settings, you cannot rely on weather or temperature to tell them apart. Instead, look for visual differences in terrain, vegetation, or surface blocks while exploring. Enigma areas tend to feel like mild, dry plains, while Hydro regions may show signs of moisture in the ground or nearby water features, despite the lack of rainfall.
Structure Placement Rules
Each structure type uses a specific chunk-region attempt system. This determines how often the game tries to generate the structure and the minimum distance between successful spawns.
- Aero – Spawns in the `#etheria:has_structure/plains_ruins` tag. The game makes one attempt per 64x64 chunk region, and any two Aero structures must be at least 16 chunks apart.
- Cryo – Spawns in the `#etheria:has_structure/cryo_biomes` tag. One attempt occurs per 18x18 chunk region, with a minimum separation of 9 chunks between structures.
- Hydro – Spawns in the `#etheria:has_structure/hydro` tag. The game attempts one per 1x1 chunk region, meaning every chunk is a candidate. There is no minimum distance requirement (0 chunks apart), so Hydro structures can appear very close to each other.
- Pyro – Spawns in the `#etheria:has_structure/pyro_biomes` tag. One attempt per 15x15 chunk region, with structures needing to be at least 8 chunks apart.
Practical Search Strategy
Because Hydro attempts in every chunk, you will encounter it far more frequently than any other structure. If you are looking for Hydro, simply walk in any direction and check likely spots in temperate, rain-free zones. You will likely find one quickly.
For Pyro, focus your search on hot, dry biomes listed in the pyro biome tag. Since attempts happen every 15x15 chunk region, you should find one within a moderate walking distance, but remember the 8-chunk minimum spacing—so do not expect two right next to each other.
Cryo requires cold biomes from the cryo tag. With an 18x18 chunk region attempt and a 9-chunk minimum distance, these are rarer than Hydro but still common enough to locate by sweeping a snowy or icy area systematically.
Aero is the most spread out. The 64x64 chunk region attempt means you may need to travel far between them. The 16-chunk minimum spacing suggests they are deliberately rare. Search plains-type ruins and be prepared for a long trek. If you find one, mark its coordinates; the next will be at least 16 chunks away in any direction.
Biome Tags and Exploration Tips
The structure generation relies on biome tags rather than specific biome names. This means that any biome in the tag can host the structure, even if the biome’s appearance is unusual. When exploring, check your map or use the F3 debug screen (if available) to confirm which tag a biome belongs to. This is especially useful for Enigma and Hydro, which share temperature and rain settings.
For Cryo and Pyro, the biome’s temperature is your best clue. Look for snow-covered or frozen terrain for Cryo, and for Pyro, seek out deserts, badlands, or other hot biomes. Remember that the structure may generate at the edge of a qualifying biome, so explore borders thoroughly.
Finally, note that Hydro’s lack of spacing rules means you could find multiple structures within a single chunk region. If you are farming or collecting resources from Hydro, this density is a major advantage.
Covers the mod’s in-game guide topics: Enigma Hydro Aero Cryo Hydro Pyro