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For the Ruins version, see Damaged Bishop.

Waxwell Portrait
I'm especially proud of that piece.

Maxwell, when examining a Clockwork Bishop

The Clockwork Bishop is an aggressive Mob usually seen in a Chess biome guarding the Wooden Thing in Sandbox Mode and other places in Adventure Mode. It also spawns from a mined Maxwell Statue in the chapter Epilogue of Adventure Mode. It is a part of Maxwell's Chess Pieces.

Brain Behavior[]

The Bishop usually stands close to the Wooden Thing, guarding it from any intruders. When any creature gets near its sight range, the Bishop will suddenly wake up and stare at them as a warning. Getting closer will make the Bishop attack by firing lightning bolts from its head. The Bishop will chase its enemy a short distance from its spawn area before returning and going back to sleep.

Spear Hunting[]

The Bishop is overall the most difficult of the Chess Pieces, it is a strong ranged mob, and very accurate, making it almost impossible to kite effectively so it is recommended to be armored and armed for a battle with one. Sending some Pigs to attack it first may prove to be an effective distraction. The player may try and use a Boomerang to kill it from far away, but this will grab the Bishop's attention, and it will start attacking. The player may also use an Ice Staff to freeze it, and then, start hitting it with a Spear, but it will cause some damage to the player. Another way to kill a Bishop would be to aggravate a nearby Clockwork Rook without waking the Bishop and get the Rook to ram the Bishop, as this will most likely kill the Bishop instantly (This strategy also works with Clockwork Knights and other mobs).

It is possible to dodge the Bishop's lighting bolts if the player is quick enough. Suddenly running to one side just as the Bishop is about to attack will usually leave the player unharmed by the lighting bolt, although the bolt does have a small area effect.

Another tactic to kill the Bishop is to lead all other mobs away, then use a Log Suit and Spear and hold down the attack button until it is dead, although this will cost the player a good amount of health, so it is only recommended to use this method when there is a decent amount of healing items in the player's immediate possession.

When a Bishop is located near a Spider Den, it is advised to lead some Spiders close enough to the Bishop without aggrevating it, as Bishops attack all monsters except other chess pieces when coming too close. Bishops also naturally attack Pigs, Bunnymen, Chester and similiar.

Below is the number of hits it takes with each weapon to kill Clockwork Bishops when playing with characters with a default damage modifier. The Weather Pain is not included due to the random nature of its projectile.

Weapon Fishing RodBug Net Lucy the Axe Shovel Pitchfork

Hammer Torch Umbrella

Walking Cane Willow's Lighter

Axe Pickaxe

Luxury Axe Opulent Pickaxe

Boomerang

PickSlashAxe Spear Bat Bat Ham Bat Morning Star Tentacle Spike Battle Spear

Thulecite Club Fire Dart

Fire Staff Slurtle Slime

Tooth TrapDark Sword Blow Dart Gunpowder Old Bell
No. of hits for
Clockwork BishopDon't Starve icon
71 23 18 12 10 9 8 6-11 5 or 7 6 5 3 2 1

No. of hits for
Clockwork BishopDon't Starve Together icon

213 69 54 36 30 27 24 18-33 15 or 21 18 15 9 6 -

Prototype Tips[]

  • Clockwork Bishops (as well as knights and rooks) can be lit on fire with a torch. If on fire, bishops and knights jump around until the flame extinguishes without attacking. While you will take fire damage from being close to them, you may take less damage than you would from tanking the bishop. Wormwood may be the worst at this strategy since he catches on fire easier and takes more damage from fire. Willow takes no damage from fire.
  • Wheeler can avoid taking damage from clockwork bishops by timing her Dodge ability correctly, since her Dodge has I-frames.

Placeholder Trivia[]

  • The Clockwork Bishop was originally added in the Doorway to Adventure update.
  • According to Maxwell's quote, the Bishop is his favorite clockwork monster.

Blueprint Gallery[]

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