1 Why the PDA Is Half a Cell Phone
The PDA combines 13 different information accessories into one slot — showing depth, position, time, DPS, kill count, speed, weather, fishing info, and more. It's the main component of the Cell Phone, and crafting it is an achievement in itself.
Information is the most underrated resource in Terraria. The PDA tells you everything: how deep you are, what time it is, what the weather will be, how fast you're moving, and how many enemies you've killed. Combined with a Magic Mirror, it becomes the legendary Cell Phone.
2 Crafting Recipe
Final Craft
Complete Materials List
| Material | Qty | Source | Biome / Location | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPS | 1 | Craft | Compass + Depth Meter + Gold Watch @ Tinkerer's | — |
| Compass | 1 | Mimics / Crates | Underground/Ice Mimics (14%) / Wooden+Iron Crates | 14% / 2% |
| Depth Meter | 1 | Bats / Crates | Giant Bat, Bat, Jungle Bat (1%) / Wooden Crates | 1% / 2% |
| Gold/Platinum Watch | 1 | Craft | 10 Gold/Platinum Bar + Chain @ Table+Chair | — |
| REK 3000 | 1 | Craft | Radar + Tally Counter + Lifeform Analyzer @ Tinkerer's | — |
| Radar | 1 | Surface chests / Crates | Surface chests / Wooden Crates (2%) | 5% / 2% |
| Tally Counter | 1 | Dungeon enemies | Angry Bones, Dark Caster, Cursed Skull (1%) | 1% |
| Lifeform Analyzer | 1 | Traveling Merchant | Buy for 5 gold | — |
| Goblin Tech | 1 | Craft | Stopwatch + DPS Meter + Metal Detector @ Tinkerer's | — |
| Stopwatch | 1 | Traveling Merchant | Buy for 5 gold | — |
| DPS Meter | 1 | Traveling Merchant | Buy for 5 gold | — |
| Metal Detector | 1 | Nymph | Underground/Cavern rare enemy (50%) | 50% |
| Fish Finder | 1 | Craft | Fisherman's Pocket Guide + Weather Radio + Sextant @ Tinkerer's | — |
| Fisherman's Pocket Guide | 1 | Angler quest reward | Complete Angler fishing quests (3%) | 3% |
| Weather Radio | 1 | Angler quest reward | Complete Angler fishing quests (3%) | 3% |
| Sextant | 1 | Angler quest reward | Complete Angler fishing quests (3%) | 3% |
3 Materials & Locations
Each material listed with exact location, drop rate, and farming tips.
⚒ GPS
Location: Compass + Depth Meter + Gold Watch @ Tinkerer's
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Compass
Location: Underground/Ice Mimics (14%) / Wooden+Iron Crates
Drop Rate: 14% / 2%
⚒ Depth Meter
Location: Giant Bat, Bat, Jungle Bat (1%) / Wooden Crates
Drop Rate: 1% / 2%
⚒ Gold/Platinum Watch
Location: 10 Gold/Platinum Bar + Chain @ Table+Chair
Drop Rate: —
⚒ REK 3000
Location: Radar + Tally Counter + Lifeform Analyzer @ Tinkerer's
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Radar
Location: Surface chests / Wooden Crates (2%)
Drop Rate: 5% / 2%
⚒ Tally Counter
Location: Angry Bones, Dark Caster, Cursed Skull (1%)
Drop Rate: 1%
⚒ Lifeform Analyzer
Location: Buy for 5 gold
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Goblin Tech
Location: Stopwatch + DPS Meter + Metal Detector @ Tinkerer's
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Stopwatch
Location: Buy for 5 gold
Drop Rate: —
⚒ DPS Meter
Location: Buy for 5 gold
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Metal Detector
Location: Underground/Cavern rare enemy (50%)
Drop Rate: 50%
⚒ Fish Finder
Location: Fisherman's Pocket Guide + Weather Radio + Sextant @ Tinkerer's
Drop Rate: —
⚒ Fisherman's Pocket Guide
Location: Complete Angler fishing quests (3%)
Drop Rate: 3%
⚒ Weather Radio
Location: Complete Angler fishing quests (3%)
Drop Rate: 3%
⚒ Sextant
Location: Complete Angler fishing quests (3%)
Drop Rate: 3%
4 Optimal Collection Route
Follow this order to minimize backtracking and maximize efficiency.
① Buy from Traveling Merchant
Check every morning — buy Lifeform Analyzer (5g), Stopwatch (5g), and DPS Meter (5g) when available. These cannot be farmed any other way.
② Angler Quests (The Long Grind)
Do 1-2 Angler quests daily. You need Fisherman's Pocket Guide, Weather Radio, AND Sextant — each 3% reward. Expect 30-60 quests for all three.
③ Nymph for Metal Detector
Use Lifeform Analyzer to spot Nymphs disguised as Lost Girl Underground. 50% drop rate for Metal Detector — use Hunter Potion to reveal them.
④ Dungeon for Tally Counter
Farm Angry Bones / Dark Casters / Cursed Skulls in Dungeon (1% Tally Counter). Also grab Compass from Mimics if you haven't yet.
⑤ Underground for Compass + Depth Meter
Kill Mimics (Underground/Ice) for Compass (14%) → Kill Bats for Depth Meter (1%) or fish Wooden Crates (2%)
⑥ Craft and Assemble
Craft GPS (Compass+Depth+Watch) + REK 3000 (Radar+Tally+Analyzer) + Goblin Tech (Stopwatch+DPS+Detector) + Fish Finder (3 Angler items) → Combine ALL → PDA
5 ⚠ Gotcha Tips — Don't Waste Your Time
These mistakes will waste hours. Read this before you start.
The 3 fishing info items each have 3% quest reward rate. You might get duplicates. There is no bad luck protection. Keep doing quests daily — never skip.
Lifeform Analyzer, Stopwatch, and DPS Meter appear randomly on the Traveling Merchant. Check EVERY morning. Can take 10-20 in-game days to see all three.
You need 10 Gold or Platinum Bars + 1 Chain for the Watch. Don't sell your Gold/Platinum early game — you'll need it.
Many players sell Compass, Depth Meter, or Radar. DO NOT SELL — you need every single one for the PDA. Store them in a chest if you must.
6 🎁 Free Benefits — Loot You Pick Up Along the Way
While collecting materials, you'll pass through biomes full of valuable drops. Don't leave empty-handed.
While doing daily quests: Catch crates (valuable loot), find fishing-exclusive items, and build resources for potions (Ebonkoi, Prismite, etc.).
While hunting Nymphs: Explore deep caves for heart crystals, underground cabins (chests), and rare ores. Lifeform Analyzer also shows ALL rare enemies.
While in Dungeon: Get Armor Polish and Nazar (Ankh Shield!), find Muramasa (Zenith/Night's Edge), and collect Bones.
Mimics drop Compass but also give excellent loot: Titan Glove, Philosopher's Stone, Cross Necklace, and gold. Use Mimic statues for AFK farms.