King Slime is a boss that has three ways of being encountered. It has a 1:300 chance to spawn randomly in the two outer thirds of the map, it can be summoned with a Slime Crown, or after defeating enough slimes during a Slime Rain.
When damaged, Blue Slimes and Spiked Slimes (Expert Mode only) will break off of it and the King Slime itself progressively shrinks in size. It drops a random piece of the Ninja Set upon death.
King Slime is not immune to lava. Dynamite works very well against it, but is difficult to immobilize correctly as King Slime is large, difficult to trap, and can teleport.
Tactics
An advisable strategy for beginners is to make a small box in the ground with the top open. When King Slime comes, if the player stays inside the box, King Slime WILL NOT be able to touch the player and the only problem will be the blue slimes, which will easily die to the Muramasa or other swords.
A different but equally effective method for beginners is to build ropes straight up at least 35 blocks high (although you can go higher to give yourself some margin of error), and attack the King Slime from the top of the rope tower with ranged weapons. The King Slime cannot jump high enough to hit you when you are at the top of the ropes, and it can't teleport to you when you are on rope, so you are safe from all damage caused by the King Slime or the blue slimes it spawns. (No longer works in 1.4.0.1)
Another tactic is the hit-run tactic, means approach the King slime and get a few good blows and retreat when it is about to jump. While retreating, you could hit it with long-range weapons like the Bow.
An alternate strategy is to make a T shaped tower at least 11 blocks tall, as shown in the gallery. At this height, ground-based mobs can't touch the player and even King Slime can't get itself into the "airlock." However, a weighted weapon or a boomerang may be needed if King Slime is still able to cause damage.
Place two blocks above the player's head with a two block space in between and the King slime cannot reach the player, (however the blue slimes that are knocked off of the King Slime can still reach you). The player can then swing at it from all directions.
King Slime can't swim, so a good idea would be to make a deep pool (About 5 blocks deep) and make it at least 10 blocks long. The King Slime will be under water, while the blue slimes float up to the surface of the pool. This makes it possible to kill the King Slime while avoiding the blue slimes until the end of the battle. Breathe using a breathing reed, or you can just stay underwater if you have enough HP to spare. (King Slime now floats as of 1.0.5) Note: Most of these methods are not very effective due to the 1.3 patch, thanks to the devs giving him the

ability to teleport. Still, a Minishark may work properly with Hermes Boots or Spectre Boots.
However since he needs blocks to teleport to, you can use a massive chain of ropes and he will not be able to reach you. The fight can be easily done with ranged weapons. (King Slime now teleports up ropes as of 1.4.0.1)
Trivia
- King Slime is similar to a lot of other bosses from other games:
- In Ninja Gaiden, one of the first bosses is a giant slimy monster that devours you. If you look closely in the center of the King Slime you'll see there is a ninja trapped inside. Armor that resembles Ryu's is the one that King Slime drops, so it might be a reference to that boss. While the King Slime jumps it seems like the ninja moves along with the slime.
- King Slime was also the name of a boss in the MMORPG Maplestory, which Terraria shares other elements with.
- There is also a rare monster called a "King Slime" in the Dragon Quest Series, although it bears little resemblance to Terraria's.
- This is the largest slime in Terraria.
- When defeated, it will always drop the Solidifer, an essential tool to convert excess Gel into construction materials and to make slime-themed furniture.
- The Dryad will not spawn after the defeat of the King Slime.
- Despite the boss being a slime, it won't drop gel. The Blue Slimes it spawn does drop Gel.
- The Slime Gun and Slime Hook can't drop together.
- King Slime is very effective at trying to get different souls, as he spawns loads of slimes that still drop the souls and the Amarok for an excellent early/mid hardmode yoyo.
Update Info
- Can now teleport up ropes.
- King Slime now drops Royal Gel upon death if in expert mode.
- Will spawn once 150 slimes (75 if King Slime has been defeated before) have been killed during Slime Rain.
- Sprite changed.
- Can now warp to the player when stuck.
- King Slime now drops 5 new items.
- King Slime has the same chance of spawn rate even on a Hallowed Desert.
- Can now be spawned using Slime Crown.
- Multiple King Slimes should no longer spawn simultaneously.
- Now floats in liquids and doesn't make a splash sound when hitting water.
- Added to the game.
See also
The hardmode version Queen Slime.
Gallery