📖 Portal Paraphernalia: So You Want to Swap Characters Mid-Game?
Portal Paraphernalia Guide
A comprehensive guide to character swapping in Don't Starve Together
What is Portal Paraphernalia?
Portal Paraphernalia is a special craftable item exclusive to Don't Starve Together used to upgrade the Florid Postern (spawn portal) into a Celestial Portal. This allows players to change their characters mid-game without world reset!
The Celestial Portal retains all the normal functions of the Florid Postern (including reviving ghosts in Endless mode) while adding the ability to switch characters by offering a Moon Rock Idol.
| Portal-Related Item/Structure | Don't Starve (Solo) | Don't Starve Together (DST) |
|---|---|---|
| Florid Postern (Spawn Portal) | Not present. Single-player worlds don't have a spawn portal. | Present in all DST worlds as the starting spawn point. Can be upgraded using Portal Paraphernalia. |
| Portal Paraphernalia | Not available. (No character-swap mechanic exists) | Craftable item that begins the portal upgrade process. Requires Celestial crafting. |
| Celestial Portal | Not applicable. | Upgraded portal that allows changing characters. Retains spawn/resurrection functions. |
| Moon Rock Idol | Not applicable. | Consumable item used at the Celestial Portal to trigger character change. |
Crafting Portal Paraphernalia
Important: Portal Paraphernalia cannot be prototyped at a normal Science Machine or Alchemy Engine. It's found under the Celestial crafting tab!
Unlocking Celestial Crafting
To craft Portal Paraphernalia, you first need access to celestial crafting. There are two ways to get this:
Method 1: Celestial Orb (Easiest)
- Find a meteor field (rocky biomes with meteor impacts)
- Locate and mine a Suspicious Boulder (a rounded moon rock boulder)
- Collect the dropped Celestial Orb
- Carrying this orb unlocks the Celestial crafting tab
Tip: The Celestial Orb works like a portable crafting station - you must be near or holding it to see celestial recipes!
Method 2: Celestial Altar
- Travel to the Lunar Island
- Find and collect broken Celestial Altar pieces
- Assemble the complete Celestial Altar
- Standing near the altar unlocks the Celestial crafting tab
Upgrading to the Celestial Portal
After crafting Portal Paraphernalia, you need to apply it to the Florid Postern and gather additional materials to complete the upgrade:
Step-by-Step Process
- Craft Portal Paraphernalia using a Celestial Orb or at a Celestial Altar
- Use (deploy) Portal Paraphernalia on the Florid Postern
- Add 20 Moon Rocks to the portal framework (can be added incrementally)
- Craft and add 1 Purple Moonlens
Crafting the Purple Moonlens
Resource Tips: Moon Rocks can be mined from meteor fields or the Lunar Island. Purple Gems can be crafted by combining a Red Gem and a Blue Gem at a Prestihatitator, or found from bosses like Dragonfly.
Character Switching
Once the Celestial Portal is built, you'll need Moon Rock Idols to actually change characters:
How to Change Characters
- Craft a Moon Rock Idol using the Celestial crafting tab
- Approach the completed Celestial Portal
- Right-click (use) the Moon Rock Idol on the portal
- You'll be taken to the character select screen
- Choose your new character and spawn back in the world
What happens when you change character:
- Your inventory items are dropped on the ground at the portal location
- Your map exploration and recipe prototypes are preserved (post-2018 update)
- Day count and world state remain unchanged
- Touch Stone usage is reset (you can use previously used Touch Stones again)
- Character-specific items may behave specially (e.g., Woodie's Lucy will become a regular axe)
Caves Limitation: The Celestial Portal cannot be used for character swapping in caves! Even if you build one underground, it won't function for switching. Always use the surface world's portal.
Tips and Strategies
Beginner Tips
- Prioritize Finding a Celestial Orb: This unlocks the crafting recipe and is typically easier than assembling a Celestial Altar
- Build the Portal in a Safe Location: Since your items will drop when you change characters, ensure the area around the portal is secure
- Collect Moon Rocks Early: They're needed for both the portal and idols - grab them whenever you see meteor fields
- Change During Daytime: To avoid night monsters interfering while you're collecting dropped items
- Empty Your Inventory First: Place valuable items in chests before swapping to avoid losing them in a rush
Advanced Strategies
- Character Rotation: Plan a sequence of characters for different game phases:
- Early Game: WX-78 or Wilson for easy start
- Mid Game: Wickerbottom for rapid prototyping
- Late Game: Wolfgang or Wanda for boss hunting
- Temporary Character Use: Switch to characters briefly for their unique abilities:
- Use Warly to cook special dishes then switch back
- Use Maxwell to gather resources with shadow workers
- Use Wigfrid to craft her exclusive battle gear
- Touch Stone Reset: Switching characters resets which Touch Stones you've used - strategic for long-term survival
- Gem Economy: Farm Dragonfly for purple gems to maintain a steady supply of Moon Rock Idols
Optimal Character Combinations
Early-Game Progression
Wilson → Wickerbottom → Wolfgang
- Start as Wilson to grow beard for Winter
- Switch to Wickerbottom to rapidly prototype and generate resources with books
- Swap to Wolfgang for fighting bosses with increased damage
Resource Gathering Focus
Woodie → Maxwell → WX-78
- Begin as Woodie for efficient wood gathering
- Switch to Maxwell to use shadow workers for mining and additional help
- Change to WX-78 to consume gears and become a powerful all-rounder
Food Management
Warly → Wendy → Wolfgang
- Use Warly to create powerful food buffs
- Switch to Wendy to explore dangerous areas with Abigail
- Change to Wolfgang to consume the food stockpile with the best efficiency in combat
Portal Materials Calculator
Calculate how many resources you need for your portal upgrade and character swaps:
Materials Needed:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I craft Portal Paraphernalia? I have the materials but can't find the recipe.
Portal Paraphernalia is NOT available in regular crafting tabs. You need a Celestial Orb (from suspicious moon boulders) or a completed Celestial Altar to access the Celestial crafting tab where the recipe appears.
Are there any downsides to changing characters?
The main downsides are:
- Cost of materials (Moon Rock Idol per swap)
- Dropping all your inventory items (which you'll need to pick up again)
- Loss of character-specific items like Woodie's Lucy or Webber's spiders
Notably, since a 2018 update, you no longer lose your map exploration or prototype recipes when changing characters.
Can I use the Celestial Portal in caves?
No. While you can technically build a Celestial Portal in caves, it won't function for character swapping due to technical limitations. Always use the surface world's portal for character changes.
Does upgrading the portal remove its ability to revive ghosts?
No. The Celestial Portal retains all the functions of the Florid Postern, including ghost revival in Endless mode. There's no downside to upgrading it in terms of functionality.
Can I get my moon rocks back if I change my mind?
No. Once resources are invested in the portal upgrade, they cannot be retrieved. The upgrade is permanent. If you add more than 20 moon rocks during construction, the excess will be returned to you, but the 20 required ones are consumed.
Are there any mods that change how character swapping works?
Yes, several mods exist:
- "Change Characters" Mod - Allows character swapping without building a portal (via hotkey)
- Moonrock Idol Recipe Tweaker - Makes swapping more expensive/challenging
- Movable Spawn - Lets you relocate your portal to a more convenient location
These can make swapping easier or more challenging depending on your preferences.
Does character swapping affect my Insight (skill tree)?
Each character has their own separate Insight progression. Changing to a different character and then back to your original one will reset that character's skill tree - which can be useful if you want to respec without penalties.