Currently Pyrads are just Blaze clones. Here are some ideas I had to change that:

Spawn:

• From spawners (rare/structure specified)
• Naturally near Giant Weedwood Trees (rare)
• Naturally near or from Spirit Trees (common, although Spirit Trees themselves would be rare)

The way they spawn from Spirit Trees could be a bit complicated, it is covered in the issue regarding Spirit Trees #323. Basically, the Spirit Trees would have some sort of 'fruits' growing in their canopy. These fruits eventually hatch into Pyrads. They could have about 3 stages, like crops and then spawn the mob (like the Yellow Dotted Fungi do with the Sporelings).

Behaviour:

• They are hostile during night time and neutral during day (once the cycle is implemented).
• When neutral, they stand still like a block and don't glow or float anymore. Basically, they are asleep.
• Any hits on their shields will be deflected.
• Instead of the three projectiles they quickly shoot right now, they could do more of a shotgun attack, making the projectiles harder to dodge.
• They could use their staff for a special attack, perhaps a negative potion effect on the player.

New (very) rare drop:

• Pyrad Staff. This staff will be used for the day night cycle mechanism, and will allow the player to influence the daytime. See the issue regarding the Day/Night cycle #314

Pet baby Pyrads:

• Can be obtained through the Spirit Tree. Obtain one of the fruits in their early stage and let it hatch on some spirit logs. (This needs more work, otherwise it would be too easy once you have found a Spirit Tree)
• They sleep during daytime, like regular Pyrads
• They don't have Pyrad Shields or a Staff, but these items can be given to it by the player
• When Shields are given, it acts the same way as the shields do on regular Pyrads
• When a staff is given, they can be active during daytime (and then maybe inactive during nighttime?)
• Their projectiles don't hurt the player.
• Have more health than regular Pyrads, but do less damage.

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The idea is to add a bit more tactic to the Pyrads, and a bit more use to their existence. Furthermore, they should seem somewhar connected to the Spirit Trees, as they were intended to be some sort of nature spirit/guardian mobs.

I feel like the staff should drop from the elder pyrad, not the little ones. Just a suggestion.