Guide:Surviving in the Dungeon
After defeating Skeletron in a world, the player will gain access to the full Dungeon. This place contains a lot of items and weapons that will ease progression, so players will usually explore it before fighting the Wall of Flesh.
In Pre-Hardmode, the Dungeon is usually done after exploring the The Corruption or The Crimson, before or after the Jungle, and before the Underworld.
In Hardmode, the Dungeon will start spawning much stronger enemies after defeating Plantera, and the player will find the Cultists at the entrance after Golem has been defeated.
Pre-Hardmode
Recommended Gear
While Skeletron can be defeated at any time, it is recommended to do so with the gear obtained from the Jungle and the Corruption/Crimson, as it is the best available at this point.
Armor
- Melee and Ranged players benefit equally from Crimson armor. (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Fossil armor is the only ranged-oriented set at this point, but its mediocre stats mean it is not worth spending extra effort to obtain if it is not already in the player's possession.
- The Corruption exclusive Shadow armor trades the regeneration and the small damage upgrade from Crimson armor for much higher movement and critical strike chance bonuses.
- Meteor or Jungle armor are the best for Magic users. The former combines very well with the
Space Gun, while Jungle armor works better with other weapons.
- The Wizard set with the
Wizard Hat and
Diamond Robe provides higher stat buffs than both armors but loses in defense.
- The Wizard set with the
- Summoners can use Bee armor(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) to maximize minion power, or (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Obsidian armor to focus on whips.
Weapons
- Melee players should bring the
Volcano,
Blade of Grass, or
Bee Keeper as swords. The
Amazon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or the
Hive-Five(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are great options as yoyos. The
Ball O' Hurt or
The Meatball will help against crowds.
- For Ranged players, the
Minishark and
Boomstick are the best guns, while the
Bee's Knees(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and
Molten Fury are the best bows. Meteor Shot bullets will work well due to their piercing and bouncing abilities.
- Mages can quickly obtain the
Water Bolt from the shelves with books on them. Other weapons like the
Diamond Staff,
Vilethorn or
Crimson Rod can be used as secondary weapons.
- A Summoner can use the
Vampire Frog Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or the
Hornet Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions), as earlier minions will not deal enough damage at this point. A Whip will help, with the strongest option being
Snapthorn(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). Summoners should focus on obtaining Cobwebs and Bones to craft a
Spinal Tap(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions).
Accessories
Rocket Boots or their upgrades, variants of the
Cloud in a Bottle and, if playing in Expert Mode, the
Shield of Cthulhu(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are essential for movement.
Stinger Necklace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) gives a rather significant boost to weapons with added survivability bonuses. One can stack it with a
Shark Tooth Necklace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) for increased boosts.
Magic Cuffs are always good when exploring as a mage.
- The Expert mode exclusive
Brain of Confusion(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and
Worm Scarf(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are always good for survivability.
- If playing on
Desktop version,
Console version, and
Mobile version, the Bone Glove is not a weapon but an accessory, and may provide useful supplementary attacks. (Expert mode and above)
Other
- At least 300 Health and 200 Mana.
- A stack of torches and
Healing Potions.
- A decent Hook for easier exploration.
- A
Hunter Potion can help with discovering
Dungeon Slimes. A
Lifeform Analyzer(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) can also assist one in informing players of off-screen Dungeon Slimes.
- A
Dangersense Potion(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) makes spotting hidden passages trivial, in addition to neutralizing traps.
Location
The Dungeon can be found on the far left or far right of the map, opposite to the Underground Desert chasm and Jungle, and in the same side of the Snow biome. If you find a desert with a chasm, the dungeon can be found on the other side of the map. If the player tries to enter the Dungeon before Skeletron is killed, the Dungeon Guardians will instantly kill them when reaching the Underground depth.
Exploration
Just like the Jungle, the Dungeon has a much higher spawn rate than a normal biome, so it is easy to get overwhelmed by enemies. It is better to progress slowly, taking out any Water Candles seen as they will boost the spawn rate even further. The player will have to deal with many Angry Bones, as well as
Cursed Skulls and
Dark Casters. The latter two have the ability to attack through blocks, so caution is still needed when taking cover.
Blazing Wheels and Spike Balls can also spawn. They cannot be killed and will do a lot of damage even if they do not directly target the player.
Dart Traps are also more common than in other biomes, so at first, a
Dangersense Potion(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) might be useful.
Unlike other biomes, the Gold Chests found in the Dungeon are locked, so
Golden Keys will be needed to open them. They are a guaranteed drop from
Dungeon Slimes and a rare drop from other enemies. They can also be found in the occasional Wooden Chest, and be obtained with a small chance from breaking Pots. When looted, they contain a unique weapon, the Cobalt Shield accessory; they also sometimes contain the
Shadow Key as a secondary loot, which is needed to open Shadow Chests in The Underworld; as well as the standard Cavern loot. Special chest loot is spawned in a sequential order, so if the player is missing some items it may be wise to ensure none have been skipped in earlier rooms or splits in the path (see discussion).
The player may also find the Bound Mechanic. She can be saved by right clicking her, and then she will move in to an empty house if it is available. If she is killed after being released, she will still respawn like any other NPC. She provides access to all of the ingredients of a Grand Design, which allows total control over wires.
Other Tips
- When there are forks in the corridor, closing them with blocks can stop the Angry Bones from overwhelming the player from behind or other directions. This makes it easier to clear one path at a time.
- False walls often hide passages through the dungeon. Mining through them can be greatly sped up by rapidly using any grappling hook against them.
- Moving far enough off-screen causes an inconvenient Spiky Ball or Blazing Wheel to despawn and disappear.
- Spikes are very dangerous; they inflict a lot of damage and apply Bleeding, but can be removed with a Pickaxe. Higher pickaxe power will help you mine them faster.
- Dungeon Bricks can be mined, allowing for new entrances to the Dungeon through a safe mineshaft, or a quick retreat/resupply in case of danger.
Dart Traps can be disabled by harvesting them with a Pickaxe.
- If the player wants the Ankh Shield, it is better to farm for the
Nazar in Pre-Hardmode as it is more difficult to get it from the Post-Plantera Dungeon.
- It may be a good idea to prepare a large open area for farming monsters before defeating Plantera, before the difficulty increases.
Post-Plantera Dungeon
The dungeon becomes much more dangerous with the defeat of Plantera. When it is defeated, the message "Screams are echoing from the dungeon..." will appear and much stronger enemies start to spawn. Additionally, enemies with more than 100 health have a small chance of spawning a Dungeon Spirit, which drops
Ectoplasm when killed. This new material is used for the Spectre armor, which is the best available for mages until the Moon Lord has been defeated. It is also used to summon the Pumpkin Moon and Frost Moon. The Biome Chests found previously can now be opened with their respective Keys.
Recommended Gear
Like every other Hardmode environment, it is better to go in well prepared. It is not a bad idea to defeat the Golem in the Jungle Temple beforehand, as the boss is not too difficult but it drops very good weapons and accessories.
- Melee users should use Chlorophyte or Turtle armor. If Golem has been defeated, the Beetle armor, Shinobi Infiltrator armor, or Valhalla Knight armor should be used. The latter two grants massive boosts to its associated Tavernkeep's sentries, which work very well in the Dungeon.
- The best available weapons are the
Terra Blade,
Death Sickle,
The Eye of Cthulhu(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or the
Possessed Hatchet. The
Light Disc and the
Shadowflame Knife(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are decent weapons to use in the Dungeon
- It is not a bad idea to bring a flask, which lasts for a long time, is cheap to craft, and does not expire upon death. Extremely helpful options include the
Flask of Nanites, and the
Flask of Venom.
- The best available weapons are the
- Ranged users have access to the Shroomite armor, which is the best set available for them. If Golem has been defeated, the Red Riding armor is also a very powerful alternative.
- The
Venus Magnum and the
Megashark with
Nano Bullets or
Crystal Bullets are very powerful options.
Chlorophyte Shotbow with
Holy Arrows and
Stake Launcher is strong against all enemies, while the
Pulse Bow(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) with
Venom Arrows are very strong against crowds. The
Tsunami and
Eventide(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are the strongest bows available.
- The
- Mages should use Hallowed or Chlorophyte armor until enough Ectoplasm is obtained. if Golem has been defeated, the Dark Artist armor can also be used as a powerful alternative to mage users
- The
Wasp Gun is great all-around since it pierces and homes on enemies, and can be greatly boosted with a
Hive Pack(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). The
Leaf Blower or
Spirit Flame(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) work best for single targets. The
Magical Harp,
Toxic Flask(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), or
Venom Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) are better against hordes of enemies. The
Nettle Burst can be used to attack through walls. The
Golden Shower is never bad to have. The
Rainbow Rod can also work because of its homing and controlling abilities.
- The
- Summoners should already have Tiki armor or Spooky armor.
- Their best Minion staves are the
Sanguine Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions),
Deadly Sphere Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and
Pygmy Staff, while the Desert Chest will additionally provide the useful
Desert Tiger Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). The best sentries are the ones that the Tavernkeep sells, and once the Ice Chest is opened, the
Staff of the Frost Hydra.
- The
Durendal(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) is the best whip available, along with the
Cool Whip(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). If Empress of Light or Pumpking have been defeated, the
Kaleidoscope(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or
Dark Harvest(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) are better to use.
- If using the
Desert Tiger Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), the
Firecracker(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) is the best whip to use.
- Their best Minion staves are the
Accessories
- Wings are a must have at this point in the game. Though, due to the Dungeon's confined spaces, one may disregard wings for increases in other stats.
Amphibian Boots(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions),
Spectre Boots, or their upgrades help a lot with mobility.
- If playing on Expert mode, the
Shield of Cthulhu(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) is very good to have.
- Any Emblem, the
Celestial Stone or
Celestial Shell(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) as well as any other combat accessories are always good to have.
- The
Charm of Myths can be useful when healing.
Ankh Shield is useful for negating the many debuffs the enemies inflict.
- Defensive accessories like the
Brain of Confusion(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions),
Worm Scarf(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or
Star Veil are always welcome.
Magic Cuffs or
Celestial Cuffs(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) are decent for regaining mana as a mage.
Access and Location
For fast access to the dungeon it is best to use a Minecart track or a
Teleporter. It is recommended to dig a tunnel down to the main part of the dungeon, so the entrance shaft can be skipped. Choose a farming spot carefully. Stay as close to the entrance as possible, so that it is easy to retrieve dropped items after death. The location should be protected from monsters spawning above. Last, but not least, choose a spot where there is more or less equal distribution of brick, slab and tiled walls for even enemy spawning (see below).
Enemies
Enemy spawns depend on the Background Walls of an area. A wall type contains its own variant of the Armored Bones, a Caster enemy, and a Skeleton with a ranged weapon. There is also a low chance that an enemy from another wall type will spawn as well.
Brick Walls
Blue Armored Bones will spawn on them. Compared to the other two, they deal the overall lowest damage but are also the hardest to kill, having higher health, defense and knockback resistance. They inflict the
Broken Armor debuff on hit.
Necromancers are the casters of the area. They teleport very frequently and their beams are very hard to predict, but unlike the other two they cannot attack through blocks. They inflict the
Slow debuff on hit, and have a low chance of dropping the
Shadowbeam Staff.
Skeleton Commandos use a Rocket Launcher to attack. The rocket is very strong and will explode on contact with any tile. They may drop their
Rocket Launcher when killed.
- Additionally, the
Paladin miniboss can spawn in these walls. It has a lot of health, defense and knockback immunity, making it very hard to kill. Its hammer attack also goes through blocks. Despite this, it is not very mobile, and it cannot attack while taking damage from a player, so these two traits should be exploited when fighting it. It may drop the
Paladin's Hammer and/or the
Paladin's Shield when killed.
Slab Walls
Rusty Armored Bones will be found in this area. They have the overall highest damage, and average health and defense. They inflict either
Bleeding or
Slow on hit, but never both.
Ragged Casters will appear. They shoot three homing projectiles that will inflict the
Blackout debuff, which will greatly reduce visibility. Because of their high damage and homing projectiles that go through walls, they should be prioritized. They have a low chance to drop the
Spectre Staff.
Skeleton Snipers carry a Sniper Rifle, and use it to shoot at players from far away. This attack deals massive damage, so the player should always watch out for them. They may drop the
Rifle Scope and/or
Sniper Rifle when killed.
Tiled Walls
Hell Armored Bones will spawn. They have the overall lowest health and defense stats, while their attack damage is average. They inflict the
On Fire! debuff which will deal a high amount of damage over time and will also stop natural regeneration.
Diabolists are the casters of the area. They shoot a fireball that goes through blocks. This projectile explodes, creating a large fire sphere that lasts for a few seconds and deals massive damage on contact. They should be killed as soon as possible, as their fire can limit the player's movement. They drop the
Inferno Fork when killed.
Tactical Skeletons use their
Tactical Shotgun to attack from a distance. While it does a lot of damage, they are unable to attack while being hit, so it will rarely get a chance to shoot if constantly attacked. They may drop their weapon when killed.
All Walls
Bone Lees and
Giant Cursed Skulls appear on all wall types. The former is very mobile and does a lot of contact damage, making close ranged combat dangerous. The latter acts like a normal Cursed Skull, with the added ability to shoot a projectile,They inflict the
Cursed debuff on hit.
Other Tips
- The
Wisp in a Bottle dropped by the Armored Bones should be used if obtained as it can keep the player's surroundings indefinitely lit without the need to use torches.
- Put Heart Lanterns and Campfires near any farming areas for faster health regeneration. Chairs ((Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)) and Honey baths can be used for extra healing when not fighting.
- When fighting an enemy, keep attacking for a second or two after they are dead, because Dungeon Spirits' spawning is random. The spirits fly around the player rapidly, which makes it difficult to hit them with small-projectile weapons.