Guide:Walkthrough

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This is a Guide page.
This is a Guide page.
This means the page will walk you through a specific task, strategy, or enemy/boss fight.
Status: Subject to revision (This Guide does not meet certain quality standards and may be heavily outdated.)
  • Issues:
     • Most likely outdated since 1.4.
     • Please do not use this guide. It has not been updated since 1.4 (not much), and it is contradictory. Remember not to delete pre-1.4 content; move it to Legacy:Guide:Walkthrough instead!    Things to do:
     • General review.
     • Add Old One's Army sections.
    • For a simpler guide, see Guide:Game progression.
    New players may also want to refer to the Getting Started Guide.

    When progressing through Terraria, many players can be confused about where they should go and what they should do next. Terraria is an open-ended game: Players are not forced to go anywhere or do anything. You are free to set your own goals and follow through with them, whether you are a builder, fighter, explorer, collector, or whatever else. This walkthrough merely aims to provide a logical order of progression through Terraria’s many different biomes, generally in order of increasing difficulty. It is recommended, but there is certainly no requirement to visit each biome, or even in this order if you don't want to.

    If you are new to the game or unsure of what map size to choose for a fresh start, choose small. Even in a small world, a player can face long travel times, and it would still take hundreds of hours to explore every cave in a small world at a normal pace. If you're looking for a balanced experience and/or are already experienced in the game, choose a medium sized world, as it has more opportunities for exploration and loot but still allows for quick exploration. Large is suitable for long-term playthroughs or multiplayer games, providing the most space and opportunities for loot, but is not recommended for a new player.


    Starting Out

    On the creation of a new world, a helpful NPC (Non Player Character) will spawn, and he is called the GuideGuide. If you are new to Terraria, then chat with him and he will give you advice on different elements of your world based on what stage of the game you're at. Even if you are already quite experienced with the game, it is still a good idea to keep him around as he displays all available crafting recipes when he's given an item. He's also required for game progression, as he is needed to summon the Wall of Flesh far later in the game.

    Biome
    Forest
    BiomeBannerForest.png
     
     

    New players will almost always spawn in the Forest biome.

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Recommended Equipment

    Starting equipment

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources
    Notable Chest Contents
    Weapons:
    Accessories:
    Other:

    The landscape of a forest includes lots of grass, plenty of trees, several lakes ranging from small to large and, sometimes, Sunflowers. Dayblooms and Pumpkins (the latter of which is Halloween exclusive) can be found growing in this biome. During the day, this biome has the weakest monsters in the game, with peaceful slimes jumping towards the player and only attacking once provoked. Note that Goblin Scouts only spawn in the outer thirds of the map and that Pinkies are fairly rare.

    Occasionally, you'll find surface Chests which have some valuable loot in them, ranging from early-game buff and healing potions to mobility accessories to simple weapons.

    Beginning

    Your goal during the day should be to find some better starting equipment from your surroundings and build a small house to pass the night. Players might want to build sets of 3 houses to house later NPCs without having to worry later. (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Give the sets some distance to keep the NPCs happy.

    The first thing players should do is cut down several trees (using your Copper AxeCopper Axe, aim for the lowest block), as wood is needed for many things, then build a Work BenchWork Bench. From there, craft a Wooden SwordWooden Sword, and perhaps a Wooden BowWooden Bow, (alongside some Wooden ArrowWooden Arrows which players can soon upgrade to Flaming ArrowFlaming Arrows for extra damage). But, be sure to keep your Copper Shortsword as it will be used later. Or, you can keep it for sentimental reasons.

    It is also important to mention that there are multiple different types of woods, and each type of wood makes different wooden weapons. Of these woods, the wood from your Evil biome will make the best Bow or Sword, so while you certainly shouldn't explore the Evil Biomes at this point, if you run into them you can easily chop a tree or two to craft either the Shadewood SwordShadewood Sword and Shadewood BowShadewood Bow or Ebonwood SwordEbonwood Sword and Ebonwood BowEbonwood Bow.

    Because these wooden weapons are so cheap to make, its not a bad idea to craft a couple just to see if you can get one with a good reforge. Any decent reforge, such as Demonic or Powerful, can make quite a big difference, even on a weak weapon.

    If you're playing Journey Mode(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) (a 1.4.0.1(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)-exclusive game mode), you'll start out with some better equipment – you'll have Iron instead of Copper starting tools along with a Finch StaffFinch Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) (a weak early game summon weapon), 100 RopeRope and TorchTorches (very useful for exploration), Fledgling WingsFledgling Wings(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), a Grappling HookGrappling Hook, and a Magic MirrorMagic Mirror. As such, you can skip the wood weapons. You'll also have many more powers over your gameplay experience, ranging from time control to item duplication, which are further explained in the main Journey Mode article.

    Next, players should explore their surroundings. There are usually some ChestChests and PotPots on or near the surface near your starting point, which will often contain useful weapons, potions and materials.

    If you are lucky (a (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 10%/ (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 12.5% chance per chest), you’ll find some beginner weapons, such as the Wand of SparkingWand of Sparking(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or SpearSpear. The Spear can knock enemies back while the Wand of Sparking can set them on fire to deal extra damage. The Wand of Sparking can also be upgraded to the Wand of FrostingWand of Frosting(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) very easily if you can find a snow biome, only requiring 99 Ice Torches, which can also be used to craft Frostburn ArrowFrostburn Arrows. If you can find enough CobwebCobwebs near the surface (you'll need 20), you can also make a Wooden YoyoWooden Yoyo(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), which is finicky, but a solid starting weapon. While exploring, use RopeRopes and PlatformsPlatforms to reach high ledges, bridge chasms, and safely descend. Holding the UmbrellaUmbrella tool found in surface chests (which is also a large shortsword on the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version) allows for very slow fall, which is another way to easily descend long falls and avoid fall damage. You'll also likely find Recall PotionRecall Potionss, which allow you to teleport back to spawn; obviously very useful to help you get back once you're done exploring.

    Once you have explored your surroundings and cracked open all the chests and pots in sight, you should head to the Underground before night falls to continue your search for useful items and resources. There will also almost always be at least one cave entrance close by, signified by a massive domed hill with the cave entrance on one of the sides. If you don't find a cave entrance in the forest you spawn in, which can happen, you should be able to find cave entrances in other Biomes. If you find your neighboring Biomes dangerous to traverse through, you can always resort to simply digging down. At this point it's likely you've found enough bars (mostly Iron BarIron or Lead BarLead Bars) in Surface Chests and small pockets of ore that you'll be able to craft yourself an Iron AnvilAnvil and possibly some starter ore weapons. (You need a FurnaceFurnace to smelt the ores you mine into bars).


    Event
    Night
    BiomeBannerNight.png
     
     
    Duration

    9 in-game hours (9 real minutes)

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Recommended Weaponry
    Notable Resources

    Night will fall at 7:30 PM, 11 minutes and 15 seconds after you enter your world for the first time. It is signified by an obviously dark sky and a change in music. Slimes will stop spawning and those that are left from the daytime will become hostile, seeking out players to attack. In addition, two new enemies will spawn: Demon Eyes, a flying enemy which chases players, bounces off blocks, and turns slowly, often lingering around. Zombies also spawn, which will follow a basic pattern of slowly walking towards the player in hordes.

    Night has multiple effects on gameplay:

    • Fallen StarFallen Stars will randomly fall from the sky with a glowing animation, and can be picked up by the player and crafted into a variety of things. Note that these disappear after sunrise.
    • MoonglowMoonglow will bloom.
    • Town NPCs sell a variety of new items, such as the Arms DealerArms Dealer selling Illegal Gun PartsIllegal Gun Parts.
    • Town NPCs will remain in their houses and no new ones will move in.
    • (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Unique music exclusive to night in that respective biome will play in the Jungle, Ocean, and Space.

    Additionally, on the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version, two additional peaceful events can occur at Night. The Meteor Shower has a 1 in 10 chance of occurring each night and will show stars falling in the background. It's accompanied by an increased Fallen StarFallen Star rate ranging from a 200% to 400% increase, as well as naturally spawning Enchanted NightcrawlerEnchanted Nightcrawler(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) critters, which make for great bait early on. Lantern Nights, which feature lanterns floating up into the sky in the background, will also occur the night after defeating a boss or event for the first time, increasing the player's Luck.

    It is recommended to stay Underground (or inside your House if you built it) during night time until you are strong enough to deal with Zombie packs, as there is little to be gained and so much to lose for a new character during night. If you find yourself outside without a base to hide in or a cave to go down, you can simply build a box around yourself to hide for the night. A two-block wide hole on either side of the box should be enough for you to attack Zombies and gain some starter gear and money, but you can also simply choose to dig straight down, blocking the entrance of the hole to prevent zombies from following, and continuing to dig hoping to run into a cave so you can spend the night mining, as it's much more productive.

    As in important note: If you're not used to playing Sandbox building/mining games, it is easy to forget your greatest ability: the power to move blocks. If you're in a pickle, this can save you much more often than it can't.

    Fallen StarFallen Stars will often be found shooting down from the sky (and are even more common during Meteor Showers(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)) and are some of the most useful crafting materials at the beginning of the game. The most immediate weapon upgrade Fallen Stars make available is the Enchanted BoomerangEnchanted Boomerang, made with a single Fallen Star and a Wooden BoomerangWooden Boomerang (note that this crafting recipe is only available on the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version). Desktop version Console version Old-gen console version Mobile version 5 / Nintendo 3DS version 3 Fallen Stars can be used to craft a Mana CrystalMana Crystal, which increases the player's maximum mana by 20 and is consumed until the player reaches their maximum attainable base mana of 200. This is very useful as it allows you to get more use out of obtained magic weapons, for instance the Wand of SparkingWand of Sparking(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). As an alternative, they can be turned into Jester's ArrowJester's Arrows, which are some of the best arrows you can obtain at this stage of the game – they pierce infinitely and are unaffected by gravity, making them invaluable for fighting against groups of enemies. Against single targets, both Flaming ArrowFlaming Arrows and Frostburn ArrowFrostburn Arrows do more damage thanks to the debuffs they apply, and arguably more importantly, they're much cheaper. It's reccomended you save Jester's Arrows specifically for crowds, such as against crowds of Zombies or during events like the Goblin Army. Piercing weapons at this stage of the game are pretty rare, and if you find yourself in a situation where you need them and don't have them, it can easily create a problem, so try and save them if you can.

    There are some valuable mob drops you can find at night. Zombies have a 2% chance of dropping the ShackleShackle, which provides +1 defense. They can also drop the Zombie ArmZombie Arm, but only at a 0.4% chance. Demon Eyes will regularly drop the LensLens, a material which has a variety of uses.

    Once the sun rises and morning arrives at 4:30 AM, Night will end, causing Demon Eyes and Zombies to flee and the day to begin once again. At this point you'll be able to explore the world more, so ideally your routine should be heading underground during night and exploring in the day until you become powerful enough to ignore the day and night cycle and traverse when you please.

    Going Underground

    For a more in-depth guide on mining, see Mining Techniques.
    Biome
    Underground
    BiomeBannerUnderground.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Recommended Weaponry
    Notable Resources
    Notable Chest Contents
    Weapons:
    Accessories:
    Other:
    Enemy Drops
    Enemies

    The Underground can be identified by its background and music. It is the first layer below the surface. Copper/Tin and Iron/Lead deposits can be found in this layer as well as Silver/Tungsten and Gold/Platinum, though infrequently.

    The short depth of this layer (particularly on small worlds), combined with its limited rewards, means you will probably not be spending too much time here before moving on to the more lucrative Caverns. Copper/Tin is highly abundant, but players can easily skip them by farming cactus or ebon/shadewood equipment, or even simply going with nothing more than surface chest loot until they get enough Silver/Tungsten or Gold/Platinum that they can craft equipment out of that instead due to the former ores being notably weak. However, due to the lack of range and the slow speed of the Copper PickaxeCopper Pickaxe, it's likely worth investing in a Iron PickaxeIron/Lead Pickaxe just for the increased efficiency.

    While exploring the Underground (and, by extension, the Caverns), you might find Life CrystalLife Crystals: you can mine and use them to increase your maximum life by 20 (up to a maximum of 400). You can also stockpile Life Crystals and use them to craft Heart LanternHeart Lanterns, which increases life regeneration as long as you stay near to it. It's critical that you increase your max life, as it significantly boosts your survivability. That said, your first few crystals will also unlock various events: The first unleashes Blood Moons, the third allows Slime Rains, and the fifth allows the Eye of Cthulhu to spawn.

    It is in this layer that the player can start to encounter Underground Cabins. Once again, due to the Undergrounds short depth, it's more likely these will be found in the Cavern layer, but there is not much difference in loot and there are no items exclusive to the Underground Layer, so there's nothing to worry about missing. These cabins will contain Golden Chests, which can contain a wide variety of useful equipment, such as an ExtractinatorExtractinator, a Cloud in a BottleCloud in a Bottle, a MaceMace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and various potions and bars. These are the main things one should be looking out for during underground exploration.

    Biome
    Cavern
    BiomeBannerCavern.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (160)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Iron BroadswordIron/Shadewood Broadsword or equivalent, Iron BowIron/Shadewood Bow or equivalent, Wooden Yoyo or any of the surface Chest weapons.

    Enemies

    And only two of these three enemies can spawn in any given world:

    Enemy Drops
    Weapons:
    Tools:
    Armor:
    Accessory:
    Other:
    Notable Resources
    Notable Chest Contents

    The Caverns can be identified by their background. It is the second layer below the surface and is by far the largest pre-hardmode biome. The Caverns are divided into two halves. In the top half, lakes of water are found, while in the bottom half, lava is found instead. All pre-hardmode ores except Hellstone and Meteorite ore can be found frequently in this layer (Demonite Ore or Crimtane Ore rarely). Caves of Glowing MushroomGlowing Mushrooms can also be encountered.

    The Caverns are a massive biome with many useful items and treasures, and as such, players may find themselves spending a lot of time here. The main things to be looking for are once again Underground Cabins, in addition to the now more common RubyGems and Platinum Orehigher tier ores. The player will also likely accrue a lot of money while down here, especially if they hold onto things they intention of selling them.

    Although its monsters can be dangerous for a new player, the greatest threat in this layer may be the danger of falling into its deep chasms, frequently with the aid of the bats. Should you find yourself falling to death frequently, don’t forget there are a number of items that can break your fall: Cloud in a BottleCloud in a Bottle's (or equivalents) extra jump, Grappling any surface (with a Grappling HookGrappling Hook), including the ground you’re about to hit, or even an UmbrellaUmbrella. Pools of water (1+ block deep) and Cobwebs will also save you if you’re lucky enough to fall into them.

    This ever-present danger is closely followed by the devious and near-invisible traps sprinkled throughout the dark caves. A bold, fearless new player skipping heedlessly through the caves for the first time will quickly meet with a BoulderBoulder landing on their head, or even, a landmine powerful enough to destroy the surrounding terrain. Needless to say, tread with extreme caution, and take advantage of the Dangersense PotionDangersense Potion(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions). Upon spotting any trap or activating a Dart TrapDart Trap, be sure to mine either the trap itself or the Pressure PlatePressure Plate. If one has no Dangersense Potions, they can also simply keep any item that uses wiring, such as the afformentioned Dart Traps or Pressure Plates in their Hotbar, as holding it will allow one to see wiring, which gives away where the traps are.

    Of course, the easiest, and likely best method of avoiding the falls, the traps, and even the enemies is to use generous amounts of light sources. Torches are obviously the most common source of light, but there are alternatives. Items such as the Mining HelmetMining Helmet, MagiluminescenceMagiluminescence(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and Shine PotionShine Potions, all provide light directly on top of the player, whereas items like the Flare GunFlare Gun and GlowstickGlowstick offer a source of ranged light. The former three provide supreme convenience, as with light constantly directly on top of you, you never have to worry about not being able to see, whereas the latter 2 can allow one to light up an area without having to approach. All of them also allow one to see underwater, where torches will not work.

    While alternate light sources certainly can aid in easing exploration, all but the MagiluminescenceMagiluminescence(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and the Mining HelmetMining Helmet are temporary, making torches still useful for revisited areas. The Mining Helmet, while permanent, is a weak gear choice and best replaced when acquiring a new set of armor for that armors set bonus. For those wanting to avoid placing torches, the Magiluminescence provides ample light, and unlike the Mining Helmet, is very useful and remains viable for much of the game due to its acceleration bonus, a rare trait among mobility accessories. This acceleration boost is especially helpful in the tight Cavern spaces where other Movement Accessories, such as the Hermes BootsHermes Boots, struggle to build up speed. Even better, the Magiluminescence is craftable pre-boss with just 5 TopazTopaz and 12 Demonite BarDemonite/Crimtane Bars (36 ore); the ore even glows, making it easy to find. It’s an excellent early-game upgrade, and if you're a new player struggling underground, crafting the Magiluminescence is highly recommended.

    While exploring, the Skeleton MerchantSkeleton Merchant(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) may show up. He sells a plethora of useful things, such as GlowstickGlowsticks, Torches, Spelunker GlowstickSpelunker Glowsticks(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), surface chest loot like the Wand of SparkingWand of Sparking(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and Yoyo-related items such as the Red CounterweightRed Counterweight(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). He also sells a unique type of arrow in the Bone ArrowBone Arrow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions).

    Note that should you descend too far, you will actually find yourself in the Underworld. This will be marked by a change in music and background, and its enemies will start spawning, which you probably won’t want to face at this stage.

    There are many helpful tools to be found, ores to be mined, and resources to be collected in this layer. One of the first things to make is certainly a Grappling HookGrappling Hook simply because it is trivially easy to craft thanks to Ruby HookGem Hooks. Otherwise, the most important things to find are likely Life CrystalLife Crystals for reasons mentioned before, a pair of Hermes BootsHermes Boots, and a Cloud in a BottleCloud in a Bottle. The latter two, in conjunction with a Grappling hook and potentially a MagiluminescenceMagiluminescence(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), serve the important purpose of bolstering mobility when it's very much needed. Another important find would be the Magic MirrorMagic Mirror, which can substitute as an infinite form of the Recall PotionRecall Potion, so you no longer need to worry about running out.

    It's important to note that all of the loot listed above that is found in chests (Hermes Boots, Cloud in a Bottle, Magic Mirror) can be found elsewhere. If you cannot find any of the above listed items in the caves below the forest you spawn in, you can simply explore left or right and find an equivalent (further explained in the "Beyond the Forest" section below).

    In terms of weapons a player may want to craft a Sapphire StaffGem Staff, an upgraded Gold BowBow or Platinum BroadswordBroadsword, and if they afford it, weapons out of the Demonite BarEvil Biome ore. There are also various weapons that can be found in the caverns either in chests or as drops from enemies, such as the ShroomerangShroomerang(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and the MaceMace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions).

    A quick note on armor: Because of set bonuses, it is wise to try and complete an armor set rather than mixing and matching different pieces. Because of how Defense works, there isn’t a huge benefit from upgrading from one armor set to the next. The Copper armor set, for example, reduces damage taken by 3, Iron armor reduces damage by 5, so the difference in damage reduction is only 2, which is barely noticeable. Yet to complete the Iron armor set requires 225 ore, which represents a significant amount of mining time. It is therefore recommended to mine Silver or Tungsten Ore for the armor because they are good enough to take on the first bosses, are significantly faster to complete than Gold or Platinum, and allows you to save the latter for Weapons and Tools. If one is worried about the lack of defense, it should be noted that the damage reduction difference between the 4 different ores is practically negligable. The circumstance in which the difference is largest is on a world with both Silver and Platinum ore, as the Defense difference between the armors is a total of seven. Even in this circumstance, while it certainly could be beneficial to get the Platinum armor, it is still mostly unnecessary.

    Events

    Events happen randomly as the player is traversing through the game, though some have certain criteria that need to be met in order to occur (for instance, a Blood Moon cannot occur until a player has at least 120 max health). Some events can also be summoned, and others can only be summoned and insetal will not occur randomly. These events can last either a full day/night, a random indeterminate amount of time, or will last until the player defeats them.


    Event
    Rain
    BiomeBannerRain.png
     
     
    Chance

    16.6% every day (approx. every six days)

    Duration

    24 in-game hours (24 real minutes)

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Enemies
    Enemy Drops

    Rain occurs randomly and affects all surface biomes for its duration. Most enemies are only visually different from the normal enemies and behave exactly the same. The Flying Fish are the only one with any differences, but are still essentially a slower version of the Demon Eye. When a player is in a Snow biome during Rain, it appears as a Blizzard, though this doesn't provide any exclusive loot until Hardmode. If Rain happens at the same time as a Windy Day(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) it appears as a Thunderstorm(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) with exclusive music.

    Effects of rain:

    • +20% Fishing Power while rain is active, regardless of location.
    • WaterleafWaterleaf blooms, meaning mining it up will can also drop Waterleaf Seedsseeds which can be replanted.
    • Increased frequency of WormWorms in Forest biomes.
    • Town NPCs will remain in their houses as if it were night.
    Event
    Windy Day(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
    BiomeBannerWindyDay.png
     
     
    Chance

    When wind reaches 20 miles per hour

    Duration

    Until wind drops to or below 16 miles per hour

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Enemies
    Enemy Drops

    Windy Days occur when the wind speed reaches over 20 miles per hour and end when it drops to or below 16. It is indicated by background objects such as banners, trees, and vines swaying in the direction of the wind, with upbeat background music replacing the regular music. Though the event is mostly aesthetic, with objects in the background and unique NPC quotes, there are some unique changes: Angry DandelionAngry Dandelions(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) will sometimes spawn, firing dangerous dandelion seeds in the direction of the wind. They do heavy contact damage, but they can only attack to one side of them, making them easy to kill if the player is on the opposite side of the wind direction. Additionally, Slimes will spawn drifting on Windy Balloons. Slimes and a variety of other enemies have a small chance of dropping exclusive Blue and Yellow KiteKites(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) when this event is active, which can be flown in the wind.

    LadybugLadybugs(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), used to craft Luck PotionLuck Potions(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), spawn in clusters frequently near towns and are very useful to catch to make farming in the game easier. Touching them (before catching them) will also give an invisible but useful luck bonus for several minutes. Be warned not to accidentally kill them with stray projectiles, as they inflict a negative luck penalty on the player.

    If Rain happens at the same time as a Windy Day it appears as a Thunderstorm with exclusive music and visuals.

    Event
    Blood Moon
    BiomeBannerBloodMoon.png
     
     
    Criteria
    1 player with at least
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (120), and it's not a new moon.
    Chance

    Given those criteria, 1 in 9 chance (11.11%) of occurring.

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources

    During a Blood Moon bunnies, goldfish, and penguins will turn hostile, and the spawn rate of all monsters on the surface will increase dramatically. Additionally, enemies will be able to spawn near NPCs and Zombies can force doors open.

    DeathweedDeathweed will bloom, and some NPCs will also sell special wares.

    If you do not wish to fight in a Blood Moon, you should probably seek shelter underground where you will be beyond its effects. But with increased danger comes increased reward.

    For more on how to deal with the Blood Moon, see Guide:Blood Moon strategies.
    Event
    Goblin Army
    BiomeBannerGoblinArmy.png
     
     
    Criteria

    Breaking a Shadow Orb or Crimson Heart, 10 hearts

    Chance

    1/3 for first invasion, 1/30 subsequently

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (200)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Space GunSpace Gun, Platinum/Demon/Tendon Bow with Unholy/Jester’s Arrows, Ruby/Diamond Staff, GrenadeGrenades, Molotov CocktailMolotov Cocktails(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions), Spiky BallSpiky Balls

    Recommended Armor

    Silver armorSilver armor or better

    Recommended Buffs

    Ironskin PotionIronskin Potion, Regeneration PotionRegeneration Potion, Thorns PotionThorns Potion, Archery PotionArchery Potion (if applicable), Well FedWell Fed

    The Goblin Army will invade at dawn on the map’s original spawn point. You must kill 120 goblins (plus 40 per additional 200+ HP player) to defeat the invasion. It can also be summoned with a Goblin Battle Standard.

    For more information, see Guide:Goblin Army strategies.

    There is also the summonable event, The Old One's Army, that is only accessible after defeating either the Brain of Cthulhu or Eater of Worlds, as such it is mentioned later in this page.

    Building a Base

    A typical base
    For an in-depth guide on building bases, see Guide:Bases.

    Once you’ve filled your inventory with blocks and loot, you may want to consider starting to build a base, as now you have some building materials and money to buy things. A base can take anywhere from a single in-game day to more than an in-game week to complete, depending on the player's tastes. It is not necessary, however, to build the entire base right away. Waiting to build the majority of the base can be advantageous, as it will allow the player to use the large stores of blocks they will end up gathering as a by-product of mining. Regardless of when or what the player builds, it is recommended to build houses for the Guide, Merchant and Nurse, craft a CampfireCampfire, and an area for storage and crafting before progressing. It is also wise to create a layout that can be easily added onto later as more NPCs are available and more storage is needed.

    You should have at least the following in your base before moving on:

    • Of course, houses for the Guide, Merchant and Nurse, as well as a valid empty house or two for other NPCs.
    • Several organized chests for item storage. You don't want to have a cluttered inventory every time you leave your base.
    • A campfire and sunflowers, both of which provide helpful buffs to those nearby. (Sunflowers also block the spread of Corruption and Crimson until hardmode, if you happen to have such biomes near your base.)
    • A crafting room, preferably with a chest or two in it to store crafting materials. Eventually, you're going to want a unified place for all your crafting needs. By now, you'll have a Work BenchWork Bench, a BottleBottle on that Work Bench, a ChairChair next to it, a FurnaceFurnace, an Iron AnvilIron/Lead AnvilLead Anvil, and probably a SawmillSawmill and a LoomLoom. A Chair and a Table adjacent to each other will serve as a crafting station for Watches. You should also leave some space for later-game crafting stations and more chests, but with just this setup, you'll be able to craft anything up to this point, from swords to robes to potions and building blocks.

    If you die a lot, consider using the tombstones produced to make a flat, spread-out tree-free graveyard. If easily accessible early on it is a simple way to check regularly for Abigail's Flower which is a powerful early summon. The Ecto Mist in a graveyard is also needed to forge a Gravedigger's Shovel which can speed up digging immensely, as well as special blocks that could be useful for building interesting towns. Try to distance the graveyard slightly from the rest of the base area, as nighttime enemies can spawn at anytime in graveyards, as can other powerful enemies.

    A Traveling Merchant will show up fairly early in game and sells many useful items, some of which are crucial for each class, such as the Gray ZapinatorGray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and the Code 1Code 1(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). He may also sell informational accessories like the StopwatchStopwatch(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), DPS MeterDPS Meter(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or Lifeform AnalyzerLifeform Analyzer(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). Note that the merchant will despawn if you leave the game world and depart at 6:00 PM, so if you are far from him, you have to use a Recall Potion or leg it if you want the goods.

    Beyond the Forest

    Once the player obtains strong enough weapons many mid-tier biomes open up. These biomes contain crafting materials as well as other treasures.

    Biome
    Snow
    BiomeBannerSnow.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Recommended Equipment

    Starting equipment

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources

    Your spawning location will often be close to the Snow biome. This biome will lies opposite the Jungle in a world, and on the same side as the Dungeon. It offers similar challenges and rewards to the Forest biome.

    Biome
    Ice biome
    BiomeBannerIce.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (140)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Platinum BroadswordAny ore Broadsword, Silver BowSilver Bow or better paired with either Frostburn ArrowFrostburn or Flaming ArrowFlaming Arrows, any Sapphire StaffGem Staff.

    Recommended Armor
    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents

    The Ice biome can be reached from the surface Snow, or from the Caverns, although sometimes there is no natural entrance from one or both. It ends where the lava layer begins.

    The snow biome is nearly identical to the Caverns in terms of difficulty; the only notable enemy to be woried about is the Spiked Ice Slime. It shoots a surprisingly accurate, high damage icicle projectile when in range, and if you get close to it, it will begin spewing many icicle projectiles at a shorter range, though it will stop for a moment if you hit it. Swords are a viable way to rid of these pests, but you'll need to get creative when approaching and approach quickly. A ranged weapon is much more effective though, and particularly Guns are most effective due to the projectiels fast speed making it difficult to miss. All other enemies can be dealth with trivially by simply swinging a sword at them; they will not be able to reach you.

    Frozen ChestFrozen Chests are slightly less common than Gold Chests and it can take a lot of exploring to find all the unique loot, though this process can be sped up with Spelunker potions. However, you should be wary of the thin ice pockets scattered throughout the biome to avoid a fall to your death.

    Of the unique Ice Biome loot, the Flurry Boots are identical to the Hermes Boots and the Ice Mirror is identical to the Magic Mirror. The rest of the loot is very notable however, and is at least relatively useful.

    • The Blizzard in a Bottle is a strict upgrade to the Cloud in a Bottle; the double jump it provides grants more height. The bottles can both be equiped at once to allow for even more jumps.
    • The Ice Blade is a simple sword that shoots a projectile, and is better than any Ore Swords one can craft.
    • The Ice Skates themselves improve acceleration on Ice-related blocks quite a lot, and more importantly are a required crafting ingredient for upgrading your boots, so hold onto them.
    • The Snowball Cannon is a good, albeit replaceable, early game ranged weapon with high knockback.
    Biome
    Desert
    BiomeBannerDesert.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (100)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Wooden Sword, Spear, Any thrown weapon (Shuriken Throwing Knife Grenade)

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources

    The monsters in the Desert are weak and can be easily dealt with using ranged weapons, although Antlions, Vultures and (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Antlion Swarmers may present a moderate challenge, they are rare to run into above ground. If you visit it, you can craft equipment from cactus, which is slightly stronger than Wooden equipment. (On (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions):) Cactus armor in particular gives a useful set bonus that causes the user to deal damage to enemies upon taking contact damage, similar to the Thorns PotionThorns Potion

    One of the various desert will contain an entrance to the Underground Desert, which is typically wide, deep hole. (On (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)) The entrance can also be smaller, ~1 block wide holes that if dug down will lead directly to the underground desert. Antlion Swarmers may try to fly out of the wide hole, as well as there being a risk of accidentally falling in; you can prevent both issues by building a bridge of solid blocks.

    If you are lucky, Deserts may contain a Pyramid, though they're not guaranteed to spawn in any normal world (though they are guaranteed to spawn in Celebration worlds). They'll be found either sticking slightly out of the sand or buried just underneath. Items such as the StarfuryStarfury and Jester's ArrowJester's Arrows can allow one to look through the ground and potentially spot a buried Pyramid. Either entering the Pyramids entrance or digging through the Pyramid's sandstone walls will bring you to a chamber full of pots, coin bags, and a chest with unique loot. The chest may contain either a Flying CarpetFlying Carpet, Sandstorm in a BottleSandstorm in a Bottle, both very useful accessories, or the Pharaoh's setPharaoh's set, a vanity set. Previously, the worst of these three was undoubtedly the Pharaoh's Set, as it is purely decorative and serves no purpose, however as of version (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)1.4.4.3, the Flying Carpet is actually the worst loot to be found. As of this update, the Pharaoh's Set can now be Transmuted into both the Flying Carpet and Sandstorm in a Bottle, and while the Flying Carpet is relatively useful, the Sandstorm in a Bottle is infinitely more so due to it being by far the best Double Jump accessory and being the hardest item to obtain for the extremely useful accessory Bundle of BalloonsBundle of Balloons.

    The Desert can also experience a unique event, a Sandstorm, in which Antlions are much more common, Tomb Crawlers can now spawn above ground, and the Sandstorm unique enemy Angry TumblerAngry Tumbler(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) can now spawn. You are also permanently afflicted with the Mighty Wind debuff as long as you are in the Sandstorm. Due to the event providing no unique loot at this stage of the game, it's recommended you simply avoid the desert if a Sandstorm is occurring. It should (literally) blow over in about a day (8 minutes).

    Biome
    Underground Desert
    BiomeBannerUndergroundDesert.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (200)
    Recommended Weaponry

    At a minimum: Silver BroadswordSilver Broadsword or better, Gold BowGold Bow or better paired with Jester's ArrowJester's, Bone ArrowBone(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), or Frostburn ArrowFrostburn Arrow's, an Emerald StaffEmerald Staff or better, or a healthy amount of Throwing KnifeThrowing Knives.

    Best choices: Light's BaneLight's Bane, Blade of GrassBlade of Grass, MinisharkMinishark, VilethornVilethorn, Bone Throwing KnifeBone Throwing Knives(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and GrenadeGrenades.

    Recommended Armor

    Cactus armorCactus armor, Silver armorSilver armor or better.

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents

    On (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), the underground desert saw a massive overhaul, it's practically entirely different. As such, this section is broken into 2 parts: One for Modern versions, one for Old-gen-console.

    Modern Console

    Much like an actual bug nest, the Underground Desert swarms the player with enemies, namely the countless Antlion Chargers and Swarmers, but particularly Antlion Larva can easily get a jump on you due to the abundance of Antlion Eggs you can shatter. You'll rarely get a moment of peace outside of sealing yourself up with blocks, but even that can be risky thanks to Tomb Crawlers. You have to stay on your toes and ready to fight constantly; dipping anywhere below 40 health is extremely risky thanks to Tomb Crawlers and it's recommended you box yourself in to heal up.

    The biome is deliberately generated in short but wide pockets, giving Antlion Chargers a unique advantage: speed. Antlion chargers are by far the fastest enemy in the game, and in wide areas they can blitz past you, dealing repetitive damage. It's still possible to stop them mid-charge, fast hitting weapons work best for this, such as the weapons labeled under the "Best" category in the above weapons section, but they're still dangerous regardless. This horizontal momentum can even give them extra jump height, allowing them to reach places that would otherwise be safe, so be weary. Despite this, the best strategy is definitely to be higher than them; their jump height isn't great and even though the Antlion Swarmers can fly, they are significantly less dangerous than the chargers and easily dealt with.

    The most dangerous part of the Underground Desert is not the enemies. Instead, it's the Rolling CactusRolling Cactus(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). It can deal as much as 200 damage to you, and can be triggered by projectiles, melee and pickaxe hits, and mining either it or the blocks below it. While they can also damage enemies, they take far less damage than you do. A ranged weapon and a Grapple makes clearing them out safe and easy, and it's highly recommended you do so. Stay clear of them as best you can, be sure to not fire blindly into new areas else you risk triggering one, and clear out the ones you see safely before moving forward.

    A key and abundant resource here is the Desert Fossils(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), which you can put through an Extractinator to get gems, ores, and coins, similar to Silt and Slush though with significantly more amber, as well as Sturdy FossilSturdy Fossils(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). Desert fossils are fragile, and crumble around a pickaxe -- bombs are the best method for harvesting them.

    Should you manage to traverse the underground desert; a slew of great spoils awate you.

    • Sturdy FossilSturdy Fossils(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) can be used to craft a lot of useful equipment:
      • Scarab BombScarab Bombs(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), great for effecient tunneling.
      • The Fossil PickaxeFossil Pickaxe(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), a slightly faster but equivalent Platinum/Gold Pickaxe (though slower than the similar Bone PickaxeBone Pickaxe).
      • Bone Throwing KnifeBone Throwing Knives(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), an upgraded Throwing Knife which is great at handeling enemies in tight spaces, making it great for caving.
      • Bone JavelinBone Javelins(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), which have a stacking damage overtime effect. A solid weapon for tanky enemies.
      • The Amber StaffAmber Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), the second best Gem Staff available.
      • Fossil armorFossil armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), a solid early-game ranger set.
    • The Thunder Zapper, the highest single target DPS of all early-game magic weapons, though it lacks piercing.
    • The Storm Spear, a very solid melee option.
    • The Ancient Chisel, boosts mining speed quite a bit and can be upgraded into a great utility accessory
    • The Magic Conch, allows you to teleport to either ocean instantly.
    • The Bast Statue, which offers a passive defense boost when placed in your arena.

    Old-gen console

    The Underground Desert is relatively tame compared to newer versions. Simple use of piercing weapons such as ShurikenShurikens, Throwing KnifeThrowing Knives, and most notably the GrenadeGrenades, should make traversal fairly easy. There is no unique desert chest loot outside of Pyramids.

    Biome
    Ocean
    BiomeBannerOcean.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (160)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Shadewood Sword, Bow, Rally, Gem Staff

    Recommended Armor

    Shadewood or Cactus

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents

    Oceans are always found at the edge of the world, usually next to beaches containing Palm Trees and decorative seashells and starfish. Water Chests are found typically in the deepest parts. New characters may have problems working in this biome because of sharks and a lack of air supply. Gills PotionGills Potions can help in this regard.

    This is also where you will find the Angler, who will help set you up for Fishing. (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) You will definitely want to do some fishing in this biome -- the varied loot can provide for a bit of money, and if you catch a Reaver SharkReaver Shark, you won't have to get a new pickaxe until Hardmode! On the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version, it's not as powerful and is pretty slow as a pickaxe, so it's best to avoid it. The Sawtooth Shark is an decent chainsaw though.

    For convenient fishing, set up a 30x10 lake near your base and/or pylons in Forest, Underground, Desert, Jungle, and Sky biomes. Having one near a base in the Forest will also give you a steady supply of Ducks for the Plenty Satisfied buff. Filling a lake can be done with a water-filled Bucket and placing blocks to duplicate the liquid.

    Biome
    Floating Island / Floating Lake
    BiomeBannerFloatingIsland.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (200)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Any Gun, a Ruby StaffRuby Staff or better, Thunder ZapperThunder Zapper(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), Demon BowDemon/Tendon Bow with Frostburn ArrowFrostburn Arrows, Thorn ChakramThorn Chakram, StarfuryStarfury.

    Recommended Armor

    Silver armorSilver armor or better

    If Struggling

    Meteor armorMeteor armor and Space GunSpace Gun, or any VolcanoMolten Equipment

    Recommended Equipment

    Gravitation PotionGravitation Potion, Featherfall PotionFeatherfall Potion, other buff potions

    Enemies
    Enemy Drops
    Biome
    Corruption
    BiomeBannerCorruption.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (160)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Silver Broadsword

    , Silver BowSilver Bow or Better, Enchanted BoomerangEnchanted/Ice Boomerang, any Sapphire StaffGem Staff
    Recommended Armor

    Ebonwood or Cactus

    Notable Resources
    Shadow Orb Contents

    The Corruption can be a challenging biome for players. Ebonstone can only be mined with a Nightmare Pickaxe, which can only be obtained after defeating the Eater of Worlds, but you can use Purification PowderPurification Powder, BombBombs and/or DynamiteDynamite to destroy it before you’ve defeated the boss.

    As soon as you think you can, it's recommended that you destroy 1-2 Shadow Orbs for you to obtain a Musket and another random item, as destroying the 3rd will summon the boss. This is surprisngly easy to do as soon as you obtain explosives and a way to cancel fall damage, as the enemies aren't hard to outrun. Movement accessories and a grappling hook should be all one needs to accomplish this. Outside of the shadow orbs, this biome doesn't provide much for the player until they can beat the biome-specific boss, so avoid it until then.

    The Musket serves as a great early-game weapon, and more importantly it allows the Arms Dealer to move in, who sells ammo and an extremely good early-game weapon in the MinisharkMinishark, though it's a bit pricey.

    For more info on dealing with the Corruption, see Guide:Surviving in the Corruption.
    Biome
    Crimson
    BiomeBannerCrimson.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (160)
    Recommended Weaponry for Exploration

    Silver BroadswordSilver Broadsword or Better, Silver BowSilver Bow or Better, Enchanted BoomerangEnchanted/Ice Boomerang, any Sapphire StaffGem Staff

    Recommended Armor

    Cactus armorCactus armor, Lead armorLead armor or better

    Notable Resources
    Crimson Heart Contents

    The Crimson is the other possible variant of the evil biome present in your world, instead of the Corruption. In general, the Crimson comtains slightly better loot as well as slightly stronger enemies. However, it is not a strictly "better" evil biome, as the Corruption provides some very useful items with no counterpart in the Crimson, like the Vilethorn, Worm Teeth (for Unholy Arrows), and the Band of Starpower.

    Like the Corruption, there is practically no loot to be found here outside of breaking the Crimson Hearts and the biiome-specific boss. Once again it is not very difficult to break these hearts as soon as the player has explosives, some movement accessories, and any way to cancel fall damage. Break up to two crimson hearts so as soon as you think you can.

    Cave generation is different to the Corruption: instead of deep shafts, it contains one big neuron-shaped cave that you can walk down more easily. If the Crimson presents in your world, Crimtane replaces natural Demonite spawns, and bosses would drop Crimtane as well.

    Crimstone can only be mined with a Deathbringer Pickaxe or better, which can only be obtained after defeating the Brain of Cthulhu, but you can use Purification PowderPurification Powder, BombBombs and/or DynamiteDynamite to destroy it before defeating the boss. It's recommended that you destroy 2 crimson hearts (but not the third) to obtain The Undertaker and another 1 of the 5 possible items, as destroying the 3rd will summon the boss.

    Much like the Musket, The Undertaker allows the Arms Dealer to move in, which is again useful in obtaining the great but pricy [MinisharkMinishark. The Undertaker itself however, is rather lackluster compared to the Musket. While certainly a good option as a weapon, it finds itself becoming obsolete relatively quickly, whereas the Musket can be useful for quite a while.

    For more info on dealing with the Crimson, see Guide:Surviving in the Crimson.
    Biome
    Jungle
    BiomeBannerJungle.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (160)
    Recommended Weaponry

    Ebonwood or Shadewood Sword, Bow, Gem Staff

    Recommended Armor

    Cactus, or Ebonwood or Shadewood

    Notable Resources

    The jungle is one of the more difficult surface biomes due to the above ground Jungle Bats and plenty of Pihranha infested waters to slow the player down. It's still easy to traverse, but requires a bit more equipment than other surface biomes.

    Important Disclaimer: The Underground Jungle is one of the most dangerous Pre-Hardmode areas, second to the dungeon and roughly equivalent to the Underworld. You should venture the underground Jungle after exploring the Underground Desert or Ice Biomes, or both. That said, it’s also one of the most rewarding, offering some of the best gear available in early Pre-Hardmode, as well as plenty of accessories that are needed for future upgrades. If you can defeat the Eye of Cthulhu fairly easily, you’re more than likely ready to brave the Jungle, but you'll want to play cautiously. If you’re dying frequently or feel overwhelmed, leaving and coming back later is a wise decision, just don’t put it off for too long.

    Biome
    Underground Jungle
    BiomeBannerUndergroundJungle.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (300)
    Recommended Weapons
    Recommended Armor
    Recommended Armor if Struggling
    Recommended Weapons if Struggling
    Recommended Accessories
    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents
    Weapons:
    Accessories:
    Other:

    The Underground Jungle lies directly below the surface Jungle, beginning at variable depths, and extends to the Underworld. It also contains multiple Bee Hives and a Jungle Temple, which can not be entered until Hardmode, although Temple enemies, like the Lihzahrd, may spawn, if the player is standing in front of Temple Walls.

    The primary threats in the Underground Jungle are the Hornet, which flies, attacks from range, and generally keeps its distance, and the Spiked Jungle Slime, which can launch venomous spikes at you from a surprisingly far distance. The easiest way to deal with these two enemies are with fast projectiles, which many of the recommended weapons have. Another very easy way to deal with them is to utilize blocks and hide, typically this is done by digging into/through the wall. You can then use weapons that allow you to hit them while they cannot hit you, such as Yoyos and the recommended Starfury. The Crimson Rod cannot be used through walls, but it can be set up and left to deal consistent damage to hornets as they fly around.

    You may note that there are bigger, more open spaces than in the Caverns. This, in conjunction with the Jungles higher spawn rates, leads to swarms of hornets attacking from all directions which can be very dangerous. If you are using low-tier gear when first exploring it, it is much safer to stay to the side tunnels and the edges of the large caves until you've acquired better gear and more life.

    Tunneling is especially safe in this area, unlike the Underground Desert, as the only enemy that can attack through walls that spawns in this area is the Man Eater, who is locked to a single position and can only extend so far. A patient player can easily traverse the jungle by tunneling and poking their head out when they see something they want, such as Jungle Spores or an easy to pick off enemy.

    If you get a bit lucky, a hornet can drop a Bezoar, which is immensely helpful in dealing with the seemingly ever-present poison debuff every enemy applies. It's highly recommended to be equipped as soon as you find it, especially on higher difficulties where the debuff is applied for much longer periods of time.

    For more information, see Guide:Surviving in the Jungle.

    As stated, the Jungle is extremely lucrative, with the open spaces leading to a higher spawn rate of Life Crystals, the enemy drops being used to craft very powerful equipment, and the chests offering valuable unique loot.

    The Stingers from Hornets & Spiked Jungle Slimes, Vines from Trappers, and Jungle Spores from the glowing spores found growing along the Underground Jungle Floor can be used to craft the following equipment:

    • Jungle armorJungle armor: A very strong Mage Set and the best available for Mages until Meteor armor (though Jungle armor does still outclass Meteor armor if one prefers not to use the Space Gun).
    • Blade of GrassBlade of Grass: A phenomenal melee weapon available pre-boss
    • Thorn ChakramThorn Chakram: The best boomerang available pre-boss
    • AmazonAmazon(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions): A phenomenal Yoyo available pre-boss.

    Outside of enemy drops, there's plenty of other unique loot found in both Underground Jungle chests and around the Jungle. The most notable finds are:

    • Feral ClawsFeral Claws: These will increase your melee speed, and can prove very helpful later on in hardmode as they have multiple upgrades. Hold onto extras if you find them.
    • Anklet of the WindAnklet of the Wind: This greatly increases your movement speed without having to be charged up, and can also be tinkered with Spectre Boots and an Aglet to make Lightning Boots.
    • BoomstickBoomstick: By far the best gun available up until defeating Skeletron and overall one of the best weapons in Pre-Hardmode
    • BezoarBezoar: Immunity to poison is extremely useful while you're in the Underground Jungle, and this accessory is very helpful when coming up against Queen Bee. This accessory is also needed to craft the Ankh Charm later on.
    • HoneyHoney: This will give you a healing buff upon touching it and is therefore very useful in boss arenas. Consider bringing Buckets along to pick it up.


    The Bosses: Dealing with the first three

    Once you’ve survived the first couple nights and started work on a base, you should begin preparations for the upcoming boss battles, as even if you do not wish to go looking for them, they will come looking for you.

    King Slime

    Main article: Guide:King Slime strategies

    King Slime is an entirely optional but fun boss: none of its drops are necessary for game advancement.

    King Slime can spawn rarely in Grass at the outer sixth of the world, by using a Slime CrownSlime Crown, or during a Slime Rain if the player kills 150 slimes (75 if King Slime has already been defeated). As with all monsters that can spawn naturally, the King Slime has a better chance of spawning while standing near a placed Water Candle or under the effects of a Battle Potion. It's extremely unlikely you will ever come across King Slime without planning to. King Slime is a good challenge for a beginning player and can be easily defeated by tactical use of terrain.

    Still, savvy players may want to defeat King Slime for the chance of getting a good Slime HookSlime Hook(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions), as it's better than any hook obtainable up to this point. In the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version, the Ninja HoodNinja armor it drops provides critical hit bonuses, useful for all weapons except summoning weapons, which aren't affected by critical hits. It also drops the Slimy SaddleSlimy Saddle(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions), a mount with a fast fall speed that is useful for dodging in boss fights even into Hardmode.

    Eye of Cthulhu

    Main article: Guide:Eye of Cthulhu strategies

    Although not required, the Eye of Cthulhu can be a beneficial boss to fight, providing Demonite OreDemonite or Crimtane OreCrimtane Ore without the need to mine for the respective ore.

    The Eye of Cthulhu takes the form of an enormous Demon Eye. His fight is composed of two phases. During the first phase, he spawns Servants of Cthulhu while hovering over the player. After spawning a few Servants of Cthulhu, he will make a series of three charges towards the player before repeating this process. When the Eye’s health falls below half (or 65% at Expert/Master mode), he transforms into his second phase. In this second phase, the Eye of Cthulhu no longer spawns Servants, but in turn follows the player more aggressively. His defense is also lowered in this phase, speeding up the fight as his health depletes faster.

    In Expert Mode, as the Eye of Cthulhu's health is drained in his second phase, he gains the ability to perform a chain of swift charges toward the player, which eventually replace his standard charges at low health. As his health is drained further, the chain of charges grows longer while decreasing the time interval between each chain. With a sliver of health left, the Eye of Cthulhu enters a state of permanent charging, making constant short lunges at the player.

    Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu

    After the Eye of Cthulhu is defeated, you should do the following:

    • Be sure the Dryad has a home: she sells Purification Powder, a less explosive option for getting to the Shadow Orbs and Crimson Hearts, and planters, a more convenient way to grow your plants.
    • Make sure to have at least 12 valid NPC houses and be sure you can access them without having to walk or ride a minecart all the way across the map. One way to do this is to have them linked by (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Pylons.
    • Start on your herb farm: Potions will be immeasurably helpful throughout the rest of the game.
    • Build a chest room: It's not a bad idea to have plenty of storage to put away items you'll find later on.

    After this, head to the Corruption or Crimson to smash a Shadow Orb or Crimson Heart. Smashing your first orb or heart allows (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) two events/ (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 1 event to occur in short order:

    Mini Biome
    Meteorite
    BiomeBannerMeteor.png
     
     
    Chance

    50% on (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) breaking a Shadow Orb or Crimson Heart (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) defeating the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu

    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (200)
    Recommended Weaponry

    VilethornVilethorn

    Recommended Armor

    Silver/Tungsten

    Recommended Equipment

    DynamiteDynamite, Sticky BombSticky Bombs, Gold or Platinum Pickaxe, buff potions

    Enemies
    Notable Resources

    (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) Smashing an orb/heart (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Defeating the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu will give a 50% chance for a meteorite to land the next night, (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) smashing additional orb/hearts (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) defeating additional Eaters of Worlds/Brains of Cthulhu after the first one on the same day will not increase your chance of a meteorite landing. However, if it is between midnight and dawn (04:30), the meteorite may land immediately. Meteorite mining can be challenging. You will be constantly harassed by the Meteor HeadMeteor Heads, and touching any part of what you are trying to mine will burn you. An Obsidian Skull can prevent this damage. Mining with a pickaxe is slow, tedious, and frustrating.

    (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) The DynamiteDynamite or BombBomb is perfect with a large blast radius. You can build a wood platform over the middle of the crater to make it easier to throw them as well as allowing you to easily deal with meteor heads coming from below. You can then quickly clean up remaining sections with Sticky BombSticky Bombs. Once there are fewer than 50 meteorite blocks in the area, it will cease to be a Meteorite biome and Meteor heads will no longer spawn.

    On Desktop version Desktop, Console version Console, and Mobile version Mobile, the player can kill 50 meteor heads to obtain their banner, which makes it easier to deal with meteorite biomes.

    Every third Orb or Heart you smash in the world will spawn either Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu respectively:

    Eater of Worlds

    Main article: Guide:Eater of Worlds strategies

    Eater of Worlds is a worm boss 50 segments long , each with their own health. When a segment in the middle is destroyed, the two severed parts will each become new worms, each with their own head and tail. This boss must be fought in the Corruption, and will disappear if you leave it at any point during the fight.

    You will not face an easier boss in Terraria than EoW, especially in melee. The reason for this is when you swing your melee weapon as the worm glides past, is running itself into your swing and damaging many segments, and rangers can use a demon bow and jester arrows for penetration,which is very useful, when Magic weapons at this point usually only hit 2-4 times per shot.

    In Expert mode, you may not want to take the EoW aboveground because its damaging ranged attacks will no longer be frequently blocked if you do so.

    Brain of Cthulhu

    Main article: Guide:Brain of Cthulhu strategies

    The Brain of Cthulhu is a boss that teleports and has two stages. In the first stage, it is invincible and surrounded by 20 Creepers. You must kill all the creepers before you can damage the Brain. In the second stage, you fight the Brain directly as it tries to charge you.

    In Expert mode, when you reach its second phase, the Brain creates three fake copies of itself. The copies become more opaque as the Brain loses health.


    The Late Pre-Hardmode

    The three late pre-hardmode biomes — the Underground Jungle, Dungeon, and Underworld — are all of the roughly similar difficulty and can be done in any order or concurrently.

    The Underworld

    Biome
    The Underworld
    BiomeBannerUnderworld.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (340)
    Recommended Armor
    Recommended Equipment

    Lava WadersLava Waders or Lava CharmLava Charm, Water Walking PotionWater Walking Potion, Obsidian Skin PotionObsidian Skin Potion, Obsidian SkullObsidian Skull or other obsidian accessory

    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents
    Fishing (Requires Hotline Fishing Hook, Lavaproof Fishing Hook, or bait found in the Underworld)

    The Underworld is found at the bottom of the world. The best items pre-hardmode can be found in or crafted from items found in this biome. Shadow Chests found here can only be opened with the Shadow Key, found in the Dungeon.

    The Underworld is the hardest pre-hardmode biome, and the last biome that players explore.

    The greatest danger working in the Underworld is, unsurprisingly, the wide expanses of molten lava. There are certain accessories which provide invaluable aid when it comes to traversing the Underworld, such as the Lava Waders and its upgrades, which allow walking on water. If you don't have these accessories, potions like Water Walking and Obsidian Skin are fantastic alternatives. When used, these potions allow you to walk on lava and become invulnerable to its damage respectively. There is no breath meter in lava, so as long as you have Obsidian Skin Potions, you can stay in lava indefinitely.

    For more information, see Guide:Surviving in the Underworld.

    Hellstone mining is quite time-consuming and is the main reason to spend time in it. You'll need an Obsidian Skull or better to prevent Hellstone ore and bricks from burning you. Abundant deposits of Hellstone spawn next to the buried Ruined Houses, and instead of going to burrow deep into the ash and build lava channels, mine the ones that spawn close to the walls. Monster spawn rates are low in the Ruined Houses, and the buildings prevent most of them from bothering you, except the Fire Imps and Bone Serpents which can penetrate blocks. You can block the Fire Imp shots with any weapon or projectile, including your swinging pickaxe.

    For more Hellstone mining strategies, see Guide:Mining techniques § Mining Hellstone.

    Be mindful that if you kill a Voodoo Demon, you better be ready to get under that Guide Voodoo DollGuide Voodoo Doll before it drops into the lava, or you will be in for a nasty fight you're not prepared for. Should you accidentally awaken the Wall of Flesh, you cannot escape. Using a Magic Mirror will result in your death.


    Deerclops

    Main article: Guide:Deerclops strategies

    Deerclops is not especially difficult. The important things to note are that it becomes invincible if the player is more than 30 blocks away from it and that it doesn't despawn when the player dies, but rather when a full in-game day has passed from when it spawned (24 minutes).

    It drops some good loot, but the main thing we want is the Houndius ShootiusHoundius Shootius(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). It's the first sentry available to the player, and will prove to be helpful in the upcoming event. Sentries are like minions, but they don't count towards the max minion count and are immobile. Every class should use at least one minion and one sentry as soon as they have them available, as there's no downside to using them.


    Old One's Army

    Main article: Guide:Old One's Army strategies

    The Old One's Army is an event that can be triggered after finding the Tavernkeep. The event focuses on defending the Eternia Crystal from the waves of enemies coming to attack it. To start the event, you must purchase an Eternia CrystalEternia Crystal(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and Eternia Crystal StandEternia Crystal Stand(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) from the Tavernkeep. You must then build a decently sized flat arena, as the event will not start if the surrounding area is not flat enough. The Taverkeep will also give you free Defender MedalDefender Medals(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), enough to purchase two sentries. It's highly recommended to purchase the Ballista RodBallista Rod(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and Lightning Aura RodLightning Aura Rod(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). These are the two easiest to use and generally best sentries for the event.

    The event has 5 waves of increasing difficulty. Enemies in this event drop a resource called Etherian Mana, this mana allows you to summon additional Tavernkeep sentries, costing 10 mana per sentry placed down. This mana disappears after the event, so don't try to save it. Any sentries not purchased from the Tavernkeep will work as they typically do in this event. Waves 1-3 are not very difficult, and should be used to set up defenses for the last two waves. On Wave 4 Etherian Wyverns begin to spawn, they're flying enemies that attempt to dive bomb the crystal. They need to be given priority over other enemies as they can evade the vast majority of sentry attacks and deal high damage if left unattended. On Wave 5 the Dark Mage spawns, the boss of the Old One's Army. It must be defeated for the event to end, so it needs to be given high priority. However, beware of focusing entirely on it, as the crystal could become overwhelmed while you're focusing on something else.

    Every class should get summoner gear for this event, as the majority of your damage will be coming from sentries. Obsidian armorObsidian armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) is an exceptionally good choice, thanks to its ease of access and high damage boosts. The Imp StaffImp Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) will also be extremely helpful, and should be acquired before attempting the event. The Houndius ShootiusHoundius Shootius(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) from Deerclops will also be helpful, as it will act as an extra sentry that doesn't cost Etherian Mana. Summoning PotionSummoning Potions are handy, but not needed.

    • Melee players will want the VolcanoVolcano for the Dark Mage and Wyverns. The explosion it causes also makes it exceptionally good against the hordes.
    • Rangers will want a MinisharkMinishark or BoomstickBoomstick for the Dark Mage and Wyverns. The Molten FuryMolten Fury with Jester's ArrowJester's Arrows will also be very helpful for the crowds. The Star CannonStar Cannon can be used if you're having a significant amount of trouble, but should be unnecessary.
    • Mages will want the Demon ScytheDemon Scythe, it shreds through the crowds, Wyverns, and the Dark Mage extremely well. The Crimson RodCrimson Rod is also helpful as a minor source of extra damage.
    • Summoners will want the SnapthornSnapthorn(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) in addition to the summoner gear already recommended by this guide.

    You should start the event by placing a lightning aura sentry at one portal, try to get the max radius possible by aligning the edge of the sentry with the portal. As you get mana continue to place lightning aura sentries (make sure they don't overlap much) until the grounded enemies die just from the lightning aura. After this put down ballistas closer to the crystal to help get the Wyverns. When the Dark Mage spawns (you can tell because its healthbar appears on screen) place as many ballistas as possible near the crystal and go fight it, making sure to still keep watch of the crystal to make sure it doesn't die.

    Upon clearing the event you will receive many benefits. You will be able to summon the Tavernkeep's Sentries outside of the Old One's Army event, which will help with the upcoming bosses. The Eternia Crystal will have dropped some Defender's Medals, which you should store away for safekeeping. The Dark Mage will have likely dropped an accessory, either the Squire's ShieldSquire's Shield(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or Apprentice's ScarfApprentice's Scarf(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) and a War TableWar Table(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). Only one of the accessories is needed, as they offer the same boost and their boosts cannot stack. The accessories both give a 10% damage boost to summon weapons and an additional sentry slot. This is exceptionally helpful for summoners as this is a very large boost for a accessory to give this early. The War Table is helpful as interacting with it gives you a free buff that lasts until death, this buff allows you to summon an additional sentry.


    Queen Bee

    Main article: Guide:Queen Bee strategies

    Queen Bee is not difficult to fight with at this stage in the game. Her charge attack is predictable and easy to dodge, and you can stand in the honey for a big healing boost.

    Many of the Queen Bee's drops may be better than what you already have. Even if they aren't, farming Queen Bee is a good source of income before Hardmode. Plus, the Bee mount is the earliest mounts that can fly, although it's slow on land and hates water.


    Skeletron

    Main article: Guide:Skeletron strategies

    To gain entrance to the dungeon, Skeletron must be defeated. To summon Skeletron, talk to the Old Man in front of the dungeon at night.

    Boss
    Skeletron
    Map Icon Skeletron.png
    Life

    Total: 5600 / 11,920 / 15,198

    Hand: 600 / 1560 / 1989

    Hands (×2): 1200 / 3120 / 3978

    Head: 4400 / 8800 / 11,220

    Damage
    Head:
    32 / 70 / 105 (Melee)
    68/ 102 (Skull)
    1000 (during the day)
    Hands:
    20 / 44 / 66
    Defense

    Hands: 14

    Head: 0 / 10+25 per hand alive

    Inflicts debuff

    BleedingBleeding

    Duration: 6-10 / 7.2-12.5

    Drops
    Recommended Life
    • PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
      (400)
    Recommended Buffs

    Skeletron is one of the most difficult pre-hardmode bosses, and is generally fought after Queen Bee. It consists of a head and 2 hands that fly around and follow the player.

    The head has the most health of all the segments of Skeletron and when it is defeated, the player would kill the whole boss, regardless if there are hands or not. The head will float around the player for a few seconds and then start spinning and chasing down the player. This repeats for the whole fight.

    The hands of Skeletron will mostly stay underneath the head, and will try to hit the player constantly. It is recommended to go for the hands first before fighting the head, especially in Expert and Master mode, where the head's defense will increase by 25 for the amount of hands that are remaining.

    The Dungeon

    Biome
    Dungeon
    BiomeBannerDungeon.png
     
     
    Recommended Life
    PlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.pngPlayerHeart.png
    (400)
    Recommended Weapons
    Recommended Armor
    Recommended Equipment
    Notable Resources
    Chest Contents

    The Dungeon can be found near the right or left edge of the map, always on the opposite side of the Jungle and on the same side as the Snow biome. Note that attempting to enter the Dungeon before Skeletron is defeated will lead to an unpleasant surprise.

    With its extremely high spawn rates, the abundance of dangerous traps, and general inability to use terrain as cover, even experienced players can be overwhelmed. If you find yourself overwhelmed by enemies, taking down every water candle you see will significantly reduce spawn rates (you may even want to use a Calming Potion). Certain room geometries can lead to a continuous stream of enemies spawning, generally rooms with large sections offscreen and multiple hallways leading into them. In these cases, it may be wise to move on as quickly as possible.

    For more information, see Guide:Surviving in the Dungeon.
    Water Bolt book on a shelf

    Make sure to get the following loot before leaving the Dungeon:

    • Shadow Key: This item can unlock any Shadow Chest in the Underworld. These chests contain many weapons which are unrivaled in power in easy mode and often still remain decent in early hardmode.
    • Cobalt Shield: Protection against knockback can be invaluable. The Cobalt Shield can also be tinkered with an Obsidian Skull to make an Obsidian Shield, which will prove very valuable in the Underworld as well.
    • Muramasa: This is one of the swords used to make the Night's Edge, which is useful to have before Hardmode.
    • Water Bolt: This weapon's piercing and bouncing projectiles can wreck any enemy in the Dungeon, Jungle, and Underworld.
    • Valor: Like all yoyos, this can help greatly in tight situations.
    • Handgun: This weapon is a strong, reliable ranged weapon, provided you can click fast enough. Can be upgraded into the more powerful Phoenix Blaster.
    • Nazar: Although not very useful outside the Dungeon, this accessory is needed to craft the Ankh Charm. It is highly recommended to farm for this accessory before unlocking the Hardmode dungeon, as the Cursed Skulls which drop it will become much rarer then.

    Preparing For Hardmode

    At this point you have no deadlines or threats looming over you. You should be more-or-less the master of all you survey, and you have a wide variety of resources available. This is a good time to do large projects like arenas, bases, or farms, though you should keep in mind that depending on location, your base or arena might end up in an infected biome. You'll also need to collect some materials that will be needed in Hardmode, as farming is a lot easier in pre-Hardmode. You should also locate and construct a safe path to a Spider Nest, as some very helpful loot can be acquired there in Hardmode.

    The following is a list of preparations you may wish to consider before summoning the Wall of Flesh:

    • Obtain maximum Health and Mana if you have not already done so.
    • Craft endgame equipment:
    See detailed equipment recommendationsSee simplified equipment recommendations
    This content is transcluded from Guide:Class setups.
    Pre-Wall of Flesh
    Melee
    Single-Target Weapons
    Best

    Night's EdgeNight's Edge

    Dark LanceDark LanceHive-FiveHive-Five(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)FlamarangFlamarangCascadeCascade(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
    Crowd-Control Weapons
    Best

    Night's EdgeNight's EdgeSunfurySunfury

    Dark LanceDark LanceHive-FiveHive-Five(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)CascadeCascade(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
    Armor

    Molten armorMolten armor

    Accessories

    Feral ClawsFeral ClawsCounterweightsCounterweight(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)StringsString(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Magma StoneMagma Stone

    Buffs/Potions

    Sharpening StationSharpening Station(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)AleAleSakeSake(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)Flask of PoisonFlask of Poison


    Pre-Wall of Flesh
    Ranged
    Single-Target Weapons
    Best

    Star CannonStar Cannon[a]Phoenix BlasterPhoenix BlasterHellwing BowHellwing Bow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    The Bee's KneesThe Bee's Knees(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(Wooden Arrows)Quad-Barrel ShotgunQuad-Barrel Shotgun(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)BeenadeBeenadesMolten FuryMolten Fury
    Crowd-Control Weapons
    Best

    Star CannonStar Cannon[a]Hellwing BowHellwing Bow(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(Unholy or Wooden Arrows)[b]

    The Bee's KneesThe Bee's Knees(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(Wooden Arrows)Phoenix BlasterPhoenix BlasterBeenadeBeenadesMolten FuryMolten Fury
    Armor

    Necro armorNecro armor

    Buffs/Potions

    Archery PotionArchery PotionAmmo Reservation PotionAmmo Reservation Potion

    Single-Target Ammunition
    Best

    Hellfire ArrowHellfire ArrowsParty BulletParty Bullets

    Crowd-Control Ammunition
    Best

    Jester's ArrowJester's ArrowsMeteor ShotMeteor Shots

    Unholy ArrowUnholy Arrows


    Pre-Wall of Flesh
    Magic
    Single-Target Weapons
    Best

    Demon ScytheDemon ScytheAqua ScepterAqua ScepterGray ZapinatorGray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    FlamelashFlamelashFlower of FireFlower of Fire
    Crowd-Control Weapons
    Best

    Aqua ScepterAqua ScepterDemon ScytheDemon ScytheGray ZapinatorGray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Water BoltWater BoltFlamelashFlamelash
    Support Weapons

    Crimson RodCrimson Rod[c]Weather PainWeather Pain(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Armor
    Best
    General/Defensive

    Jungle armorJungle armor

    Offensive

    Wizard HatWizard HatMystic RobeMystic Robe(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)Meteor LeggingsMeteor Leggings

    Magic HatMagic Hat(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)Diamond RobeDiamond Robe
    Accessories
    Best

    Celestial CuffsCelestial Cuffs(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)Magnet FlowerMagnet Flower(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Buffs/Potions

    Mana Regeneration PotionMana Regeneration PotionMagic Power PotionMagic Power Potion


    Pre-Wall of Flesh
    Summoning
    Minions
    Best
    Minion Mixing

    Vampire Frog StaffVampire Frog Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(2x)Flinx StaffFlinx Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(2x)Imp StaffImp Staff(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)(1x)

    Finch StaffFinch Staff(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)(Requires whip stacking to be effective)
    Whips
    Best

    Spinal TapSpinal Tap(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    SnapthornSnapthorn(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
    Armor

    Bee armorBee armor(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)Obsidian armorObsidian armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Accessories

    Feral ClawsFeral ClawsPygmy NecklacePygmy NecklaceApprentice's ScarfApprentice's Scarf(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) or Squire's ShieldSquire's Shield(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Buffs/Potions

    Summoning PotionSummoning PotionBewitching TableBewitching Table(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)War TableWar Table(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Flask of PoisonFlask of Poison

    Bee armor is preferable if you are planning to use your minions more often and would like to play a more passive role focusing on dodging more than attacking yourself, but Obsidian armor trades 1 of your minions for +7% additional summon damage, +30% whip range, and +15% speed.

    Pre-Wall of Flesh
    Mixed
    Armor
    Hybrid Summoner

    Bee HeadgearBee Headgear(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)

    Molten armorMolten armorGladiator armorGladiator armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Crimson armorCrimson armor[c]Shadow armorShadow armor[d]GiGi(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
    Mobility Accessories
    Best

    Bundle of Horseshoe BalloonsBundle of Horseshoe Balloons(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Shield of CthulhuShield of Cthulhu(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Amphibian BootsAmphibian Boots(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Lightning BootsLightning BootsLightning BootsLightning Boots(or better)

    Extra jumpExtra jumpMagiluminescenceMagiluminescence(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Panic NecklacePanic Necklace
    Survivability Accessories
    Best

    Worm ScarfWorm Scarf(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)[d]Brain of ConfusionBrain of Confusion(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)[c]

    Obsidian ShieldObsidian ShieldStinger NecklaceStinger Necklace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)
    Offensive Accessories

    Stinger NecklaceStinger Necklace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Shark Tooth NecklaceShark Tooth Necklace(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Bone GloveBone Glove(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Bone HelmBone Helm(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Hive PackHive Pack(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Mounts

    Golf CartGolf Cart(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)

    Buffs/Potions

    Well FedWell FedWell FedFood buffsRegeneration PotionRegeneration PotionIronskin PotionIronskin PotionSwiftness PotionSwiftness PotionRage PotionRage Potion[c]Wrath PotionWrath Potion[d]Heartreach PotionHeartreach PotionEndurance PotionEndurance PotionGravitation PotionGravitation PotionSlice of CakeSlice of Cake(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)


      • Armor: If you're doing a general playthrough, it's likely you'll want Molten armor, which provides 25 defense, which is necessary for basic survival in Hardmode. You may, however, have reason to prefer Shadow armor or Crimson armor, as they both provide more general stat bonuses and are easier to get. The former gives (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) +21% melee speed (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) +15% critical strike chance and increased movement speed, while the latter boosts damage by 6% along with increasing life regeneration. However, at this point in the game, classes begin to diverge into different, distinct groups and you're going to have to be more specific with the type of damage you use. Therefore, you'll want to use the appropriate armor that corresponds with the weapons you have, as opposed to just taking whatever has the highest defense.
        • Melee: Melee players should have the Molten armor set, which costs 45 Hellstone Bars and not only provides 25 defense (which is needed for melee players as you'll be taking many hits in Hardmode) but also 17% increased melee damage, (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 7% melee critical strike chance, and 7% melee speed.
        • Ranged: Rangers should have the Necro armor set, a post-Skeletron set that is crafted with 150 Bones and 135 Cobwebs. Despite having lower defense, it makes up for this by increasing ranged damage by 15% and a Set Bonus of (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 10% increased ranged critical strike chance/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 20% chance not to consume ammo.
        • Magic: Magic users, as opposed to other classes, actually have three different armor options. The first is Jungle armor, which boosts maximum mana by (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 80/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 60, mana cost reduction by 16%, magic critical strike chance by (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 12%/ (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 9%, and (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) magic damage by 6%. It's easily craftable once the player has made one or two adventures into the Underground Jungle, made with 32 Jungle Spores, (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 10/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 12 Stingers, and 2 Vines. Your second option is the Meteor armor, which costs (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 45/ (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 60 Meteorite Bars (meaning that it can be easily accessed after a Meteorite falls), and increases magic damage by 21%. It also has a Set Bonus of the Space Gun, Gray Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), and Orange Zapinator(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) all costing 0 mana to use, so it's preferred if you're using any of those weapons. Your final option is a bit of a mixed set, consisting of the Wizard Hat, Mystic Robe, and Meteor Leggings. The Wizard Hat is dropped by the rare Tim enemy underground, the Mystic Robe is sold by the Traveling Merchant for (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 3 GC50 SC/(Old-gen console version) 2 GC, and the Meteor Leggings are crafted from 15 Meteorite Bars. This set increases magic damage by (Old-gen console version) 28%/ (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 20%, magic critical strike chance by 16%, and reduces mana usage by 10%. This set generally provides the best magic damage while having the lowest defense.
        • Summoner: Summoners should use either Bee armor(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions) or Obsidian armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions). Bee armor is made with 30 Bee Wax, meaning that crafting it requires defeating Queen Bee twice. It gives 2 minion slots and 23% summon damage. The Obsidian armor is more focused on whips, giving 31% summon damage, 1 minion slot, 15% whip speed, and 30% whip range. It is crafted with 60 Obsidian, 30 Silk, and 20 Shadow Scales or Tissue Samples.
      • Weapons: At this point of the game, weapon classes begin to noticeably diverge. You should now start to focus on one or two classes, as it's much easier to progress when focusing on a few classes. Though many weapons are available at this stage, here are the ones you should have to make taking down the Wall of Flesh and handling Hardmode much easier.
        • Melee: The strongest sword available in pre-Hardmode is the Night's Edge, which is made by combining the Blade of Grass, Volcano, Muramasa, and either Light's Bane or Blood Butcherer (in Corruption and Crimson worlds respectively) at an Altar. This sword deals (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 40/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 42 melee damage and will later be used to craft the Terra Blade, one of the most iconic and powerful swords in Hardmode. However, you may have reason to prefer some other swords. (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) The Blade of Grass and Volcano both have a greater range than the Night's Edge and inflict the Poisoned and On Fire! debuffs respectively. (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) The Night's Edge also lacks autoswing, while the Muramasa does have it. You're also going to want some melee weapons with larger range, as Hardmode enemies can easily overwhelm you if you're too close. The Flamarang (10 Hellstone Bars and an Enchanted Boomerang at an Iron/Lead Anvil) is the strongest pre-Hardmode boomerang, dealing (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 49/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 37 damage, and can be very efficient when used strategically. The same applies to the Sunfury, the strongest flail, which is found in Shadow Chests and is extremely effective with large groups of enemies, dealing (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 64/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions)33 damage. Both of these weapons have a chance of inflicting the On Fire! debuff, making them even more effective. The strongest yo-yos(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) at this stage are the Cascade and the Hive-Five. The Cascade has a 1 in 400 (0.25%) chance of being dropped by any enemy killed in the Underworld after Skeletron is defeated and inflicts the On Fire! debuff. The Hive-Five is crafted from 14 Bee Wax and spawns bees. They are both great weapons for stunlocking enemies or dealing with enemies in tight spaces. Finally, the strongest spear available is the Dark Lance, which can also be found in Shadow Chests.
        • Ranged: The ranger class, along with having multiple weapon choices, also has multiple ammunition choices. The Molten Fury, crafted with 15 Hellstone Bars at an Iron/Lead Anvil, is generally the best bow. Although it cannot autofire, it's accurate, does (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 31/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 29 damage, and turns Wooden Arrows into Flaming Arrows when fired. Another option for your bow is the Hellwing Bow, which is looted from Shadow Chests. Though it is less accurate and only does 22 damage, it turns Wooden Arrows into homing Hellwings (Flaming Bats). Additionally, it autofires and is very fast in doing so, making it especially efficient in the Wall of Flesh fight dealing with the Hungry or when fighting many enemies in a large range. Both bows are best used with Hellfire Arrows, as they not only deal high damage, but also have a large explosive effect that can easily deal with large groups. The Hellwing Bow is also well used with Wooden Arrows, as the homing ability of the arrows can quickly overwhelm enemies. The Phoenix Blaster is the best pre-Hardmode gun, crafted with 10 Hellstone Bars and a Handgun at an Anvil. Though it isn't autofire, it has a very fast use time, and therefore firing rate. It deals (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 24/(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) 23 damage, and is very effective when paired with Meteor Shots. The Star Cannon (crafted with a Minishark, 20 Meteorite Bars, and 5 Fallen Stars) deals an insanely high 55 damage and is autofire. Though the Fallen Stars it uses as ammo can be hard to accumulate, building a skybridge can easily collect them, and using it as ammo against both the Wall of Flesh and the mechanical bosses can quickly take them down.
        • Magic: Magic users will begin to see their weapons heavily diversify – arguably making it the most unique class at this point. There are tons of items you can fight with. One is the Demon Scythe, which has a 1 in 35 (2.86%) chance of dropping from Demons and Voodoo Demons in the Underworld. It fires a Demon Sickle that hovers around the player then slowly accelerates until reaching full speed. Though it doesn't autofire, it is quick to use, pierces four enemies, and firing multiple Demon Sickles at a time can easily kill most enemies. The Book of Skulls is another great option for mages. It has a 36/343 (10.5%) / 1/3 (33.33%) chance of dropping from Skeletron and fires slow flying skulls that can pierce two enemies and, on the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version, flies towards enemies. The way it "juggles" enemies makes it a formidable weapon through Hardmode. The Water Bolt can be found on the shelves of the Dungeon amongst other Books, and autofires multiple bolts of water that both pierce enemies and ricochet off blocks, making it especially effective in arenas and dense caves. Against the Wall of Flesh, the player can bounce them off the ceiling, allowing them to repeatedly pierce the Wall of Flesh's eyes and mouth. The Flamelash and Flower of Fire are both found in Shadow Chests: the former fires a ball of fire that can be controlled by the cursor, and, on the Desktop version Desktop version, Console version Console version, and Mobile version Mobile version, will home into enemies and, after hitting it, will home on and explode on contact with another enemy. Meanwhile, the latter fires a slow fireball that doesn't pierce but ricochets 4 times and deals (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 48/ (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) damage. These are generally all the magic weapons you'll need – however, if you have the Meteor armor, the Space Gun fires very rapidly and doesn't cost any mana, meaning it could still remain effective.
        • Summon: Finally, there are summoning weapons, which are generally the most limited at this stage of the game. There are really only two formidable choices. The first is the Hornet Staff, crafted with 14 Bee Wax, which inflicts 9 damage and shoots stingers at enemies, inflicting Poisoned for 4 to 7 seconds. Your second option is the Imp Staff, which is crafted with 17 Hellstone Bars and inflicts (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) 17/ (Old-gen console version) 21 damage and fires fireballs at enemies every 0.75 to 1.5 seconds, inflicting the On Fire! debuff for 3 to 6 seconds. Though the Imp Staff deals much more base damage and the debuff it inflicts is more damaging over time, its fire rate is a lot slower. Therefore, either summon is effective, though the latter may be preferred. (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) The Spinal Tap is the most powerful pre-hardmode whip in both terms of direct damage and summon tag damage, and is highly recommended. (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) The Snapthorn is another whip you could use, with benefits over the Spinal Tap being its chance of inflicting Poisoned onto enemies and its buff which provides an increase in attack speed compatible with other weapons.
      • Tools: The Molten Pickaxe is the highest tier pickaxe you can obtain at this stage, crafted with 20 Hellstone Bars. It can mine Cobalt and Palladium ore, the first tier Hardmode ores. However, on the Old-gen console version Old-gen console and 3DSNintendo 3DS versionversions, the Reaver Shark can be fished up in the Ocean with a 1 in 100 chance with 50% fishing power and has the same pickaxe power as the Molten Pickaxe, meaning it can be obtained early game rather than after defeating the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu. The Molten Hamaxe, crafted with 15 Hellstone Bars, functions as both an axe and a hammer, and is the strongest hamaxe in pre-Hardmode.
      • Ensure you've obtained key accessories Many of these accessories are produced at the Tinkerer's Workshop, and the components will be much harder to get in Hardmode due to the much stronger enemies.
    • Ensure you've obtained key items. Many of these items are produced at the Tinkerer's Workshop, and the components will be much harder to get in Hardmode due to the much stronger enemies.
    • Ensure you have a sufficient stock of Potions.
      • You should have a farm for herbs (see Guide:Gardening)
      • Build secure fishing bases in all the major biomes, especially near your base. You might also want to build a lake of Honey for Honeyfins.
      • Build a bait farm to be able to fish sustainably.
    • Find Demon or Crimson Altars. Most Altars are found in the Corruption and Crimson respectively, so explore each Corruption or Crimson biome in the world. They need to be easily accessible when hardmode begins (further information in the Hardmode section).
    • Reforge Weapons and Accessories. You'll generally want Warding (+4 Defense), Menacing (+4% Damage), or Lucky (+4% Critical strike chance).
    • Build a surface Mushroom biome with a house for the Truffle NPC, as gathering the necessary materials will become much harder during hardmode.
    • Make sure you have 21 valid NPC houses, so you don't have to worry about building them later on. In fact, you should have rather more that that, but they shouldn't all be together. Have spare houses at all your bases, so that if a bunch of NPCs find themselves in the middle of the Corruption/Crimson, they have someplace to respawn.

    Here are some more open-ended ideas, many of which qualify as "big projects".

    • Creating quarantines. You probably want to limit the spread of the Corruption or Crimson, and the Hallow as well. Without preparation, the Hallow and your "evil" biome will quickly divvy up your world between them. There are a few reasons this is bad: These biomes are very hard when first entering Hardmode; NPCs will not live near Corruption or Crimson (which is a problem if your town gets converted); and there are some unique drops and resources only available from uninfected biomes. (Old-gen console and 3DS versions) You should particularly protect the Jungle and Ocean biomes in their natural state; in particular, if a Jungle or Mushroom Biome gets taken by evil, the conversion is irreversible. To block the spread of the biomes, you will need to dig tunnels and hellevators to chop up your world, restricting any infection to a relatively small area (or at least keeping it away from your more valuable areas). For more information on building quarantines, see Guide:Maintaining world purity.
    • Make the world accessible. Build a skybridge or a tunnel across your world, ideally with minecart tracks, to allow you to visit the new Hardmode biomes relatively safely and quickly. (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) The Magic Conch and Demon Conch allow you to quickly teleport to the ocean shores and the center of the underworld.
    • Rebuild your base. This is a good time to reconsider your main base(s) and rebuild them to something that has space for all your crafting stations and chests, with extra for growth, and houses for convenient access to favored NPCs.
    • Farming money. Some vendors sell new, but expensive items in Hardmode and reforging Hardmode weapons is extremely expensive. For more information on farming money, see Guide:Making money.
    • Rearrange the Landscape. Is there some area that's inconvenient to you? Change it! Want a lake or a mountain someplace? You can do it now.

    Activating Hardmode

    Once the player is ready to move on to the next phase of their world, Hardmode, then they will have to head to the underworld and fight the Wall of Flesh. Once the player defeats this boss, they will receive weapons and accessories to boost their survivability in early Hardmode. The player will also receive a message saying, "The ancient spirits of light and dark have been released." This indicates that the world has transitioned into hardmode.

    Hardmode

    Main article: Guide:Walkthrough/Hardmode

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Due to this weapon being expensive to use, this weapon should be used with Fossil Armor for its ammo conservation
    2. ↑ Unholy Arrows are better against medium crowd of up to 6 enemies, Wooden Arrows are better against large crowds, but due to the bow's inaccuracy, it is difficult to pierce every enemy with it
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Exclusive to Crimson worlds unless an artificial Crimson is created in Hardmode via buying Crimson Seeds from the Dryad while in a Graveyard
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Exclusive to Corruption worlds unless an artificial Corruption is created in Hardmode via buying Corrupt Seeds from the Dryad while in a Graveyard


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