Lunatic Cultist

  

Desktop/Console/Mobile-Only Content: This information applies only to the Desktop, Console, and Mobile versions of Terraria.

Lunatic Cultist

Map Icon

 Classic

 Expert

 Master

Statistics

Type	Boss
Environment	Dungeon entrance
AI Type	Lunatic Cultist AI
Damage	50/75/112 (contact) 3672 (Shadow Fireball) 70100 (Ice Mist) 6080 (Fireball) 90120 (Lightning Orb) 120160 (Ancient Light) 304567 (Ancient Doom) 60180402 (Prophecy's End)
Max Life	320004800061000
Defense	42 / 27 (≤50% health)
KB Resist	100%
Immune to	All debuffs except Whip debuffs

Inflicts debuff

Inflicts debuff

Inflicts debuff

Debuff	On Fire!
Debuff tooltip	Slowly losing life
Chance	100% (Fireball)
Duration	0.5–2.51–5 seconds

Drops

Coins	1025

• Item (Quantity)Rate
• Ancient Manipulator
  100%
• Lunatic Cultist Mask
  14.29%
• Lunatic Cultist Trophy
  10%
• Greater Healing Potion (5–15)
  100%
• Tablet Fragment
  25%
• Lunatic Cultist Relic
  100%

Sounds

Hurt
Killed
Summoned
Spawn Phantasm Dragon

• Internal NPC ID: 439
• Internal Buff ID: 24

Lunatic CultistDecoy

Map Icon

 Classic

 Expert

 Master

Statistics

Type	Enemy
Environment	Dungeon entrance
AI Type	Lunatic Cultist AI
Damage	0
Max Life	10000
Defense	35 / 22 (≤50% health)
KB Resist	100%
Immune to	All debuffs

Sounds

Hurt
Killed

• Internal NPC ID: 440

 "Fanatical leader of the dungeon coven." 

Not to be confused with Cultist.

The Lunatic Cultist is a Hardmode, post-Golem boss summoned by killing the Cultists that spawn at the Dungeon's entrance after Golem is defeated. Defeating the Lunatic Cultist initiates the Lunar Events.

After all four Celestial Pillars have been destroyed, the Moon Lord will spawn and the Cultists will respawn at the Dungeon entrance, allowing the player to fight the Lunatic Cultist and initiate the Lunar Events again.

Unlike most bosses, the Lunatic Cultist does not drop any weapons; however, it does drop the Ancient Manipulator, a placeable item that is used to craft many endgame items.

While the Lunatic Cultist is alive, the music Golem will play. When Otherworldly music is enabled, the track Boss 2 (Otherworldly) will play instead.

Behavior

The Lunatic Cultist makes its first brief appearance at the Mysterious Tablet as soon as the Cultists are defeated. It is invulnerable at this time. It then warps to just above where the player was when the teleport started, and cycles between three attacks:

• A burst of three / four Fireballs that lightly home in on the player, exploding on impact
• A ball of Ice Mist that fires ice shards in six directions four times over as it flies in one direction before slowly fading away
• A Lightning Orb that fires five bolts of lightning at the player

When the Lunatic Cultist reaches half health, it will occasionally replace an attack with two spreads of five destructible Ancient Light projectiles.

In Expert Mode after reaching half health, it may also replace an attack with numerous Ancient Dooms that fire four purple Prophecy's End projectiles in a cross pattern.

The Lunatic Cultist cycles through five attacks (six when below half health) before proceeding to start a ritual. It will spawn phantom decoys of itself called Ancient Cultists, along with a large, circular rune. Unless the one true Lunatic Cultist is interrupted by an attack from a player during this ritual, the decoys fly in formation and add their homing Shadow Fireball attacks.

Attacking a decoy or taking too long hitting the real Lunatic Cultist results in the summoning of the Wyvern-like Phantasm Dragon. If there is already a Phantasm Dragon existing, attacking a decoy will summon an Ancient Vision, which will charge the player diagonally. Decoys can be eliminated by hitting the true Lunatic Cultist during the ritual, but if not, large quantities of decoys can amass.

Homing projectile resistance

The Lunatic Cultist will only take 75% of the damage from homing projectiles. The following are lists of homing projectiles that deal reduced damage to the Lunatic Cultist:

Projectile
ID	Image	Name	Source
16		Magic Missile	Magic Missile
34		Flamelash	Flamelash
79		Rainbow	Rainbow Rod
181		Bee	Bee Gun, Bee Keeper
182		Possessed Hatchet	Possessed Hatchet
189		Wasp	Wasp Gun
190		Mechanical Piranha	Piranha Gun
195		Pygmy Spear	Pygmy Staff
207		Chlorophyte Bullet	Chlorophyte Bullet
221		Flower Petal	Orichalcum armor set bonus
225		Chlorophyte Arrow	Chlorophyte Arrow
227		Crystal Leaf Shot	Chlorophyte armor set bonus
248		Flower Pow Petal	Flower Pow
255		Magnet Sphere Bolt	Magnet Sphere
266		Baby Slime	Slime Staff
285		Nano Bullet	Nano Bullet
297		Lost Soul (friendly)	Spectre Staff
307		Tiny Eater	Scourge of the Corruptor
309		Frost Blast (friendly)	Frost Hydra
316		Bat	Bat Scepter
317		Raven	Raven Staff
321		Flaming Jack	The Horseman's Blade
338		Snowman Rocket I	Snowman Cannon using Rocket Is
339		Snowman Rocket II	Snowman Cannon using Rocket IIs
340		Snowman Rocket III	Snowman Cannon using Rocket IIIs
341		Snowman Rocket IV	Snowman Cannon using Rocket IVs
356		Spectre Wrath	Spectre armor set bonus (with Spectre Mask)
374		Hornet Stinger	Hornet (minion)
376		Imp Fireball	Flying Imp (minion)
378		Spider Egg	Spider Turret
379		Baby Spider	Spider Turret
388		Spazmamini	Optic Staff
389		Mini Retina Laser	Retanimini
390		Venom Spider	Spider Staff
391		Jumper Spider	Spider Staff
392		Dangerous Spider	Spider Staff
393		One Eyed Pirate	Pirate Staff
394		Soulscourge Pirate	Pirate Staff
395		Pirate Captain	Pirate Staff
405		Flairon Bubble	Flairon
407		Tempest	Tempest Staff
408		Mini Sharkron	Tempest
409		Typhoon	Razorblade Typhoon
433		UFO Ray	UFO (minion)
477		Crystal Dart	Crystal Dart
484		Seedler Thorn	Seedler
535		Medusa Ray	Medusa Head
536		Medusa Head Ray	Medusa Head
566		Giant Bee	Hive Pack
567		Spore Trap	Spore Sac
568		Spore Trap 2	Spore Sac
569		Spore Gas	Spore Sac
570		Spore Gas 2	Spore Sac
571		Spore Gas 3	Spore Sac
606		Scutlix Laser	Scutlix Mount
613		Stardust Cell	Stardust Cell Staff
614		Stardust Cell Shot	Stardust Cell
616		Vortex Rocket	Vortex Beater
617		Nebula Arcanum	Nebula Arcanum
618		Nebula Arcanum Subshot	Nebula Arcanum
619		Nebula Arcanum Explosion Shot	Nebula Arcanum
620		Nebula Arcanum Explosion Shot Shard	Nebula Arcanum
625		Stardust Dragon 1	Stardust Dragon Staff
626		Stardust Dragon 2	Stardust Dragon Staff
627		Stardust Dragon 3	Stardust Dragon Staff
628		Stardust Dragon 4	Stardust Dragon Staff
634		Nebula Blaze	Nebula Blaze
635		Nebula Blaze Ex	Nebula Blaze
640		Luminite Arrow Trail	Luminite Arrows
642		Lunar Portal Laser	Lunar Portal
644		Rainbow Explosion	Rainbow Crystal
659		Spirit Flame	Spirit Flame
664		Flameburst Tower Shot (tier 1)	Flameburst Rod
666		Flameburst Tower Shot (tier 2)	Flameburst Cane
668		Flameburst Tower Shot (tier 3)	Flameburst Staff
680		Ballista Shot	Ballista Rod, Ballista Cane, Ballista Staff
700		Ghast	Ghastly Glaive
755		Sanguine Bat	Sanguine Staff
758		Vampire Frog	Vampire Frog Staff
759		Finch	Finch Staff
803		Cluster Rocket I	Snowman Cannon using Cluster Rocket I's
804		Cluster Rocket II	Snowman Cannon using Cluster Rocket II's
805		Wet Rocket	Snowman Cannon using Wet Rockets
806		Lava Rocket	Snowman Cannon using Lava Rockets
807		Honey Rocket	Snowman Cannon using Honey Rockets
808		Mini Nuke Rocket I	Snowman Cannon using Mini Nuke I's
809		Mini Nuke Rocket II	Snowman Cannon using Mini Nuke II's
810		Dry Rocket	Snowman Cannon using Dry Rockets
832		Desert Tiger	Desert Tiger
833		Desert Tiger (tier 1)	Desert Tiger Staff used 1-3 times
834		Desert Tiger (tier 2)	Desert Tiger Staff used 4-6 times
835		Desert Tiger (tier 3)	Desert Tiger Staff used 7+ times
837		Skull	Book of Skulls
856		Stellar Tune	Stellar Tune
864		Enchanted Dagger	Blade Staff
916		Reaping	Dark Harvest
917		Cool Flake	Cool Whip
930		Santank Rocket	Santank Mount
931		Nightglow	Nightglow
937		Volatile Gelatin	Volatile Gelatin
946		Terraprisma	Terraprisma
951		Flinx	Flinx Staff
963		Abigail	Abigail's Flower
967		Houndius Shootius Fireball	Houndius Shootius

Notes

• The Lunatic Cultist locks on to every player, so if one player is too far from it (e.g. uses a Magic Mirror), it will despawn.
• If the player loses against the Lunatic Cultist or it despawns, the Lunatic Devotees and Cultist Archers at the Dungeon will respawn after one in-game day passes.
• The Cultists will not spawn if Skeletron has not yet been defeated in the current world, since the Old Man takes spawn priority over the Cultists.
• Most homing projectiles and minions will not target the real Lunatic Cultist during its ritual, although minions that deal contact damage may accidentally damage them. Some exceptions include the Flaming Jack projectiles from The Horseman's Blade and the Spectre Mask's damaging orbs, which will still target the real Lunatic Cultist.
• It can only have 6 decoys active at the same time.
• By using a Magic Mirror, Recall Potion, etc., the player can teleport away from the Lunatic Cultist and it will despawn.
  • If the player teleports away before the Lunatic Cultist's spawning animation finishes, the tablet will finish its animation while the Lunatic Cultist despawns.
• The Lunatic Cultist will always spawn at the Dungeon entrance's original location, regardless of modifications (similar to the four Cultists), meaning that if the four Cultists are teleported or otherwise moved away, and then killed there, the Lunatic Cultist will still spawn, and instantly despawn if the player is far away from the Dungeon entrance.
  • Removing the floor and ceiling at the entrance to the Dungeon (where the Old Man spawns) will prevent the Cultists from spawning.

Achievements

Obsessive Devotion • “Defeat the Ancient Cultist, fanatical leader of the dungeon coven.”

Defeat the Lunatic Cultist for the first time.

Tips

The real Lunatic Cultist (left) and the decoy (right).

For more elaborate strategies on defeating the Lunatic Cultist, including weapon and arena recommendations, see Guide:Lunatic Cultist strategies.

• The player should avoid defeating the Lunatic Cultist if they are not yet ready for the Lunar Events. Beating the Lunatic Cultist causes the Lunar Events to begin immediately, and there is no way to de-summon them thereafter (aside from defeating them).
• The real Lunatic Cultist can be distinguished from its decoys in a number of ways:
  • The real Cultist is the only one with a health bar.
  • The real Cultist has pointed eyes, while the decoys' eyes are perfectly round.
  • The real Cultist has a line on its hood while the decoys do not.
  • The real Cultist does not emit light, while the decoys do; however, this may only be apparent if fought at night.
  • Using a Hunter Potion will only highlight the real Cultist.
• Using Autopause grants as much time as needed for identifying the real Cultist.
• Attacking a decoy Cultist is not a bad idea if the player uses the Vampire Knives. The resulting Phantasm Dragon is very long and may be easily targeted to restore some life.
• Many of the Lunatic Cultist's attacks can be blocked by hiding behind solid blocks. A weapon that attacks through blocks or a yoyo can be used to deal damage.
• There is little reason to farm the Lunatic Cultist itself, as its only non-vanity drops are Greater Healing Potions and the Ancient Manipulator, the latter one has no value and only one is needed. However, defeating it is the only way to access the Lunar Events and Lunar Fragments.
• If the lock on mechanic selects the Lunatic Cultist as target, the target reset after each time it teleports.

Trivia

• The Lunatic Cultist's attacks appear to be based on the four Celestial Pillars from the Lunar Events.
• It is a common belief that the Lunatic Cultist's design was inspired by Crowno's set. However, according to Crowno, the Lunatic Cultist was designed first.
• The boss' appearance resembles a plague doctor costume, which was an outfit worn by plague doctors in the 17th century intended to protect them from airborne diseases.
• It is the smallest boss and the only one without an awakening message.
  • In addition to this, an unimplemented achievement refers to it as the Insane Cultist.
• The Lunatic Cultist has an Expert Mode Treasure Bag in Terraria's game files, but it is currently unobtainable as it does not actually drop it.
• This is the only boss to use music specifically titled after another boss, Golem, and the only boss whose music starts before the boss itself spawns, making it easier to obtain the Music Box.
• The term lunatic is nowadays usually used as an informal synonym for insane, mentally ill, etc. The word itself, however, originated from the fact that diseases were historically thought to have been caused by the moon, tying in with the moon-themed events following this boss.
• The Lunatic Cultist, Brain of Cthulhu, Moon Lord, King Slime, Queen Slime, Empress of Light, and, in Expert Mode, Duke Fishron are the only bosses that can teleport.
• The Lunatic Cultist's decoys also have map icons.
• When the Lunatic Cultist first spawns, glowing particles start flowing to it from the Mysterious Tablet and it makes a noise that sounds like a heavily edited voice clip. It is randomly chosen from the following: .

After this, it makes a laugh-like sound and tilts up its mask and shakes, to appear as if it is laughing at the player.

• Oddly, when the Lunatic Cultist is killed, the status message "Celestial creatures are invading!" appears before "Lunatic Cultist has been defeated!", probably hinting that the summoning ritual might have finished before the Lunatic Cultist died.
• When the Lunatic Cultist despawns after a player has teleported away from it, it plays its dying animation.
• Wearing the Lunatic Cultist Mask and the Lunar Cultist Robe causes the player to look very similar to the Lunatic Cultist, however, the boss is still taller than the player, and is therefore distinguishable.
• The Lunatic Cultist is one of the few bosses in which all of its attacks' damage, other than contact damage, do not increase linearly in Master Mode.
• It is the only non-event boss not to have an Expert Mode-exclusive drop.
• The Lunatic Cultist has the most types of "servants" out of all the bosses, totaling at four.

• The Bestiary entry for the Lunatic Cultist: "A fanatical leader hell-bent on bringing about the apocalypse by reviving the great Cthulhu through behind-the-scenes scheming."

History

 Desktop version

• Desktop 1.4.4:
  • Health scaling factor in Expert/Master increased from 1.25 to 1.5.
  • Final Health values have increased from 32k/40k/51k to 32k/48k/61k.

• Desktop 1.4.0.1:
  • In Master mode, now drops the Lunatic Cultist Relic and also has a 25% chance to drop its exclusive pet, the Tablet Fragment.
  • Most homing bullets and minions will no longer target the real Lunatic Cultist during its ritual.

• Desktop 1.3.0.4:
  • No longer respawns while the Moon Lord is spawning.
  • Can no longer spawn during important events like boss fights, invasions etc.

• Desktop 1.3.0.1: Introduced.

 Console version

• Console 1.0.933.1: Introduced. ()

• Console 1.0.750.0: Introduced. ()

 Nintendo Switch version

• Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

 Mobile version

• Mobile 1.3.0.7: Introduced.