Weapons are essential items used for combat against enemies, bosses, critters, and even other players during PvP games. Some weapons can be crafted at a Work Bench or a Pre-Hardmode/Hardmode Anvil, while others can only be found in Chests, as enemy drops, or purchased from NPCs. Terraria has a wide variety of weapons and weapon classes, each suited to particular play styles or specific tasks.
Most tools can also be used as weapons, despite it not being their primary purpose. Traps, self-defending NPCs , and even lava, although not primarily weapons, can be considered a weapon if somehow used in combat.
Melee weapons
Main article:
Melee weaponsSwords
Swords are melee weapons that can be divided into 2 basic categories: shortswords and broadswords.
Shortswords have a very limited range, and they attack with a horizontal stabbing motion instead of an arc. On 
Desktop, 
Console, and 
Mobile, they act more similarly to spears, being able to stab in more directions. Broadswords are swung overhead, which makes it easier to defeat flying and jumping enemies.
Yoyos
Yoyos are melee weapons that follow the player's cursor when thrown.
Spears
Spears are melee weapons that have a longer range than most swords, but attack with a stabbing motion. Spears also can hit targets more than once, making them especially useful for dealing with large enemies.
Boomerangs
Boomerangs are melee weapons that return to the player after being thrown.
Flails
Flails are melee weapons that consist of an object linked to the player by a chain, which can either be thrown or launched. Thrown flails can be suspended around the player indefinitely. On the Desktop version, Console version, and Mobile version, they can be swung around the player as well. Launched flails will return to the player immediately after impacting with tiles or enemies.
Thrown
Launched
Thrown
Launched
Other
These are melee weapons that possess unique means of attack. Some also launch projectiles.
Ranged weapons
Main article:
Ranged weaponsBows and Repeaters
Bows and Repeaters are ranged weapons that fires arrows or Stakes as ammunition. All Repeaters are Hardmode-exclusive. These weapons will benefit from the bonuses of the Archery Potion, Magic Quiver and its upgrades, and the Shroomite Headgear. Especially, the Stake Launcher can benefit from the zoom effect of the Rifle Scope or its upgrades.
Hardmode Bows and Repeaters
Guns
Guns are a type of ranged weapon that use bullets and Candy Corn as ammunition. These weapons benefit from the bonuses of the Shroomite Mask and the zoom effect of the Rifle Scope or its upgrades. Obtaining one of these (except the Candy Corn Rifle) fulfills the spawn conditions of the Arms Dealer NPC.
Launchers
Launchers are Hardmode-exclusive ranged weapons that fire rockets and similar explosive ammunition. These weapons benefit from the bonus of the Shroomite Helmet.
Consumables
Consumable ranged weapons do not require ammunition and are consumed upon use.
Grenades
Others
These are unique ranged weapons that do not fit into all categorizations above. Alongside Launchers, these weapons benefit from the bonuses of the Shroomite Helmet.
Magic weapons
Main article:
Magic weaponsAll magic weapons consume mana to attack. Technically, all magic weapons have no differences in their mechanics. The categorization here is just for sorting purposes.
Wands
Magic guns
Spell books
Others
Summoning weapons
Main article:
Summon weaponsMinion-summoning weapons
These weapons summon minions to attack enemies.
Pre-Hardmode Minion-Summoning weapons
Hardmode Minion-Summoning weapons
Sentry-summoning weapons
These weapons summon sentries to attack enemies. Sentries are stationary turrets that automatically attack enemies in range, and they can only exist for a limited time. Tavernkeep's sentries require defeating the Old One's Army event at least once for them to be able to be summoned outside of the event.
Pre-Hardmode Sentry-Summoning weapons ()
Tavernkeep's sentries
Hardmode Sentry-Summoning weapons
Tavernkeep's sentries
Whips
Whips are summon weapons that can be swung in front of players, and apply damage-boosting effects when striking an enemy. Although dealing summon damage, they can receive the effect of melee speed bonuses and flasks.
Other weapons
Placeable weapons
Pre-Hardmode Placeable Weapons
Hardmode Placeable Weapons
Explosives
Other weapons
Unimplemented weapons
Unobtainable The item(s) or effects described
in this section exist as functional game items, but cannot be acquired through normal gameplay.
Removed weapons
Notes
- In total, there are 575 unique weapons (and damaging tools).
- If an enemy is under the effect of a piercing attack (including explosions), a brief immune frame will be applied to it, making attacks that hit during this interval fail to inflict damage.
- Unlike many games, no matter how far an enemy is from the center of the blast radius, they always receive full damage from an AoE attack.
