Terraria might start with a pointy stick and a dream, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. Whether you’re chipping away at slimes in a copper helmet or laying waste to intergalactic horrors with a rainbow laser cannon, weapons are the beating heart of your Terraria adventure.
But with hundreds of options on offer, from melee blades to magic bolts, ranged boomsticks, summoned minions, and whatever the heck the Zenith is, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So let’s break it down. This guide covers every weapon type in Terraria, from the basics to the bizarre, with class-specific insights, examples, and the kind of hard-won wisdom that comes from dying repeatedly to King Slime.
Melee Weapons
Melee weapons are your bread and butter, especially early game. They’re typically the simplest to use. Just walk up and whack something. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re dull. Terraria’s melee arsenal ranges from humble short swords to screen-filling yoyos and whirling projectiles of doom.
The best melee weapon types:
- Swords: Straightforward slashers like the Night’s Edge or Terra Blade. Some even fire projectiles at range in the late game
- Spears: Great for crowd control and poking enemies through walls. The Dark Lance and Ghastly Glaive are top picks
- Flails: Swingy, physics-based chaos machines. Classic examples include the Sunfury and Dao of Pow
- Yoyos: Technically melee, but function like ranged tethered weapons. Particularly deadly with the right accessories (see: Yoyo Bag)
- Boomerangs: Throw and pray. Some come back. Some explode. The Possessed Hatchet never misses
Pros:
- No ammo or mana required
- Usually highest defence synergy
- Great for tight spaces or arena fighting
Cons:
- Requires you to be in the danger zone.
- Falls off slightly in late game unless paired with the best accessories or projectiles.
Melee is especially deadly once you hit Hardmode and pick up swords like the Influx Waver or the post-Moon Lord Meowmere. Just don’t underestimate the humble yoyo – they’re devastating in the hands of a seasoned player.
Ranged Weapons
Ranged combat in Terraria is all about staying at a safe distance while unloading absurd quantities of projectiles. Whether you’re pinging arrows from a wooden bow or spraying bullets from a chain gun, this class is all about precision, resource management, and style.
The best ranged weapon types:
- Bows and repeaters: From the early Iron Bow to the insane Phantasm, these are your bread-and-butter ranged weapons
- Guns: Pistols, rifles, shotguns, and rapid-fire monstrosities like the Vortex Beater. Uses bullets or specialised ammo
- Launchers: Rocket-based mayhem. Excellent for crowd control, but dangerous in tight spaces
- Throwing weapons (Pre-Hardmode only): Shurikens, throwing knives, and grenades, which are soon outclassed but good fun while they last
Pros:
- Great for boss fights and mobile enemies
- Massive damage with the right ammo
- Can exploit elemental or debuff-based ammo types
Cons:
- Relies heavily on ammo (bring a stack or five)
- Accessories and armour are crucial to reach full potential
Once you hit Hardmode, Chlorophyte Bullets and the Uzi become household names. Endgame players will find unmatched joy in the Vortex Beater, Sniper Rifle, or even the gunblade hybrid that is the S.D.M.G. – yes, that stands for Space Dolphin Machine Gun.
Magic weapons
Magic weapons let you rain fire, summon ice storms, teleport knives, and even bend time. They’re flashy, versatile, and outrageously powerful in the right hands; but be warned, they’re also mana-hungry and punishing without proper setup.
The best magic weapon types:
- Tomes and staves: Fireballs, lasers, storms of crystal, you name it. The Razorblade Typhoon and Nebula Blaze top the charts
- Area of effect (AoE) spells: Like the Nimbus Rod or Inferno Fork. Great for crowd control or passive DPS
- Piercing beams and chains: Magnet Sphere, Life Drain, and Laser Machinegun. Stylish and surprisingly efficient
- Support spells: Heal allies, grant buffs, or manipulate enemies. Niche but useful in multiplayer
Pros:
- Excellent area damage and unique effects
- Incredible endgame potential with the right loadout
- Can be cast from safety
Cons:
- Constant mana upkeep
- Fragile armour; don’t expect to tank hits
- Many spells require precise aim or timing
To make the most of magic, you’ll need to stack Mana Regeneration Band, Celestial Cuffs, and all the stars you can get your hands on. With post-Moon Lord gear, the sky isn’t the limit – it’s a brief layover on the way to becoming a cosmic warlock.
Summoner Weapons
Summoners get a bit of a rough start in Terraria. The early game options are limited, and your first minion (a slightly confused flying slime) isn’t exactly the pinnacle of destruction. But don’t let that fool you. By endgame, Summoners become battlefield generals commanding legions of carnage.
The best summoner weapon types:
- Minions: Persistent followers that attack enemies independently. From Imps and Twins to UFOs and dragons
- Sentries: Stationary turrets you can plop down to guard a location. Think Ballistas and Flame Traps
- Whips: Directs your minions to target specific enemies, while dealing respectable damage themselves
Pros:
- DPS continues while you dodge or run away
- Great synergy with other classes
- Can overwhelm enemies with sheer volume
Cons:
- Fragile armour sets
- Early game options are underwhelming
- Buffs require constant upkeep (hello, Summoning Potion)
Summoners truly shine in Hardmode, especially once you unlock accessories like the Papyrus Scarab and armours like Stardust or Spooky. Use whips like the Morning Star or Kaleidoscope to mark targets and let your army do the rest.
Rogue Class
A quick sidebar for the modders out there: if you’re playing with the Calamity mod installed, you’ll encounter a fifth class: the Rogue. Think of it as a stealth-based throwback to the long-defunct throwing class, only with more utility and mechanical depth.
Rogue weapons focus on burst damage, stealth mechanics, and quirky effects. They aren’t in vanilla Terraria, but if you’re diving into mods, they’re well worth exploring.
Hybrid and Miscellaneous Weapons
Some weapons don’t quite fit in any one category. Terraria is full of hybrids and oddballs that blur the lines between classes:
- The Star Wrath and Zenith: Technically melee, but their projectiles dominate the screen.
- Rainbow Gun: Fires a lingering beam of rainbow energy, which is obviously magic but functions more like a trap.
- Slime Gun: Does no damage. Exists purely for griefing your friends.
And then there’s the Classless category: tools like the Rod of Discord (teleports you), or the Magic Conch (teleports you… again), that aren’t weapons per se, but are absolutely vital in movement and combat.
Weapon Progression
Terraria’s weapon system isn’t just wide; it’s deep. You’ll constantly trade up as you progress:
- Early game: Swords, bows, wands, and grenades. Pick what feels right.
- Mid game (Pre-Hardmode bosses): Start leaning into class identity, such as Molten Fury for rangers, Water Bolt for mages, Hornet Staff for summoners.
- Hardmode: The real class builds begin here. Farms, reforging, and loadouts become essential.
- Endgame: Nebula, Vortex, Solar, and Stardust weapons lead the charge, depending on your class. Mixing is encouraged, especially in multiplayer.
The trick is to experiment. Terraria isn’t strict about class commitment. You can carry a sword and a gun, switch to magic when it gets hairy, and summon a minion just for the laughs.
Choose Your Weapon
Terraria’s weapons are tools, but they’re also personality statements. Do you prefer standing your ground with a flaming blade? Kiting bosses from afar with arrows dipped in ichor? Filling the screen with celestial starstorms while your Stardust Dragon devours enemies from offscreen? There’s no wrong way to play, only better ways to die trying.
So craft that Night’s Edge. Farm for that Daedalus Stormbow. Summon that army of bees. Whatever path you choose, make it loud, shiny, and completely overkill. The Terraria bosses won’t know what hit them.
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