How do I deal with the Moon Lord's Phantasmal Deathray in Terraria?

The Moon Lord's Phantasmal Deathray is one of the most devastating attacks in Terraria, capable of dealing massive damage if not handled properly. To effectively deal with this attack, you need to understand its mechanics, prepare your character and arena, and execute the right strategies during the fight. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you survive and counter the Phantasmal Deathray.

The Phantasmal Deathray is a laser attack fired by the Moon LordÔÇÖs top eye. It has a long range and deals continuous damage to anything in its path. The attack is telegraphed by the eye glowing and charging up before firing. The beam lasts for a few seconds and can quickly deplete your health if you are caught in it. The key to surviving this attack is to avoid it entirely or mitigate its damage through proper preparation and positioning.

To prepare for the Moon Lord fight, you should first build a suitable arena. A long, flat platform with multiple layers is ideal. Place heart statues, campfires, and heart lanterns around the arena to provide constant health regeneration. Honey pools can also be placed for additional healing. Make sure to have a nurse NPC nearby for emergency healing, but be cautious as the Moon Lord can kill her if she is not protected.

For equipment, you will need strong armor and accessories. The best armor sets for this fight are the Solar Flare armor for melee, Vortex armor for ranged, Nebula armor for magic, and Stardust armor for summoners. Accessories should focus on mobility, defense, and damage. Wings, the Master Ninja Gear, and the Ankh Shield are essential for mobility and survivability. The Celestial Shell and Celestial Stone provide additional buffs. For weapons, use the strongest options available for your class, such as the Solar Eruption for melee, the Phantasm for ranged, the Nebula Blaze for magic, and the Stardust Dragon for summoners.

During the fight, keep moving to avoid the Phantasmal Deathray. The Master Ninja GearÔÇÖs dash ability is particularly useful for quickly dodging the beam. If you are using a mount like the UFO or the Shrimpy Truffle, you can hover above or below the Moon Lord to avoid the attack. When the top eye starts charging, move perpendicular to the beamÔÇÖs direction to get out of its path. If you are caught in the beam, use a Rod of Discord to teleport away instantly.

Buff potions are crucial for this fight. Use Ironskin, Regeneration, Endurance, and Lifeforce potions to increase your survivability. Swiftness potions will help you move faster, and damage-boosting potions like Wrath or Rage will increase your damage output. Food items like the Exquisitely Stuffed or Seafood Dinner provide additional health regeneration and stat boosts.

One common mistake is standing still or moving in a straight line, making it easy for the Moon Lord to hit you with the Phantasmal Deathray. Always keep moving and change directions frequently. Another mistake is not having enough healing options. Make sure to have plenty of healing potions and use them as soon as your health drops below a safe threshold.

Advanced techniques include using the NurseÔÇÖs healing ability strategically. If you are low on health, teleport to the Nurse using a Magic Mirror or Recall Potion, heal, and then return to the fight. You can also use the Rod of Discord to teleport out of dangerous situations, but be mindful of its cooldown and the Chaos State debuff.

In summary, dealing with the Moon LordÔÇÖs Phantasmal Deathray requires careful preparation, quick reflexes, and the right equipment. Build a well-equipped arena, use strong armor and accessories, and keep moving to avoid the beam. Use buff potions and healing items to stay alive, and consider advanced techniques like teleportation for emergencies. With these strategies, you can effectively counter the Phantasmal Deathray and defeat the Moon Lord.