How do I craft the Ice Sickle in Terraria?

The Ice Sickle is a powerful melee weapon in Terraria that is particularly useful in the early to mid-hardmode stages of the game. It has a unique ability to fire a projectile that travels in a straight line, dealing damage to enemies in its path. This makes it a versatile weapon for both close-range and mid-range combat. Crafting the Ice Sickle requires specific materials and preparation, so here is a detailed guide on how to obtain and craft it.

To craft the Ice Sickle, you need to gather materials from the Underground Snow biome. The primary material required is the Ice Blade, which is a pre-hardmode weapon that can be found in Ice Chests in the Underground Snow biome. However, the Ice Sickle itself is not crafted directly. Instead, it is a rare drop from certain enemies in the Underground Snow biome during hardmode. The enemies that can drop the Ice Sickle are Ice Elementals and Icy Mermen. Both of these enemies spawn in the Underground Snow biome, and they have a 1/100 (1%) chance to drop the Ice Sickle.

To increase your chances of obtaining the Ice Sickle, you should focus on farming Ice Elementals and Icy Mermen in the Underground Snow biome. Here are some strategies to optimize your farming:

1. Preparation: Before heading to the Underground Snow biome, make sure you have the appropriate gear for hardmode. This includes hardmode armor such as Adamantite or Titanium, and weapons that can deal with the tough enemies in the biome. A good ranged weapon like the Megashark or a magic weapon like the Crystal Storm can be effective. Additionally, bring potions like Ironskin, Regeneration, and Swiftness to boost your survivability and mobility.

2. Biome Setup: To make farming easier, consider setting up a small arena in the Underground Snow biome. This can include platforms for mobility, campfires and heart lanterns for health regeneration, and sunflowers for increased movement speed. You can also place water candles around the area to increase enemy spawn rates.

3. Combat Strategy: Ice Elementals and Icy Mermen are both dangerous enemies, so you need to be cautious. Ice Elementals can shoot ice projectiles that deal significant damage, while Icy Mermen are fast and can close the distance quickly. Use your ranged or magic weapons to keep them at a distance, and dodge their attacks by moving around the arena. If you are using a melee weapon, make sure to have a good shield or accessory that reduces knockback.

4. Farming Efficiency: To maximize your farming efficiency, consider using a Battle Potion to further increase enemy spawn rates. You can also use a Water Candle, which can be placed or held to increase spawn rates even more. If you have access to the Summoner class, summoning minions can help you deal with enemies while you focus on dodging and positioning.

5. Resource Management: While farming for the Ice Sickle, you will also gather other useful materials like Frost Cores, which are used to craft Frost Armor. This armor set provides a bonus to melee and ranged damage, making it a good choice for players using the Ice Sickle. Additionally, you may find other rare drops like the Frostbrand, which is another powerful melee weapon.

6. Common Mistakes: One common mistake is not being prepared for the difficulty of hardmode enemies in the Underground Snow biome. Make sure you have the appropriate gear and potions before attempting to farm for the Ice Sickle. Another mistake is not setting up a proper farming area, which can make the process more difficult and time-consuming. Take the time to create a small arena with platforms and buffs to make farming easier.

7. Advanced Techniques: If you have access to the Summoner class, consider using a summoning weapon like the Spider Staff or the Optic Staff to help you deal with enemies while you focus on dodging. You can also use traps like Dart Traps or Super Dart Traps to deal additional damage to enemies. Additionally, if you have access to the Clentaminator, you can purify the area to reduce the spawn rate of unwanted enemies like Corruptors or Crimeras.

In summary, obtaining the Ice Sickle requires farming Ice Elementals and Icy Mermen in the Underground Snow biome during hardmode. Prepare with the appropriate gear, set up a farming arena, and use potions and buffs to increase your efficiency. Be cautious of the tough enemies in the biome, and use ranged or magic weapons to keep them at a distance. With patience and preparation, you will eventually obtain the Ice Sickle, a powerful weapon that can carry you through the early to mid-hardmode stages of the game.