How do I find and defeat the Celestial Pillars in Terraria?

To find and defeat the Celestial Pillars in Terraria, you must first progress through the game to the point where you have defeated the Lunatic Cultist. This boss is found at the Dungeon entrance after defeating the four Cultists who spawn there. Once the Lunatic Cultist is defeated, the Celestial Pillars event will begin. Four Celestial Pillars will spawn in different locations across the world, each representing a different celestial force: Solar, Nebula, Vortex, and Stardust. These pillars are tied to specific biomes and will only appear in those areas. The Solar Pillar is associated with the surface, the Nebula Pillar with the underground, the Vortex Pillar with the sky, and the Stardust Pillar with the cavern layer.

The first step in defeating the Celestial Pillars is to locate them. After the event begins, a message will appear indicating that the Celestial Pillars have spawned. You can find them by exploring the world, as they are large, glowing structures that are hard to miss. Each pillar is surrounded by a shield that prevents you from directly attacking it. To lower the shield, you must defeat a certain number of enemies that spawn around the pillar. The number of enemies required varies depending on the difficulty of your world, but it is typically around 100 in normal mode and 150 in expert mode. Once you have defeated enough enemies, the shield will drop, allowing you to attack the pillar directly.

Each Celestial Pillar has its own unique set of enemies and challenges. The Solar Pillar is guarded by enemies that deal high melee damage, such as the Selenian and the Crawltipede. The Nebula Pillar is protected by enemies that use powerful magic attacks, like the Brain Suckler and the Predictor. The Vortex Pillar is defended by enemies that use ranged attacks, such as the Storm Diver and the Alien Queen. The Stardust Pillar is guarded by enemies that summon minions, like the Star Cell and the Flow Invader. Each pillar also has a unique boss enemy that will spawn periodically, adding an extra layer of difficulty.

To effectively defeat the Celestial Pillars, you will need to prepare thoroughly. Make sure you have the best armor and weapons available for your chosen class. For melee characters, the Solar Flare armor and the Daybreak or Solar Eruption weapons are excellent choices. For ranged characters, the Vortex armor and the Phantasm or Vortex Beater weapons are highly effective. For magic users, the Nebula armor and the Nebula Blaze or Nebula Arcanum weapons are ideal. For summoners, the Stardust armor and the Stardust Dragon or Stardust Cell staff are the best options. Additionally, make sure you have plenty of healing potions, buff potions, and other consumables to help you survive the intense battles.

When approaching a Celestial Pillar, it is important to focus on the enemies first. The shield will not drop until you have defeated enough enemies, so prioritize killing them quickly. Use area-of-effect attacks to take out multiple enemies at once, and be mindful of the unique abilities of each enemy type. For example, the Crawltipede from the Solar Pillar will only attack you if you are flying, so staying on the ground can help you avoid its attacks. The Brain Suckler from the Nebula Pillar can teleport and drain your mana, so keep your distance and use mana regeneration items. The Storm Diver from the Vortex Pillar can fire homing missiles, so be ready to dodge or use a shield to block them. The Star Cell from the Stardust Pillar can split into smaller cells, so focus on taking them out quickly before they multiply.

Once the shield is down, you can attack the pillar directly. Each pillar has a large amount of health, so be prepared for a long fight. Use your most powerful attacks and abilities to deal as much damage as possible. Keep an eye on your health and mana, and use healing items as needed. If you die, you will respawn at your base, but the pillar will still be active, so you will need to return to the battlefield quickly to continue the fight.

After defeating a Celestial Pillar, you will receive fragments corresponding to that pillar. These fragments are used to craft powerful endgame weapons and armor. You will need to defeat all four pillars to gather enough fragments to craft the items you need. Once all four pillars are defeated, the Moon Lord will spawn, marking the final boss battle of the game.

In summary, defeating the Celestial Pillars requires careful preparation, strategic combat, and quick reflexes. Make sure you have the best gear available, focus on defeating the enemies to lower the shield, and use your most powerful attacks to take down the pillar. With the right strategy and preparation, you can overcome this challenging event and prepare for the final battle against the Moon Lord.