What is the best armor set for a summoner build in pre-Hardmode Terraria?
In pre-Hardmode Terraria, the summoner class is one of the most unique and challenging playstyles to optimize. Summoners rely on minions to deal damage, which means their armor and accessories must focus on increasing minion count, minion damage, and survivability. The best armor set for a summoner in pre-Hardmode is the Bee Armor, which is crafted using materials dropped by the Queen Bee boss. This armor set provides significant bonuses to summoners, making it the go-to choice for players focusing on this class.
To obtain the Bee Armor, you will need to defeat the Queen Bee, a boss found in the Underground Jungle biome. The Queen Bee can be summoned by breaking a Larva, which are small, glowing structures found in the jungle, or by using an Abeemination, a craftable item made from 5 Honey Blocks, 1 Stinger, 5 Hive, and 1 Bottled Honey. Once you defeat the Queen Bee, she will drop Bee Wax, which is used to craft the Bee Armor. You will need 30 Bee Wax to craft the full set, which includes the Bee Headgear, Bee Breastplate, and Bee Greaves. The Bee Armor provides a total of 13 defense, which is relatively low compared to other pre-Hardmode armor sets, but its summoner-specific bonuses make it invaluable.
The Bee Armor increases your maximum number of minions by 2 and boosts minion damage by 23%. This is a significant improvement for summoners, as it allows you to summon more minions and increases their overall damage output. Additionally, the armor set provides a unique bonus: when you take damage, there is a chance that bees will spawn and attack nearby enemies. This passive effect can be very useful in both exploration and combat, as it provides additional damage without requiring any input from the player.
To maximize the effectiveness of the Bee Armor, you should focus on obtaining powerful summon weapons. The best pre-Hardmode summon weapons include the Slime Staff, Hornet Staff, and Imp Staff. The Slime Staff is a rare drop from slimes and is often considered the weakest summon weapon, but it can still be useful early in the game. The Hornet Staff is crafted using 14 Bee Wax and is a significant upgrade, as it summons hornets that deal ranged damage. The Imp Staff is crafted using 17 Hellstone Bars and is the strongest pre-Hardmode summon weapon, summoning imps that deal high damage and can pass through walls.
In addition to the Bee Armor and summon weapons, you should also focus on obtaining accessories that enhance your summoner build. The Pygmy Necklace, which increases your maximum number of minions by 1, is a great choice and can be obtained from the Witch Doctor NPC after defeating the Queen Bee. The Hercules Beetle, another accessory sold by the Witch Doctor, increases minion damage by 15% and is a must-have for summoners. Other useful accessories include the Obsidian Shield, which provides immunity to knockback and fire blocks, and the Fledgling Wings, which grant limited flight and are especially useful for mobility during boss fights.
When preparing for boss battles or exploration, it is important to use buffs and potions to enhance your summoner build. Summoning Potions increase your maximum number of minions by 1, while Bewitching Tablets, found in Dungeons, provide the same effect. Wrath Potions and Rage Potions increase your damage output, while Ironskin Potions and Regeneration Potions improve your survivability. Additionally, using food items like Cooked Fish or Pumpkin Pie can provide a well-fed buff, which increases your health regeneration and overall stats.
One common mistake summoners make is neglecting their own survivability. While minions are the primary source of damage, you still need to avoid taking too much damage yourself. Focus on dodging enemy attacks and using mobility accessories like the Hermes Boots or Cloud in a Bottle to stay out of harm's way. Another mistake is not using the right summon weapons for the situation. For example, the Hornet Staff is great for dealing with flying enemies, while the Imp Staff is better for enemies that are behind walls or in tight spaces.
Advanced techniques for summoners include using the Queen Spider Staff, which summons spider minions that can latch onto enemies and deal continuous damage. This staff is crafted using 16 Spider Fangs, which are dropped by Black Recluses in the Spider Caves biome. Combining the Queen Spider Staff with the Bee Armor and other summoner accessories can create a powerful minion army that can handle most pre-Hardmode challenges.
In summary, the Bee Armor is the best pre-Hardmode armor set for summoners, providing significant bonuses to minion count and damage. To obtain it, you will need to defeat the Queen Bee and craft the armor using Bee Wax. Pair the Bee Armor with powerful summon weapons like the Hornet Staff and Imp Staff, and enhance your build with accessories like the Pygmy Necklace and Hercules Beetle. Use buffs and potions to maximize your effectiveness, and focus on survivability and mobility to avoid taking unnecessary damage. By following these strategies, you can create a strong summoner build that is capable of tackling pre-Hardmode challenges with ease.
To obtain the Bee Armor, you will need to defeat the Queen Bee, a boss found in the Underground Jungle biome. The Queen Bee can be summoned by breaking a Larva, which are small, glowing structures found in the jungle, or by using an Abeemination, a craftable item made from 5 Honey Blocks, 1 Stinger, 5 Hive, and 1 Bottled Honey. Once you defeat the Queen Bee, she will drop Bee Wax, which is used to craft the Bee Armor. You will need 30 Bee Wax to craft the full set, which includes the Bee Headgear, Bee Breastplate, and Bee Greaves. The Bee Armor provides a total of 13 defense, which is relatively low compared to other pre-Hardmode armor sets, but its summoner-specific bonuses make it invaluable.
The Bee Armor increases your maximum number of minions by 2 and boosts minion damage by 23%. This is a significant improvement for summoners, as it allows you to summon more minions and increases their overall damage output. Additionally, the armor set provides a unique bonus: when you take damage, there is a chance that bees will spawn and attack nearby enemies. This passive effect can be very useful in both exploration and combat, as it provides additional damage without requiring any input from the player.
To maximize the effectiveness of the Bee Armor, you should focus on obtaining powerful summon weapons. The best pre-Hardmode summon weapons include the Slime Staff, Hornet Staff, and Imp Staff. The Slime Staff is a rare drop from slimes and is often considered the weakest summon weapon, but it can still be useful early in the game. The Hornet Staff is crafted using 14 Bee Wax and is a significant upgrade, as it summons hornets that deal ranged damage. The Imp Staff is crafted using 17 Hellstone Bars and is the strongest pre-Hardmode summon weapon, summoning imps that deal high damage and can pass through walls.
In addition to the Bee Armor and summon weapons, you should also focus on obtaining accessories that enhance your summoner build. The Pygmy Necklace, which increases your maximum number of minions by 1, is a great choice and can be obtained from the Witch Doctor NPC after defeating the Queen Bee. The Hercules Beetle, another accessory sold by the Witch Doctor, increases minion damage by 15% and is a must-have for summoners. Other useful accessories include the Obsidian Shield, which provides immunity to knockback and fire blocks, and the Fledgling Wings, which grant limited flight and are especially useful for mobility during boss fights.
When preparing for boss battles or exploration, it is important to use buffs and potions to enhance your summoner build. Summoning Potions increase your maximum number of minions by 1, while Bewitching Tablets, found in Dungeons, provide the same effect. Wrath Potions and Rage Potions increase your damage output, while Ironskin Potions and Regeneration Potions improve your survivability. Additionally, using food items like Cooked Fish or Pumpkin Pie can provide a well-fed buff, which increases your health regeneration and overall stats.
One common mistake summoners make is neglecting their own survivability. While minions are the primary source of damage, you still need to avoid taking too much damage yourself. Focus on dodging enemy attacks and using mobility accessories like the Hermes Boots or Cloud in a Bottle to stay out of harm's way. Another mistake is not using the right summon weapons for the situation. For example, the Hornet Staff is great for dealing with flying enemies, while the Imp Staff is better for enemies that are behind walls or in tight spaces.
Advanced techniques for summoners include using the Queen Spider Staff, which summons spider minions that can latch onto enemies and deal continuous damage. This staff is crafted using 16 Spider Fangs, which are dropped by Black Recluses in the Spider Caves biome. Combining the Queen Spider Staff with the Bee Armor and other summoner accessories can create a powerful minion army that can handle most pre-Hardmode challenges.
In summary, the Bee Armor is the best pre-Hardmode armor set for summoners, providing significant bonuses to minion count and damage. To obtain it, you will need to defeat the Queen Bee and craft the armor using Bee Wax. Pair the Bee Armor with powerful summon weapons like the Hornet Staff and Imp Staff, and enhance your build with accessories like the Pygmy Necklace and Hercules Beetle. Use buffs and potions to maximize your effectiveness, and focus on survivability and mobility to avoid taking unnecessary damage. By following these strategies, you can create a strong summoner build that is capable of tackling pre-Hardmode challenges with ease.