How do I increase my character's summon damage in Terraria?

Increasing your character's summon damage in Terraria involves a combination of equipment, accessories, buffs, and strategies tailored to the summoner class. Summon damage is primarily influenced by the summon weapons you use, the armor you wear, the accessories you equip, and the buffs you apply. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to maximize your summon damage throughout the game.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics. Summon damage is a stat that determines how much damage your summoned minions or sentries deal to enemies. This damage is affected by your summon weaponÔÇÖs base damage, your armorÔÇÖs summon damage bonuses, and any accessories or buffs that increase summon damage. Additionally, the number of minions you can summon at once is determined by your minion capacity, which can be increased through armor, accessories, and buffs. Summon damage is unique because it scales independently of other damage types, meaning you can focus entirely on boosting it without worrying about melee, ranged, or magic damage.

To start increasing your summon damage, youÔÇÖll need to focus on summoner-specific armor sets. Early in the game, the Flinx Fur Coat is a good starting point, as it provides a small boost to summon damage and increases your minion capacity by one. As you progress, youÔÇÖll want to craft the Bee Armor, which is obtained by defeating the Queen Bee boss in the Jungle biome. This armor set significantly boosts summon damage and increases your minion capacity by three. Later in the game, the Obsidian Armor and Spider Armor become available, offering even greater summon damage bonuses and minion capacity increases. In hardmode, the Forbidden Armor and Tiki Armor are excellent choices, with the Stardust Armor being the ultimate summoner armor, providing massive summon damage boosts and the ability to summon powerful Stardust minions.

Accessories are another crucial component of increasing summon damage. Early-game accessories like the Summoner Emblem and Hercules Beetle can be obtained from the Wall of Flesh and Plantera, respectively, and provide significant summon damage boosts. The Papyrus Scarab, crafted by combining the Hercules Beetle and the Necromantic Scroll, is another powerful accessory that increases summon damage and minion capacity. In hardmode, the Avenger Emblem and Celestial Shell can further enhance your summon damage. Additionally, the Pygmy Necklace and Necromantic Scroll are essential for increasing minion capacity, allowing you to summon more minions at once.

Buffs and potions are also vital for maximizing summon damage. The Summoning Potion increases your minion capacity by one, while the Bewitching Table, found in Dungeon rooms, provides a temporary minion capacity boost. The Wrath Potion and Rage Potion increase your overall damage output, including summon damage, making them useful during boss fights or challenging events. Additionally, the Well Fed buff, obtained from consuming food items, provides a small but helpful boost to all stats, including summon damage.

When it comes to weapons, focus on summoning the strongest minions available at your current progression stage. Early-game minions like the Finch Staff and Slime Staff are decent starting points, but youÔÇÖll want to upgrade to more powerful options like the Hornet Staff, Imp Staff, and Spider Staff as you progress. In hardmode, the Blade Staff, Sanguine Staff, and Terraprisma are among the best summon weapons, offering high damage output and unique abilities. Sentry weapons like the Ballista Cane and Lightning Aura Staff can also complement your minions by providing additional damage sources.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting your minion capacity. While increasing summon damage is important, having more minions can often result in higher overall damage output. Always prioritize accessories and buffs that increase minion capacity, such as the Papyrus Scarab and Summoning Potion. Another mistake is not using the right armor for your progression stage. Make sure to upgrade your armor as soon as better options become available, as the summon damage bonuses from armor sets are crucial for maximizing your effectiveness.

Advanced techniques include combining summoner gear with hybrid builds. For example, using the Forbidden Armor allows you to deal both summon and magic damage, giving you more versatility in combat. Additionally, using sentry weapons alongside your minions can create a powerful combination, as sentries can deal consistent damage while your minions focus on enemies. Optimizing your accessory loadout is also key. Reforge your accessories to Menacing for a 4% damage increase per accessory, or Lucky for a 4% critical strike chance increase, depending on your preference.

Resource requirements for increasing summon damage include crafting materials for armor and accessories, as well as potion ingredients for buffs. Early-game materials like Bee Wax and Spider Fangs are essential for crafting summoner armor, while hardmode materials like Chlorophyte Bars and Luminite Bars are needed for advanced gear. Always keep an eye out for these materials while exploring and mining.

In summary, increasing your summon damage in Terraria requires a combination of the right armor, accessories, weapons, and buffs. Focus on summoner-specific gear, prioritize minion capacity, and use powerful summon weapons to maximize your damage output. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting minion capacity or using outdated armor, and consider advanced techniques like hybrid builds and sentry weapons for added versatility. With the right preparation and strategy, you can become a formidable summoner capable of taking on even the toughest challenges in Terraria.