How do I unlock the best summoner weapons in Terraria?

Unlocking the best summoner weapons in Terraria requires a combination of progression, preparation, and strategy. Summoner is a unique class that relies on minions and sentries to deal damage, making it a powerful but somewhat challenging playstyle. To achieve the best summoner weapons, you need to follow a clear path through the gameÔÇÖs progression, focusing on key milestones and resources.

The first step in unlocking the best summoner weapons is understanding the summoner class mechanics. Summoner weapons are divided into two main types: minions and whips. Minions are autonomous creatures that fight for you, while whips are melee weapons that enhance your minionsÔÇÖ damage and provide additional effects. To maximize your summoner build, you need to focus on both types of weapons, as well as summoner armor and accessories that boost minion count, damage, and utility.

Early in the game, you can start as a summoner by crafting the Slime Staff, which is a rare drop from slimes. While this weapon is weak, itÔÇÖs a good starting point. A more reliable early-game option is the Finch Staff, which can be found in Living Wood Chests in Living Trees. Once you have a summon weapon, focus on obtaining summoner armor like the Flinx Fur Coat, crafted from Flinx Fur dropped by Flinx enemies in the Snow Biome. This armor increases your minion damage and is a solid early-game choice.

As you progress, youÔÇÖll want to defeat the Queen Bee boss in the Jungle Biome. This boss drops the Bee Armor, which is a significant upgrade for summoners. The Bee Armor increases your minion count and provides a powerful summon weapon, the Bee Gun, which is technically a magic weapon but synergizes well with summoner builds. After defeating the Queen Bee, you can also craft the Hornet Staff, a strong minion weapon that summons hornets to fight for you.

The next major milestone is defeating the Wall of Flesh, which unlocks Hardmode. In Hardmode, summoners gain access to powerful weapons like the Spider Staff and the Queen Spider Staff. The Spider Staff is crafted from Spider Fangs, which are dropped by Black Recluses in the Spider Caves. The Queen Spider Staff is a sentry weapon that summons a spider turret, providing additional damage. At this stage, you should also craft the Spider Armor, which further increases your minion count and damage.

One of the best summoner weapons in the game is the Blade Staff, dropped by Queen Slime. This weapon is highly effective due to its fast attack speed and high damage output. To obtain it, youÔÇÖll need to summon and defeat Queen Slime, which requires a Gelatin Crystal found in the Underground Hallow. The Blade Staff is particularly powerful when paired with the Durendal whip, which increases minion attack speed.

For endgame summoner weapons, youÔÇÖll need to defeat the Empress of Light and the Moon Lord. The Empress of Light drops the Kaleidoscope whip, one of the strongest whips in the game, and the Stardust Dragon Staff, a powerful minion weapon. The Moon Lord drops the Stardust Armor, which is the best summoner armor, and the Stardust Cell Staff, another top-tier minion weapon. These weapons and armor sets are essential for maximizing your summoner build.

To optimize your summoner build, focus on accessories that increase minion count and damage. Key accessories include the Papyrus Scarab, Necromantic Scroll, and Pygmy Necklace. These can be combined with the Hercules Beetle and Avenger Emblem for additional damage boosts. Additionally, use buff potions like Summoning Potion, Bewitching Table, and Wrath Potion to further enhance your minionsÔÇÖ effectiveness.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting whips, which are crucial for boosting minion damage, and not upgrading your armor and accessories regularly. Summoners are relatively fragile, so positioning and movement are critical during combat. Use platforms, walls, and terrain to your advantage, and always keep your distance from enemies while your minions do the work.

In summary, unlocking the best summoner weapons in Terraria requires careful progression, resource management, and strategic planning. Focus on obtaining key weapons and armor at each stage of the game, and optimize your build with the right accessories and buffs. By following this path, youÔÇÖll be able to create a powerful summoner character capable of taking on TerrariaÔÇÖs toughest challenges.