How do I make the Merchant NPC happy in Terraria?

To make the Merchant NPC happy in Terraria, you need to understand the NPC happiness system, which was introduced in the 1.4 update. This system allows NPCs to have preferences for specific biomes and neighbors, which directly affects their happiness. A happy NPC will offer discounts on their items and may even sell unique items that are otherwise unavailable. For the Merchant, his happiness is influenced by the biome he lives in and the NPCs he is housed near. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to maximize the MerchantÔÇÖs happiness.

First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome, which is the default biome where you start the game. If you place him in any other biome, his happiness will decrease. Additionally, the Merchant likes to be near the Nurse and the Golfer. If you house him near these NPCs, his happiness will increase. On the other hand, he dislikes being near the Angler and the Tax Collector, so avoid placing him near these NPCs. The Merchant also dislikes living in the Desert, Snow, or Ocean biomes, so make sure to keep him in the Forest biome for optimal happiness.

To start, you need to create a suitable house for the Merchant in the Forest biome. A house in Terraria is defined as a fully enclosed space with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Make sure the house is at least 6 blocks tall and 10 blocks wide to meet the minimum requirements. Once the house is built, you can assign the Merchant to it by talking to him and selecting the "Housing" option. If you have multiple NPCs, you can also use the Housing menu to assign specific NPCs to specific houses.

Next, you need to place the Nurse and the Golfer near the Merchant. The Nurse is one of the first NPCs you can get, as she moves in once you have at least 100 health. The Golfer, on the other hand, can be found in the Underground Desert biome. Once you rescue him, he will move into an available house. Place both the Nurse and the Golfer in houses adjacent to the MerchantÔÇÖs house to maximize his happiness. You can create a small village in the Forest biome with these three NPCs living close to each other.

ItÔÇÖs important to note that NPC happiness is also affected by overcrowding. If there are too many NPCs in a small area, their happiness will decrease. To avoid this, make sure there is enough space between houses. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 25 blocks of space between each house. This will prevent overcrowding and keep the NPCs happy.

One common mistake players make is placing the Merchant in a biome he dislikes, such as the Desert or Snow biome. This will significantly decrease his happiness, leading to higher prices and the inability to purchase unique items. Another mistake is placing him near NPCs he dislikes, such as the Angler or the Tax Collector. Always check the NPCÔÇÖs preferences before assigning them to a house.

Advanced techniques for optimizing NPC happiness include creating themed villages. For example, you can create a Forest village with the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer, and another village in a different biome for other NPCs. This way, you can maximize the happiness of all NPCs by placing them in their preferred biomes and near their preferred neighbors.

Resource requirements for building a suitable house for the Merchant are minimal. You will need wood, which can be easily obtained by chopping down trees in the Forest biome. You will also need torches for light, which can be crafted from wood and gel. If you want to decorate the house, you can use other materials like stone or glass, but these are not necessary for the basic requirements.

In terms of class and equipment considerations, there are no specific requirements for making the Merchant happy. However, having a good pickaxe and axe will make it easier to gather resources and build houses. If you are playing as a melee class, you can use a sword to defend against enemies while building. If you are playing as a ranged class, you can use a bow or gun to keep enemies at bay.

A specific example of maximizing the MerchantÔÇÖs happiness would be to create a small village in the Forest biome with three houses. The first house is for the Merchant, the second house is for the Nurse, and the third house is for the Golfer. Make sure each house is at least 25 blocks apart to avoid overcrowding. This setup will ensure that the Merchant is in his preferred biome and near his preferred neighbors, maximizing his happiness and providing you with discounts and unique items.

In conclusion, making the Merchant happy in Terraria involves placing him in the Forest biome and near the Nurse and Golfer. Avoid placing him in biomes he dislikes and near NPCs he dislikes. Create a suitable house with enough space to prevent overcrowding, and use basic resources like wood and torches to build the house. By following these steps, you can maximize the MerchantÔÇÖs happiness and enjoy the benefits of discounted prices and unique items.