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, in some cases, 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 his 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, he likes to live near the Nurse and the Golfer. If you house him near these NPCs, his happiness will increase. On the other hand, he dislikes living near the Angler and the Tax Collector, so avoid placing him near these NPCs. The MerchantÔÇÖs happiness is also affected by overcrowding. If there are too many NPCs in a small area, his happiness will decrease. Ideally, you should have no more than three NPCs in a single area to avoid overcrowding penalties.

Now, letÔÇÖs go through the step-by-step process to make the Merchant happy. First, you need to create a suitable house for him in the Forest biome. This can be done by building a simple wooden house with walls, a chair, a table, and a light source. Make sure the house is valid by checking the housing menu. Once the house is ready, assign the Merchant to it. Next, you need to place the Nurse and the Golfer in nearby houses. These houses should also be in the Forest biome and close enough to the MerchantÔÇÖs house to count as neighbors. You can check if they are neighbors by opening the housing menu and seeing if their names appear near each other.

There are some important tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, make sure the Forest biome is not corrupted or hallowed, as this will affect the MerchantÔÇÖs happiness. If your Forest biome has been corrupted, you can purify it using purification powder or the Clentaminator. Second, avoid placing too many NPCs in the same area. As mentioned earlier, overcrowding will decrease happiness. Third, make sure the houses are not too close to each other. If the houses are too close, the game might consider them as part of the same area, leading to overcrowding. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least 25 tiles between each house.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing the Merchant in the wrong biome, housing him near disliked NPCs, and overcrowding the area. Another mistake is not checking the housing menu to ensure the houses are valid and the NPCs are properly assigned. Always double-check the housing menu to avoid these issues.

For advanced techniques, you can create a dedicated Forest biome town for the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer. This town can be located near your main base for easy access. You can also use pylons to create a fast travel network between different biomes. Pylons are special items that allow you to teleport between different biomes, and they can only be purchased from happy NPCs. By creating a happy town for the Merchant, you can purchase a Forest pylon, which will make traveling to and from the Forest biome much easier.

Resource requirements and preparation are minimal for this task. You will need wood, stone, and other basic building materials to create the houses. You will also need to ensure the Forest biome is not corrupted or hallowed. If it is, you will need purification powder or the Clentaminator to purify the area.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to making the Merchant happy, but having a good set of tools and weapons will make the process easier. For example, having a good pickaxe will help you gather resources faster, and having a good weapon will help you defend against enemies while building.

In specific scenarios, if you are playing in a multiplayer world, you can coordinate with other players to create a dedicated Forest biome town. This will allow you to share resources and build the town faster. Additionally, if you are playing in a hardcore world, you will need to be extra careful when building the town, as enemies can be more dangerous.

In conclusion, making the Merchant happy in Terraria involves placing him in the Forest biome, housing him near the Nurse and the Golfer, and avoiding overcrowding. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can maximize his happiness and enjoy the benefits of discounted prices and unique items.