How do I get the Tavernkeep NPC to move in Terraria?

To get the Tavernkeep NPC to move into your world in Terraria, you need to meet specific conditions and follow a series of steps. The Tavernkeep is a unique NPC who sells items related to the Old One's Army event, including sentry summoning weapons and armor. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to make him appear and what you need to do to ensure he moves in successfully.

First, the Tavernkeep will only spawn after you have defeated the Eater of Worlds or the Brain of Cthulhu, depending on whether your world has Corruption or Crimson. These bosses are early-game challenges, so youÔÇÖll need to prepare for combat. To summon the Eater of Worlds, you must destroy Shadow Orbs in the Corruption biome using a hammer or explosives. For the Brain of Cthulhu, you need to destroy Crimson Hearts in the Crimson biome. Both bosses drop materials essential for crafting better gear, so defeating them is a key step in progression.

Once youÔÇÖve defeated one of these bosses, the Tavernkeep will appear as a sleeping NPC in a random location in your world. He can spawn in any biome, but he is most commonly found in the Cavern layer or near the Underground Desert. When you find him, interact with him to wake him up. After this, he will become available to move into your town, provided you have a suitable house for him.

To build a suitable house, you need to create a room that meets the basic housing requirements. The room must have walls, a light source, a flat surface item like a table or workbench, and a comfort item like a chair. The room must also be enclosed with a door or platform entrance. Make sure the house is in a biome where the Tavernkeep is happy, as NPC happiness affects their prices and behavior. The Tavernkeep prefers the Hallow biome and likes to live near the Goblin Tinkerer or the Wizard. Placing him near these NPCs will increase his happiness, leading to lower prices for his items.

One common mistake players make is not exploring enough to find the Tavernkeep after defeating the required boss. He doesnÔÇÖt spawn automatically in your town, so youÔÇÖll need to search for him. Use Spelunker Potions or a Metal Detector to help locate him more easily. Another mistake is not preparing a house in advance. If you donÔÇÖt have a suitable house ready, the Tavernkeep wonÔÇÖt move in, and you might lose track of him.

Advanced techniques include optimizing your world for NPC happiness. By placing the Tavernkeep in the Hallow biome and near his preferred neighbors, you can maximize his happiness and get the best prices for his items. Additionally, you can use teleporters or minecart tracks to create efficient travel routes between your town and the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event arena, which the Tavernkeep is closely tied to.

Resource requirements for this process are relatively low. YouÔÇÖll need basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches to create a house. For combat preparation, youÔÇÖll need weapons and armor appropriate for fighting the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu. Early-game weapons like the Blade of Grass or the Bloody Spine are effective, and armor sets like Gold or Platinum will provide sufficient defense.

Class and equipment considerations depend on your playstyle. Melee characters should focus on high-defense armor and weapons with good reach, while ranged characters can use bows or guns. Magic users should prepare mana potions and spells like the Water Bolt. Summoners can use the Imp Staff, which is effective against these bosses.

In summary, to get the Tavernkeep to move in, defeat the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, search for him in your world, and provide a suitable house in a biome he likes. Optimize his happiness by placing him near preferred neighbors, and prepare for combat with appropriate gear. Avoid common mistakes like not exploring or forgetting to build a house, and use advanced techniques to maximize efficiency. With these steps, youÔÇÖll have the Tavernkeep in your town, ready to help you tackle the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event.