What are the best NPC pairings for the Underground Desert biome in Terraria?

In Terraria, the Underground Desert biome is a unique and challenging environment that requires careful planning when it comes to NPC housing and happiness. The NPC happiness system is a mechanic introduced in the 1.4 update, where NPCs have preferences for specific biomes and neighbors. Keeping NPCs happy in the Underground Desert biome can be tricky, but with the right pairings and strategies, you can maximize their happiness and gain benefits like reduced prices and access to unique items.

To start, you need to understand the basics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has a preferred biome and preferred neighbors. When an NPC is in their preferred biome and near their preferred neighbors, their happiness increases. Conversely, being in a disliked biome or near disliked neighbors decreases their happiness. Happiness affects the prices of items sold by NPCs, and some NPCs will only sell certain items if they are happy enough.

For the Underground Desert biome, the best NPC pairings involve characters who either prefer the Desert biome or have no strong dislike for it. The Arms Dealer and the Nurse are a great pairing for the Underground Desert. The Arms Dealer likes the Desert biome and prefers the Nurse as a neighbor. The Nurse, while she doesn't have a specific preference for the Desert, doesn't dislike it either. This pairing ensures that both NPCs remain happy, leading to lower prices and better interactions.

Another effective pairing is the Tavernkeep and the Demolitionist. The Tavernkeep prefers the Underground biome, which includes the Underground Desert, and he likes the Demolitionist as a neighbor. The Demolitionist, on the other hand, doesn't have a strong preference for the Underground Desert but doesn't dislike it either. This pairing works well because both NPCs can coexist happily in the Underground Desert, providing you with discounted items and unique goods.

When setting up housing for these NPCs in the Underground Desert, you need to ensure that the houses meet the basic requirements. Each house must have walls, a light source, a table, a chair, and a door. The Underground Desert can be a dangerous place, so it's important to build secure housing to protect your NPCs from enemies. Use strong blocks like stone or desert bricks to create a safe environment. Additionally, consider adding traps and defenses around the housing area to keep hostile mobs at bay.

One common mistake players make is placing too many NPCs in one area. Overcrowding can lead to decreased happiness, as NPCs prefer to have some space. Make sure to spread out the houses and avoid placing too many NPCs in a single biome. Another mistake is ignoring the preferences of NPCs. Always check the preferences of each NPC before placing them in a biome. Placing an NPC in a disliked biome or near disliked neighbors will result in unhappiness and higher prices.

Advanced techniques for optimizing NPC happiness in the Underground Desert include using pylons. Pylons are teleportation devices that allow you to quickly travel between different biomes. To use a pylon, you need at least two NPCs in the same biome who are happy enough. For example, if you have the Arms Dealer and the Nurse happily living in the Underground Desert, you can place a Desert Pylon there. This allows for quick travel and efficient management of your NPCs.

Resource requirements for setting up NPC housing in the Underground Desert include materials like stone, wood, and desert bricks. You will also need furniture items like tables, chairs, and light sources. Preparing these materials in advance will save you time and effort when building the houses. Additionally, consider gathering resources for traps and defenses to protect your NPCs from the biome's hostile creatures.

Class and equipment considerations are also important when managing NPCs in the Underground Desert. The biome is home to tough enemies like Antlions and Tomb Crawlers, so having strong armor and weapons is essential. Melee classes can benefit from high-defense armor like Molten or Turtle armor, while ranged classes should equip weapons like the Minishark or Phoenix Blaster. Magic users can use spells like the Water Bolt or Demon Scythe to deal with groups of enemies.

In specific scenarios, you might need to adjust your strategy based on the NPCs you have available. For example, if you don't have the Arms Dealer or the Nurse, you can pair the Goblin Tinkerer with the Mechanic. The Goblin Tinkerer prefers the Underground biome and likes the Mechanic as a neighbor. While this pairing isn't as optimal as the Arms Dealer and Nurse, it still provides a decent level of happiness and benefits.

In conclusion, managing NPC happiness in the Underground Desert biome requires careful planning and attention to detail. By pairing NPCs who prefer the biome or have no strong dislikes, building secure housing, and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a thriving community in the Underground Desert. Using advanced techniques like pylons and preparing the necessary resources will further enhance your experience. With the right strategies, you can maximize NPC happiness and enjoy the benefits of lower prices and unique items in Terraria.