What are the requirements for the Merchant NPC to move in Terraria?

To get the Merchant NPC to move into your world in Terraria, you need to meet specific requirements. The Merchant is one of the earliest NPCs you can attract, and he sells useful items like torches, ropes, and basic tools. HereÔÇÖs a detailed explanation of how to make him move in, along with tips and strategies to ensure success.

First, the Merchant requires an empty, valid house to move into. A valid house must have walls, a light source, a table or workbench, a chair, and a door or other entrance. The house must also be in a safe area, meaning it should not be in a corrupted or Crimson biome, and it should not be too close to evil biomes. You can check if a house is valid by using the housing menu, which is accessed by pressing the house icon in your inventory.

The main requirement for the Merchant to move in is that you have at least 50 silver coins in your inventory. This means you need to gather enough coins by exploring, defeating enemies, or selling items. Early in the game, you can collect coins by breaking pots, killing slimes, or mining ores like copper, tin, and iron, which can be sold to the Guide NPC. Once you have 50 silver coins, the Merchant will automatically move into an available house.

To prepare for the MerchantÔÇÖs arrival, you should build a house early in the game. A simple wooden house with wooden walls, a torch, a table, and a chair is sufficient. Make sure the house is in a safe biome, such as the Forest biome, and not too close to corruption or Crimson. If you build multiple houses, you can attract other NPCs as well, which will help you progress faster.

One common mistake is not having enough coins or not having a valid house ready. If you donÔÇÖt have 50 silver coins, the Merchant wonÔÇÖt move in, even if you have a house. Similarly, if the house is not valid, the Merchant wonÔÇÖt move in, even if you have the coins. Always double-check the housing menu to ensure the house is suitable.

Advanced techniques include building multiple houses in different biomes to maximize NPC happiness. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes to live near the Golfer and the Nurse. Placing him near these NPCs will increase his happiness, which reduces the prices of his items. You can also use pylons to create a fast travel network between biomes, making it easier to access the Merchant and other NPCs.

Resource requirements for the Merchant are minimal. You only need basic materials like wood, torches, and a few coins. Early in the game, focus on gathering wood from trees and mining ores to sell. You can also craft basic tools like a wooden sword and pickaxe to help you explore and gather resources more efficiently.

Class and equipment considerations are not critical for attracting the Merchant, but having basic gear like a wooden sword and armor can help you survive early enemies. If youÔÇÖre playing as a melee class, focus on crafting a broadsword and armor. If youÔÇÖre playing as a ranged class, craft a bow and arrows. Mages and summoners may have a harder time early on, but they can still gather resources and coins to attract the Merchant.

In specific scenarios, such as starting in a world with corruption or Crimson nearby, you may need to build your house further away from these biomes. If youÔÇÖre struggling to gather coins, focus on killing slimes and breaking pots, as they often drop coins. You can also explore caves to find chests, which often contain coins and other valuable items.

In summary, to get the Merchant to move in, you need 50 silver coins and a valid house. Build a simple house in a safe biome, gather coins by exploring and defeating enemies, and ensure the house is suitable. Avoid common mistakes like not having enough coins or an invalid house. Use advanced techniques like building in preferred biomes and using pylons for fast travel. With these strategies, you can attract the Merchant early in the game and access his useful items.