What are the best NPC pairings for resource gathering in Terraria?

In Terraria, NPC happiness is a crucial mechanic that affects how efficiently you can gather resources. When NPCs are happy, they sell items at discounted prices, and some even offer unique items that are otherwise unavailable. To maximize resource gathering, you need to pair NPCs in a way that keeps them happy, which in turn reduces the cost of their goods and increases the availability of useful items. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve the best NPC pairings for resource gathering.

First, letÔÇÖs understand the mechanics of NPC happiness. Each NPC has preferred biomes and neighbors. When placed in their preferred biome and near their liked or loved neighbors, their happiness increases. Conversely, placing them in disliked biomes or near disliked neighbors decreases their happiness. Happiness affects the prices of items they sell, with higher happiness leading to lower prices. Some NPCs also offer unique items when they are happy, such as the Zoologist selling the Pylon network items, which are essential for fast travel.

To start, you need to create suitable housing for your NPCs. Each NPC requires a room with walls, a light source, a table, a chair, and a door. The room must be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall. Once you have the basic housing set up, you can begin pairing NPCs based on their preferences.

For resource gathering, the most important NPCs are the Merchant, the Goblin Tinkerer, the Mechanic, and the Arms Dealer. The Merchant sells basic resources like torches, ropes, and crafting materials. The Goblin Tinkerer sells the TinkererÔÇÖs Workshop, which is essential for combining accessories. The Mechanic sells wires and other mechanical items, while the Arms Dealer sells ammunition and firearms.

To keep these NPCs happy, you need to place them in their preferred biomes and pair them with their liked neighbors. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes the Nurse and the Golfer. The Goblin Tinkerer prefers the Underground biome and likes the Mechanic and the Dye Trader. The Mechanic prefers the Snow biome and likes the Goblin Tinkerer and the Cyborg. The Arms Dealer prefers the Desert biome and likes the Nurse and the Steampunker.

HereÔÇÖs a step-by-step strategy to set up these pairings. First, create a Forest biome housing area for the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer. Place the MerchantÔÇÖs house near the Nurse and Golfer to maximize happiness. Next, create an Underground biome housing area for the Goblin Tinkerer and Mechanic. Place their houses close to each other. Then, create a Snow biome housing area for the Mechanic and Cyborg. Finally, create a Desert biome housing area for the Arms Dealer, Nurse, and Steampunker.

Important tips and considerations include ensuring that each biome is clearly defined and that NPCs are not overcrowded. Overcrowding can lead to decreased happiness. Also, make sure to use the Pylon network for fast travel between biomes, which can be set up by placing Pylons in each biome and keeping the relevant NPCs happy.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing NPCs in disliked biomes or near disliked neighbors. For example, placing the Arms Dealer in the Forest biome or near the Demolitionist will decrease his happiness. Another mistake is not providing enough space between houses, which can lead to overcrowding.

Advanced techniques include using the Zoologist to sell Pylons, which can be placed in each biome for fast travel. This requires keeping the Zoologist happy by placing her in the Forest biome near the Golfer and Witch Doctor. Another advanced technique is using the Party Girl to increase happiness during parties, which can temporarily boost NPC happiness and reduce prices.

Resource requirements and preparation include gathering materials for building houses, such as wood, stone, and glass. YouÔÇÖll also need to gather biome-specific blocks to create the appropriate biomes. For example, youÔÇÖll need Snow Blocks for the Snow biome and Sand Blocks for the Desert biome.

Class and equipment considerations are minimal for this task, but having a good pickaxe and building tools can speed up the process. The Architect Gizmo Pack and other building accessories can also help.

Specific examples and scenarios include setting up a Forest biome housing area near your main base for easy access to the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer. Another example is creating an Underground biome housing area near your mining operations for easy access to the Goblin Tinkerer and Mechanic.

By following these strategies and tips, you can maximize NPC happiness and efficiently gather resources in Terraria. Happy NPCs mean lower prices and unique items, making your resource gathering efforts much more effective.