What are the best NPC pairings for biome-specific discounts in Terraria?

In Terraria, the NPC happiness system is a key feature that allows players to influence the prices of items sold by NPCs and unlock unique items like the Pylon network. NPC happiness is determined by two main factors: the biome they live in and their neighbors. Each NPC has preferred biomes and neighbors, and pairing them correctly can lead to significant discounts on their goods. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve the best NPC pairings for biome-specific discounts.

First, letÔÇÖs understand the mechanics. Each NPC has a set of preferences for biomes and neighbors. If an NPC is in their preferred biome and near their preferred neighbors, their happiness increases, leading to discounts on their items. Conversely, if they are in a disliked biome or near disliked neighbors, their happiness decreases, and prices go up. Some NPCs also have neutral preferences, meaning they donÔÇÖt particularly like or dislike certain biomes or neighbors.

To start, you need to know the preferred biomes and neighbors for each NPC. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Zoologist or Clothier. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Golfer or Nurse. The Arms Dealer prefers the Desert biome and likes living with the Nurse or Steampunker. The Goblin Tinkerer prefers the Underground biome and likes living with the Mechanic or Dye Trader. These are just a few examples, and you can find a complete list of preferences on the Terraria wiki or other guides.

Next, you need to create suitable housing for your NPCs in their preferred biomes. This involves building houses that meet the basic requirements for NPC housing, such as having walls, a light source, a table, and a chair. You also need to ensure that the houses are within the correct biome. For example, to create a Forest biome, you need to have a certain number of grass tiles and trees. For a Desert biome, you need sand blocks and cactus. For an Underground biome, you need to be below the surface layer.

Once you have built the houses, you need to assign the NPCs to their preferred biomes and neighbors. This can be done by using the housing menu to assign NPCs to specific houses. Make sure to place NPCs with positive neighbor preferences close to each other. For example, if the Arms Dealer likes the Nurse, place their houses next to each other in the Desert biome.

There are some important tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, avoid placing NPCs in biomes they dislike, as this will decrease their happiness and increase prices. For example, the Dryad dislikes the Desert biome, so placing her there will make her unhappy. Second, avoid placing NPCs near neighbors they dislike. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Steampunker, so placing them near each other will decrease their happiness. Third, some NPCs have unique preferences that can be used to your advantage. For example, the Party Girl likes the Hallow biome and likes living with the Wizard or Stylist, which can lead to significant discounts.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing NPCs in the wrong biomes or near disliked neighbors, not building enough houses to accommodate all NPCs, and not checking the housing menu to ensure NPCs are assigned correctly. ItÔÇÖs also important to avoid overcrowding, as having too many NPCs in one area can decrease happiness.

Advanced techniques include creating multiple towns in different biomes to maximize happiness and discounts. For example, you can have a Forest town with the Guide, Merchant, and Nurse, a Desert town with the Arms Dealer and Nurse, and an Underground town with the Goblin Tinkerer and Mechanic. This allows you to take advantage of multiple biome-specific discounts and create a Pylon network for fast travel.

Resource requirements and preparation include gathering materials for building houses, such as wood, stone, and glass, and ensuring you have enough space in each biome to build the necessary structures. You may also need to clear out areas or create artificial biomes if the natural biomes are not suitable.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to NPC happiness, but having a well-equipped character can help you gather resources and build houses more efficiently. For example, a character with a good pickaxe and building tools can quickly gather materials and construct houses.

Specific examples and scenarios include setting up a Forest town with the Guide, Merchant, and Nurse. The Guide likes the Forest biome and likes living with the Zoologist or Clothier. The Merchant likes the Forest biome and likes living with the Golfer or Nurse. The Nurse likes the Forest biome and likes living with the Arms Dealer or Merchant. By placing these NPCs in the Forest biome and near each other, you can maximize their happiness and get discounts on their items.

In conclusion, achieving the best NPC pairings for biome-specific discounts in Terraria involves understanding NPC preferences, building suitable houses in the correct biomes, and placing NPCs near their preferred neighbors. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can maximize NPC happiness, get significant discounts, and create a thriving town with a Pylon network for fast travel.