What are the best biome and neighbor combinations for NPC happiness in Terraria?

NPC happiness in Terraria is a system that affects the prices of items sold by NPCs and can also unlock unique items like the Pylon network, which allows for fast travel between biomes. To maximize NPC happiness, you need to consider their preferred biomes and neighbors. Each NPC has specific likes and dislikes, and placing them in the right environment with the right neighbors will increase their happiness. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. NPC happiness is influenced by two main factors: the biome they live in and the neighbors they have. Each NPC has a preferred biome and a few NPCs they like or dislike being near. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes living with the Zoologist or the Merchant. If you place him in his preferred biome with a liked neighbor, his happiness will increase, leading to lower prices and the ability to purchase a Forest Pylon. On the other hand, if you place him in a biome he dislikes, such as the Desert, or near NPCs he dislikes, such as the Painter, his happiness will decrease, and prices will go up.

To start, you need to understand each NPCÔÇÖs preferences. The Terraria Wiki is a great resource for this, as it lists all NPCs and their likes and dislikes. Once you know their preferences, you can begin planning your town layout. A good strategy is to create small towns in different biomes, each housing a group of NPCs that like each other and the biome theyÔÇÖre in. For example, you can create a Forest town with the Guide, Zoologist, and Merchant, a Desert town with the Arms Dealer, Nurse, and Steampunker, and an Ocean town with the Angler, Pirate, and Tavernkeep.

When building these towns, make sure each NPC has their own house. A house in Terraria is a room with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. The room must be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, but you can make it larger if you want. Each house should be close enough to the others to count as neighbors but not so close that they overlap. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least 4 blocks of space between houses.

One common mistake is overcrowding NPCs in a single biome. While it might seem efficient to have all NPCs in one place, this will lead to decreased happiness for most of them. Instead, spread them out across different biomes and group them according to their preferences. Another mistake is ignoring the NPCÔÇÖs dislike for certain neighbors. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Nurse, so placing them together will decrease their happiness. Always check the NPCÔÇÖs preferences before placing them.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing the placement of NPCs to maximize happiness and access to Pylons. Pylons are special items that allow for fast travel between biomes, but they can only be purchased from NPCs who are happy enough. To unlock a Pylon, you need at least two NPCs in the same biome who are happy with their neighbors. For example, in the Forest biome, the Guide and Zoologist can unlock the Forest Pylon if they are happy. Once you have a Pylon network set up, you can quickly travel between biomes, making resource gathering and exploration much easier.

Resource requirements for building NPC towns are relatively simple. YouÔÇÖll need wood, stone, and other basic building materials to construct houses. You may also need biome-specific blocks to create the right environment. For example, in the Desert biome, youÔÇÖll need Sandstone or Hardened Sand blocks to make the houses look appropriate. In the Snow biome, youÔÇÖll need Ice or Snow blocks. Make sure to gather these materials before you start building.

Class and equipment considerations are minimal when it comes to NPC happiness, but having a good pickaxe or drill can help you gather materials faster. If youÔÇÖre playing as a summoner, you might want to keep your minions away from NPC towns to avoid accidental damage. Otherwise, NPC happiness is more about planning and building than combat or equipment.

In summary, achieving NPC happiness in Terraria involves understanding each NPCÔÇÖs preferences, building appropriate houses in the right biomes, and grouping them with liked neighbors. Avoid overcrowding and placing NPCs with disliked neighbors. Use Pylons to create a fast travel network and make resource gathering easier. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a thriving network of happy NPCs across your world.