What is the best way to protect NPCs during a Blood Moon in Terraria?

Protecting NPCs during a Blood Moon in Terraria requires careful planning, as this event spawns hostile enemies that can easily overwhelm unprepared players and towns. Blood Moons increase enemy spawn rates and introduce unique enemies like the Drippler, Zombie Merman, and Blood Zombie, which can break down doors and attack NPCs directly. To safeguard your NPCs, you need to focus on building defenses, managing combat, and ensuring your town is well-prepared for the event.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics of a Blood Moon. During this event, enemies spawn more frequently, and their behavior becomes more aggressive. Zombies can break down doors, and certain enemies like the Blood Zombie and Drippler can deal significant damage to NPCs if they reach them. NPCs cannot defend themselves effectively, so itÔÇÖs up to the player to create a secure environment. The event lasts the entire night, so you must be prepared to defend your town for a prolonged period.

To protect your NPCs, start by reinforcing your townÔÇÖs housing. Replace wooden doors with solid blocks or platforms to prevent zombies from breaking in. You can also use actuators to create hidden entrances that only you can access. Ensure that all NPC houses are elevated off the ground, as this prevents ground-based enemies from reaching them. A height of at least six blocks is recommended. Additionally, surround your town with walls or barriers made of strong materials like stone or dungeon bricks to keep enemies at bay.

Next, set up traps and defensive structures. Place dart traps, spear traps, and flame traps around your townÔÇÖs perimeter to automatically damage enemies. These traps can be activated with pressure plates or timers, allowing you to focus on combat while they handle weaker enemies. Lava moats are another effective defense, as they deal continuous damage to enemies that fall into them. However, be cautious with lava, as it can destroy dropped items. Use thin layers of lava to minimize this risk.

Combat strategies are crucial during a Blood Moon. Equip yourself with strong weapons and armor suitable for your character class. Melee players should use swords or yoyos with high knockback to keep enemies at a distance. Ranged players can benefit from bows or guns with piercing ammunition, such as JesterÔÇÖs Arrows or Meteor Shots. Magic users should focus on area-of-effect spells like the Water Bolt or Demon Scythe. Summoners can rely on minions to deal consistent damage while they focus on crowd control. Always keep healing potions and buffs like Ironskin and Regeneration on hand to sustain yourself during the event.

Resource preparation is key to surviving a Blood Moon. Stockpile healing potions, ammunition, and mana potions if youÔÇÖre a magic user. Craft or purchase plenty of torches, campfires, and heart lanterns to boost your health regeneration. If youÔÇÖre using traps, gather wires, pressure plates, and actuators in advance. For advanced players, consider setting up a teleporter network to quickly move between key areas of your town during the event.

Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating the eventÔÇÖs difficulty and failing to secure your townÔÇÖs entrances. Leaving doors unguarded or using weak materials for walls can lead to NPC deaths. Additionally, relying solely on traps without actively engaging in combat can result in being overwhelmed by stronger enemies. Always stay vigilant and adapt your strategy as needed.

Advanced techniques include using NPC happiness mechanics to your advantage. Place NPCs in biomes they prefer and pair them with neighbors they like to increase their happiness. Happy NPCs sell items at discounted prices, allowing you to stock up on resources more efficiently. You can also use the Nurse NPC to heal yourself during the event, but ensure her house is well-protected.

In summary, protecting NPCs during a Blood Moon requires a combination of strong defenses, strategic combat, and thorough preparation. Reinforce your townÔÇÖs housing, set up traps, and equip yourself with powerful gear. Avoid common mistakes like leaving doors unguarded and underestimating the eventÔÇÖs difficulty. With careful planning and execution, you can keep your NPCs safe and survive the Blood Moon with minimal losses.