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

The Tavernkeep is a unique NPC in Terraria who sells items related to the Old One's Army event, such as Defender Medals, sentry weapons, and armor sets. To get the Tavernkeep to move in, you need to meet specific requirements and follow a series of steps. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.

First, the Tavernkeep will only appear after you have defeated the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, depending on your world's evil biome. These bosses are early-game challenges, so youÔÇÖll need to prepare accordingly. For the Eater of Worlds, youÔÇÖll need to break Shadow Orbs in the Corruption biome, which requires at least a Nightmare Pickaxe or better. For the Brain of Cthulhu, youÔÇÖll need to destroy Crimson Hearts in the Crimson biome, which also requires a pickaxe of similar strength. Once you defeat one of these bosses, the Tavernkeep can spawn.

After defeating the boss, the Tavernkeep will appear as an unconscious NPC somewhere in the world. He can spawn in any biome, but he is most commonly found in the outer thirds of the map, either in the Caverns or Surface layers. YouÔÇÖll need to search for him, and when you find him, interact with him to wake him up. Once awakened, he will move into an available house if you have one prepared.

To prepare a house for the Tavernkeep, youÔÇÖll need to build a suitable room. The room must meet the basic housing requirements: it must have walls, a light source, a flat surface item like a table or workbench, and a comfort item like a chair. The room must also be enclosed with a door or platform entrance. Make sure the room is at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall to meet the minimum size requirements. You can build this house in any biome, but keep in mind that NPC happiness is affected by their preferred biome and neighbors. The Tavernkeep prefers the Hallow biome and likes living with the Goblin Tinkerer and Wizard. Placing him near these NPCs in the Hallow will increase his happiness, which can lead to discounts on his items.

One common mistake players make is not searching thoroughly for the unconscious Tavernkeep. He can spawn in hard-to-reach areas, so itÔÇÖs important to explore the outer edges of your world carefully. Using items like the Hunter Potion, which highlights enemies and NPCs, can make this process easier. Another mistake is not having a suitable house ready. If you donÔÇÖt have an available house, the Tavernkeep wonÔÇÖt move in, even if you wake him up. Always ensure you have at least one empty house prepared before searching for him.

Advanced techniques include optimizing your world for NPC happiness. Since the Tavernkeep prefers the Hallow biome, you can create an artificial Hallow biome near your base by planting Hallow seeds or using the Clentaminator with Blue Solution. This allows you to place the Tavernkeep and his preferred neighbors in the same area, maximizing happiness and discounts. Additionally, you can use pylons to create a fast-travel network between biomes, making it easier to manage NPC placement and access their shops.

Resource requirements for this process are relatively low. YouÔÇÖll need basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches to create a house. If youÔÇÖre creating an artificial Hallow biome, youÔÇÖll need Hallow seeds or Blue Solution, which can be obtained from the Steampunker NPC after defeating a mechanical boss. For combat preparation, youÔÇÖll need weapons and armor suitable for fighting the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu. Early-game weapons like the Blade of Grass or the Blood Butcherer are effective, and armor sets like Gold or Platinum provide good defense.

Class and equipment considerations depend on your playstyle. Melee characters can use swords and yoyos, while ranged characters can use bows and guns. Magic users can rely on spells like the Water Bolt or Demon Scythe. Summoners can use the Imp Staff, which is effective against these bosses. Regardless of your class, make sure to bring healing potions and buffs like Ironskin and Regeneration to increase your survivability.

In summary, getting the Tavernkeep to move in requires defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, searching for his unconscious form, and providing a suitable house. Optimizing his happiness by placing him in the Hallow biome with preferred neighbors can lead to discounts and a more efficient base. Avoid common mistakes like not searching thoroughly or lacking a prepared house, and use advanced techniques like biome manipulation and pylon networks to enhance your gameplay experience. With proper preparation and strategy, you can successfully bring the Tavernkeep into your world and access his unique items.