How do I make the Merchant NPC happy in Terraria?

To make the Merchant NPC happy in Terraria, you need to understand the NPC happiness system, which was introduced in the 1.4 update. This system allows NPCs to have preferences for specific biomes and neighbors, which directly affects their happiness. A happy NPC will offer discounts on their items and, in some cases, sell unique items that are otherwise unavailable. For the Merchant, his happiness is influenced by the biome he lives in and the NPCs he is housed near. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to make the Merchant happy.

First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome, which is the default biome where you start the game. If you place him in the Forest, he will be happier than if he were in other biomes like the Desert or Snow biome. Additionally, the Merchant likes to live near the Nurse and the Golfer. If you house him near these NPCs, his happiness will increase. On the other hand, he dislikes living near the Angler and the Tax Collector, so avoid placing him near these NPCs if you want to keep him happy.

To start, you need to create suitable housing for the Merchant. This involves building a house in the Forest biome. The house should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. Make sure the house is valid by checking with the housing menu. Once the house is ready, assign the Merchant to it. Next, build houses nearby for the Nurse and the Golfer. These houses should also meet the basic requirements for NPC housing. Assign the Nurse and the Golfer to these houses, ensuring they are close enough to the MerchantÔÇÖs house to count as neighbors.

Now, letÔÇÖs discuss some important tips and considerations. One common mistake is placing the Merchant in a biome he dislikes, such as the Desert or Snow biome. This will make him unhappy, and he will not offer discounts. Another mistake is housing him near NPCs he dislikes, like the Angler or the Tax Collector. Always check the NPC happiness menu to see how your NPCs are feeling. If the Merchant is unhappy, you can move him to a different house or change his neighbors to improve his happiness.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing the placement of NPCs to maximize happiness for multiple characters. For example, you can create a small town in the Forest biome with the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer living close together. This setup will keep all three NPCs happy and provide you with discounts and unique items. Additionally, you can use pylons to create a network of teleportation points between different biomes, making it easier to manage your NPCs and access their services.

Resource requirements for this setup are minimal. You will need basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches to create the houses. If you want to decorate the houses, you can use furniture and other decorative items, but these are not necessary for the NPCs to be happy. Preparation involves gathering these materials and finding a suitable location in the Forest biome to build your town.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to NPC happiness, but having a well-equipped character will make it easier to gather resources and build houses. For example, a character with a good pickaxe and axe will be able to gather wood and stone more efficiently. Additionally, having a grappling hook or wings will make it easier to navigate the world and build houses in hard-to-reach areas.

In specific scenarios, you might need to adjust your strategy based on the world you are playing in. For example, if your Forest biome is far from your main base, you might want to create a secondary base in the Forest to house the Merchant and his preferred neighbors. Alternatively, you can use pylons to connect your main base to the Forest biome, allowing you to access the MerchantÔÇÖs services quickly.

In conclusion, making the Merchant happy in Terraria involves placing him in the Forest biome and housing him near the Nurse and the Golfer. Avoid placing him in biomes he dislikes or near NPCs he dislikes. Use the housing menu to check his happiness and make adjustments as needed. With proper planning and resource management, you can create a happy environment for the Merchant and other NPCs, ensuring you get the best prices and access to unique items.