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 Merchant will offer discounts on his items, and if he is extremely happy, he may even sell unique items like the Piggy Bank or the Safe. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to make the Merchant happy, covering mechanics, strategies, tips, and more.

The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes to live near the Nurse and the Golfer. He dislikes living in the Desert or Snow biome and does not get along with the Steampunker or the Tax Collector. To maximize his happiness, you should place him in a Forest biome with the Nurse and Golfer as neighbors. Avoid placing him in biomes he dislikes or near NPCs he dislikes, as this will reduce his happiness and increase his prices.

To start, you need to create suitable housing for the Merchant. Build a house in the Forest biome using wood or other natural materials. The house should be at least 6 blocks tall and 10 blocks wide, 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 Golfer. These NPCs should be within 25 blocks of the Merchant to count as neighbors. If you donÔÇÖt have the Golfer yet, you can find him in the Underground Desert biome, where he is trapped in a cave. Free him, and he will move into an available house.

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 his prices will increase. Another mistake is placing him near NPCs he dislikes, such as the Steampunker or Tax Collector. Always check the NPC happiness menu to see how the Merchant feels about his current living situation. If he is unhappy, you may need to relocate him to a more suitable location.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing the placement of NPCs to maximize happiness for multiple characters. For example, you can create a Forest biome town with the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer living close together. This setup not only makes the Merchant happy but also benefits the Nurse and Golfer, as they have preferred neighbors and biomes. You can also use pylons to create a network of teleportation points between different biomes, making it easier to manage NPC happiness and access their services.

Resource requirements for making the Merchant happy are minimal. You need wood or other building materials to create houses in the Forest biome. If you donÔÇÖt have the Golfer yet, you may need to explore the Underground Desert to find and rescue him. Combat equipment is not necessary for this task, but having a good weapon and armor can help you navigate dangerous biomes like the Underground Desert.

In terms of class and equipment considerations, any class can manage NPC happiness, as it primarily involves building and exploration. However, having mobility accessories like Hermes Boots or a Cloud in a Bottle can help you move quickly between biomes and NPC houses. If you are playing in Expert or Master mode, consider bringing potions like Swiftness or Ironskin to increase your survivability while exploring.

A specific example of optimizing the MerchantÔÇÖs happiness is creating a Forest biome town near your main base. Build a row of houses for the Merchant, Nurse, and Golfer, ensuring they are within 25 blocks of each other. Place a Forest Pylon in the town to allow easy teleportation. This setup not only makes the Merchant happy but also provides convenient access to the NurseÔÇÖs healing services and the GolferÔÇÖs golf-related items.

In summary, making the Merchant happy in Terraria involves placing him in the Forest biome with the Nurse and Golfer as neighbors. Avoid placing him in disliked biomes or near disliked NPCs. Use the housing menu to check his happiness and relocate him if necessary. Advanced techniques include creating optimized towns and using pylons for easy teleportation. With proper planning and resource management, you can keep the Merchant happy and benefit from his discounted prices and unique items.