How do I make the Zoologist NPC move in Terraria?

To make the Zoologist NPC move into your world in Terraria, you need to meet specific conditions. The Zoologist is a unique NPC who sells items related to animals, critters, and pets, including the popular Guide to Critter Companionship. Her arrival is tied to the Bestiary, a feature introduced in the 1.4 update that tracks information about creatures you encounter. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to make her move in, along with tips and strategies to ensure success.

First, you need to fill a certain percentage of the Bestiary. The Bestiary is a catalog of all the creatures, enemies, and critters you encounter in the game. Each time you defeat or interact with a new creature, its entry is added to the Bestiary. The Zoologist will move in once you have filled at least 10% of the Bestiary. This means you need to encounter and defeat or interact with a variety of enemies and critters. The more unique creatures you encounter, the faster youÔÇÖll reach this threshold.

To start filling the Bestiary, explore different biomes and areas of your world. Each biome has unique creatures, so visiting places like the Forest, Desert, Underground, Jungle, and Corruption or Crimson will help you encounter a wide range of enemies. Critters like bunnies, birds, and squirrels also count toward the Bestiary, so make sure to interact with them. You can use a Bug Net to catch critters, which will add them to the Bestiary even if you release them afterward.

Once youÔÇÖve reached 10% completion in the Bestiary, the Zoologist will become available to move in. However, she still requires a suitable house. Like other NPCs, the Zoologist needs a room that meets the basic housing requirements. This includes 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 walls and have a door or other entrance. Make sure to build a house that meets these criteria before she arrives.

A common mistake players make is not exploring enough biomes or focusing only on combat enemies. Remember that critters and passive creatures also count toward the Bestiary. If youÔÇÖre struggling to reach 10%, consider using items like the Lifeform Analyzer, which helps you detect nearby creatures. This can make it easier to find rare critters or enemies you havenÔÇÖt encountered yet.

Advanced players can optimize their progress by creating artificial biomes. For example, you can build a small Jungle biome near your base to attract Jungle-specific creatures. This saves time and allows you to encounter a variety of enemies without traveling far. Additionally, events like Blood Moons and Solar Eclipses spawn unique enemies that can help fill the Bestiary quickly. Be prepared for these events by having strong weapons and armor, as some of these enemies can be challenging.

Resource requirements for this process are minimal. YouÔÇÖll need basic building materials like wood, stone, and torches to create a house for the Zoologist. If youÔÇÖre creating artificial biomes, you may need specific blocks like Jungle Grass or Sand to mimic the environment. A Bug Net is highly recommended for catching critters, and it can be purchased from the Merchant NPC for a small amount of gold.

In terms of class and equipment, any class can work for this task, but having mobility items like Hermes Boots or a Cloud in a Bottle can help you explore biomes faster. A weapon with good crowd control, such as a bow or magic staff, is useful for dealing with groups of enemies. If youÔÇÖre focusing on critters, avoid using weapons with area-of-effect damage, as they might accidentally kill the creatures youÔÇÖre trying to catch.

A specific example of optimizing Bestiary progress is farming in the Underground Jungle. This biome has a high density of unique enemies like Hornets, Man Eaters, and Jungle Bats. Spending time here can quickly increase your Bestiary completion. Another example is using the Lifeform Analyzer during a Blood Moon to track down rare enemies like Dripplers or Zombie Mermaids.

In summary, making the Zoologist move in requires filling at least 10% of the Bestiary by encountering and interacting with a variety of creatures. Explore different biomes, catch critters with a Bug Net, and prepare a suitable house for her. Avoid focusing solely on combat enemies, and consider creating artificial biomes or participating in events to speed up progress. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll have the Zoologist in your town in no time, ready to provide useful items and information about the creatures of Terraria.