What are the best NPC happiness combinations for discounts in Terraria?

In Terraria, NPC happiness is a system that affects the prices of items sold by NPCs, as well as their willingness to sell certain items. When NPCs are happy, they offer discounts on their goods, which can significantly reduce the cost of purchasing items. To maximize NPC happiness and achieve the best discounts, you need to understand the mechanics of the system and carefully plan your town layout.

The happiness system is influenced by two main factors: biome preference and neighbor preference. Each NPC has a preferred biome and a list of NPCs they like, dislike, or hate as neighbors. Placing an NPC in their preferred biome and near NPCs they like will increase their happiness, while placing them in a disliked biome or near NPCs they dislike or hate will decrease their happiness. Happiness levels range from 0 to 1, with higher values resulting in better discounts.

To achieve the best NPC happiness combinations, you should first identify the preferred biomes and neighbors for each NPC. For example, the Guide prefers the Forest biome and likes the Zoologist and Clothier as neighbors. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes the Golfer and Nurse as neighbors. The Nurse prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Arms Dealer and Wizard as neighbors. The Arms Dealer prefers the Desert biome and likes the Nurse and Steampunker as neighbors. The Steampunker prefers the Desert biome and likes the Cyborg and Painter as neighbors. The Cyborg prefers the Snow biome and likes the Steampunker and Mechanic as neighbors. The Mechanic prefers the Snow biome and likes the Goblin Tinkerer and Cyborg as neighbors. The Goblin Tinkerer prefers the Underground biome and likes the Mechanic and Dye Trader as neighbors. The Dye Trader prefers the Desert biome and likes the Painter and Arms Dealer as neighbors. The Painter prefers the Jungle biome and likes the Dye Trader and Dryad as neighbors. The Dryad prefers the Jungle biome and likes the Witch Doctor and Painter as neighbors. The Witch Doctor prefers the Jungle biome and likes the Dryad and Truffle as neighbors. The Truffle prefers the Glowing Mushroom biome and likes the Guide and Witch Doctor as neighbors. The Zoologist prefers the Forest biome and likes the Golfer and Guide as neighbors. The Golfer prefers the Forest biome and likes the Zoologist and Merchant as neighbors. The Angler prefers the Ocean biome and likes the Pirate and Demolitionist as neighbors. The Pirate prefers the Ocean biome and likes the Angler and Tavernkeep as neighbors. The Tavernkeep prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Demolitionist and Pirate as neighbors. The Demolitionist prefers the Underground biome and likes the Tavernkeep and Goblin Tinkerer as neighbors. The Stylist prefers the Ocean biome and likes the Angler and Pirate as neighbors. The Tax Collector prefers the Underground biome and likes the Clothier and Mechanic as neighbors. The Clothier prefers the Underground biome and likes the Tax Collector and Guide as neighbors. The Wizard prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Golfer and Merchant as neighbors. The Party Girl prefers the Hallow biome and likes the Wizard and Zoologist as neighbors. The Santa Claus prefers the Snow biome and likes the Mechanic and Cyborg as neighbors. The Princess prefers the Hallow biome and likes all NPCs as neighbors.

To maximize happiness, you should create multiple towns in different biomes, each housing NPCs with compatible preferences. For example, you can create a Forest town with the Guide, Zoologist, Golfer, and Merchant. You can create a Desert town with the Arms Dealer, Steampunker, Dye Trader, and Painter. You can create a Snow town with the Cyborg, Mechanic, Goblin Tinkerer, and Santa Claus. You can create a Jungle town with the Dryad, Witch Doctor, and Truffle. You can create an Ocean town with the Angler, Pirate, Stylist, and Tavernkeep. You can create a Hallow town with the Nurse, Wizard, Party Girl, and Princess. You can create an Underground town with the Demolitionist, Tax Collector, and Clothier.

When building these towns, make sure to provide suitable housing for each NPC. Each house should be at least 6 blocks wide and 10 blocks tall, with walls, a door, a table, a chair, and a light source. You should also ensure that the houses are within the correct biome and that the NPCs are placed near their preferred neighbors. To check the biome, you can use a Depth Meter or a Biome Sight Potion. To check the happiness level of an NPC, you can talk to them and see if they mention being happy or unhappy.

One common mistake to avoid is placing NPCs in biomes they dislike or near NPCs they dislike or hate. This will decrease their happiness and result in higher prices. Another mistake is overcrowding NPCs in a single town, as this can lead to conflicts and reduced happiness. To avoid this, spread out your NPCs across multiple towns in different biomes.

Advanced techniques for optimizing NPC happiness include using Pylons to create fast travel networks between towns. Pylons are special items that allow you to teleport between towns, making it easier to manage multiple towns and access NPCs quickly. To obtain Pylons, you need to have at least two NPCs in a town with high happiness. You can then purchase the Pylon from one of the NPCs.

Resource requirements for building towns include wood, stone, and other building materials. You should also gather biome-specific blocks and walls to create the correct biome for each town. For example, you can use Jungle Grass and Jungle Wood for a Jungle town, or Snow Blocks and Ice Blocks for a Snow town. You can also use biome-specific furniture and decorations to enhance the theme of each town.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to NPC happiness, but having a well-equipped character can make it easier to gather resources and build towns. For example, a character with a high mining speed and mobility can quickly gather materials and travel between towns. A character with a high defense and health can survive in dangerous biomes while building towns.

In summary, achieving the best NPC happiness combinations in Terraria requires careful planning and attention to detail. By understanding the preferences of each NPC and creating multiple towns in different biomes, you can maximize happiness and achieve significant discounts on items. Avoid common mistakes such as placing NPCs in disliked biomes or near disliked neighbors, and use advanced techniques like Pylons to optimize your town layout. With the right resources and preparation, you can create a thriving network of towns and enjoy the benefits of happy NPCs.