How do I make the Painter NPC move in Terraria?

To make the Painter NPC move into your world in Terraria, you need to meet specific conditions and follow a series of steps. The Painter is one of the many NPCs in Terraria who can provide useful items and services, such as selling decorative items like paint, wallpaper, and paint tools. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to get the Painter to move in, along with tips and strategies to ensure success.

First, you need to understand the basic mechanics of NPC housing and requirements. In Terraria, NPCs require suitable housing to move in. Suitable housing is a room that meets specific criteria: it must have walls, a background wall, a light source, a flat surface item (like a table or workbench), and a comfort item (like a chair or bed). The room must also be enclosed with a door or other entryway. Once you have a suitable house, NPCs will move in as long as their specific conditions are met.

For the Painter, the condition is that there must be at least eight other NPCs already living in your world. This means you need to have a total of nine NPCs, including the Painter, for him to appear. To achieve this, youÔÇÖll need to create multiple suitable houses and meet the conditions for other NPCs to move in first. Some NPCs, like the Guide, Merchant, and Nurse, will move in early in the game, while others require specific conditions, such as defeating bosses or finding certain items.

To start, focus on building a few basic houses. Use wood, stone, or other readily available materials to create small rooms that meet the housing criteria. Place a table, chair, and torch in each room, and ensure the walls are fully enclosed with background walls. Once you have a few houses ready, NPCs like the Guide, Merchant, and Nurse will move in automatically as you meet their conditions. For example, the Merchant will move in once you have at least 50 silver coins in your inventory, and the Nurse will appear once you have used a Life Crystal to increase your health.

As you progress, youÔÇÖll unlock more NPCs by meeting their specific conditions. For example, the Arms Dealer will move in once you have a gun in your inventory, and the Dryad will appear after you defeat the Eye of Cthulhu or the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu. Continue building houses and meeting the conditions for these NPCs until you have at least eight living in your world.

Once you have eight NPCs, the Painter will have a chance to spawn. He will move into an empty suitable house, so make sure you have at least one house available for him. If you donÔÇÖt have an empty house, he wonÔÇÖt move in, even if the conditions are met. Keep an eye on your housing menu to ensure you have enough rooms for all NPCs.

Here are some important tips and considerations. First, always check your housing menu to see if your houses are suitable. You can access this menu by pressing the housing icon in your inventory. If a house is marked as unsuitable, check for missing walls, light sources, or furniture. Second, spread out your houses to avoid overcrowding. NPCs have happiness levels that are affected by their neighbors and biome preferences, so placing them in the right locations can improve their happiness and reduce prices.

Common mistakes to avoid include not having enough houses or not meeting the conditions for other NPCs. If youÔÇÖre struggling to get the Painter to move in, double-check that you have at least eight other NPCs and an empty suitable house. Also, avoid placing NPCs in biomes they dislike, as this can affect their happiness and make them less likely to stay.

Advanced techniques include optimizing NPC happiness by placing them in biomes they prefer and near neighbors they like. For example, the Painter prefers the Jungle biome and likes living with the Dryad and Party Girl. Placing him in a Jungle biome with these neighbors can increase his happiness and reduce his prices. Additionally, you can use pylons to create fast travel networks between biomes, making it easier to manage your NPCs and access their services.

Resource requirements for building houses are minimal. YouÔÇÖll need basic materials like wood, stone, and torches, which are easy to gather early in the game. As you progress, you can upgrade your houses with better materials and decorations, but this isnÔÇÖt necessary for the Painter to move in.

In terms of class and equipment considerations, there are no specific requirements for getting the Painter to move in. However, having a strong character with good gear can help you progress faster and meet the conditions for other NPCs. For example, defeating bosses like the Eye of Cthulhu or the Eater of Worlds will unlock NPCs like the Dryad and Tavernkeep, so having good combat gear is important.

In summary, to make the Painter NPC move in, you need to have at least eight other NPCs living in your world and an empty suitable house. Build multiple houses, meet the conditions for other NPCs, and ensure your houses are suitable. Avoid common mistakes like overcrowding or unsuitable housing, and consider advanced techniques like optimizing NPC happiness and using pylons. With these steps, youÔÇÖll have the Painter in your world in no time.