What are the best NPC pairings for happiness in Terraria?

In Terraria, the NPC happiness system is a mechanic that allows players to influence the happiness of non-player characters by placing them in preferred biomes and pairing them with liked or loved neighbors. When NPCs are happy, they offer discounts on their goods and services, and some even sell unique items. To maximize NPC happiness, you need to understand their preferences and strategically place them in your world.

The mechanics of NPC happiness are based on two main factors: biome preference and neighbor preference. Each NPC has a favorite biome and a list of neighbors they like, love, or dislike. Placing an NPC in their preferred biome and near a neighbor they like or love will increase their happiness. Conversely, placing them in a disliked biome or near a disliked neighbor will decrease their happiness. Happiness levels affect the prices of items sold by NPCs, with higher happiness leading to discounts and lower happiness leading to price increases.

To achieve optimal NPC happiness, follow these step-by-step instructions. First, identify the preferred biome and neighbor preferences for each NPC. For example, the Guide likes the Forest biome and prefers to live near the Zoologist or the Clothier. The Merchant prefers the Forest biome and likes to live near the Golfer or the Nurse. The Arms Dealer prefers the Desert biome and likes to live near the Nurse or the Steampunker. The Demolitionist prefers the Underground biome and likes to live near the Tavernkeep or the Mechanic.

Next, create housing in the preferred biomes for each NPC. Ensure that the houses are within a reasonable distance of each other to satisfy neighbor preferences. For example, if you want the Guide and the Zoologist to live together in the Forest biome, build two houses close to each other in that biome. Make sure the houses meet the basic requirements for NPC housing, such as being at least 6 blocks tall and 10 blocks wide, having walls, a light source, a table, and a chair.

Important tips and considerations include avoiding overcrowding in a single biome. While it might be tempting to place all NPCs in the Forest biome, doing so will lead to overcrowding and decreased happiness. Spread out your NPCs across different biomes to maximize happiness. Additionally, avoid placing NPCs near neighbors they dislike. For example, the Arms Dealer dislikes the Nurse, so placing them together will decrease their happiness.

Common mistakes to avoid include ignoring biome preferences and neighbor preferences. Placing an NPC in a biome they dislike or near a neighbor they dislike will result in decreased happiness and higher prices. Another mistake is not providing adequate housing. NPCs require proper housing to move in, and if the housing is not suitable, they will not move in, and you will not be able to influence their happiness.

Advanced techniques or optimizations include creating mini-biomes within your world. For example, you can create a small Desert biome near your main base by placing enough Sand Blocks and Sunflowers. This allows you to place NPCs like the Arms Dealer and the Steampunker in their preferred biome without having to travel far. Another optimization is using pylons, which are teleportation devices that allow you to quickly travel between biomes. To obtain a pylon, you need to have at least two NPCs in a biome with high happiness. Place pylons in key locations to make traveling between biomes more efficient.

Resource requirements and preparation include gathering materials for building houses and creating biomes. You will need wood, stone, and other building materials to construct houses. For creating biomes, you will need specific blocks like Sand Blocks for the Desert biome or Ice Blocks for the Snow biome. Additionally, you will need to gather materials for crafting pylons, such as Crystal Shards and Wood.

Class and equipment considerations are not directly related to NPC happiness, but having a well-equipped character can make building and resource gathering easier. For example, having a pickaxe with high mining speed will help you gather materials faster, and having wings or a mount will help you travel between biomes more efficiently.

Specific examples and scenarios include setting up a Forest biome with the Guide and the Zoologist. Build two houses close to each other in the Forest biome, ensuring they meet the housing requirements. Place the Guide in one house and the Zoologist in the other. This setup will increase their happiness, leading to discounts on their goods and services. Another example is setting up a Desert biome with the Arms Dealer and the Nurse. Build two houses close to each other in the Desert biome, ensuring they meet the housing requirements. Place the Arms Dealer in one house and the Nurse in the other. This setup will increase their happiness, leading to discounts on their goods and services.

In conclusion, achieving optimal NPC happiness in Terraria requires understanding biome and neighbor preferences, strategically placing NPCs in their preferred biomes, and avoiding common mistakes. By following these steps and tips, you can maximize NPC happiness, leading to discounts and unique items. Advanced techniques like creating mini-biomes and using pylons can further optimize your setup, making it easier to manage your NPCs and travel between biomes. Proper resource preparation and having a well-equipped character will also help you achieve your goals more efficiently.