What is the best way to farm for the Tavernkeep NPC in Terraria?

Farming for the Tavernkeep NPC in Terraria involves engaging with the Old One's Army event, a unique wave-based defense challenge. The Tavernkeep is a special NPC who sells items related to this event, such as sentry summon weapons, armor, and accessories. To unlock the Tavernkeep, you must first encounter him in the world and then meet specific conditions to make him move into your town. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to farm for the Tavernkeep effectively.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics. The Tavernkeep can be found randomly in the world after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, depending on your worldÔÇÖs evil biome. He appears as a tied-up NPC, similar to the Bound Goblin or Bound Mechanic. Once you free him, he will offer to move into your town if you have an empty house. However, to access his full inventory, you need to participate in the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event, which requires Eternia Crystals and an Eternia Crystal Stand. These items are sold by the Tavernkeep himself, so youÔÇÖll need to interact with him to get started.

To begin farming for the Tavernkeep, you need to prepare for the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event. First, ensure you have a suitable arena. The event takes place in a flat area, so clear out a large space, preferably near your base for easy access. Place platforms or blocks to create a defensive line where you can place sentries and fight off the waves of enemies. The event has three tiers, each unlocked by progressing through the game. Tier 1 is available pre-Hardmode, Tier 2 after defeating any mechanical boss, and Tier 3 after defeating Golem.

Next, gather resources for the event. YouÔÇÖll need Eternia Crystals, which are sold by the Tavernkeep for 25 gold each. To maximize efficiency, stock up on these crystals and set up a farm near your arena. This way, you can quickly restart the event after each wave. Additionally, prepare your character with appropriate gear. For the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event, summoner or hybrid builds work well due to the sentry mechanics. Equip summoner armor like the Obsidian Armor or Spider Armor, and use weapons that can handle large groups of enemies, such as the Blade Staff or Sanguine Staff. Accessories like the Summoner Emblem and Papyrus Scarab will boost your summon damage.

When starting the event, place the Eternia Crystal Stand in the center of your arena and activate it with an Eternia Crystal. The event consists of multiple waves, with each wave increasing in difficulty. Focus on defending the crystal while using your sentries and weapons to eliminate enemies. Sentries like the Ballista Rod or Explosive Trap Rod are particularly effective. Keep an eye on the crystalÔÇÖs health, as losing it will end the event prematurely.

One common mistake is underestimating the difficulty of the event, especially in higher tiers. Make sure to upgrade your gear and prepare potions like Ironskin, Regeneration, and Swiftness to enhance your survivability. Another mistake is not optimizing your arena. Ensure you have enough space to maneuver and place sentries strategically to cover all angles.

For advanced techniques, consider using traps and environmental hazards to thin out enemy waves. Lava traps or dart traps can deal significant damage to weaker enemies, allowing you to focus on tougher foes. Additionally, coordinate with friends in multiplayer to divide roles, such as having one player focus on summoning sentries while others handle direct combat.

Resource management is crucial. Stockpile Eternia Crystals and ensure you have enough gold to purchase them. Farming for gold can be done by defeating bosses, exploring the Dungeon, or using money-making farms like the Pirate Invasion or Solar Eclipse.

In terms of class and equipment, summoners excel in this event due to their ability to deploy multiple sentries. However, hybrid builds combining summoner and melee or ranged can also be effective. For example, using the Terra Blade or Megashark alongside sentries can provide both crowd control and single-target damage.

Specific scenarios include preparing for Tier 3 of the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event, which is significantly harder. At this stage, you should have endgame gear like the Stardust Armor and powerful weapons such as the Zenith or Last Prism. The eventÔÇÖs final wave includes the Dark Mage and Betsy, both of which require careful strategy to defeat.

In summary, farming for the Tavernkeep involves participating in the Old OneÔÇÖs Army event, which requires preparation, strategy, and resource management. Build a suitable arena, gather Eternia Crystals, and equip yourself with the right gear. Avoid common mistakes like underestimating the eventÔÇÖs difficulty and optimize your setup with traps and sentries. Advanced techniques and class-specific strategies can further enhance your efficiency. By following these steps, you can successfully farm for the Tavernkeep and unlock his valuable items.