The Complete Guide to Every Weapon Type in Terraria

Figuring out your weapon of choice in Terraria can be quite the task, considering just how many there are! So, we’re here to help. Whether you’re into a melee, ranged, or magic-based play style, we’ll explain how each weapon type in Terraria works and the different kinds of weapons you can choose from. We’ll also help you weigh the pros and cons of each weapon—and highlight a few of Terraria’s strongest weapons to keep an eye out for!

Terraria’s Weapon Types, Explained

Download Image

Melee weapons in Terraria: Close combat weapons, including swords, flails, yoyos, and spears.
Ranged weapons in Terraria: Weapons that fire ammunition from a distance, including bows, repeaters, guns, launchers, and consumables.
Magic weapons in Terraria: Weapons that consume mana and produce magical effects, including wands, spell books, and magic guns.
Summoner weapons in Terraria: Weapons that summon minions or sentries to assist the player, as well as magical whips.

Section 1 of 7:

Melee Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
SwordsSwords in Terraria are subdivided into shortswords and broadswords, with broadswords being larger and having an expanded range. Shortswords, meanwhile, have a more limited range but can be stabbed in several directions, whereas broadswords must be swung in an arc. The best swords in Terraria include: Night’s Edge, Starfury, Meowmere, and Terra Blade.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Shortswords: Copper Shortsword, Tin Shortsword, Iron Shortsword, Lead Shortsword, Silver Shortsword, Tungsten Shortsword, Gold Shortsword, Platinum Shortsword, Ruler, Umbrella, Gladius, Tragic Umbrella
- Pre-hardmode broadswords:
  - Wood: Wooden Sword, Boreal Wood Sword, Palm Wood Sword, Rich Mahogany Sword, Cactus Sword, Ebonwood Sword, Shadewood Sword, Ash Wood Sword
  - Metal: Copper Broadsword, Tin Broadsword, Iron Broadsword, Lead Broadsword, Silver Broadsword, Tungsten Broadsword, Gold Broadsword, Platinum Broadsword
  - Unique: Bladed Glove, Zombie Arm, Flymeal, Mandible Blade, Stylish Scissors, Breathing Reed, Bone Sword, Bat Bat, Tentacle Spike, Candy Cane Sword, Katana, Ice Blade, Light’s Bane, Muramasa, Exotic Scimitar, Phaseblade, Blood Butcherer, Starfury, Enchanted Sword, Purple Clubberfish, Bee Keeper, Falcon Blade, Blade of Grass, Volcano, Night’s Edge
- Hardmode broadswords:
  - Metal: Palladium Sword, Mythril Sword, Orichalcum Sword, Adamantite Sword, Titanium Sword
  - Unique: Pearlwood Sword, Classy Cane, Slap Hand, Cobalt Sword, Phasesaber, Ice Sickle, Brand of the Inferno, Breaker Blade, Cutlass, Frostbrand, Beam Sword, Fetid Baghnakhs, Bladetongue, Ham Bat, Excalibur, Waffle’s Iron, True Night’s Edge, Chlorophyte Saber, Chlorophyte Claymore, True Excalibur, Seedler, Death Sickle, Psycho Knife, Keybrand, Terra Blade, Horseman’s Blade, Christmas Tree Sword, Flying Dragon, Influx Waver, Star Wrath, Meowmere
2
SpearsSpears are longer-range weapons that attack with a forward-stabbing motion, much like shortswords. They can also hit targets multiple times, making them effective against larger foes and especially useful for crowd control. The best spears in Terraria include: Dark Lance and Ghastly Glaive.
- Pre-hardmode spears: Spear, Trident, Slime Spear, Storm Spear, The Rotten Fork, Swordfish, Dark Lance
- Hardmode spears: Cobalt Naginata, Palladium Pike, Mythril Halberd, Orichalcum Halberd, Adamantite Glaive, Titanium Trident, Gungnir, Ghastly Glaive, Chlorophyte Partisan, Mushroom Spear, Obsidian Swordfish, North Pole
Advertisement
3
FlailsFlails are essentially weapons made from an object connected to a chain; they can typically be thrown or launched against enemies. Thrown flails can be swung, thus moving in circular motions around the player; meanwhile, launched flails fire outward quickly before returning to the wielder. The best flails in Terraria include: Sunfury and Dao Pow.
- Pre-hardmode thrown flails: Mace, Flaming Mace, Ball O’ Hurt, The Meatball, Blue Moon, Sunfury
- Pre-hardmode launched flails: Chain Knife
- Hardmode thrown flails: Drippler Crippler, Dao of Pow, Flower Pow
- Hardmode launched flails: Anchor, Chain Guillotines, KO Cannon, Golem Fist, Flairon
4
YoyosEven though they’re designated as melee weapons, yoyos are basically weapons that swing around on a tether (string), following the cursor each time you throw them. The best yoyos in Terraria include: The Terrarian.
- Pre-hardmode yoyos: Wooden Yoyo, Rally, Malaise, Artery, Amazon, Code 1, Hive-Five, Valor, Cascade
- Hardmode yoyos: Format: C, Gradient, Chik, Hel-Fire, Amarok, Code 2, Yelets, Red’s Throw, Valkyrie Yoyo, Kraken, The Eye of Cthulhu, Terrarian
5
BoomerangsBoomerangs are also technically melee weapons, but operate as thrown weapons, dealing damage to enemies before returning to the wielder (although some are designed to explode when thrown, instead). The best boomerang in Terraria is: the Possessed Hatchet.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Pre-hardmode boomerangs: Wooden Boomerang, Enchanted Boomerang, Fruitcake Chakram, Bloody Machete, Shroomerang, Ice Boomerang, Thorn Chakram, Axearang, Trimarang, Combat Wrench, Flamarang
- Hardmode boomerangs: Flying Knife, Sergeant United Shield, Light Disc, Bananarang, Paladin’s Hammer, Possessed Hatchet
6
Unique weaponsThese weapons don’t fit into any of the other melee weapon type categories—they have a unique means of attack. Some of these unique weapons are among the game’s most powerful, though! The best unique melee weapons in Terraria include: Zenith, True Copper Shortsword, and Vampire Knives.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Pre-hardmode unique weapons: Terragrim, Ale Tosser
- Hardmode unique weapons: Arkhalis, Jousting Lance, Flint, Shadowflame Knife, Hallowed Jousting Lance, Sleepy Octopod, Scourge of the Corruptor, Vampire Knives, Shadow Jousting Lance, Starlight, Sky Dragon’s Fury, Daybreak, Solar Eruption, Zenith, True Copper Shortsword

Section 2 of 7:

Ranged Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
Bows and repeatersBows operate much like they do in real life, firing off arrows from a distance. Repeaters, on the other hand, fire sharpened Stakes as ammunition; they’re also exclusive to the game’s Hardmode. The best bows in Terraria include: Hellwing Bow, Molten Fury, Daedalus Stormbow, Tsunami, and Phantasm.
- Pre-hardmode bows: Wooden Bow, Boreal Wood Bow, Copper Bow, Palm Wood Bow, Rich Mahogany Bow, Tin Bow, Ebonwood Bow, Iron Bow, Shadewood Bow, Lead Bow, Silver Bow, Tungsten Bow, Ash Wood Bow, Gold Bow, Platinum Bow, Demon Bow, Tendon Bow, Blood Rain Bow, The Bee’s Knees, Hellwing Bow, Molten Fury
- Hardmode bows: Pearlwood Bow, Marrow, Ice Bow, Daedalus Stormbow, Shadowflame Bow, Phantom Phoenix, Pulse Bow, Aerial Bane, Tsunami, Eventide, Phantasm
- Hardmode repeaters: Cobalt Repeater, Palladium Repeater, Mythril Repeater, Orichalcum Repeater, Adamantite Repeater, Titanium Repeater, Hallowed Repeater, Chlorophyte Shotbow, Stake Launcher
2
GunsGuns fire off bullets (or, in some cases, Candy Corn) at enemies. The game features pistols, rifles, shotguns, and guns with rapid-fire mechanics. The best guns in Terraria include: Vortex Beater, The Undertaker, S.D.M.G., and Chain Gun.
- Pre-hardmode guns: Red Ryder, Flintlock Pistol, Musket, The Undertaker, Revolver, Minishark, Boomstick, Quad-Barrel Shotgun, Handgun, Phoenix Blaster, Pew-matic Horn
- Hardmode guns: Clockwork Assault Rifle, Gatligator, Shotgun, Onyx Blaster, Uzi, Megashark, Venus Magnum, Tactical Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, Candy Corn Rifle, Chain Gun, Xenopopper, Vortex Beater, S.D.M.G.
3
LaunchersLaunchers, like repeaters, are exclusive to Terraria’s Hardmode. They fire off explosive ammunition—like rockets and grenades. The best launchers in Terraria include: Celebration Mk2, the Snowman Cannon, and the Electrosphere Launcher.
- Terraria launchers: Grenade Launcher, Proximity Mine Launcher, Rocket Launcher, Nail Gun, Stynger, Jack ’O Lantern Launcher, Snowman Cannon, Celebration, Electrosphere Launcher, Celebration Mk2
4
ConsumablesEach time you use one of these weapons, it is consumed—essentially, each has a one-time use. This includes grenades, as well as other weapon-like objects that you can throw at enemies! The best consumable ranged weapons in Terraria include: Bouncy Grenades, Sticky Grenades, Molotov Cocktails, and Bone Javelins.
- Grenades: Grenade, Bouncy Grenade, Sticky Grenade, Beenade, Happy Grenade
- Other consumable weapons: Paper Airplane, White Paper Airplane, Shuriken, Throwing Knife, Poisoned Knife, Snowball, Spiky Ball, Bone, Rotten Egg, Star Anise, Molotov Cocktail, Frost Daggerfish, Javelin, Bone Javelin, Bone Throwing Knife
5
Unique weaponsLike the game’s unique melee weapons, these weapons operate differently from the ranged weapons outlined above; they’re unique enough that they don’t fit into any other categories. The best unique ranged weapons in Terraria include: the Star Cannon and Dart Rifle.
- Pre-hardmode unique weapons: Blowpipe, Sandgun, Snowball Cannon, Paintball Gun, Harpoon, Star Cannon, Blowgun
- Hardmode unique weapons: Barrel Launcher, Toxikarp, Dart Pistol, Dart Rifle, Coin Gun, Super Star Shooter, Flamethrower, Piranha Gun, Elf Melter

Section 3 of 7:

Magic Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
WandsTerraria’s magic weapons all use mana for attacks; beyond that, they have a wide range of effects and damage types, firing off everything from fireballs to life drain effects. Each magic wand is designed to have a specific effect, although the overall mechanics remain the same. The best wands in Terraria include: The Wand of Sparking, Crystal Serpent, and Razorpine.
- Pre-hardmode wands: Aqua Scepter, Demon Scythe, Vilethorn
- Hardmode wands: Crystal Serpent, Crystal Vile Shard, Clinger Staff, Sky Fracture, Meteor Staff
2
Magic gunsUnlike the game’s regular guns, magic guns simply deal in mana and magical effects rather than traditional ammunition. There are a few guns available pre-Hardmode, with several more offered in the game’s Hardmode. The best magic guns in Terraria include: the Last Prism, the Space Gun, and the Bubble Gun.
- Pre-hardmode magic guns: Gray Zapinator, Space Sun, Bee Gun
- Hardmode magic guns: Laser Rifle, Orange Zapinator, Wasp Gun, Leaf Blower, Rainbow Gun, Heat Ray, Laser Machinegun, Charged Blaster Cannon, Bubble Gun
3
Spell booksSpell books, like wands and magic guns, consume mana and produce magical effects, making them function more or less the same (despite the cosmetic differences). The best spell books in Terraria include: Lunar Flare, Magnet Sphere, Golden Shower, and Crystal Storm.
- Pre-hardmode spell books: Water Bolt, Book of Skulls, Demon Scythe
- Hardmode spell books: Cursed Flames, Golden Shower, Crystal Storm, Magnet Sphere, Razorblade Typhoon, Lunar Flare
4
Unique weaponsThese weapons (mostly available in Hardmode) have different appearances that don’t fit within the book, wand, or gun categories—but they operate using mana just the same! The best unique magical weapons in Terraria include: Last Prism, Betsy’s Wrath, and Nebula Blaze.
- Pre-hardmode unique weapons: Crimson Rod
- Hardmode unique weapons: Ice Rod, Killing Deck, Clinger Staff, Nimbus Rod, Magic Dagger, Medusa Head, Spirit Flame, Shadowflame Hex Doll, Blood Thorn, Magic Harp, Toxic Flask, Nightglow, Stellar Tune, Nebula Arcanum, Nebula Blaze, Last Prism

Section 4 of 7:

Summon Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
Minion-summoning weaponsAs their name would suggest, summon weapons conjure up minions that can follow you (the player) around and assist you in battle. Terraria’s best minion-summoning weapons include: the Terraprisma, Stardust Dragon Staff, and Imp Staff.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Pre-hardmode minion-summoning weapons: Finch Staff, Flinx Staff, Cattiva, Mushroom Staff, Vampire Frog Staff, Slime Staff, Abigail’s Flower, Foxparks, Hornet Staff, Imp Staff
- Hardmode minion-summoning weapons: Blade Staff, Pirate Staff, Optic Staff, Pygmy Staff, Desert Tiger Staff, Spider Staff, Sanguine Staff, Deadly Sphere Staff, Raven Staff, Tempest Staff, Xeno Staff, Stardust Cell Staff, Stardust Dragon Staff, Terraprisma
2
Sentry-summoning weaponsThese weapons are capable of summoning sentries to your aid, which function as static turrets rather than moving minions. Basically, they stay in one spot and operate on your behalf temporarily! Terraria’s best sentry-summoning weapons include: the Lunar Portal Staff and the Rainbow Crystal Staff.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Pre-hardmode sentry-summoning weapons: Houndius Shootius, Lighting Aura Rod, Flameburst Rod, Explosive Trap Rod, Ballista Rod
- Hardmode sentry-summoning weapons: Barnacle Staff, Staff of the Frost Hydra, Rainbow Crystal Staff, Queen Spider Staff, Lunar Portal Staff, Lightning Aura Cane, Lightning Aura Staff, Flameburst Cane, Flameburst Staff, Explosive Trap Cane, Explosive Trap Staff, Ballista Cane, Ballista Staff
3
WhipsWhips represent a special type of summon weapon that players can swing around themselves, dealing out summon damage to enemies (and granting the player themselves a bonus in combat). Terraria’s best whips include: Morning Star, Cool Whip, and Kaleidoscope.
- Pre-hardmode whips: Cobwhip, Leather Whip, Vasculash, Snapthorn, Slime Whip, Soulscourge, Starcrash, Spinal Tap
- Hardmode whips: Firecracker, Cool Whip, Durendal, Dark Harvest, Electric Eel, Vulgar Display of Power, Morning Star, Constellation, Possession, Kaleidoscope

Section 5 of 7:

Explosive, Throwable & Tool Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
ExplosivesNow, we come to Terraria’s “other” weapons—the ones that operate differently than the main weapon types above. Firstly, there are explosives, which are consumables that can be thrown a short distance before detonating (and damaging enemies, as well as blocks and walls). Terraria’s explosives include:
- Bomb
- Bouncy Bomb
- Dirt Bomb
- Dynamite
- Bouncy Dynamite
- Sticky Power Bomb
- Dry Bomb
- Lava Bomb
- Freeze Bomb
- Sticky Bomb
- Scarab Bomb
- Sticky Dirty Bomb
- Sticky Dynamite
- Power Bomb
- Bomb Fish
- Honey Bomb
- Wet Bomb
2
ThrowablesThrowables, like explosives, must be thrown a short distance away in order to work—but instead of exploding, they effectively convert areas into specific biomes. For instance, a thrown Holy Water converts the circular area it lands in into Hallowed ground; Unholy water converts an area into Corrupted ground. Terraria’s throwables include:
- Holy Water
- Unholy Water
- Blood Water
- Pretty Mirror
- Mud Ball
3
Tool weaponsAs one might expect, tool weapons have secondary uses as tools (as well as uses as weapons for the purposes of dealing damage). Terraria’s tool weapons include the following:
- Acorn Slingshot
- Sickle
- Gravedigger’s Shovel
- Flare Gun
- Staff of Regrowth
4
Placeable weaponsPlaceable weapons, simply put, must be placed on the ground in order to operate. Weapons of this type mainly work like cannons or mines (and, in fact, there’s a “Cannon” and “Land Mine” in the category). Terraria’s placeable weapons include:
- Snowball Launcher
- Firework Rockets
- Cannon
- Bunny Cannon
- Land Mine

Section 6 of 7:

The Best Weapons in Terraria

Download Article

1
Night’s EdgeIf you’re looking for an especially strong pre-hardmode weapon, Night’s Edge is a fantastic choice. Its damage output is impressive, and it has a fast swing speed and increased range to boot. And though aesthetics don’t affect the weapon’s performance, Night’s Edge does have a unique visual that fans enjoy! It’s not particularly useful in hardmode, but before that, it’s golden.
- Damage: 40 (melee)
- Knockback: 4.5
- Critical chance: 4%
- Use time: 25
- Velocity: 5
2
Daedalus StormbowThe Daedalus Stormbow is one of Terraria’s best ranged weapons, capable of firing arrows at enemies from the sky. Over the course of Terraria’s numerous updates, this bow has been nerfed (had its stats reduced) more than once, but it’s still great! It deals a generous amount of damage with normal arrows alone, and you can, of course, pair it with other types of arrows depending on the enemy you’re facing. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Damage: 38 (ranged)
- Knockback: 2.25
- Critical chance: 4%
- Use time: 19
- Velocity: 12.5
3
Razorblade TyphoonThe Razorblade Typhoon is a powerful spell book (magic weapon) dropped by Duke Fishron. You can use it to fire homing projectiles that deal out damage while also piercing multiple enemies, so it’s great for crowd control. And once you get it, you can use it more or less for the rest of the game—it’s that strong!
- Damage: 85 (magic)
- Knockback: 5
- Mana: 20
- Critical chance: 4%
- Use time: 40
- Velocity: 18
4
TerraprismaDefeating the Empress of Light (during the day, not the nighttime) results in being rewarded with the Terraprisma—probably Terraria’s best summoner weapon. Not only does it summon minions on your behalf, but it also deals out huge amounts of damage without requiring you to aim it. All in all, it’s not just a great summoner weapon; it’s just a great weapon all around!
- Damage: 90 (summon)
- Knockback: 4
- Use time: 36
- Velocity: 10
5
The ZenithFinally, there’s the Terraprisma—arguably Terraria’s strongest weapon, bar none, and the difficulty of getting it definitely reflects its power (since you have to beat the game more than once and collect many other swords to do so). It deals more damage and has more range than other weapons of its type, and can defeat pretty much any enemy with relative ease. If you’ve got it, you’re already a Terraria master!^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Damage: 190 (melee)
- Knockback: 6.5
- Critical chance: 14%
- Use time: 30
- Velocity: 32

Section 7 of 7:

Pros & Cons of Every Weapon Type in Terraria

Download Article

1
Melee weaponsNow you’ve learned about every weapon type in Terraria—but which one should you use? Well, that’s ultimately your call, but we’ll go over the pros and cons of each type to help you decide. For starters, melee weapons (swords, spears, and so on) are super straightforward and the easiest to use. That’s why they’re great for beginners! Here are the full pros and cons:
- Pros:
  - They’re easy to use
  - They don’t require ammunition or mana to use
  - They often have the highest defence synergy
  - They’re ideal for use in arenas or confined spaces
- Cons:
  - You have to get close to enemies to use them, leaving you more vulnerable to attack
2
Ranged weaponsRanged weapons do what melee weapons can’t—they let you fire on enemies from afar, steering clear of damage while dealing it out in spades. This category includes bows, guns, launchers, and other thrown weapons. While ranged weapons might not be as straightforward as melee ones, they definitely have their strong suits.
- Pros:
  - They deal enormous amounts of damage when combined with powerful ammunition
  - They’re ideal for boss fights, when getting close to the enemy is dangerous
  - Some ammunition applies debuffs to enemies as well as damage
- Cons:
  - Ammunition is required (which means you risk running out mid-combat)
  - You’ll need complementary accessories to max out your power and strength with ranged weapons
3
Magic weaponsMagic weapons can be tons of fun to use (given their wide variety of creative and devastating effects), but it definitely takes some skill to use them well. Basically, when you know what you’re doing, they’re incredible! When you don’t…they eat up your mana and not much else.
- Pros:
  - They apply impressive area-of-effect damage
  - They offer unique effects and damage types
  - They can be used from a distance, like ranged weapons
  - They’re ideal for endgame use when combined with a solid loadout
- Cons:
  - They require constant mana to use
  - They offer less armor (making it harder to take damage from enemies)
  - Some spells require a keen aim or precise timing to work
4
Summoner weaponsThe main problem with summoner weapons is that there just aren’t a lot of them at the beginning of the game. But that’s just at the start—later on, you can acquire some very powerful and useful summoner-type weapons. So, are they worth using? The answer is yes, especially if you use them alongside other classes.
- Pros:
  - You can keep dealing damage (via your summons) even while evading enemies or fleeing
  - You can overpower enemies with numbers alone by summoning many minions or sentries
- Cons:
  - Armor sets are underwhelming compared to melee or ranged classes
  - There aren’t many early-game summoner weapons