Terraria: Acquire Hardmode Gear Guide

AntMag.NET

Acquiring equipment for Hardmode is quite important. You could stick with the few pre-HM weapons if you wanted, but I recommend upgrading them which isn't too difficult. This is different for each class, though. So I'll do my best to show you the options for each class.

Melee

For yoyos, you can use the Hel-Fire (acquired in the Underworld). For something in HM, you can go for the Amarok (0.33% chance of dropping from any enemy in the Snow Biome) or you can craft the Chik (Wooden Yoyo + 15 Crystal Shards (found in Underground Hallow) + 10 Souls of Light (kill enemies in Hallow biome). Having the Yoyo bag is very important if you want to use Yoyos.

For close-range weapons, you can use the Ice Sickle (0.56% chance from Armored Vikings, Ice Elementals, Icy Mermen and Ice Tortoises, mainly located in the Underground Ice biome). There's also the Shadowflame Knife from the Goblin Summoner in the Goblin Invasion event. Also the Bladetongue, obtained from Blood Moon fishing.

I recommend the T3 ore armor.

For accessories, the Warrior Emblem, Yoyo Bag and Berserker's Glove.

Ranged

You can use the T3 ore repeaters with arrows if you want, but what I highly recommend is the Onyx Blaster. You'll need a Shotgun, 2 Dark Shards (Dark Mummies and Blood Mummies from Corruption and Crimson Deserts respectively) and 10 Souls of Night (20% chance from Underground Crimson/Corruption enemies in the Cavern Layer).

Armor wise, T3 armor.

Accessories wise, Ranger Emblem and a Magic Quiver (or its variants) if you're using a ranged weapon that fires arrows.

Magic

For you mages out there, I recommend the Meteor Staff. 20 Meteorite Pars, 10 Pixie Dust (Pixies in Hallow) and 10 Souls of Light. The Crystal Serpent is also good, acquired easily by fishing in the Hallow. Sky Fracture is also easy and powerful, requiring the Magic Missile weapon, 2 Light Shards (Light Mummies in Hallowed Deserts) and 10 Souls of Light. The Shadowflame Hex Doll is good too, dropping from the Goblin Summoner.

Special mention to the Life Drain and Nimbus Rod. The Life Drain is a 20% drop from a Crimson Mimic, which deals damage while it heals you. Very useful. The Nimbus Rod summons two stationary clouds that deal damage automonously, almost like summons. It drops at a 6.67% (1/15) chance from Angry Nimuses. They spawn during Rain in any surface biome that isn't the Snow biome.

Use T3 armor.

Accessories wise, you'll want the Sorcerer Emblem, Celestial Cuffs and Mana Cloak. The Mana Cloak is Mana Flower (Nature's Gift + Mana Potion) + Star Cloak (14.29% chance from mimics). The Celestial Cuffs are from Magic Cuffs (Shackle + Mana Regeneration Band (Band of Regen from Gold Chests + Band of Starpower from Shadow Orbs and Corrupt Crates via fishing) + Celestial Magnet (Traveling Merchant).

Summoning

I recommend the somewhat easy to craft Spider Staff which takes 16 Spider Fangs, acquired from Black Recluses. For whips, use the Firecracker or the Ice Whip (the latter acquired from crafting it via a Frost Core [obtained from an Ice Golem in the Snow biome, which spawns during blizzards], 8 Souls of Light and 8 Souls of Night).

If you get lucky with the Pirate Invasion event, the Pirate Staff is also a great option.

Armor wise, you'll want the Spider Set which takes 36 Spider Fangs. Alternatively, you can use the Forbidden Armor which takes 3 Forbidden Fragments (Sand Elementals during a Sandstorm in the Desert) plus 46 T3 bars.

Accessory wise, Summoner Emblem and Berserker's Glove.

Misc items

There are some items that will be useful to you that don't inherently restrict you.

Firstly, potions. Regen, Swiftness, Ironskin, Rage, Wrath, Heartreach, Lifeforce and Endurance. Also the Well Fed buff. In addition to this, melee will want Flasks and a Sharpening Station (found in cabins in the Underground Jungle). Ranged will want Archery Potions, Ammo Reservation Potion and the Ammo Box (purchased from the Traveling Merchant for 15g). For magic, you'll want Mana Regen & Magic Power potions, along with a Crystal Ball (bought from the Wizard). For summoners, you'll want Summoning potions and a Bewitching Table (found in the Dungeon).

Secondly, accessories. You'll want Lightning/Frostspark/Terraspark Boots. Wings are also mandatory. Leaf Wings or Harpy Wings.

Thirdly, mounts. The only decent mount right now is the Unicorn, which is dropped from Unicorns at a 1/40 rate.

Now that you've gotten your equipment up to date and stuff, if you chose to, now is the time to start on the Hardmode bosses. The first bosses are called the "three mechanical bosses".

- Previous: Underworld Biome and the Wall of Flesh boss
- Next: Event: Pirate Invasion