Second mechanical boss: Skeletron Prime

Learn how to defeat Skeletron Prime, the second mechanical boss in Terraria. Includes stats, weaknesses, phases, and strategy for this challenging fight.

The second mechanical boss is Skeletron Prime, a metal and much more dangerous version of Skeletron. He sports extra limbs, more damage and makes it much harder to destroy his head.

Arena setup is the same as the Destroyer's normal one. Just lots of lengthy levels of wooden platforms with the usual optimal arena doodads.

Skeletron Prime Boss

• Natural spawn conditions: It has a 10% chance to spawn at dusk if you've smashed a Demon or Crimson Altar and have yet to defeat it.
• Summoning item: Craft a Mechanical Skull at a Hardmode anvil. Bone x30, Iron/Lead Bar x5, Soul of Light x3, Soul of Night x3.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Skeletron Prime Head: HP 28,000/42,000, Defense 24/48 (spinning)
• Prime Cannon: HP 7,000/10,500, Defense 23/23
• Prime Saw: HP 9,000/13,500, Defense 38/38
• Prime Vice: HP 9,000/13,500, Defense 34/34
• Prime Laser: HP 6,000/9,000, Defense 20/20

Phases:

1. Skeletron Head: Will occasionally spin at you, during which its defense is doubled.
2. Prime Cannon: Fires bombs that will usually miss if you're using wooden platforms.
3. Prime Saw: Performs fast sweeping motions that are dodgeable with good timing. This limb does a lot of damage.
4. Prime Vice: Lunges at the player wildly from diagonal angles. This limb has high damage and is difficult to dodge, making it the biggest threat.
5. Prime Laser: Shoots lasers that deal fairly good damage but are generally easy to dodge if you stay mobile.

Strategy:

• The recommended limb takedown priority is: Vice > Saw > Laser > Cannon > Head.
• You can ignore the limbs and focus on the head if you are confident in your gear and abilities.
• Apply Ichor to the various limbs to quickly break through their defenses.
• Skeletron Prime becomes extremely fast and one-shots players if the fight continues into daytime.
• Expert mode note: The head's spin attack becomes much faster and harder to avoid without high mobility or a Minecart track.

Drops:

• Normal Mode: Coins (12g), Souls of Fright (20-40, 100%), Greater Healing Potions (5-15, 100%), Hallowed Bar (15-30, 100%), Skeletron Prime Mask (14.29%), Skeletron Prime Trophy (10%).
• Expert Mode: Coins (30g), Mechanical Battery Piece (100%).
• Master Mode: Robotic Skull (25%), Skeletron Prime Relic (100%).

Souls of Fright can be used to craft a Flamethrower, a ranged weapon that pierces up to 4 enemies and is useful for crowd control during events, but less effective underwater or against single targets.