Best Weapons in Terraria: Melee, Magic, Ranged [2023]

Weapons are the core of Terraria, and selecting each weapon significantly changes the playstyle. That is why we have curated the best weapons in the Terraria guide so that players can muster the knowledge of how they want to shape up their gameplay experience.

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When we talk about weapons in Terraria, they come in plenty of variations. The arsenal variety in the game boils down to four major categories, and each one of them has its uses and limitations. Melee, Magic, Ranged, and Summon weapons are the main categories players will come across while playing Terraria. When you see an overwhelming amount of options at your hand, selecting the best weapons in the game will become difficult. That is why our guide heavily focuses on each weapon’s category and entails all the information related to the best hard mode weapons in Terraria. It is because these weapons help you in fighting off the bosses and minions quite easily.

Best Melee Weapons In Terraria

Melee weapons are used for engaging in close to medium-range combats. One of the significant advantages of using these types of weapons is that they do not consume any ammunition, Mana, or other consumables of sorts. Melee weapons deal a lot of damage, but the trade-off is that you need to get close and personal with the enemies, which also puts your character at risk while using them. There are 184 unique melee weapons in Terraria and we have listed here the most efficient hard mode melee weapons that offer the highest damage and stats here below.

Terrarian

Terrarian is one of the best weapons in Terraria players can have. It is a post-Moon Lord yo-yo hardmode melee weapon type in the game. Terrarian throws circular light green projectiles to enemies within its range at a rapid rate, dealing significant damage when the enemies are in close range. It has a drop rate of about 11.11 percent from the MoonLord. This weapon is the deadliest of all yoyo melee weapons in the game that offers the highest damage output.

Terrarian Weapon Stats

• Damage: 190
• Critical Chance: 14%
• Knockback: 6.5
• Use time: 25 (Fast)
• Weapon Acquisition: Dropped by Moon lord
• Rarity: Red
• Sell Price: 10

Zenith 

You will get zenith after you have successfully defeated the Moon Lord. You can get the weapon in the hard mode and it will be crafted by using a variety of swords. 

The component source of the zenith weapon will fly towards the enemy if they are within a 20 mile radius. They have the ability to pass through solid blocks. Furthermore, with each attack you will be able to throw three swords per use. You can also use auto swing with zenith. The best modifier for the zenith sword is legendary. 

Zenith Weapon Stats 

• Damage: 190 
• Critical Chance: 14% 
• Knockback: 6.5 
• Use time: 30 
• Velocity: 32 
• Sell: 20 
• Research Required: 1 
• Rarity: Red 

Star Wrath

The Star Wrath is a sword-type weapon that deals significant damage to any foe that comes in close enough to its range. The weapon deals melee damage by swinging on a close-range enemy and also summons three pink projectiles with multiple falling stars when swung on an enemy. It has an eleven percent chance to be dropped by Moonlord. 

Star Wrath Weapon Stats

• Damage: 110 (sword), 220 (projectiles)
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Knockback: 6.5
• Use time: 16
• Weapon Acquisition: Dropped by Moon lord
• Rarity: Cyan
• Sell Price: 20

Solar Eruption

Solar Eruption is also one of the best hardmode weapons in Terraria. This weapon throws spear-like projectiles. Upon hitting the enemy, the impact of this weapon continues for five seconds with a damage rate of 25 per second. This weapon can be crafted from 18 solar fragments obtained from the Solar Pillar.

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Solar Eruption Weapon Stats

• Damage: 105
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Knockback: 2
• Use time: 20 (Fast)
• Weapon Acquisition: Solar Pillar
• Rarity: Red
• Sell Price: 10

A few honorary mentions under the best melee weapons category in Terraria are Meowmere, Daybreak, Terra Blade, and Influx Waver.

Best Magic Weapons In Terraria

Magic weapons can be utilized in medium to long-range engagements. They leave a devastating attack by channeling and consuming the character’s mana. The players can significantly increase a character’s mana by using accessories in inventory, or you can always let it regenerate automatically with time. While using magic weapons, the reliance on mana and lower defense armor can make you vulnerable, so it is essential to know which magic weapon will work out the best from the large selection of 76 unique magic weapon in Terraria. We have entailed the best weapons in Terraria under hardmode magic category that players should have in their inventory.

Razorblade Typhoon

Razorblade Typhoon is one of the best hardmode weapons in Terraria under the magic category. This weapon fires out huge disc-shaped projectiles every time you unleash it on the enemies. Each homing disc lasts for two seconds and deals significant damage to enemies from close to medium range.

The yellow rarity of Razorblade Typhoon weapon has a drop rate of 20 percent from Duke Fishron. The players can encounter Duke Fishron as an optional boss who can be fought after the start of hardmode. Fighting this boss is worth it as you have a 1/5 chance of getting this mighty weapon from him; the chances are not great, not terrible.

Razorblade Typhoon Weapon Stats

• Damage: 90
• Critical Chance:
• Mana consumption per use: 16
• Knockback: 5
• Weapon Acquisition: Duke Fishron
• Use time: 40 (Slow)
• Rarity: Yellow
• Sell price: 5 

Nebula Blaze

Nebula Blaze is a top-tier mage weapon and arguably also one of the best weapons in Terraria. This hardmode, post-Lunatic Cultist magic weapon fires high-velocity projectiles in pink and blue color variants. Both of them track nearby enemies, however, the blue color projectile deals three times more damage than the pink one.

The accuracy of the Nebula Blaze mage weapon is not that high, but it deals tremendous damage upon impact. So, the shortcomings of accuracy are filled out by the massive damage this weapon does to foes. The pink glow on the player’s hand leaves a trail of pink particles with the movement. This mage weapon also does not deal any knockback and has a drop rate of 20 percent. 

Nebula Blaze Weapon Stats

• Damage: 130
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Mana Consumption: 12
• Knockback: Zero
• Use time: 12
• Rarity: Red
• Sell price: 10 

Charged Blaster Cannon

Charged Blaster Cannon deserves the spot in the best hardmode weapons in Terraria list. This magic-type weapon fires electric spheres and beams on enemies. For a hardmode, post-Golem magic weapon, Charged Blaster Cannon is an absolute powerhouse having different variations of attacks. The drop rate of this weapon from random enemies during the Martian Madness event is extremely low.

Charged Blaster Cannon fires magic projectiles mainly in three varieties; burst, penetrating, and charged laser. The weapon offers an insane amount of damage via its charged laser. However, this also makes it a fast mana-draining mage weapon in Terraria.

Charged Blaster Cannon Weapon Stats

• Damage: 100
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Mana: 14
• Knockback: 5
• Use time: 20
• Weapon Acquisition: Martian Madness enemies
• Rarity: Yellow
• Sell price: 10 

A few honorary mentions under the best magic weapons category in Terraria are Staff of Earth, Betsy’s Wrath, Lunar Flare and Orange Zapinator.

Best Ranged Weapons In Terraria

The greatest advantage ranged weapons in Terraria offers is that they can fire projectiles from a distance and keep the character safe and away from the enemies. This sort of weapon type is extremely useful and suitable for long-ranged combat engagements only, and they will have a greater disadvantage if they are used from a close range.

The ranged weapons consume ammunition whenever they are fired. This weapon type in Terraria has a slightly less damage output as compared to the melee and others. However, they have an edge as they can be used on enemies from a safer distance. Guns, bows, and rocket launchers fall under this weapon category in Terraria. These deadly weapons come in 114 unique variations in the game. That is why we have entailed the top three hardmode ranged weapons players should have in their inventory.

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S.D.M.G

Space Dolphin Machine Gun (S.D.M.G) is one of the best weapons in Terraria under ranged weapon category. This deadly ranged weapon rips apart enemies through its ranged damage and devastates the target. Space Dolphin Machine Gun (S.D.M.G) uses bullets as an ammunition source in Terraria and offers the highest DPS and a decent accuracy as compared to the other ranged weapons in the category.

This hardmode ranged weapon comes with an 11.11 percent drop chance from Moonlord. Most of the abilities of Space Dolphin Machine Gun (S.D.M.G) are very similar to Chain Gun as well.

S.D.M.G Weapon Stats

• Damage: 85
• Critical Chance: 14%
• Knockback: 2.5
• Use time: 6
• Weapon Acquisition: MoonLord
• Rarity: Red
• Sell Price: 15

Phantasm

Phantasm is an overwhelming post-Lunatic Cultist craftable bow that arguably is one of the best hardmode weapons in Terraria under the ranged weapon category. This ranged weapon fires four deadly arrows in one go, which gives it the second-best DPS in the ranged weapon type. It has a high rate of fire and is most effective against a single target. One exceptional feature of Phantasm is that it comes with a 66 percent chance to not consume ammo after being fired at an enemy.

Moreover, if players keep firing this ranged weapon in quick succession, the overall fire rate increases significantly. It also roughly means that Phantasm does not benefit much from the speed modifiers in Terraria.

Phantasm Weapon Stats

• Damage: 50
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Knockback: 2
• Use time: 12
• Weapon Acquisition: Craftable
• Rarity: Red
• Sell price: 10

Vortex Beater

Vortex Beater is a dual functional ranged weapon that fires bullets at a high rate of fire and a homing rocket that deals massive damage on impact. This hardmode, post-Lunatic Cultist weapon can be crafted by collecting 18 Vortex fragments obtained through Vortex pillar.

Vortex Beater comes with a 66.67 percent chance of not consuming the ammo while being fired.

Regardless of high damage output, this ranged weapon’s only downside in Terraria is that its bullet firing mode is highly inconsistent and inaccurate. However, the lack of accuracy compromise is filled by the high damage output, making this one of the best weapons in Terraria.

Vortex Beater Weapon Stats

• Damage: 50 (bullets), 70 (rockets)
• Knockback: 2 (bullets), 2.5 (rockets)
• Use time: 20
• Critical Chance: 4%
• Weapon Acquisition: Vortex Pillar
• Rarity: Red
• Sell price: 10

A few honorary mentions under the best-ranged weapons category in Terraria are Aerial Bane, The Celebration, Tsunami, and Eventide.

Best Summon Weapons In Terraria

The summon weapon category in Terraria is unique than the other three weapon types as mentioned above. These weapons summons secondary characters that assist the players in fights by attacking the enemies within their range. This category is quite unique and beneficial for the player as the summoned unit cannot be hurt or killed.

Players can find plenty of Summon weapons in Terraria, such as whips and summon staffs. Overall, there are 47 unique summon weapons, including nine whips. We have entailed the best hardmode summon weapons players can find and equip in Terraria so as to battle against sturdy enemies.

Terraprisma

Terraprisma is one of the best hardmode weapons in Terraria under summon weapon’s category. This post-plantera summon weapon looks like a sword and creates a copy of itself that aims towards the enemy and deals damage. This is a short-ranged weapon but deals significant damage to enemies. Terraprisma has a 100% weapon drop chance by defeating the Empress of Light with the condition that all damage dealt was during the in-game daytime.

Terraprisma Weapon Stats

• Damage: 90
• Mana Consumption: 10  
• Knockback: 4
• Use time: 34
• Weapon Acquisition: Empress of Light
• Rarity: Pink
• Sell price: 20 

Deadly Sphere Staff

Deadly Sphere Staff is another excellent Post-plantera summoning weapon that spawns an invincible sphere minion which targets enemies in its range. The best part of this minion is that it remains with the player’s character as long as they remain alive. Due to its exceptional features, this weapon is quite rare, with a drop rate of two to four percent from Deadly Sphere during a Solar Escape.

Deadly Sphere Staff Weapon Stats

• Damage: 50
• Mana Consumption: 10
• Knockback: 2
• Use time: 36 (Slow)
• Weapon Acquisition: Deadly Sphere
• Rarity: Yellow
• Sell price: 10 

Stardust Dragon Staff

Stardust Dragon Staff arguably is another contender for the best weapons in Terraria under summon weapons category. This hardmode, post- lunatic cultist weapon summons a Stardust Dragon that flies through enemy blocks, leaves a trail of sparkles to deal burst damage for a short duration.

Stardust Dragon Staff summon weapon is useful in fighting off sturdy bosses due to its high inflicting damage. You can craft this deadly summon weapon with Stardust Fragments at an Ancient Manipulator in Terraria.

Stardust Dragon Staff Weapon Stats

• Damage: 40
• Knockback: 2
• Use time: 36 (Slow)
• Source: Stardust Fragments
• Sell price: 10

A few honorary mentions under the best summon weapons category in Terraria are Spider Staff, Pygmy Staff, Pirate Staff, and Raven Staff.   

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Weapons in Terraria 

Now that you know our preference across four different weapon categories in Terraria, you must have a few questions regarding the best weapons in the game. We have entailed top-searched FAQs regarding weapons in Terraria. We have listed one weapon in each category that we think is the best you can get. The listing we mentioned above and FAQs below are subjective and entirely based on our preferences. As a result, ranking the weapons in Terraria is not up to further debate or discussion.

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That is pretty much everything you need to know about the best weapons in Terraria. Which weapon category has been your go-to one in the game? Let us know more of your thoughts in the comments section below.

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