InTerraria, the Summoner class offers a unique and powerful playstyle focused on commanding minions to do the fighting for you. Unlike melee, ranged, or magic builds, Summoner allows players to stay at a distance while their army of summoned creatures deals consistent damage. As the game progresses, more tools and minions become available, transforming the Summoner from a fragile support role into a devastating force. Choosing the best Summoner build in Terraria depends on game progression, gear synergy, and maximizing summon potential through armor, accessories, buffs, and weapons. Whether you’re playing Classic, Expert, or Master Mode, optimizing your summoner setup is key to survival and victory.
Core Principles of a Summoner Build
The Summoner class in Terraria focuses on maximizing minion count, summon damage, and support survivability. To succeed with a Summoner build, players must rely on staying mobile, buffing their minions, and carefully choosing equipment that enhances summon-related stats. Here are the core elements that define the best summoner build in Terraria:
- High summon damage and minion count
- Minion and sentry synergy
- Mobility and defense for survivability
- Strategic buff usage (potions and accessories)
Best Summoner Gear by Game Stage
Pre-Hardmode Summoner Build
In Pre-Hardmode, the Summoner class is limited in terms of gear but can still be highly effective with the right setup. Your focus here is to unlock more minion slots as early as possible and support your minions with accessories.
Weapons:
- Flinx Staff: Summons Flinxes to fight for you. A great early-game option.
- Slime Staff: Extremely rare drop, but very weak only use if nothing else is available.
- Vampire Frog Staff: Better than the Slime Staff and good for early-game crowd control.
Armor:
- Flinx Fur Coat: Grants an extra minion slot and minion damage. Ideal before the Bee Armor.
- Bee Armor: Made from Bee Wax after defeating Queen Bee. Grants higher minion damage and capacity.
Accessories:
- Summoner Emblem: Increases summon damage (available only in Hardmode, but useful to plan for).
- Pygmy Necklace (from Witch Doctor): Grants +1 minion.
- Feral Claws: Can be combined later into items that help whip speed.
Whips:
Whips are essential for targeting enemies and boosting minion damage. In Pre-Hardmode, use:
- Snapthorn: Provides a damage-over-time effect and boosts minion damage temporarily.
- Spinal Tap: A good mid-game whip with solid reach and support potential.
Hardmode Summoner Build (Early to Mid)
Once you enter Hardmode, new summoner weapons and armor become available, giving you more minions and better defense. Prioritize defeating mechanical bosses to unlock gear upgrades.
Weapons:
- Spider Staff: Summons spiders that cling to enemies. Very effective after unlocking Hardmode.
- Pirate Staff: Drops from Pirate Invasion. Offers stronger damage and crowd control.
- Blade Staff: Fast, armor-ignoring minions dropped by Queen Slime. Very useful mid-Hardmode.
Armor:
- Spider Armor: Grants additional minion slots and good summoner bonuses early Hardmode.
- Hallowed Armor (Summoner variant): Unlocks after defeating all three mechanical bosses.
Accessories:
- Summoner Emblem: Still crucial for raw damage output.
- Pygmy Necklace: Stack with other items for even more minions.
- Hercules Beetle: Available from Witch Doctor in the jungle boosts summon damage.
Whips:
- Firecracker: Causes summoned minions to deal extra burst damage.
- Cool Whip: Has a unique snowflake minion and is useful for crowd fights.
- Durendal: Improves whip speed temporarily on hit, increasing overall DPS.
Endgame Summoner Build (Post-Plantera to Moon Lord)
In the endgame, the Summoner class becomes extremely powerful with advanced armor and weapons. With proper buffs and accessories, you can summon large numbers of minions and sentries to obliterate bosses and enemies.
Weapons:
- Xeno Staff: Summons UFOs with excellent accuracy and damage ideal after defeating Martian Madness.
- Stardust Dragon Staff: A powerful single minion that grows longer with more summon slots.
- Terraprisma: Considered one of the best summoner weapons, obtained from Empress of Light (daytime fight).
Armor:
- Tiki Armor: Great all-around summoner armor available after defeating Plantera.
- Spooky Armor: Slightly less defense than Tiki, but higher minion damage. Obtained during Pumpkin Moon event.
- Stardust Armor: The best summoner armor in the game. Grants the Stardust Guardian and excellent bonuses.
Accessories:
- Papyrus Scarab: Combines Beetle and Necromantic Scroll effects. Increases both damage and minion slots.
- Basilisk Mount / Soaring Insignia: Helps with movement and positioning while you manage minions.
- Celestial Stone / Shell: Boosts overall stats, including damage, regen, and mobility.
Whips:
- Dark Harvest: Excellent for fast attack speed and summon synergy during events.
- Morning Star: High damage, boosts minion critical strike chance. Great for boss fights.
- Kaleidoscope: The ultimate whip. High base damage, long reach, and great synergy with endgame minions.
Potions and Buffs for Summoner Builds
To maximize the efficiency of your Summoner build in Terraria, potions and buffs are essential. The right combination enhances your minions’ damage, duration, and your survivability in hard battles.
- Summoning Potion: +1 minion slot for 10 minutes
- Bewitching Table: Grants another +1 minion slot when used
- Wrath/Rage Potions: Increase damage and crit chance
- Iron Skin / Regeneration Potions: Help maintain survivability
- Thorns Potion: Reflects damage to attackers, useful for aggressive enemies
Best Summoner Build for Boss Fights
When preparing to face powerful bosses like the Moon Lord or Empress of Light, your Summoner build needs to be optimized for movement, damage, and endurance. Consider the following endgame setup:
Recommended Loadout:
- Armor: Stardust Armor
- Weapon: Terraprisma or Stardust Dragon Staff
- Whip: Kaleidoscope
- Accessories: Papyrus Scarab, Celestial Shell, Soaring Insignia, Pygmy Necklace, Hercules Beetle
- Buffs: Summoning Potion, Bewitching Table, Well Fed, Wrath, Rage
This build allows for maximum minion count, high damage output, and mobility essential for surviving long, chaotic boss fights. Always reapply buffs and stay mobile while letting your summons do the heavy lifting.
The best Summoner build in Terraria depends on your stage in the game, available gear, and your strategy. Early on, players should prioritize additional minion slots and support tools. As you progress, stronger weapons and armor make the Summoner class incredibly powerful especially with proper buffs and accessory combinations. From fighting through Pre-Hardmode with Flinxes to commanding a swarm of Stardust Dragons or Terraprisma minions, mastering the Summoner class offers a rewarding and strategic experience for players who enjoy indirect combat and controlling the battlefield from a distance.
#kebawah#