In Terraria, managing your NPCs is more than just placing houses it’s about understanding who they like, where they prefer to live, and how to maximize their happiness for optimal shop prices. One such character is the Clothier, a unique NPC with a mysterious backstory and a connection to the dark side of the game. If you’re trying to optimize your town layout and wondering who the Clothier likes in Terraria, understanding his preferences can help you set up efficient housing and benefit from lower prices on his vanity items and other special goods.
Who Is the Clothier in Terraria?
The Clothier is an NPC vendor who becomes available once you’ve defeated Skeletron, the cursed guardian of the Dungeon. After the battle, the Old Man who initially stood outside the Dungeon is freed and reappears as the Clothier. His primary role is to sell vanity items clothing, robes, and various outfits that allow you to customize your character’s appearance.
As a vendor, the Clothier benefits from a well-placed home and proximity to other NPCs he enjoys. This affects his happiness level, which in turn lowers the prices of his goods and allows him to sell a special item the Pylon if he’s in a biome he likes with a compatible neighbor.
Clothier’s Happiness System
Terraria uses a happiness system for all town NPCs introduced in version 1.4 (Journey’s End update). NPCs have preferences for biomes and neighbors. When these preferences are met, the NPC becomes happier, which unlocks better prices and the ability to purchase a Pylon from them for that biome. Conversely, if the NPC is surrounded by too many other NPCs or lives in an undesirable biome, their happiness drops, and shop prices go up.
What the Clothier Likes and Dislikes
To make the Clothier happy and benefit from his services, you need to understand his biome and NPC preferences. Below are his known preferences as of the current version of Terraria:
Preferred Biome
- Loves: Living in theUndergroundbiome
- Dislikes: Living in theHallow
The Underground biome perfectly suits the Clothier’s gothic, cursed background, making it the ideal location for his home. Avoid placing him in the Hallow biome, which he finds too cheerful and out of place.
Preferred NPC Neighbors
When asking, ‘Who does the Clothier like in Terraria?’ here’s the list of NPCs with whom he has compatible social preferences:
- Likes: Truffle
- Likes: Tax Collector
- Dislikes: Mechanic
These preferences suggest that the Clothier fits best in a more somber or underground-themed village, away from more scientific or mechanical influences like the Mechanic. He gets along especially well with other gloomy characters like the Tax Collector, and he has a strange fondness for the Truffle, the mushroom-themed NPC who resides in a Glowing Mushroom biome.
Ideal Town Setup for the Clothier
To create the best possible conditions for the Clothier, consider setting up a small village in the Underground biome, with only a few compatible neighbors. Here’s a step-by-step guide to optimizing his happiness:
Step 1: Choose the Right Biome
The Underground biome is your best bet. Place the Clothier’s home at a depth below 0 on the map, which qualifies as Underground. Be sure not to place him in Cavern or Dungeon zones unless they specifically match the biome tags, as these won’t always trigger his happiness bonus.
Step 2: Limit Nearby NPCs
Don’t crowd the Clothier. Having more than three NPCs nearby will lower his happiness. Aim for a small settlement with just two or three residents. He works best in compact towns that still provide enough isolation for comfort.
Step 3: Add Friendly Neighbors
Place theTax Collectorand theTrufflenearby. The Tax Collector also enjoys living in the Underground, and the Truffle prefers the Glowing Mushroom biome, which can overlap with Underground if carefully placed. This trio works exceptionally well for an eerie, profitable village that also unlocks the Universal Pylon and reduces prices across the board.
Why Clothier’s Preferences Matter
The reason behind managing the Clothier’s likes and dislikes goes beyond aesthetics. When an NPC is happy:
- They sell items at a discounted price
- They can sell Pylons if in the correct biome with a compatible NPC
- They may offer additional dialogue or items
For the Clothier specifically, placing him in a happy environment means cheaper vanity items and a better shopping experience overall. This is especially helpful in mid-to-late game phases, where you’re setting up Pylons for fast travel and trying to decorate your base.
Additional Tips for Clothier Optimization
Here are a few more tips to help maximize the Clothier’s potential in your world:
- Place him near a dungeon entranceif you want roleplay flair, but make sure it’s Underground.
- Avoid pairing him with the Mechanic,as their clashing personalities will increase shop prices.
- Use fences or wallsto distance nearby NPCs and prevent overcrowding in the area.
- Combine him with the Tax Collectorfor a thematic undead village with maximum happiness.
Lore Connection: The Clothier and the Old Man
The Clothier is more than just another merchant. His background adds depth to his character. He was originally cursed to guard the Dungeon as the Old Man. Once you defeat Skeletron, the curse is lifted, and he reverts to the Clothier. This dark past ties in with his preference for the Underground and his disdain for brighter, more artificial NPCs like the Mechanic.
Interestingly, if you obtain theClothier Voodoo Dolland use it at night while the Clothier is alive, you can summon Skeletron again this time at will. This adds a gameplay reason to keep the Clothier around, even beyond his usefulness as a vendor.
To answer the question Who does the Clothier like in Terraria? the best companions for him are the Truffle and the Tax Collector. His ideal location is in the Underground biome, and he works poorly with the Mechanic. Optimizing these conditions leads to better pricing, Pylon availability, and a smoother overall gameplay experience. Whether you’re roleplaying a haunted town or just trying to create a travel-efficient world, managing the Clothier’s happiness is an important part of any well-built Terraria base.