Terraria NPC Guide

Getting some company in the world of Terraria.

Introduction

Updated for 1.4.4

In this guide I aim to educate new and old players about NPCs in Terraria. Friendly NPCs have a multitude of uses depending on the individual NPC (I will specify their uses if there is a demand for it) and they are an integral part of any world-file. I hope you enjoy this guide and its contents.

General NPC information

NPCs in general require an unoccupied house in order to move in, and many won't even spawn into your world without one.

NPCs that need to be "rescued" one way or another can spawn without a house, but they won't have anywhere to move in so they will generally mill around the place they were found until they either die or a house is built for them.

For requirements involving a boss or event to be defeated, it only needs to be defeated once to count.
Santa Clause is an exception to this, as defeating the Frost Moon or Pumpkin Moon events sets the following day to emulate their respective seasonal events - complete with seasonal drops and sold items from various NPCs. The next day this effect will end and the world will go back to normal.

The Lifeform Analyzer is a useful tool bought from the Traveling Merchant that can aid in locating some NPCs.

The House

A house must be 60 - 750 blocks in size including the outer frame. It does not have to be a simple square or rectangle but can be almost any shape.

Vertical surfaces can be any combination of blocks, Platforms, Doors and Tall Gates.
Horizontal surfaces can be any combination of blocks, Platforms and Trap Doors.
The house need at least 1 "entrance" in the form of Doors, Platforms, Trap Doors or Tall Gates.
The NPC does not have to be able to use the "entrance", i.e. you can lock them in so they don't move around.

The house needs its background completely filled in with background walls. Bear in mind that most natural backwalls will not be considered suitable.

To open the Housing menu, open up your inventory and click the house icon above your armor slots. Clicking the Housing Query in the Housing Menu will allow you to check if a house is suitable by clicking inside the house in question. If there are any gaps in the outer walls or the background walls, or the house is made from unsafe blocks, the game will state "This is not a valid housing".

If not, the game should state "This housing is missing a light source, and a table, a chair", which moves us to the next task.

Making a house a home

In order for an NPC to live in your newly created house, he/she will want some basic furnishing.
The following bullet list will go through what is needed, with examples after each entry:

• Light Source
  • Any crafted or looted torch
    
  • Any crafted or looted chandelier
    
  • Any crafted or looted candle
• Table
  • Any crafted or looted table or workbench
    
  • Any crafted or looted bookcase
    
  • Piano
    
  • Dresser
• Chair
  • Any crafted or looted chair
    
  • Any crafted or looted bed
    
  • Any crafted or looted toilet
    
  • Bench

The NPC needs at least 1 solid block to stand on at night, as well as a 2x3 unobstructed area.

Please see The Official WIKI[terraria.gamepedia.com] for more in-depth information.

The Guide

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns along with the player in a new world. Will move into the first valid house built.

Fights enemies at range with a Wooden Bow and Wooden Arrows.
Upgrades to Flaming Arrows in Hardmode.

The Merchant

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when all players have a combined wealth of 50+ silver coins in their inventories.

Fights enemies at range with Throwing Knives.

The Nurse

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when any player has more than 100 maximum health.
  
• Requires the Merchant to be spawned and alive.

Fights enemies at range with thrown syringes that poisons enemies.
Can also throw healing syringes at herself and friendly NPCs.

The Demolitionist

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when any player currently in the world has an explosive in their inventory.
  
• Requires the Merchant to be spawned and alive.

Fights enemies at range with Grenades.

The Dye Trader

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when any player has a dye ingredient or a Strange Plant in their inventories, and
  
• There are 4 other town NPCs in the world.
  
  • including the Old Man, Traveling Merchant and Town Pets.

Fights enemies in melee with an Exotic Scimitar which he may drop if killed.

The Angler

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Found sleeping in the Ocean Biome either on the sand or floating on the water's surface.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be woken up.
    If killed before interacted with, he will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies at range by throwing Frost Daggerfish.

The Zoologist

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when the Bestiary has been filled to at least 10% (54 entries).

Fights enemies in melee with her claws.

The Dryad

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when any of the following bosses have been defeated in the world:
  
  • Eye of Cthulhu
    
  • Eater of Worlds
    
  • Brain of Cthulhu
    
  • Skeletron

Fights enemies by casting a spell that gives extra armor, health regeneration and thorns damage to players and friendly NPCs while dealing damage to enemies that are within a clear line of sight.

The Painter

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when you have 8 or more NPCs in your world.
  
  • Including the Old Man, Traveling Merchant and Town Pets.

Fights enemies at range with a Paintball Gun which he may drop if killed.

The Golfer

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Found in the Underground Desert Biome.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be "saved".
    If killed before interacted with, he will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Will fight enemies at range by throwing golf balls.

The Arms Dealer

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when any player has bullets or any gun that shoots bullets in their inventory.

Fights enemies at range with a Flintlock Pistol, upgrades to a Minishark in Hardmode.

The Tavernkeep

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Found in any layer of the world after one of the following bosses has been defeated:
  
  • Eater of Worlds
    
  • Brain of Cthulhu
• Needs to be interacted with in order to be woken up.

Fights enemies at range by throwing mugs of ale with his Ale Tosser which he may drop if killed.

The Stylist

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns stuck in webs in Spider Caves underground.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be released.
    If killed before interacted with, she will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.
  
  Fights enemies in melee with Stylish Scissors which she may drop if killed.

The Goblin Tinkerer

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns bound in the Cavern layer after a Goblin Army has been defeated.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be released.
    If killed before interacted with, he will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies at range by throwing Spiky Balls.

The Witch Doctor

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns after Queen Bee has been defeated.

Fights enemies at range with a Blowgun and Poison Darts that poisons enemies.

The Clothier

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns after Skeletron has been defeated.

Fights enemies at range by casting Shadowflame Skull projectiles which inflict the Shadowflame debuff.

The Mechanic

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns bound in the dungeon after Skeletron has been defeated.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be released.
    If killed before interacted with, she will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies at range with her Combat Wrench which she may drop if killed.

The Party Girl

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Has a 2.5% chance to spawn every morning when you have 14 or more NPCs in the world.
  
  • Including the Old Man, Travelling Merchant and Town Pets.

Fights enemies by throwing Happy Grenades which she may drop if killed.

The Wizard

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns bound in the cavern layer or below.
  
  • Needs to be interacted with in order to be released.
    If killed before interacted with, he will have to be found again.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies at range by casting fireballs.

The Tax Collector

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns cursed as the enemy Tortured Soul in the Hell layer.
  
  • Needs to be cured using Purification Powder.
    If the Tortured Soul is killed before he's cured he will respawn like any other enemy.
    Tortured Souls will no longer spawn after he is obtained.
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies with his Classy Cane which he may drop if killed.

Truffle

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns when there is a valid housing in or near an above ground Mushroom biome.

Fights enemies by releasing mushroom spores which hover in the air.

The Pirate

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns after the Pirate Invasion event is defeated.

Fights enemies using either a gun or a cannon.

The Steampunker

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns after any of the following bosses have been defeated:
  
  • The Twins
    
  • The Destroyer
    
  • Skeletron Prime

Fights enemies at range with a Clockwork Assault Rifle and High Velocity Bullets.

The Cyborg

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns after Plantera has been defeated.

Fights enemies by shooting Rockets.

The Princess

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns when all other town NPCs are spawned and housed.
  
  • Does not include Santa Claus, Town Pets or Town Slimes.

Fights enemies at range with her Resonance Scepter which she may drop if killed.

Santa Claus

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Hardmode
  
• Spawns after defeating the Frost Legion event during the Christmas season.
  
  • December 15:th - December 31:th.
• Alternatively he can spawn for 1 in-game day after defeating the Frost Moon event.
  
• Will die if present during any other time.

Fights enemies at range by throwing baubles.

Town Pets

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns when a player uses Bunny Licence, Cat Licence or Dog Licence respectively.
  
  • Counts towards total number of NPCs where applicable.
• Does not strictly require their own house as they can share one with a regular town NPC.
  
  • One pet per house.

Town Slimes

⠀

Added in 1.4.4, the Labor of Love update, these pets behave similarly to the three previous town pets. These pets count towards total number of NPCs where applicable.
Each slime has their own individual spawn requirement, outlined below:

• The Nerdy Slime moves in after King Slime is defeated.
  
• The Cool Slime moves in when there is a naturally occuring, active party.
  
• The Elder Slime moves in after using a Golden Key on an Old Shaking Chest in the Cavern Layer.
  
• The Clumsy Slime moves in after breaking the Clumsy Balloon Slime in the Space Layer.
  
• The Diva Slime moves in after throwing (not dropping) a Sparkle Slime Balloon into Shimmer.
  
• The Surly Slime moves in after being fished up during a Blood Moon.
  
• The Mystic Slime moves in after using Purification Powder on a Mystic Frog in the Jungle.
  
• The Squire Slime moves in after dropping a Copper Helmet or a Copper Shortsword on a surface slime.

In the event of a Town Slime dying, it will respawn normally without any further action from the player as long as there is a home for the Slime to move into.

The Traveling Merchant

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Has a chance to spawn near Town NPCs between 4:30 AM and 12:00 PM when you have 2 or more NPCs.
  
  • Not including the Old Man or the Skeleton Merchant.
• Does not require his own house as he's not a permanent resident.
  
  • Despawns when offscreen after 6:00 PM or whenever there are no players in the world.

Fights enemies at range with a Revolver.
Upgrades to Pulse Bow in Hardmode.

The Old Man

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns outside the Dungeon in a new world.
  
• Used to spawn the boss Skeletron.
  
  • Disappears permanently from the world upon Skeletron's defeat.

The Skeleton Merchant

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Spawns randomly in the Cavern Layer.
  
  • Sells a random assortment of items, many of which are only obtainable from the Skeleton Merchant.
• Several can be spawned at once in your world.
  
• Does not require his own house as he's not a permanent resident.
  
• Reduces enemy spawn rate near him.
  
• Does not count where a certain amount of spawned NPCs are required.
  
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

Fights enemies by throwing bones.

The Lost Girl

⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Not actually an NPC, will attack when you get close.
  
• Mimics an undefended NPC, luring players to get close.
  
• Changes name to Nymph when attacking.
  
• Spawns in the Cavern layer.
  
  Can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.

NPC Death

If a Town NPC dies for any reason they will generally respawn back into your town during daytime. There are however a couple of exceptions to this rule:

• If there is an active event, NPCs will not spawn or respawn until the event ends. These events include:
  
  • Any invasion event, e.g. Goblin Army, Frost Legion, Pirate Invasion, Martian Madness
    
    • Note that the Lunar Invasion does not hinder NPCs from spawing.
  • Slime Rain
    
  • Blood Moon
    
  • Old One's Army
    
  • The Torch God
    
  • Solar Eclipse
    
  • Moon events, e.g. Frost Moon and Pumpkin Moon
  
  
• If Santa Claus is spawned at any other time than specified in his spawning requirements, he will immediately die.
  
• The Old Man is never seen in this form again after defeating Skeletron the first time. It is easy to speculate however that the Old Man and the Clothier are the same person.

Changelog

2022-11-18

• Removed notes about certain NPCs reverting back to their initial spawn requirements when killed as this was changed in 1.4.4.
  
• Cleaned up a bit of formatting and miscellaneous inconsistencies.

2022-10-16

• Added the Town Slimes to the list of NPCs.
  
• Adjusted the source-section, added official wiki.

2020-10-19

• Added the Zoologist, Golfer, Princess and Town Pets to the list of NPCs.
  
• Major overhaul of the layout and formatting. Hopefully easier to find specific NPCs now.
  
• Added image on every NPC.
  
• Updated information where applicable.

2016-12-21

• Added the Tavernkeep to the list of NPCs.

2015-07-14

• Added the Tax Collector and the Skeleton Merchant to the list of NPCs.
  
• Updated spawning requirements on NPCs where applicable.
  
• Added methods of self defense to the list of NPCs.

2014-05-13

• Added the Angler to the list of NPCs.

2014-03-24

• Added the Traveling Merchant, Stylist and Lost Girl to the list of NPCs.

Final thoughts

I thank you for taking the time to read my guide, and I hope you got something out of it.
If you have gotten this far I humbly ask you to rate this guide (positive or negative) and leave a comment if you have any questions or critique.

If you feel that I have left anything out of this guide (or lied to your face), please let me know.

Sources:

• https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Terraria_Wiki, the Official Terraria Wiki.
  
• https://terraria.fandom.com/wiki/Terraria_Wiki, the Fandom Terraria Wiki.
  
• Personal experience.

Thank you, and good day.

[Wadjo]

@Alexcattt
Strange indeed. One other thing that comes to mind is that The Guide won't respawn if there's a Solar Eclipse or an active invasion (goblins for example). Have you made sure that there isn't a goblin invasion happening (by going to the center of the map, surface-level)? They tend to last indefinitely if you don't kill them off.

[Alexcattt]

ive waited multiple days with valid housing im gona build more houses soon since they are now full since stuff moved in

[Wadjo]

@Akexcattt
That's strange. Have you made sure you have a house available? Are you perhaps waiting to kill the Wall of Flesh? The Guide doesn't respawn if it's night time.

[Alexcattt]

what about the guide since my guide wont respawn for some reason

[Wadjo]

@AcapitalA
The corruption/crimson spread can be an annoyance indeed, but I've found that a decent way of handling it is to buy a bunch of hallow seeds as soon as you enter hardmode, then take a moment to go over the world and planting some hallow on either side of every corrupted area.

[AcapitalA]

@Wadjo
That's how i've done it indeed, i didn't want to enter hardmode on my world because of the insane spread of corruption so i made a new world for hardmode stuff. But anyhow it's possible.

[Wadjo]

@AcapitalA
Technically you're correct, but you can't do that without "cheating" and bringing stuff from another world.

[AcapitalA]

I've got the steampunker in my pre-hardmode world by destroying the 3 mechnical bosses, this also works with the pirate. so it's not world specific. :)

[Wadjo]

@Khilseith
Oh now I get what you mean. You're probably referring to the Dryad's "attack". Yeah she doesn't have a direct way of attacking, but instead casts a spell that covers a large area when there are enemies present.

Also, guide has been updated! :)

[Wadjo]

@AcapitalA
Yeah I've heard about him, looking forward to giving him a dank, dark dungeon to live in ;)