Zombie

Zombies are common surface enemies that appear at night, and are a primary reason newer players will want to build a shelter before night arrives. Along with Demon Eyes, they are generally among the first night enemies a player will encounter, as they appear in areas a player first spawns. Multiple NPCs living in the area will reduce or prevent local enemy spawns, including Zombies.

Zombies follow the Fighter AI and walk towards the player, dealing damage on contact. They can jump and navigate platforms. Zombies will seem to hit closed doors in their path repeatedly, though most of them cannot open Doors unless it is a Blood Moon (during which Blood Zombies will spawn and be able to open doors); Spore Zombies can open doors at any time.

In, some Zombies carry disembodied arms. These deal more damage on contact than other zombies and will stop to perform a "slashing" animation when near the player, extending the range at which they can damage the player. These arm-wielding zombies are unable to open or interact with doors at any time.

Variants

 * The name of Pixie Zombie was confirmed here: http://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/what-is-this-halloween-zombie-suposed-to-be.5803/#post-156346

Other Zombies

 * – spawns during Rain at night
 * – spawns in the Snow biome at night
 * – spawns in a Glowing Mushroom biome at any time
 * – spawns in the Jungle at night
 * – spawns during a Blood Moon
 * – spawns during a Blood Moon
 * – spawns during a Blood Moon
 * – spawns in Graveyards
 * – spawns during a Solar Eclipse

Tips

 * While they may move slowly, they are surprisingly good jumpers. They also have a fair amount of health and cause significant damage to newer players. It is advisable that new players remain indoors at night until they gain better Weapons and Defenses.
 * Zombies can be safely fought at any point by building a wooden box around the player and opening up a small hole to hit enemies through with a Shortsword or Bow.
 * The Swamp Zombie is the fastest zombie as well as having very high knockback resistance towards newer players.
 * In Classic Mode, a simple Wooden Sword swung repeatedly is enough to keep one or two zombies at bay. Three or more Zombies will likely be able to get past the sword and cause damage. Weapons that can hit multiple enemies work best. To kill zombies easily, build Lava traps. The Spear or Vilethorn are ideal for this job. Ranged weapons also work well, like the Bow; Shuriken and Throwing Knives are ranged weapons that also pierce through multiple enemies, making them good candidates as well.

Blood Moon

 * If one wishes to avoid Zombies entirely during a Blood Moon, blockading doorways with any Block type will stop Zombies from entering your home. Placing a Wood Platform, Wooden Beam, or a piece of Furniture next to the door on the inside will prevent doors from swinging inward, which is the only way Zombies can enter.
 * Placing doors above ground level or digging a trench two blocks wide and deep forces Zombies to jump at the doors, during which they can't open these doors.
 * Another strategy is to place two doors parallel to each other, allowing NPC movement to be uninhibited by blockades. Doors won't open for Zombies during a Blood Moon, any Skeletons underground, or Hardmode enemies that can open up single doors by bashing on them, as the other door will block them from opening them inward. If the outer door is already open, though, this will not work.

Trivia

 * Occasionally, when a Pincushion Zombie takes damage, broken Wooden Arrow shafts will fall from their body which cannot be retrieved.
 * The Halloween variant 'Superman Zombie' is a reference to the DC comics superhero Superman.
 * The Halloween variant 'Pixie Zombie' is a reference to the Pixie.
 * The Halloween variant 'Doctor Zombie' is a reference to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight (2008).
 * The Bald Zombie is the only regular Zombie variant that cannot carry an arm in Expert mode.
 * The internal name that corresponds to the Armed Female Zombie is, a reference to Cenx.
 * The internal name of the Armed Pincushion Zombie is spelled.