Guide:Walkthrough

Note: This guide is a Work-in-Progress

When progressing through Terraria, many players can be unsure of what they need to do next and where they need to go. This guide is designed to provide direction for these players.

=The Surface=

New players should refer to this guide: Getting Started

 Biome: Forest

Monsters: Green Slime, Blue Slime, Red Slime, Purple Slime, Pinky

Monster Drops: Gel

Notable Resources: Copper, Iron, Daybloom

Recommended Equipment: Starting equipment

Recommended Life: 5 hearts

All new worlds will spawn players in the forest biome. This biome has the weakest monsters in the game.

The first thing to do when starting a new world is build a shelter. Begin by collecting building materials, such as wood or stone. It is recommended that the shelter include a Table, Chair, a Torch, and walls. This will ensure that the Guide makes this shelter into his house, and will not wander out at night.

If it is still daytime when the shelter is finished, explore the immediate area. Iron can usually be found nearby, and can be used to obtain an early Anvil. Copper can also be found, which is useful for making a Copper Hammer and Copper Armor if an anvil is available. Return to the shelter before the sun goes down.

 Biome: "Night"

Monsters: Zombie, Demon Eye, Corrupt Bunny (Blood Moon only), The Groom (Blood Moon only)

Monster Drops: Shackle, Lens, Black Lens, Bunny Hood (Blood Moon only), Top Hat (Blood Moon only)

Recommended Equipment: Iron

Recommended Life: 8 hearts

Zombies and Demon Eyes will spawn on the surface at night, regardless of the biome. They are much stronger than the monsters in the forest biome. Caution is advised.

It is recommended to stay inside at night. The monsters that come out at night can be very difficult for a new character. A bold player may be able to make a substantial amount of money by killing these monsters. This can be very high risk, however, as it is easy to get overwhelmed. Zombies can "stack" on top of each other, making it look as if three or four zombies is only one. An unsuspecting player try to kill the "single" zombie at their door, only to find that there are actually several more than they can handle.

Many players will find it boring to sit still in a shelter for the whole night. Mining in a cave can be a viable alternative. Less monsters will be able to find their way into caves, and they tend to be easier to deal with inside. Mining at night can still be risky, however. Monsters can sometimes drop down on the player's head in caves, which can be very difficult to get out of. Avoid mining under off-screen ledges.

Build a Base
Once the temporary shelter is completed, it is time to start on a base of operations. A base can take anywhere from a single in-game day to more than an in-game week to complete, depending on the player's tastes. It is not necessary, however, to build the entire base right away. Waiting to build the majority of the base can be advantageous, as it will allow the player to use the large stock of stone they will end up gathering as a by-product of mining. Regardless of when or what the player builds, it is recommended to build houses for the Guide and Merchant, and a space for storage and crafting before progressing.

More information about building bases can be found here: Bases