NPCs


 * For a complete list of NPC names, see NPC names.

An NPC (Non-Player Character) is a friendly automated character that provides some service to players. Players can utilize NPCs by standing near them and using the button on them. Most NPCs are vendors, selling items to players in exchange for coins, and can be sold items by a player in order to obtain coins. Some NPCs also perform other functions.

Most NPCs are "Town" NPCs, appearing after various milestones are achieved in game advancement (details below). They move into structures the player must generally build, known as Houses, which are generally required for Town NPCs to remain available.

Town NPCs that have moved into Houses reduce enemy spawn rates in the area, an effect that increases the more of them are present. With four or more Town NPCs in close proximity, enemies generally stop spawning on or near the visible screen altogether. Players tend to utilize this effect by building large structures ("Towns" or "Bases") with several integrated Houses, to serve as their safe haven. These reductions are usually overridden by Events like Blood Moons or Goblin Invasions, during which spawn rates return to normal, or are elevated, and enemies will once again attack players and NPCs in the area.

Town NPCs generally walk around during the day. They remain still in their assigned Houses at night. NPCs have limited health and can take damage, and ultimately die from enemies, Traps, or Lava; though they cannot be attacked directly by players (outside of special Voodoo Doll accessories or Rotten Eggs). Their health regenerates over time, and if killed, they will also respawn following a delay, as long as a suitable vacant House is still available.

Occasionally, they sit in Chairs and "talk" to each other, or to the player (shown as mouth movement and speech bubbles). Most NPCs also have an attack method, which they will use to defend themselves against enemies in the vicinity.

There are currently 22/21/20 Town NPCs, 7/6 of whom normally appear in Hardmode. An additional 3/2 NPCs can be encountered that don't move into Houses.

Housing
Each Town NPC requires a suitable, vacant House. A House is a room enclosed by a frame of blocks, with user-placed background walls, along with a valid light source, flat surface item, and comfort item (see Furniture). Certain room dimensions are also required (see House for full details). Houses must not be located near Corruption or Crimson, and if those biomes spread too close to an occupied House, the NPC living there may move out. House needs to be 8x6 to fit head banner (Required to have NPC to live in house)

Town NPCs' home assignments can be rearranged using NPC Flags from the Housing Menu, where players can also check whether a room is a suitable House (There is no housing menu on the Mobile version).

The Guide and Old Man are unique in that they always spawn upon creating a world. The Guide will usually move into the first House built. The Old Man does not move into a House, but always remains near the Dungeon's entrance, and respawns the following day if killed (when Skeletron hasn't been defeated).

If a House occupied by an NPC is damaged in a way that makes it invalid, the NPC will move out and walk around the area until a suitable House is restored.

Buying and Selling
Items can be bought simply by right-clicking an NPC and taking items from their inventory while their cost in coins is available in the player's inventory. Holding the right mouse button will allow the player to buy an item in bulk, so long as the item is stackable. The buy speed increases the longer the right-click button is held.

Some NPCs sell biome-specific items when they are located in certain biomes; this can be done by housing them there, or by teleporting them with a King or Queen Statue.

All NPC vendors can also be used to sell unwanted or surplus items to gain coins. The unwanted item(s) must be in the player's inventory. Hovering over the item while the NPC's inventory screen is open will display its sell value. Items are always sold to vendors at one-fifth their purchase price. Not all items have a sell value (very common items such as Dirt or Wood have no value). To sell the item, move it into the NPC's inventory.

Sales to NPCs can be canceled while the NPC's inventory screen is still open. Sold items can be taken back in exchange for the amount they were sold for. This does not hold true for returning bought items, which must be sold back at their standard sell rate of one-fifth the purchase price.

All NPC vendors buy and sell at the same price. Many item prices can be decreased by equipping a Discount Card, which is a rare drop from Pirate Invasions.

Town NPCs
Listed in the order in which they are generally likely to be acquired.

Pre-Hardmode

 * *Sells additional items during Halloween, Christmas, and during the Blood Moon Event.
 * **Recent patches might have lowered it to 6 only, requires further investigation.

Hardmode

 * *Sells additional items during Halloween

Other NPCs
The following NPCs are not considered town NPCs because they do not move into houses.

History
PNJ Неигровые персонажи