Guide:Class progression

Terraria has no formal player class or leveling system. However, weapons can be grouped into four ( five) distinct categories based on their damage type – melee, ranged, magic, and summoning. In general, it is recommended to focus on one class, as many armors, accessories, and buffs only benefit a specific class, especially later into the game. This page lists every combat item in the game, from weakest to strongest, providing a comprehensive overview of your in-game progression.

The melee class utilizes weapons such as swords, spears, and yoyos. Many melee weapons have a short attack range, and those that are viable at a distance tend to do lower damage than their close-range counterparts. Rangers are able to attack from a distance, utilizing weapons like bows and guns, as well as thrown objects. Unless using the Endless Quiver or Endless Musket Pouch, ranged users must constantly acquire ammunition. This can be done through crafting or purchasing from the Arms Dealer. Magicians are highly varied in attack style, often utilizing special mechanics such as homing, lifesteal, and area-of-effect damage. They are held back by reliance on mana, which regenerates very slowly unless the Mana Regeneration buff is in effect. Magic-users must use mana potions if they wish to recover mana instantly. Summoners focus on increasing the number and strength of summonable minions. are primary weapons that will focus summons and increase their damage. While it's possible to beat the game with only summon damage, the Summoning class was balanced around the idea of the player also using weapons from other classes in addition, to minions and whips.
 * Melee
 * Ranged
 * Magic
 * Summoning

Pre-bosses
Prior to encountering a boss, set bonuses from wooden and ore armor will almost exclusively provide additional defense, and accessories will not discriminate by weapon type when giving bonuses. When combined with the general scarcity of weapons and the need to survive, there is little point to sticking to a "class" this early on. For these reasons, players are recommended to make use of whatever they can get their hands on. Players can acquire a gun or magic weapon early on by smashing one of the corruption or crimson orbs.

Pre-Hardmode
Once you start defeating the first bosses new options become available. In addition, you should have enough mana to use magic weapons. However, the armors still only give small bonuses, so you can still safely mix class styles without a significant loss of damage.

Dedicated summoners are still rather weak at this point, although their summoning items can be used by any class.

On the, with the addition of and , Summoners become much more powerful at this point than in previous versions of the game.

Pre-mechanical bosses
At this point in time, it becomes almost mandatory to pick a specific class. Many accessories will only benefit a certain class, and armor sets start to benefit only certain types of damage. However, summoner hybridization remains not only viable, but extremely potent due to the availability of the powerful Sanguine Staff.

At this point, you may also want to start working on getting good modifiers for your equipment.

Pre-Plantera
This is the point where a mixed class becomes rather weak compared to a single class, mainly due to there being separate armor sets for each class. You can of course still play a mixed class, though it is recommended to have a backup armor set (e.g. in the vanity slots) so you can switch quickly for some additional damage or defense. Hallowed armor may be preferred for extra survivability. At this point buffs are extremely useful for bosses and almost necessary in master mode.

Pre-Golem
With the Hardmode Dungeon and the Pumpkin Moon and Frost Moon now available, players have access to a variety of new equipment. Furthermore, any Biome Keys you have obtained are now usable. You could attempt to skip this stage by killing the Empress of Light, but most players won't be able to defeat her until they've progressed a bit further.

Pre-Lunar Events
Equipment from Golem, Martian Invasion and the final tier of the Old One's Army is now available. Challenging Duke Fishron, Empress of Light, and the Frost Moon is also now feasible.

Endgame
At this point you can start using mixed class setups again, since you can kill everything easily. (except when fighting the Moon Lord).

Multiplayer
These setups sacrifice part of their own damage to make boss fights smoother for the entire team. A tank keeping bosses in one place should, depending on your group size, result in the overall party's being higher, due to less deaths, ease of aiming, and no situations where one player runs away with the boss while everyone else chases them. The healer helps increase survivability for their team, but sacrifices large amount of their own damage and defense.

Other
Some equipment sets are not meant for fighting, but for other activities, such as fishing, building and exploring. All equipment is optional and makes it easier to perform the task, but otherwise simply use what is at hand.