Guide:Walkthrough

When progressing through Terraria, many players can be unsure of what they should do next and where they can go. Terraria is a open-ended game, where areas are only locked by your level of equipment. This progression guide is designed to provide a loose idea of where they should go for these players.

=The Surface=

New players should refer to this guide: Getting Started

 Biome: Forest

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

Monster Drops: Gel

Notable Resources: Copper, Iron, Mushroom, Daybloom

Chest Contents: Aglet, Blowpipe, Spear, Wooden Boomerang, Glowstick, Throwing Knife

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, Copper Bow and Copper Armor if an anvil is available. Return to the shelter before the sun goes down. The player may want to arm themselves with a Wooden Sword and Wooden Bow.

 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 are only one. Unsuspecting players may 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. Fewer 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.

A little later in the game there is a chance of a night event occurring called the Blood Moon, which temporarily increases the monster spawn rate - among other things. It is recommended to remain indoors during this time especially for inexperienced players.

Build a Base
For a more in-depth guide on building bases: Bases

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, Merchant and Nurse, and a space for storage and crafting before progressing.

Surface Exploration
The surface has sparsely distributed iron and copper deposits. It is advantageous to the player to search for these ores. If the player finds enough, the player may be able to craft some new tools and armor before they begin mining. Chests can sometimes be found in the entrances of caves. The items they contain can be very useful for a new character. These chests will spawn in any surface biome but the treasures they contain are listed with the forest biome.

It is highly recommended to stay in the forest biome. The other surface biomes are mid-game biomes, and will be too difficult for a new character.

=The Underground=

For a more in-depth guide on mining: Mining Techniques

Once a satisfactory shelter has been completed, the player should begin mining. There are multiple methods of mining, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Digging a mine shaft can allow the player easy access to the deeper areas of their mine. Another popular method is to explore the caves and tunnels that generate naturally. When a player reaches a dead end in a cave, they can find other caves using light from torches or other tools, a technique called "cave hopping". This method can yield more rewards than the shaft method, but it can be harder to enter and exit this type of mine. Many players will use a combination of the two methods to suit their current needs.

 Biome: Underground

Monsters: Blue Slime, Yellow Slime, Pinky, Blue Jellyfish, Giant Worm

Monster Drops: Gel, Glowstick, Whoopie Cushion

Notable Resources: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gems, Glowing Mushroom, Blinkroot

Chest Contents: Band of Regeneration, Magic Mirror, Angel Statue, Cloud in a Bottle, Hermes Boots, Enchanted Boomerang, Jester's Arrow

Recommended Equipment: Starting equipment

Recommended Life: 5 hearts

The underground can be identified by its background (pictured to the right). It is the first layer below the surface. Copper and Iron deposits can be found in this layer. Silver and Gold can also be found, though less frequently and only much deeper down. Glowing Mushrooms can also be found, though infrequently at this layer.

The player should focus on finding copper and iron while in this layer. It is recommended to have full iron armor and silver weapons before proceeding to the next layer. The player should also try to find two or three Life Crystals while at this layer.

When the player reaches the caverns, they should build a fourth NPC house. This should allow them to get the Demolitionist. It is recommended to buy the Mining Helmet at about this point, or very soon after. A player may wish to opt out of getting the mining helmet, however, if they found an early source of Glowing Mushrooms, and they wish to use Shine Potions instead.

 Biome: Cavern

Monsters: Black Slime, Mother Slime, Baby Slime, Pinky, Giant Worm, Skeleton, Cave Bat, Blue Jellyfish, Piranha, Undead Miner, Tim

Monster Drops: Gel, Whoopie Cushion, Hook, Wizard Hat, Robot Hat

Notable Resources: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Gems, Glowing Mushroom, Blinkroot, Lava

Chest Contents: Band of Regeneration, Magic Mirror, Angel Statue, Cloud in a Bottle, Hermes Boots, Enchanted Boomerang, Jester's Arrow

Recommended Equipment: Iron

Recommended Life: 8 hearts

The caverns can be identified by their background (pictured to the right). It is the second layer below the surface. Copper, Iron, Silver and Gold can all be found frequently in this layer. Glowing Mushrooms can also be found more regularly in this layer.

In this layer, the player should focus on upgrading to Silver equipment, then Gold equipment. They should also try to find a hook for a Grappling Hook, and as many Life Crystals as they can find, at least three or four. This layer can be very dangerous for an under-geared player. The player should not attempt to progress through this layer if they have not yet obtained Iron equipment. Regardless of what equipment is currently available, it is recommended to bring lots of potions, including a few Ironskin Potions.

Avoid mining too deeply in this layer at this point in the game. The next layer after the caverns is the Underworld, which is an end-game area. If the player mines too closely to the Underworld, Underworld monsters will begin to spawn. Underworld monsters can be very difficult to deal with, even with an end-game character. If the player finds themselves being attacked by Fire Imps, it is highly recommended to turn back. As a rule of thumb, avoid mining down any further when the first lava pools are found.

=The Surface Revisited=

Once the player obtains complete gold equipment many mid-tier biomes open up. These biomes contain alchemy ingredients as well as other treasures. It is recommended to build any NPC houses that have not been built yet. There should be at least seven NPC houses at this time.

 Biome: Desert

Monsters: Vulture, Antlion

Monster Drops: Antlion Mandible

Notable Resources: Cactus, Waterleaf

Recommended Equipment: Iron

Recommended Life: 8 hearts

The desert doesn't contain much of interest other than alchemy ingredients. The monsters in the desert are in the lower-mid tier, and can be dealt with using iron equipment or better.

 Biome: Jungle

Monsters: Piranha, Snatcher, Jungle Bat, Jungle Slime, Doctor Bones (night only)

Monster Drops: Gel, Hook, Robot Hat, Archaeologist's Hat

Notable Resources: Moonglow

Recommended Equipment: Gold

Recommended Life: 10 hearts

The jungle is one of the more difficult surface biomes. Gold equipment is recommended before attempting to explore it.

 Biome: Ocean

Monsters: Shark, Pink Jellyfish, Crab

Monster Drops: Glowstick, Shark Fin, Diving Helmet

Notable Resources: Coral

Chest Contents: Breathing Reed, Flipper, Trident

Recommended Equipment: Gold, Gills Potions

Recommended Life: 10 hearts

The Ocean is notable for its alchemy ingredients and chests. Chests found in ocean biomes contain unique treasures. New characters may have problems working in this biome. Without access to alchemy ingredients like waterleaf, finding a source of air can be a major issue.

 Biome: Corruption

Monsters: Little Eater, Eater of Souls, Big Eater, Devourer, Corrupt Goldfish, Piranha

Monster Drops: Rotten Chunk, Worm Tooth, Hook, Robot Hat

Notable Resources: Vile Mushroom, Deathweed, Demonite

Recommended Equipment: Gold

Recommended Life: 10 hearts

The corruption is a very difficult biome due to the swarming of Eaters of Souls. Exploring the corruption can be very rewarding, however. Smashing Shadow Orbs can yield very powerful items. Demonite is found in large deposits in this biome, though a Gold Pickaxe is needed to mine it.

 Biome: Floating Island

Monsters: Harpy

Monster Drops: Feather

Notable Resources: Silver, Gold

Chest Contents: Shiny Red Balloon, Starfury, Lucky Horseshoe

Recommended Equipment: Gold, Ironskin Potions

Recommended Life: 10 hearts

It is worth noting that Harpies can spawn around Floating Islands, if the Floating Island is not in the middle third of the map. Harpies can be very difficult to deal with, even for a well-geared player. The chests on Floating Islands are locked and must be opened with a Golden Key from the Dungeon. The player may still wish to locate the islands beforehand, so the treasures can be easily obtained later.

Eye of Cthulhu
Once the player gains ten or more hearts, it is likely that they will have to fight the Eye of Cthulhu.

Eye of Cthulu has a 1:3 chance of spawning each night if:


 * Eye of Cthulhu has not been defeated in the current world
 * At least one player in the world has ten or more hearts
 * Four NPCs have moved into houses in the world

If the player meets all three of these requirements, they should prepare to fight Eye of Cthulhu. Buy a stack of Shurikens from the Merchant. Build an arena (see Guide: Bases). Many players prefer to summon Eye of Cthulhu before these requirements are met, to ensure that they fight the boss on their own terms. To summon Eye of Cthulhu, craft a Suspicious Looking Eye and use it at night.

 Boss: Eye of Cthulhu

Life: 2800

Damage: 15 (First Stage), 23 (Second Stage)

Defense: 12 (First Stage), 0 (Second Stage)

Minions: Servant of Cthulhu (8 Life, 12 Damage, 0 Defense)

Drops: Demonite Ore, Unholy Arrows, Corrupt Seeds

Recommended Equipment: Gold, Piercing Weapons, Ironskin Potions, Hunter Potions

Recommended Life: 10 hearts

Piercing weapons are most efficient on Eye of Cthulhu, as they will damage it multiple times each attack. Melee weapons are not very effective on Eye of Cthulhu as it will usually fly out of reach. In its first stage, Eye of Cthulhu spawns minions and will try to ram the player. When Eye of Cthulhu has less than 1400 life, it will morph into its second stage. In its second stage, Eye of Cthulhu will stop spawning minions, but it will begin to move much faster, and do much more damage with each attack. If the player has Gold equipment and plenty of potions, Eye of Cthulhu shouldn't pose a major threat.

For more information, refer to Guide:Strategies for killing Eye of Cthulhu

Eater of Worlds
After Eye of Cthulhu is defeated, the player should fight Eater of Worlds.

Eater of Worlds will spawn upon smashing every third Shadow Orb in a world. It is also possible to spawn Eater of Worlds using Worm Food. This is not recommended, however, as smashing Shadow Orbs will drop treasures like Vilethorn and Ball 'O Hurt that can help defeat Eater of Worlds.

 Boss: Eater of Worlds

Life: 65 (Head), 150 (Body), 220 (Tail)

Damage: 22 (Head), 13 (Body), 11 (Tail)

Defense: 2 (Head), 4 (Body), 8 (Tail)

Drops: Demonite Ore, Shadow Scale

Recommended Equipment: Gold, Piercing Weapons, Ironskin Potions, Hunter Potions

Recommended Life: 12 hearts

Eater of Worlds has 50 segments. When one segment is destroyed, the two separated sections will become a new worm. Piercing weapons are extremely effective against this boss, as they will damage Eater of Worlds many times. Melee weapons are also effective. It is safer to fight this boss in an enclosed area, because the monsters that spawn in the corruption are noticeably more difficult to deal with in the open.

For more information, refer to Guide:Strategies for killing Eater of Worlds

Smashing Shadow Orbs has a small chance of spawning a meteor somewhere in the world. If a meteor spawns, and a Nightmare Pickaxe is available, craft an Obsidian Skull and track it down.

 Biome: Meteorite

Monsters: Meteor Head

Notable Resources: Meteorite

Recommended Equipment: Shadow, Obsidian Skull, Dynamite

Recommended Life: 12 hearts

Meteor Heads will constantly spawn when there are 50 or more meteorite blocks in the area, so it is recommended to mine the meteorite as quickly as possible. Dynamite is very effective on meteorite for this reason. A few sticks of dynamite can mine most of the biome singlehandedly, minimizing the Meteor Head threat.

=The Dungeon=

After obtaining some combination of shadow equipment and meteor equipment, the player should explore the dungeon. The Dungeon can be found near the right or left edge of the map. To gain entrance to the dungeon, Skeletron must be defeated. To summon skeletron, talk to the Old Man in front of the dungeon at night.

 Boss: Skeletron

Life: 4400 (Head), 600 (Hand)

Damage: 32 (Head), 32 (Hand)

Defense: 10 (Head), 10 (Hand)

Recommended Equipment: Shadow or Meteor, Piercing Weapons, Ironskin Potions

Recommended Life: 15 hearts

Like with other bosses, piercing weapons are very effective against Skeletron. Melee weapons are of limited effectiveness, as Skeletron floats out reach for much of the time. Like with other bosses, a player with a large stock of potions shouldn't have too much trouble with this boss.

For more information, refer to Guide:Strategies for killing Skeletron

After Skeletron has been defeated in a world, players should be able to enter the dungeon unimpeded.

 Biome: Dungeon

Monsters: Angry Bones, Big Boned, Short Bones, Blazing Wheel, Cursed Skull, Dark Caster, Spike Ball, Dungeon Slime

Monster Drops: Bone, Golden Key

Chest Contents: Aqua Scepter, Blue Moon, Cobalt Shield, Handgun, Magic Missile, Muramasa, Shadow Key

Recommended Equipment: Shadow or Meteor

Recommended Life: 15 hearts

Monsters respawn very quickly in the dungeon, so it can be difficult to progress. Movement enhancing items, such as the Grappling Hook or Cloud in a Bottle are highly recommended. Many of the surfaces in the dungeon are covered in damaging spikes, making it difficult to progress without some sort of movement aid.

It is recommended to get all of the treasures in the dungeon, as they are all useful for further progression. Water Bolt can also be found on bookshelves (pictured). The dungeon has a substantial amount of Life Crystals in it, making it easy for a player to reach maximum life by the time they are finished with the dungeon.

=The Underground Jungle=

After completing the Dungeon, the player should next go to the Underground Jungle. The Underground Jungle can be found by mining directly downward from the surface jungle.

 Biome: Underground Jungle

Monsters: Hornet, Little Stinger, Big Stinger, Man Eater, Jungle Bat, Piranha

Monster Drops: Stinger, Vine, Hook, Robot Hat

Notable Resources: Moonglow, Jungle Spores, Jungle Rose, Nature's Gift

Chest Contents: Feral Claws, Anklet of the Wind, Staff of Regrowth

Recommended Equipment: Shadow, Meteor, or Necro; Dungeon weapons

Recommended Life: 18 hearts

The underground jungle is the second-most difficult biome in Terraria. An improperly geared player will have a difficult time surviving in this biome. Much like the corruption's Eater of Souls, the Underground Jungle's hornet will persistently swarm the player, while shooting poisonous stingers at them.

The risk of exploring the Underground Jungle can pay off. Some of the best items in Terraria can be found in or crafted from items in the Underground Jungle, such as Ivy Whip or Jungle Armor.

=The Underworld=

After exploring the Underground Jungle, the player should go to the Underworld. The Underworld can be found covering the entire bottom of the map. It is reached by digging down from the caverns.

 Biome: The Underworld

Monsters: Lava Slime, Hellbat, Fire Imp, Demon, Voodoo Demon, Bone Serpent

Monster Drops: Plumber's Hat, Demon Scythe, Guide Voodoo Doll

Notable Resources: Hellstone, Fireblossom

Chest Contents: Dark Lance, Flower of Fire, Sunfury, Flamelash

Recommended Equipment: Shadow, Meteor, Jungle, or Necro; Jungle or Dungeon weapons; Obsidian Skull

Recommended Life: 20 hearts

The Underworld is currently the most difficult biome in Terraria. It can be very challenging to explore, even with the best equipment in the game. An Obsidian Skull is essential, as Hellstone will burn players just like Meteorite.

The best items in the game can be found in or crafted from items found in this biome. The player should try to locate Shadow Chests, opened with the Shadow Key found in the Dungeon. These chests contain some of the best weapons in the game.

Currently, exploring the Underworld is the last thing to do in Terraria. Other activities to do after the Underworld are beyond the scope of this guide.