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NPCs
Template:Mirror Template:MirrorNursePainter Dye Trader Party Girl Angler Stylist
Template:Mirror Template:Mirror Template:Mirror Goblin Tinkerer Witch Doctor Clothier Mechanic Tax Collector
Pirate Truffle Wizard Steampunker Cyborg Santa Claus Traveling Merchant Old Man Skeleton Merchant
Statistics
Type
Max Life250
Defense15
KB Resist5000%
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  Interact 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. Each NPC will need its own house.

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.

Template:Pc icon 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 22Template:Pc icon/21Template:Mobile icon/20Template:Console icon Town NPCs, 7Template:Pc icon/6Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon of whom normally appear in Hardmode. An additional 3Template:Pc icon/2Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon NPCs can be encountered that don't move into Houses.

Housing

Main article: House

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 (Template:Mobile iconThere 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

NPC Acquired When Description Drops Defending weaponTemplate:Pc icon
Guidenpc Guide Starting a new world. Provides tips, crafting recipes, and a general guide on how to get other NPCs. Green CapGreen Cap
(100% when named Andrew)
Wooden Bow (Ranged, Damaging)
File:Merchantnpc.png Merchant* All players combined have more than 50 in their inventories. Sells certain basic tools and supplies. n/a Throwing Knife (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Nurse A player has more than 100 health and the Merchant is already present. Heals players and cancels debuffs in exchange for coins. n/a Poisoned Knife (Ranged, Only afflicted on NPC's and player, Heals)
File:Demolitionistnpc.png Demolitionist A player has an explosive in their inventory, and the Merchant is already present. Sells explosive items. n/a Grenades (Ranged, Explodes)
Template:Mirror Dye Trader A player acquires a Dye item, or any item used to craft Dye, in addition to either defeating a pre-Hardmode boss or acquiring one Strange Plant. Sells the Dye Vat crafting station, and Template:Pc iconprovides reward dyes in exchange for rare plants. Exotic ScimitarExotic ScimitarTemplate:Pc icon
(12.5% chance)
Exotic Scimitar (Melee Swung, Damaging
File:Dryadnpc.png Dryad* A Boss is defeated other than King Slime, Lepus or Wall of Flesh. Sells nature/Corruption/Crimson items, and can report the percentage of Corruption/Crimson and Hallow in the world. n/a Dryad's Blessing (AoE, Buffs player, Harms Enemies)
File:Armsdealernpc.png Arms Dealer* A player has bullets, or a gun that shoots bullets, in their inventory. Sells certain guns, bullets, and after the Eater of Worlds or the Brain of Cthulhu has been defeated, Unholy Arrows. n/a Flintlock Pistol / Minishark (Hardmode) (Both Ranged & Damaging)
Template:Mirror StylistTemplate:Pc icon Template:Mobile icon Found and spoken to in a Spider Nest. Can change the player's hair style, and sells Hair Dyes. Stylish ScissorsStylish ScissorsTemplate:Pc icon
(12.5% chance)
Stylish Scissors (Melee Swung, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Painter* After 3** other town NPCs are acquired including the guide. Sells paints, painting tools, and Paintings. Paintball GunPaintball Gun Template:Pc icon
(10% chance)
Paintball Gun (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Angler Found and spoken to in an Ocean Biome. Gives Fishing quests and rewards players for completing them. n/a Frost Daggerfish (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Goblin Tinkerer Found and spoken to in the cavern layer

after defeating a Goblin Invasion.

Sells items such as the Tinkerer's Workshop, and can reforge items. n/a Spiky Balls (Ranged, Damages overtime)
Template:Mirror Witch Doctor* Queen Bee is defeated. Sells the Blowgun, the Imbuing Station, summoner equipment and Fountains. n/a Blowgun (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Clothier* Skeletron is defeated. Sells some Vanity items, including the Familiar clothes. Red HatRed Hat
(100% chance)
Book of Skulls (Ranged, Damaging, Shadowflame version)
Template:Mirror Mechanic Found and spoken to in the Dungeon. Sells the Wrench, Wire, and other Mechanism-related items, in addition to the Mechanic's Rod under certain conditions. n/a Wrench (Melee Thrown, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Party Girl Chance of spawning after acquiring 13 town NPCs. Sells items that create colorful visual effects. If killed, she does not always respawn the following day as other NPCs do, rather starting over with a random chance of re-spawning each dawn. Happy GrenadeHappy Grenade Template:Pc icon
(30-60, 25% chance)
Confetti Gun, Happy Grenade (Both Ranged & Damaging, Happy Grenade Explodes)
  • *Sells additional items during Halloween, Christmas, and during the Blood Moon Event.
  • **Recent patches might have lowered it to 3 only, requires further investigation.

Hardmode

NPC Acquired When Description Drops Defending weaponTemplate:Pc icon
Template:Mirror Pirate A Pirate Invasion is defeated. Sells the Cannon and other Pirate-related items. n/a Gun and Cannon (Both Ranged & Damaging, Cannonballs Explode)
Template:Mirror Truffle A House is built in an above-ground Mushroom Biome during Hardmode. Sells the Autohammer, Mushroom Spear, and other mushroom-themed items. n/a Mushroom Spore (Summoned, Damaging, Stationary until touched)
Template:Mirror Wizard* Found and spoken to in the Cavern layer in Hardmode. Sells certain magical items. n/a Flower of Fire (Ranged (As in far distanced attack), Bouncing, Afflicts "On Fire!" Debuff)
Template:Mirror Steampunker* Once a Mechanical Boss is defeated. Sells the Clentaminator, Teleporter, Jetpack, and other items. n/a Clockwork Assault Rifle (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Cyborg* Plantera is defeated. Sells the Proximity Mine Launcher, Rockets and Nanites. n/a Rocket (Ranged, Explodes)
Template:Mirror Santa Claus The Frost Legion is defeated, appearing only from December 15-31. Sells the Santa costume, colored lights, Christmas trees and their decorations. n/a Bauble (Ranged, Damaging)
Template:Mirror Tax Collector Template:Pc icon A Tortured Soul is transformed with Purification Powder in the Underworld. Collects property tax from the other NPCs for the Player. Each NPC that owns a house will pay 50 in property taxes. He can gather up to 10 at once. Classy CaneClassy Cane
(12.5% chance)
Classy Cane (Melee swung, Damaging)

Other NPCs

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

NPC Acquired When Description Drops Defending weaponTemplate:Pc icon
Template:Mirror Traveling Merchant 22% spawn chance during morning hours (04:30-12:00 in-game time) once two other NPCs are present Stays for one day, sells a random selection of unique items each day. Peddler's HatPeddler's Hat
(100% chance)
Revolver
Hardmode:
Pulse Bow (Both Ranged & Damaging)
Template:Mirror Old Man Starting a new world Found at the entrance to the Dungeon. Summons Skeletron, but only at night. Once Skeletron is defeated, the Old Man is no longer present. It is implied that the curse he was afflicted with was removed and he became the Clothier. n/a n/a
Template:Mirror Skeleton Merchant Template:Pc icon Found randomly underground Sells Counterweights, Spelunker Glowsticks, Magic Lanterns, the Yoyo Glove and some other items based on the lunar cycle. Some items such as the Slap Hand can only be obtained from him. n/a Bone (Ranged, Damaging)

Notes

  • All NPCs have an Attack stat of 10.
  • NPCs will take about 2 minutes to spawn after another NPC has spawned or dawn passes.
  • Unlike chests and structures generated on world creation, bound NPCs spawn around the player's position on-the-fly, similar to enemy spawns. They are temporary, and can respawn again elsewhere if missed (see NPC spawning).
  • Bound NPCs found underground can be freed by talking to them, after which they will always respawn whenever a vacant house is available. Having an empty room ready for them beforehand will cause them to move in as soon as they are off-screen, making them conveniently accessible within the NPC Town.
  • Bound NPCs can be found by listening to their "hurt" sounds, especially the Mechanic, as the Dungeon is teeming with enemies.
  • NPCs who have an inventory requirement to spawn -- Merchant, Demolitionist, Arms Dealer, Dye Trader -- still need to have the respective requirement fulfilled again in order to respawn if they die. However, since their requirements are common, they often return quickly because a player already has the necessary item in his or her inventory.
  • NPCs will not spawn during an active Event or at night.
  • Each town NPC needs its own house, however, there are some designs that can make the NPCs "appear" to share one house. See Infinite house.
  • A Housing area can be created where all the NPCs can have their biome specific trades by having 300 Pink Ice Block, 100 mushroom grass, and 80 Lihzahrd brick in one screen where the house is located.
  • Male NPCs will teleport to a King Statue when activated, and similarly female NPCs will teleport to a Queen Statue when activated, except The Party Girl in the Mobile and Console versions, she will teleport to the King Statue.
  • NPCs will teleport home during the night if the NPC and their home are off-screen. This can be useful for relocating them across the map without needing to escort them or to get them across terrain that would otherwise kill them (such as a lava moat).
  • During a Blood Moon, most female NPCs use more irritable or aggressive dialogue than normal.
  • The Flare Gun and Flares do not make the Arms Dealer spawn.
  • Template:Pc icon NPCs will drown if submerged in water for too long. This is an easy way to get NPC drops before obtaining lava or Rotten Eggs.
  • Template:Mobile icon As the mobile version currently has no housing interface, it is not possible to assign NPCs to certain houses, therefore making it difficult to control which house each of them lives in.

Achievement(s)

Achievement No Hobo
No Hobo • “”
Successfully get an NPC to move into your first House. Template:Pc icon
Achievement Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Agent • “”
All town NPCs are living in your world. Template:Pc icon
File:Achievement All In The Family.png
All In The Family • “”
All town NPCs are living in your world. Template:Console icon Template:Mobile icon

History

  • 1.3.0.1:
    • 2 new NPCs added: Skeleton Merchant and Tax Collector.
    • Improved the sprite of some NPCs.
    • NPCs now can sit in chairs and avoid being near chests.
    • NPCs now avoid monsters and fight back if necessary.
    • Having all possible NPCs living in your world now unlocks the Real Estate Agent achievement.
    • NPCs now talk to each other.
    • Changed the spawn order for Town NPCs so that the more important ones spawn first.
    • NPCs can now drown in water.
  • 1.2.4: Added the Angler NPC. Fixed bugs with the sign / NPC chat display again. Fixed exploit where you could buy and sell stackable items for profit.
  • 1.2.3.1: Fixed problems with rescued NPCs not having any names.
  • 1.2.3:
    • 2 new NPCs added: Stylist and Traveling Merchant.
    • Names are now decided on spawn rather than World Creation.
    • Fixed a bug where numerous NPCs could spawn if you beat a hardmode boss in a non-hardmode world.
    • Invasions can now spawn enemies anywhere near friendly NPCs instead of just the middle of the world.
    • Enemy attacks no longer trigger Spectre set healing from hitting friendly NPCs.
  • 1.2.1.2: Added some checks to ensure multiple NPCs of the same type don’t spawn.
  • 1.2.1: Several friendly NPCs will sell costumes.
  • 1.2.0.3:
    • NPCs that require Plantera to be defeated to sell things now do so correctly in multiplayer.
    • King and Queen Statues will correctly summon the new NPCs.
  • 1.1:
    • 3 new NPCs added: Goblin Tinkerer, Mechanic and Wizard.
    • NPCs now have random names given to them on World Creation. Their deaths will be reported with these names. Also other NPCs will use them in their quotes. Upon respawning after Death will be given a new random name.
    • NPCs now may be told where to live using the new Housing Menu feature.
    • Two NPCs of the same type can no longer spawn, even in a multiplayer world. (Previously that was two additional merchants and second nurse. They had multiplayer conditions.)
  • 1.0.6.1: NPCs now look at the character.
  • 1.0.6:
    • Shops now sell items back to you. Shift-clicking items will automatically sell them.
    • New sound for initiating a conversation to an NPC.
  • 1.0.4: Added an option that will pause the game while talking to an NPC in single player. It defaults to off.

Template:Translation project

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