Terraria Summoner Guide: Mastering Minions for Every Stage of the Game

The Summoner class in Terraria offers a unique and engaging playstyle, focused on commanding minions to fight by your side. From humble beginnings to powerful armies, this guide will walk you through the best summoner minions available at each stage of your Terraria adventure. We’ll delve into their strengths, weaknesses, and how to effectively utilize them to conquer even the toughest challenges.

Early Game Minions: Starting Your Summoner Journey

In the early stages of Terraria, survival is key. As a Summoner, your initial minions will be your primary defense and offense. Here’s a look at your starting options:

Finch Staff:

The Finch is often the first minion a Summoner will encounter. Obtained relatively easily in Journey Mode, or through random world generation, the Finch is a decent starting companion.

Pros: Easy to acquire, provides early game defense.
Cons: AI can be erratic, tends to circle enemies instead of directly attacking, low damage output in later stages.
Verdict: A helpful minion for the very beginning of the game, offering some protection while you gather resources and prepare for stronger summons.

Slime Staff:

The Slime minion is a rare drop from Slimes (1/2000 chance!), making it a highly luck-dependent early game summon. Your best bet to obtain it early is during a Slime Rain event or from King Slime.

Pros: Solid early game damage, excellent for late-game AFK farming with the Greedy Ring due to its low damage hits that maximize gold drops.
Cons: Extremely rare drop, unreliable to obtain early on.
Verdict: While powerful for AFK farming later, the Slime Staff is not a practical early game target due to its rarity. Consider it a bonus if you happen to find one.

Flinx Staff:

The Flinx minion, summoned by the Flinx Staff crafted from Flinx Fur found in Ice biomes, is arguably the best early game summoner option. Pair it with the Flinx Fur Coat for added defense.

Pros: Excellent early game damage and protection, surprisingly effective against flying enemies, readily obtainable in Ice Biomes.
Cons: Can get stuck on walls and doors, like many early staves.
Verdict: Prioritize obtaining the Flinx Staff early in your Summoner playthrough. It provides a significant boost in survivability and damage.

Pre-Hardmode Progression: Expanding Your Minion Army

As you progress through pre-hardmode, you’ll gain access to more specialized and powerful minions:

Hornet Staff:

The Hornet Staff, crafted from materials dropped by Hornets in the Jungle biome, summons flying Hornet minions.

Pros: Flying minion avoids ground-based obstacles, inflicts the Poisoned debuff with stinger projectiles, good for aerial combat.
Cons: Moderate damage output compared to other options at this stage.
Verdict: A solid choice, especially valuable for its poison debuff and ability to target flying enemies effectively. Consider using at least one Hornet minion for the added poison damage.

Fire Imp Staff:

Crafted from Hellstone Bars, the Fire Imp Staff summons Fire Imp minions that hurl fireballs.

Pros: Flying minion, inflicts the On Fire! debuff, projectiles are faster than Hornets, consistent damage.
Cons: Ineffective against water enemies, potentially reduced damage against enemies immune to On Fire! debuff (needs further confirmation). May glitch when attacking off-screen enemies, though this can sometimes result in extremely high damage output.
Verdict: Similar to the Hornet Staff but with fire damage instead of poison. The Fire Imp can be very powerful, especially if the glitch occurs, but the unreliability and weakness against water are drawbacks.

Vampire Frog Staff:

Obtained from Fishing in Blood Moon events, the Vampire Frog Staff summons surprisingly powerful Vampire Frog minions.

Pros: High damage output, attacks with tongue and contact damage, can jump high to reach enemies, effective against ground and some flying enemies.
Cons: Ground-based, struggles against flyers if you are also airborne, can be time-consuming to grind for.
Verdict: Despite the grind, the Vampire Frog is a worthwhile minion to acquire in pre-hardmode. Its damage output is exceptional for this stage of the game.

Hardmode Minions: Entering the Next Tier of Power

Hardmode introduces a new level of challenges and, thankfully, significantly stronger minions to combat them:

Spider Staff:

Crafted from Spider Fangs dropped by Wall Creepers and Black Recluses in Spider Caves, the Spider Staff summons Spider minions.

Pros: Easily obtainable early hardmode, inflicts Venom debuff, clings to enemies for consistent damage, stronger than most pre-hardmode options.
Cons: Heavily reliant on background walls for movement, can cause excessive invincibility frames if too many are summoned, hindering other damage sources.
Verdict: A strong early hardmode minion, especially effective in enclosed spaces with walls. Be mindful of over-summoning due to invincibility frame issues.

Blade Staff:

Dropped by Enchanted Swords and rarely fromным enemies, the Blade Staff summons intelligent Blade minions.

Pros: Very smart AI, hovers above the player, ignores 25 enemy armor, fast attack speed, good synergy with whips that apply summon tags, no invincibility frames, can attack through walls.
Cons: Lower base damage, less effective against high-health or heavily armored enemies when not paired with whips.
Verdict: The Blade Staff is a fantastic hardmode option due to its intelligent AI and armor penetration. It excels when paired with whips like the Durendal or Snapthorn, maximizing damage output.

Pirate Staff:

Obtained from the Pirate Invasion event, the Pirate Staff summons Pirate minions with parrots.

Pros: Extremely high damage output, no invincibility frames, excellent for AFK farming, Blood Moons, and Old One’s Army events.
Cons: AI can be buggy, gets stuck on walls, may wander off, “poops” everywhere (purely visual).
Verdict: Despite their quirks, Pirate minions are incredibly powerful and fun to use, especially in events and for farming. Their high damage compensates for their occasionally erratic behavior.

Sanguine Staff:

Dropped by Dreadnautilus during Blood Moons in Hardmode, the Sanguine Staff summons Sanguine Bat minions.

Pros: Very intelligent AI, extremely accurate attacks, fast attack speed, attacks through walls, high knockback, consistent damage.
Cons: Not as visually impactful damage numbers as some other summons.
Verdict: The Sanguine Staff is a top-tier hardmode summon. Its consistency, accuracy, and ability to attack through walls make it incredibly reliable in almost any situation, even against bosses like Duke Fishron early in hardmode.

Optic Staff:

Crafted from materials dropped by The Twins, the Optic Staff summons Mini Twins (Retinazer and Spazmatism).

Pros: Flying minions, effective against segmented bosses like The Destroyer, consistent damage in general play.
Cons: Damage output is somewhat overrated compared to newer options, can miss smaller or faster enemies.
Verdict: While once considered top-tier, the Optic Staff is now slightly outclassed by newer summons. Still a decent and reliable option, especially against segmented bosses.

Tempest Staff:

Dropped by Duke Fishron, the Tempest Staff summons Sharknado minions and Sharkron projectiles.

Pros: High damage potential, Sharknados are faster and more aggressive after recent buffs, Sharkrons travel faster, effective against large bosses like Plantera when combined with whips.
Cons: Can be challenging to obtain due to Duke Fishron being a tough boss.
Verdict: The Tempest Staff has become a very strong summoner weapon after buffs. It can effectively replace the Sanguine Staff and is excellent for boss fights like Plantera.

Pygmy Staff:

Dropped by Plantera, the Pygmy Staff summons Pygmy minions that throw spears.

Pros: Inflicts Venom debuff, decent damage after buffs, viable option post-Plantera.
Cons: Less popular compared to other options at this stage, less impactful if already using Venom Flasks with whips.
Verdict: The Pygmy Staff is a decent option after Plantera, especially for the Venom debuff. However, personal preference often leads players to other summons at this point.

Desert Tiger Staff:

Obtained from Desert Chests in the Hardmode Dungeon, requiring a Desert Key, the Desert Tiger Staff summons a single, powerful Desert Tiger minion.

Pros: Very intelligent AI, ignores walls, high single-target damage, excellent synergy with the Firecracker whip.
Cons: Only summons one minion, making it less effective against swarms of enemies.
Verdict: The Desert Tiger is a fantastic single-target damage dealer and a must-have if you obtain a Desert Key. It makes the Firecracker whip relevant for a long time in Hardmode.

Late Game and Endgame Minions: Unleashing Ultimate Summoning Power

As you approach the endgame, your minion options become incredibly potent, capable of decimating even the toughest enemies:

Raven Staff:

Dropped by Pumpking during the Pumpkin Moon event, the Raven Staff summons Raven minions.

Pros: Good damage output, no invincibility frames, synergizes well with the Dark Harvest whip.
Cons: AI can be inconsistent, sometimes flies in circles, reducing damage.
Verdict: Ravens are a strong option, especially when paired with the Dark Harvest whip. However, their AI inconsistency can be a drawback.

Deadly Sphere Staff:

Obtained from the Martian Madness event, the Deadly Sphere Staff summons Deadly Sphere minions.

Pros: Cool visual design, potentially high damage.
Cons: AI is unreliable, dashes through enemies and often takes a long time to re-engage, not worth the effort to obtain. In need of a buff.
Verdict: Despite its name and appearance, the Deadly Sphere Staff is underwhelming and not recommended.

Xeno Staff:

Also from the Martian Madness event, the Xeno Staff summons UFO minions.

Pros: Very strong summon, near-instant attacks are difficult to dodge, excellent post-Golem option, effective against most enemies.
Cons: Outclassed by Stardust summons in the absolute endgame.
Verdict: The Xeno Staff is a top-tier summoner weapon in late hardmode. Its consistent and powerful attacks make it a go-to choice after defeating Golem.

Terraprisma:

Summoned by defeating the Empress of Light during the day, the Terraprisma is one of the most challenging summons to acquire.

Pros: Extremely powerful, swords surround and protect the player, attacks nearest enemy through walls, best defensive summon.
Cons: Ignores whip targets, incredibly difficult to obtain legitimately (requires daytime Empress of Light fight).
Verdict: The Terraprisma is arguably the strongest defensive summon in the game. Its difficulty in obtaining means it’s often acquired after it’s strictly necessary, but it’s a testament to summoner mastery.

Stardust Cell Staff:

Crafted using Stardust Fragments, the Stardust Cell Staff summons Stardust Cell minions.

Pros: Top-tier summon, teleports to targets, instant attacks, inflicts Stardust debuff for additional damage over time, excellent for mobile fights and Pillar events.
Cons: None significant.
Verdict: The Stardust Cell Staff is one of the best summoner weapons in the game, particularly for mobile combat and events like Pillar invasions.

Stardust Dragon Staff:

Also crafted from Stardust Fragments, the Stardust Dragon Staff summons the iconic Stardust Dragon.

Pros: Top-tier summon, very high damage output, attacks whip targets or furthest enemy, attacks through walls, damage scales with number of minions, devastating with the Firecracker whip, exceptional against stationary bosses like Moon Lord.
Cons: Can be less effective in tight spaces due to its length.
Verdict: The Stardust Dragon Staff is arguably the most powerful summoner weapon in Terraria. Its immense damage potential, especially when combined with the Firecracker whip, makes it the ultimate choice for endgame Summoners.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Minion Army

The Terraria Summoner class offers a diverse range of minions to suit every playstyle and situation. From the humble Finch to the mighty Stardust Dragon, each minion has its strengths and weaknesses. Experiment with different summons, adapt your strategy to the challenges you face, and master the art of commanding your minion army to conquer Terraria! Remember to consider whip synergy and armor sets to further enhance your summoner builds. Happy summoning!