Trouble with Terraria’s Expert Mode? Check Out These Tips
The Summer’s Terraria 1.3 patch made momentous changes to how the game is played. From adding nearly 800 new items and implementing a more challenging Expert Mode to revamping the townies’ AIs, Terraria feels more complete than ever.
Since I decided to jump straight into Expert Mode, I thought I could share some insight on better ways to progress in the game. The new mode makes several modifications to the world: It doubles enemy HP and damage, and ups their resistance to knockback. There’s also improved AI for certain enemies and bosses, and some nasty new debuffs, especially from Cave Bats. However, extra rewards await after beating every boss.
Having almost completed the arduous journey in Expert Mode, I noted a few ways to make each playthrough smoother. Combat is always challenging no matter what, and death is going to happen frequently; but there are a number of ways to prepare which will facilitate progression. This guide is for players who know the gameplay basics, and have a general idea of what to do. The intention is to point out a few progression tips that may have been overlooked.
1. At the start, I recommended doing a simple run across the world and looking into all the chests. Usually, a lot of them are close to the surface, but if you feel confident, take a dive into the ocean to check for Water Chests. Anything found in the chests, even a Boomerang, can be very helpful for the early game. Otherwise, you’re easy prey for Slimes.
2. Get going on gathering plants as early as possible and starting up an alchemy lab. With the new Alchemy Table, there’s a chance you won’t consume some ingredients. Having Ironskin and Regeneration potions active makes an enormous difference when going to areas brimming with monsters.
3. In Expert Mode, player regeneration is normally reduced, but it kicks back to standard form if any food is consumed. Pumpkins are still the most convenient way to craft food buffs, but if you didn’t get the Dryad for the Pumpkin seeds yet, the Traveling Merchant occasionally sells food. Commonly caught fish can be easily cooked as well.
4. Go fishing as often as possible. Many fish are used in important potion recipes, like Endurance potions that reduce all damage and Rage potions that increase critical strike chance. Going through Fishing quests also yields rewards that will make the activity a lot easier. (Bonus tip: Carry the fishing accessories in the social slot to make switching to them easier.)
5. Fishing is helpful not only with alchemy, but it can also make an enormous difference when transitioning to Hard Mode. There’s a low chance to get a Reaver Shark pickaxe from the ocean, which can mine the first tier of Hard Mode ores. Additionally, you can opt to save any crates you find while fishing and open them during Hard Mode. Then, the crates have a chance to contain Hard Mode bars and ores, allowing you to craft the better gear even before mining for it. It’s also a lot easier to complete fishing quests before Hard Mode starts, so get as many of them done as early as possible.
6. Expert Mode bosses drop unique gear, and two early ones that stand out are Shield of Cthulhu (from the Eye of Cthulhu) and Worm Scarf (from the Eater of Worlds). The Shield has a very useful command dash, executed by double tapping a direction. It can be used to instantly change your direction, even in the air, and gives maximum momentum, which works great with Lightning Boots. As for the Scarf, if your world happens to have the Crimson instead of the Corruption, it’s worth it to spawn another world just to get it.
7. In Hard Mode, it’s really worth it to spawn a Goblin Invasion at least once. There’s a new enemy, Goblin Summoner, who drops a powerful spell and two Shadowflame items, Knife and Bow. They’ll make fighting mobs a lot easier, also granting good options to face the mechanical bosses for the first time.
8. Another way to get some good starting equipment in Hard Mode is by farming Mimics. Other than looking for their natural spawn, which is tough even with the Lifeforce Analyzer from the Traveling Merchant, it’s possible to create Hallowed, Crimson, or Corrupt Mimics. Create a Key of Night or a Key of Light from 15 souls and put the key in an empty chest.
9. If you’re having trouble with some Hard Mode bosses, it might be worth trying the Ranger setup. The Daedalus Stormbow from Hallowed Mimics is highly effective, even more so when coupled with stronger arrows. It can easily decimate the Destroyer.
10. The new Lunar invasions are very tough at first. It’s easier to approach each pillar by cautiously fighting at the edges of their influence areas. If your health drops, back off and regenerate. Then, once you defeat 150 enemies, quickly approach the pillar and kill it (minecart recommended). The spell dropped by Angry Nimbuses is extremely effective. Once you defeat all of them the first time, craft a Stardust Dragon Staff from the Stardust material and use it, regardless of whether you play as a Summoner or another class.
Hopefully, even Terraria veterans learned something new from these tips. The sandbox game still involves a lot of luck in monster drops and chest contents, so everyone’s experience varies. For a last, general tip for Expert Mode, stack up on defense as high as possible and leave cash in boxes, because a higher percentage of gold is dropped upon dying than in Normal Mode.
What are your Expert Mode tips? Be sure to share them with us and everyone else in the comments!
