Classes and Bosses

[Hie the Badger]

I don't like playing specific classes. I don't like this arbitrary class system thing everyone seems to be growing on right now. When I play terraria I will experiment with the stuff I find and if they are worth using I will use them until they are pointless. I always have a melee and magic weapon (I recently dumped ranged weapons entirely) and I will switch around mid fight when I need to. So I have inventory space problems when class based armors start bouncing around.

 

[king40606]

I've tried all of them, but melee has always been my favorite. It feels so satisfying to get in close and deal tons of damage and take little to no damage from the stuff you are killing so quickly. Though I must admit, I love summoner, especially when I'm building or need enemies to go away. My summons take care of everything for me, and I don't have to get my hands dirty while I focus on something else. I use minions on my other classes too, just for that little extra damage the summons can do.

I do like Mage, especially because the nebula armor is a support armor now. You can give your whole team buffs, as well as yourself just by doing damage. It promotes team play, and helps even more in solo. Ranger I've never been too fond of unfortunately. Always seemed like the odd one out. I mean, I was expecting something other than stealth on the end game ranged armor set, but nope. Stealth isn't good for everything, especially when you have to dodge attacks from bosses or other monsters. Though I do admit, ranged is satisfying to see all those damage numbers from guns and rockets. It makes you feel like you are doing a lot to hurt the enemy. Though farming for ammo is a pain.

All in all, the classes have their benefits. I may not be fond of some over others, but they are all different in their own right. They change the progression for a character throughout the game, and I like that.

 

[DaveTheGreat]

I have played all of them, but ranger holds a special place in my heart.

 

[Chry]

Oh boy, another class thread? Time to spread the good news about summoners!



Well, first of all, what are you doing using "just minions"?

If you aren't using other weapons alongside your minions, then you've missed the point of the summoner class. Minions leave your hands free, so you can and should use other items. If you don't, then you're just crippling yourself arbitrarily. It's like if a mage decided they were only going to use accessories that affected magic damage and mana usage, meaning they couldn't use items like Celestial Shell, Destroyer Emblem, or even wings because they aren't strictly "magic". It's an arbitrary, unnecessary limitation and not the way the class was intended to be played. You're supposed to use everything available to you, so short of a self-imposed challenge run, you should.

(Incidentally, this also can go the other way, meaning that if you aren't using summons with your melee, ranger, and mage characters, then you're doing them wrong, too. Always use every legitimate advantage you can get.)

Now once you've gotten over your silly misconceptions about the summoner class, you'll find that they can actually be extremely powerful if you play them right, especially at endgame. In fact, as someone who has played every class including summoner extensively and enjoys tinkering with them to try to bring out their full potential, while most people will tell you mages have the highest single-target DPS in Terraria, I'm here to tell you that's not true. It's summoners. With a 10-segment Stardust Dragon and an SDMG loaded with Chlorophyte Bullets, my summoner can reach a combined total of around 10k max DPS (2-3k from SDMG, 6-7k from Stardust Dragon). Meanwhile, my mage's Last Prism struggles to reach 7-8k, and when inflicted with mana sickness it drops even lower.

Of course, that's only at endgame, and it's true that Stardust Dragon has a huge DPS leap over the rest of the summons. Not to mention mages still beat summoners in multi-target DPS, since Last Prism's beam can be way longer than a Stardust Dragon and summoners can't use piercing weapons alongside the Dragon. But summoners are by no means weak, even before you get the Stardust Dragon. Not only that, but even if their effectiveness at boss fights is debatable, they're undeniably far and away the best class for exploring, building, mining, farming, etc., basically every other part of the game.

That isn't to say they're perfect, obviously, since they have that low defense, but the low defense is there for a reason. If they didn't have it, then they would completely overshadow the other classes. Summoner has been my favorite class ever since it was added, and it's only continued to find ways to make me fall in love with it.

FINALLY! Someone said it lol.

I find the whole "Summoners have to stand there and re-summon constantly" style to be a bit silly. YoYo summoner is my fav, because I like both YoYo's and Minions, but trying to find that right weapon that can work best with Summoner Armor/Accessories is something I'm still searching for lol. Farming for that slime staff early game is so satisfying lol.

 

[MrToni250]

FINALLY! Someone said it lol.

I find the whole "Summoners have to stand there and re-summon constantly" style to be a bit silly. YoYo summoner is my fav, because I like both YoYo's and Minions, but trying to find that right weapon that can work best with Summoner Armor/Accessories is something I'm still searching for lol. Farming for that slime staff early game is so satisfying lol.

Yeah i selected YoYo and magic gun summoner for my other character, because it's gonna be so glorious.

 

[CellarDoor96]

FINALLY! Someone said it lol.

I find the whole "Summoners have to stand there and re-summon constantly" style to be a bit silly. YoYo summoner is my fav, because I like both YoYo's and Minions, but trying to find that right weapon that can work best with Summoner Armor/Accessories is something I'm still searching for lol. Farming for that slime staff early game is so satisfying lol.

I've found the SDMG that I mentioned in my post to be the best summoner weapon, just because it's the highest-DPS non-piercing weapon in the entire game. Non-piercing weapons are important for summoners, since piercing weapons will just go through enemies if the Stardust Dragon is also attacking them. This makes guns the best thing for them to use. Yoyos also work well but are generally outclassed by guns, especially once you gain access to the Endless Musket Pouch so that ammo is no longer even a factor.

 

[Chry]

I've found the SDMG that I mentioned in my post to be the best summoner weapon, just because it's the highest-DPS non-piercing weapon in the entire game. Non-piercing weapons are important for summoners, since piercing weapons will just go through enemies if the Stardust Dragon is also attacking them. This makes guns the best thing for them to use. Yoyos also work well but are generally outclassed by guns, especially once you gain access to the Endless Musket Pouch so that ammo is no longer even a factor.

I haven't tried guns as much, so I will definitely give a summoner gunslinger a go. Certainly looks like a good companion to the minion's

 

[Can I Get Uhhh]

There are no actual classes that currently exist in Terraria, simply because the term, 'class' just commonly doesn't fit into any of Terraria's qualities. There are many definitions and interpretations for class, but primarily as I said, Terraria doesn't have any.

On Topic:
My favorite "class" is either the Mage or Summoner.

The reason why I adore the mage construct is that it's so versatile and distinct. There is countless forms of this wizardry, to a supreme ray of illusive light with an unreal amount of damage-per-second, a book that shoots out beams of water that can bounce around and smash your enemies to smithereens, to a staff that brings down a blizzard. It is insane how far you can get with magical weapons, it is easily progressive and has a boundless amount of options to choose from.

Summoner, the most hated/loved set up of the game.

Hated? It is the "class" with the fewest amount of beneficial items to its name. it is hard to progress with and strive throughout your gameplay.

Loved? At the end, you have the Stardust summoner base with the ultimate load-out for your summons and you will not be pushed around by little nubs anymore. You can stand absolutely still in the Jungle without being agitated.

 

[CellarDoor96]

There are no actual classes that currently exist in Terraria, simply because the term, 'class' just commonly doesn't fit into any of Terraria's qualities. There are many definitions and interpretations for class, but primarily as I said, Terraria doesn't have any.

Obviously there are classes, or else members of the fandom like you and the OP wouldn't be talking about them. Even if the classes in Terraria aren't implemented exactly the same way they're implemented in other games, the concept is still close enough that the fandom has adopted the word "class" to refer to it anyway.

Besides, the word itself just means "type" or "kind", so it's perfectly accurate to apply it to the "types" of damage in Terraria and the items that go along with them.

 

[TerraBlaze]

Because almost all of the easily obtain able weapons early in game were swords, I became affixed to the melee class very early on. It's been my die hard class ever since, tanking paladins and plantera. Plus later in game, alot of melee weapons are ranged and have homing abilities sometimes. The possesed hatchet, for example, does as much damage as a Terra Blade and can home in on enemies. I can use other classes, but alot of times I stop midgame cause magic/ranged weapons feel very awkward.

 

[Can I Get Uhhh]

Obviously there are classes, or else members of the fandom like you and the OP wouldn't be talking about them.

I replied to the way he'd EXPECTED, not the way to protest on it. Terraria doesn't have classes. Simply because it doesn't fit the actual definition, and if it was, thinking like that, Terraria is a logical game because it has a day/night cycle.

 

[CellarDoor96]

I replied to the way he'd EXPECTED, not the way to protest on it. Terraria doesn't have classes. Simply because it doesn't fit the actual definition, and if it was, thinking like that, Terraria is a logical game because it has a day/night cycle.

Terraria does have classes if the word is widely recognized among the playerbase to have a specific meaning, which it is. That's how language change works. Just because Terraria's classes are not exactly the same as other games' classes does not mean they cannot be called "classes", or that they cannot be compared with other games' classes. Anyone who says otherwise is a hipster who's just being contrarian for the sake of attention.

 

[ix]

Definitely summoner.

 

[BigTerraCheese]

Oh boy, another class thread? Time to spread the good news about summoners!



Well, first of all, what are you doing using "just minions"?

If you aren't using other weapons alongside your minions, then you've missed the point of the summoner class. Minions leave your hands free, so you can and should use other items. If you don't, then you're just crippling yourself arbitrarily. It's like if a mage decided they were only going to use accessories that affected magic damage and mana usage, meaning they couldn't use items like Celestial Shell, Destroyer Emblem, or even wings because they aren't strictly "magic". It's an arbitrary, unnecessary limitation and not the way the class was intended to be played. You're supposed to use everything available to you, so short of a self-imposed challenge run, you should.

(Incidentally, this also can go the other way, meaning that if you aren't using summons with your melee, ranger, and mage characters, then you're doing them wrong, too. Always use every legitimate advantage you can get.)

Now once you've gotten over your silly misconceptions about the summoner class, you'll find that they can actually be extremely powerful if you play them right, especially at endgame. In fact, as someone who has played every class including summoner extensively and enjoys tinkering with them to try to bring out their full potential, while most people will tell you mages have the highest single-target DPS in Terraria, I'm here to tell you that's not true. It's summoners. With a 10-segment Stardust Dragon and an SDMG loaded with Chlorophyte Bullets, my summoner can reach a combined total of around 10k max DPS (2-3k from SDMG, 6-7k from Stardust Dragon). Meanwhile, my mage's Last Prism struggles to reach 7-8k, and when inflicted with mana sickness it drops even lower.

Of course, that's only at endgame, and it's true that Stardust Dragon has a huge DPS leap over the rest of the summons. Not to mention mages still beat summoners in multi-target DPS, since Last Prism's beam can be way longer than a Stardust Dragon and summoners can't use piercing weapons alongside the Dragon. But summoners are by no means weak, even before you get the Stardust Dragon. Not only that, but even if their effectiveness at boss fights is debatable, they're undeniably far and away the best class for exploring, building, mining, farming, etc., basically every other part of the game.

That isn't to say they're perfect, obviously, since they have that low defense, but the low defense is there for a reason. If they didn't have it, then they would completely overshadow the other classes. Summoner has been my favorite class ever since it was added, and it's only continued to find ways to make me fall in love with it.

Wow, there's more to the summoner class than I thought. I suppose if you DO use minions then that just lets you concentrate more on dodging attacks and aim. Thanks for your response!

 

[CellarDoor96]

Wow, there's more to the summoner class than I thought. I suppose if you DO use minions then that just lets you concentrate more on dodging attacks and aim. Thanks for your response!

Yup! Summoners aren't just an AFK class, though they can do that too, but they're primarily supposed to be a "supplemental damage" class. Think of it like the way mages were played back in 1.2.1, when you would have the Magnet Sphere, Rainbow Gun, Nimbus Rod, and another weapon out all at the same time. Summoners are meant to be played the same way, only their lingering damage sources are always active so you don't have to switch weapons to keep reapplying them.

Also, another technique that you can use to improve your summoner game (mentioned earlier by @ManDaMisdemeanor) is to remember that minions' stats are determined when they are summoned, and they never change afterward until they're re-summoned. This means that you can switch in damage-boosting accessories and armor, summon your minions, and then switch to more defensive or mobile gear, and your minions will retain their boosted damage. This becomes especially useful at Tiki/Spooky armor tier, since Spooky armor gives much more minion damage than Tiki but has less defense and less total minion count, but if you equip Spooky first, summon, and then switch to Tiki, you get the benefits of both. It's for this reason that I keep some extra minion-boosting accessories in the vanity slots of my summoner character that I can switch in while summoning, and I also do the same for my other characters since I use summons with them too.

 

[Fatx_]

Hello Forums

So I've been thinking about the 4 main classes in Terrraria (namely melee, ranged, mage and summoner), which class do you prefer and choose?

Personally, I'm melee in pre-hardmode and when hardmode comes along I change to mage/ranged, but I always keep a sword in my inventory, and when I fight bosses I usually use ranged weapons. I feel like the magic and ranged weapons in pre-hardmode (apart from the sharanga) are pretty crap, and the magic weapons are not very powerful. I love yoyos lol

I find it very hard to defeat most bosses with melee and I don't even have a clue how one would play as a summoner, but hey, that may be just me...

Seriously though, anyone who is a summoner-class player, how does it work? I mean using the tiki armour and neckalce, plus the bewitchment table, how do you defeat bosses, invations, etc with just minions?

- BigTerraCheese

I really love playing ranged, but tank melee is my most powerful.

 

[neoselket]

i prefer melee as i don't have to worry about ammo/mana and i love the extra defense.

 

[KurashiDragon]

What has the range of Ranged, the dps of magic, and the defense of Melee..... why melee of course. It really is in a tier of it's own. It has the range of melee without the ammo you'd need, the Heal of spectre without the pain of switching armor sets, of course, the sky high defense. and the flask of ichor giving every melee weapon even better dps.

 

[CellarDoor96]

What has the range of Ranged, the dps of magic, and the defense of Melee..... why melee of course.

Lol.

 

[ix]

Summoner > Ranged > Yoyo > Mage > Meele > Throwing > Yo Mama. Nuff said, even though I already said it.