There are a lot of tips out there on Master mode but it's hard to know which specific combinations worked.
I've never beaten it (Moon Lord was too hard for me) and I'm doing a new run, and I thought it might be useful for people to record how they defeated each boss to help people further down the line. This isn't about the best way, just whatever worked. I'd definitely be interested in seeing your ideas for the hardmode bosses!
Here's mine for this run (I'll edit in more as I get further):
King Slime:
I made a general flat arena (preparing for Old One's Army) and put four rows spaced 5 blocks apart, about 15 blocks off the ground and a hundred or two blocks long. When King Slime spawned, he just stayed on the ground and I shot him with a ruby staff, switching to a tin bow when I was out of ammo. Armor was just random ore stuff I had.
Eye of Cthulhu:
Same arena. I used the Ruby Staff for the first half and Bone Javelins for the second, since the DPS still hurt him while he was raging. I had full Ninja Armor from summoning King Slime a few times.
Brain of Cthulhu:
This was hard. I died 4 or 5 times, so I had enough time to not only craft Crimson Armor but also craft tons of Butcher Blades until I got one with a good prefix. I also found a Bast statue, a heart lantern, and a gnome, and got a shelf from the dungeon to make stoneskin and regeneration. The Goblin Army spawned while I did this so I tinkered a few accessories. I ended up using the Butcher's Blade against the creepers and the Bone Javelin against the second stage. I would love to hear better strategies. Fought in a crimson underground with rows of platforms.
Queen Bee:
Took three tries. Easiest was Space Gun with Space Armor, standing in a Lightning Aura Sentry from Old One's army to kill bees and jumping up and down on platforms.
Skeletron:
Surprisingly easy. I used a featherfall potion and walked over to a snow biome and just jumped in circles around him (Lightning Boots and Wings), shooting with the space gun, sometimes switching to Bee Gun to kill stray zombies (also had hornet staff and Ballista sentry). Took almost the whole night but didn't need to use more than 1-2 health potions, with no other buffs (except Exquisitely Stuffed).
Wall of Flesh:
I had just completed four playthroughs on Normal/Expert difficulty with each class, so I used the easiest strategy from their: a Mythical Demon Scythe on a long bridge with Magic Power potion, Mana Regeneration potion, Stoneskin and Regeneration. The wall died off screen, but it took about 2/5 of the length of a medium world.
This is where I'm at so far. The first mech boss is always the hardest for me in any playthrough, so I' d love to hear how you do it!
Edit:
Queen Slime:
I had a hard time with this, because I was trying mage, and even with Adamantite Armor one hit takes off like 1/3 of my life. I died maybe 5 or 6 times. Finally used gravitation potion during second half and even then I had to warp to bed near nurse to heal once. Used a Godly Crystal Serpent for first half then Mythical Spirit Flame with magic power potion, mana regeneration potion, well-fed, rage potion, sorceror emblem, celestial cuffs.
Skeletron Prime:
I found this much easier than Queen Slime, although I resorted to nurse cheesing twice. I used Golden Shower and Crystal Serpent at first, but the Spirit Flame worked better in the long run. Took two tries. Used Cobalt Shield to avoid getting juggled by the head. Ran back and forth on a couple of long platforms, going in diagonals when head spinned.
Twins:
Completely cheesed, first with teleporters, but those didn't work, so I'd start running away from Spazmatism then teleporting to base to let him catch up. Then I hid in a castle for Retinazer's second phase and spammed a Ballista.
Old One's Army tier 2:
I saved up for a tier 2 ballista, placed most of them clustered in the middle of each half. I used Unholy Trident against ground troops and Rainbow Rod against flyers. Scrounged up medals from first 6 rounds to get Apprentice's Trousers which helped me win. Used Optic Staff.
The Destroyer:
This one was super easy. I just used the right-click of the Tome of Infinite Wisdom, with mana regeneration potion. Over quick.
Plantera:
Used the digging molecart to dig out an arena. Ended up circling Plantera using Venom staff, then backing down a tunnel for the second stage using Venom staff and Rainbow Rod. Wore Hallowed Headgear with Apprentice Robe and Trousers.
Golem:
Used hoverboard to fly back and forth above his head. Used Spectre Mask to attack then Spectre hood to heal. Used rainbow gun, frost hydra and desert tiger staff to do damage while I used toxic flask until hands were gone, then spectre staff. Died first time because I didn't use mana regeneration, then came back with potions and killed him 4 times before the potions ran out.
Duke Fishron:
Took two tries. Used Spectre Mask/Hood for fighting and healing, used Spectre Staff, Raven Staff, and Witch's Broom. Used Rod of Discord, mostly for practice because it dropped this playthrough and I plan on using it against the Moonlord.
Betsy:
This one was really rough. I used the Toy Tank from the Frost Moon with a Necromantic Scroll and a Papyrus Scarab (with Xeno Staff). I saved up ahead of time for a Ballista Staff, and slowly started saving up for full Dark Artist Armor (I accidentally wasted my defender medals, so I took some at this point from another world).
I used Frost Hydra staff and Charged Blaster Cannon, but against Betsy herself I danced around in the Toy Tank and used Razorpine. I nurse-healed once. Dark Artist armor was much, much much better than Spectre Armor w/mask in this fight.
Empress of Light:
At this point I've completely given in to using Nurse Cheese (twice in this case). I used the Blizzard Staff with the Xeno Staff, Dark Artist armor, necromantic scroll + papyrus scarab.
Lunatic Cultist:
Used Nightglow with Dark Artist pants and robe, Hallowed headgear.
Moon Lord:
So hard! And this is what I've been working towards. Used Brain of Confusion and Worm Scarf with Necromantic Scroll and Papyrus Scarab, Hallowed Headgear with Dark Artist Set, Lifeforce potion, Endurance potion, Stoneskin, Regeneration, Mana Regeneration, Magic Power, Exquisitely Stuffed, Wrath Potion, Rage potion, Stardust Dragon, Super Healing potions, swapping out philosopher's stone with autopause between drinks, even teleporting twice to nurse, won on 5th try with less than 50 health. Used Rod of Discord to dodge Phantasmal Ray.
I've never beaten it (Moon Lord was too hard for me) and I'm doing a new run, and I thought it might be useful for people to record how they defeated each boss to help people further down the line. This isn't about the best way, just whatever worked. I'd definitely be interested in seeing your ideas for the hardmode bosses!
Here's mine for this run (I'll edit in more as I get further):
King Slime:
I made a general flat arena (preparing for Old One's Army) and put four rows spaced 5 blocks apart, about 15 blocks off the ground and a hundred or two blocks long. When King Slime spawned, he just stayed on the ground and I shot him with a ruby staff, switching to a tin bow when I was out of ammo. Armor was just random ore stuff I had.
Eye of Cthulhu:
Same arena. I used the Ruby Staff for the first half and Bone Javelins for the second, since the DPS still hurt him while he was raging. I had full Ninja Armor from summoning King Slime a few times.
Brain of Cthulhu:
This was hard. I died 4 or 5 times, so I had enough time to not only craft Crimson Armor but also craft tons of Butcher Blades until I got one with a good prefix. I also found a Bast statue, a heart lantern, and a gnome, and got a shelf from the dungeon to make stoneskin and regeneration. The Goblin Army spawned while I did this so I tinkered a few accessories. I ended up using the Butcher's Blade against the creepers and the Bone Javelin against the second stage. I would love to hear better strategies. Fought in a crimson underground with rows of platforms.
Queen Bee:
Took three tries. Easiest was Space Gun with Space Armor, standing in a Lightning Aura Sentry from Old One's army to kill bees and jumping up and down on platforms.
Skeletron:
Surprisingly easy. I used a featherfall potion and walked over to a snow biome and just jumped in circles around him (Lightning Boots and Wings), shooting with the space gun, sometimes switching to Bee Gun to kill stray zombies (also had hornet staff and Ballista sentry). Took almost the whole night but didn't need to use more than 1-2 health potions, with no other buffs (except Exquisitely Stuffed).
Wall of Flesh:
I had just completed four playthroughs on Normal/Expert difficulty with each class, so I used the easiest strategy from their: a Mythical Demon Scythe on a long bridge with Magic Power potion, Mana Regeneration potion, Stoneskin and Regeneration. The wall died off screen, but it took about 2/5 of the length of a medium world.
This is where I'm at so far. The first mech boss is always the hardest for me in any playthrough, so I' d love to hear how you do it!
Edit:
Queen Slime:
I had a hard time with this, because I was trying mage, and even with Adamantite Armor one hit takes off like 1/3 of my life. I died maybe 5 or 6 times. Finally used gravitation potion during second half and even then I had to warp to bed near nurse to heal once. Used a Godly Crystal Serpent for first half then Mythical Spirit Flame with magic power potion, mana regeneration potion, well-fed, rage potion, sorceror emblem, celestial cuffs.
Skeletron Prime:
I found this much easier than Queen Slime, although I resorted to nurse cheesing twice. I used Golden Shower and Crystal Serpent at first, but the Spirit Flame worked better in the long run. Took two tries. Used Cobalt Shield to avoid getting juggled by the head. Ran back and forth on a couple of long platforms, going in diagonals when head spinned.
Twins:
Completely cheesed, first with teleporters, but those didn't work, so I'd start running away from Spazmatism then teleporting to base to let him catch up. Then I hid in a castle for Retinazer's second phase and spammed a Ballista.
Old One's Army tier 2:
I saved up for a tier 2 ballista, placed most of them clustered in the middle of each half. I used Unholy Trident against ground troops and Rainbow Rod against flyers. Scrounged up medals from first 6 rounds to get Apprentice's Trousers which helped me win. Used Optic Staff.
The Destroyer:
This one was super easy. I just used the right-click of the Tome of Infinite Wisdom, with mana regeneration potion. Over quick.
Plantera:
Used the digging molecart to dig out an arena. Ended up circling Plantera using Venom staff, then backing down a tunnel for the second stage using Venom staff and Rainbow Rod. Wore Hallowed Headgear with Apprentice Robe and Trousers.
Golem:
Used hoverboard to fly back and forth above his head. Used Spectre Mask to attack then Spectre hood to heal. Used rainbow gun, frost hydra and desert tiger staff to do damage while I used toxic flask until hands were gone, then spectre staff. Died first time because I didn't use mana regeneration, then came back with potions and killed him 4 times before the potions ran out.
Duke Fishron:
Took two tries. Used Spectre Mask/Hood for fighting and healing, used Spectre Staff, Raven Staff, and Witch's Broom. Used Rod of Discord, mostly for practice because it dropped this playthrough and I plan on using it against the Moonlord.
Betsy:
This one was really rough. I used the Toy Tank from the Frost Moon with a Necromantic Scroll and a Papyrus Scarab (with Xeno Staff). I saved up ahead of time for a Ballista Staff, and slowly started saving up for full Dark Artist Armor (I accidentally wasted my defender medals, so I took some at this point from another world).
I used Frost Hydra staff and Charged Blaster Cannon, but against Betsy herself I danced around in the Toy Tank and used Razorpine. I nurse-healed once. Dark Artist armor was much, much much better than Spectre Armor w/mask in this fight.
Empress of Light:
At this point I've completely given in to using Nurse Cheese (twice in this case). I used the Blizzard Staff with the Xeno Staff, Dark Artist armor, necromantic scroll + papyrus scarab.
Lunatic Cultist:
Used Nightglow with Dark Artist pants and robe, Hallowed headgear.
Moon Lord:
So hard! And this is what I've been working towards. Used Brain of Confusion and Worm Scarf with Necromantic Scroll and Papyrus Scarab, Hallowed Headgear with Dark Artist Set, Lifeforce potion, Endurance potion, Stoneskin, Regeneration, Mana Regeneration, Magic Power, Exquisitely Stuffed, Wrath Potion, Rage potion, Stardust Dragon, Super Healing potions, swapping out philosopher's stone with autopause between drinks, even teleporting twice to nurse, won on 5th try with less than 50 health. Used Rod of Discord to dodge Phantasmal Ray.
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