Summoner Build Guide
The summoner class lets your minions, sentries, and whips do the work while you focus on dodging. It's the most unique playstyle in Terraria and scales incredibly well in Hardmode.
Class Tip
Whips are essential for summoners. Hitting an enemy with a whip makes all your minions focus that target and deal extra damage. Without whips, your minions will attack whatever they feel like.
Pre-Hardmode Summoner
Best Weapons
- Finch Staff — found in Living Wood Chests. Weak but your first summon weapon
- Flinx Staff — crafted from Flinx Fur (found in Ice biome). Better than Finch, multiple minions
- Vampire Frog Staff — drops from Zombie Merman / Blood Squid (Blood Moon fishing). Fast minion, good DPS
- Imp Staff — crafted from Hellstone Bars. Best pre-HM summon, fireballs inflict damage over time
- Snapthorn (whip) — crafted from Jungle materials. Gives tag damage and attack speed buff
- Spinal Tap (whip) — crafted from Bones and cobwebs. Best pre-HM whip for multiple tags
Best Armor
- Bee Armor — 13 defense, 2 extra minions, 23% summon damage. Best pre-HM summoner armor by far
- Obsidian Armor — 14 defense, boosts whip speed and damage. Good hybrid whip build
Accessories
- Summoner Emblem (dropped from Wall of Flesh)
- Feral Claws (melee speed — also affects whip speed)
- Berserker Glove (whip speed + defense)
Hardmode Summoner
Best Weapons
- Spider Staff (early HM) — crafted from Spider Fangs in the Underground Jungle. 3 spider minions wall-crawl to enemies
- Sanguine Staff (early HM) — drops from Dreadnautilus (fishing during Blood Moon). Homing bats, excellent accuracy
- Blade Staff (early HM) — drops from Enchanted Swords. Low base damage but ignores defense — excellent with tag bonuses
- Xenopopper (whip, mid HM) — crafted with Cavern materials. Long range, high tag damage
- Raven Staff (post-Plantera) — classic summoner weapon. Ravens chase enemies onscreen
- Desert Tiger Staff — found in Desert Chest. Tiger builds momentum for huge damage
- Terraprisma (post-Plantera) — dropped by Empress of Light (daytime, no damage). Best summon weapon in the game. Sword minions chase and shred
- Stardust Dragon Staff (endgame) — the ultimate summon. Dragon grows longer with each reuse. Melds through everything
Best Armor
- Spider Armor (early HM) — 31 defense, 3 extra minions, 36% summon damage
- Tiki Armor (post-Plantera) — 35 defense, 4 extra minions, 30% summon damage
- Spooky Armor (post-Plantera) — 30 defense, 3 extra minions, 58% summon damage (higher damage than Tiki)
- Stardust Armor (endgame) — 38 defense, 5 extra minions, 66% summon damage, Stardust Guardian
Accessories
- Necromantic Scroll (extra minion + damage)
- Papyrus Scarab (extra minion + damage)
- Pygmy Necklace (extra minion slot)
- Summoner Emblem → Avenger Emblem → Destroyer Emblem
Summoner Progression Table
| Stage | Summon | Whip | Armor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Finch Staff | Snapthorn | Bee |
| Mid pre-HM | Imp Staff | Spinal Tap | Bee |
| Early HM | Sanguine Staff | Durendal | Spider |
| Mid HM | Raven Staff | Morning Star | Spooky |
| Endgame | Stardust Dragon | Kaleidoscope | Stardust |