[Top 10] Terraria Best Early Hardmode Weapons (And How To Get Them)

I got that reference! LOL!


Terraria is usually split into two main arcs. Pre-hardmode, which consists of everything before Wall of Flesh, and Hardmode, which consists of everything after Wall of Flesh up to Moon Lord. Upon beating the Wall of Flesh, you'll soon realize that your current weapons will not last you long in hardmode. We've created our top 10 Terraria best early-hardmode weapons and how to get them just for you! 

10. Crystal Serpent

Watch those sparks fly!

The Crystal Serpent is an excellent early-hardmode weapon. Once you defeat the Wall of Flesh, you can immediately get this weapon by fishing in the Hallowed biome in any layer. This weapon is versatile enough to carry you up to, and possibly past Golem.

What makes Crystal Serpent awesome:

  • Fires splash projectiles that deal good damage and can even shred Golem easily.
  • Very easy to obtain.

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 40 (Magic)
  • Knockback - 4.4 (Average)
  • Mana - 9
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 29 (Average)
  • Velocity - 13

How to get the Crystal Serpent:

Guide on how to get the Crystal Serpent

9. Firecracker

This whip is crackling with fire!

Summoners are often very limited with the firepower that they can provide. Beating the Wall of Flesh changes that with the addition of class emblems and the amazing Firecracker. This whip allows your attacks to cause the On Fire! debuff while also adding explosions to your minion attacks.

What makes the Firecracker awesome:

  • Increases summoner DPS by a huge margin.
  • Is part of the summoner's arsenal up until the late game.

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 40 (Magic)
  • Knockback - 2 (Very weak)
  • Use time - 30 (Average)
  • Velocity - 8
  • Your summons will focus on struck enemies
  • Strike enemies with blazing energy
  • Blazing energy explodes from enemies hit by summons

How to get the Firecracker:

Guide on how to get the Firecracker

8. Nimbus Rod

Let it rain! Literally!

The Nimbus Rod drops from Angry Nimbus enemies during rain in Hardmode. It shoots out a small cloud to your cursor which continuously rains down damaging raindrops on your enemies. This weapon is highly effective against segmented bosses like the Destroyer, or even Plantera, as the raindrops have infinite piercing capabilities.

What makes the Nimbus Rod awesome:

  • Infinite pierce makes it a viable weapon against large enemies.
  • You can lay down 2 at a time and switch over to other weapons such as the Crystal Serpent

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 36 (Magic)
  • Knockback - 0
  • Mana - 10
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 22 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 16

How to get the Nimbus Rod:

Guide on how to get the Nimbus Rod

7. Sanguine Staff

Hit them with bloody bats!

Another great summoner upgrade would be the Sanguine Staff. It is one of the more precise summoner weapons in the game, allowing you to battle even the fastest of foes. It might be difficult to kill the Dreadnautilus to get the drop, but it's worth it.

What makes the Sanguine Staff awesome:

  • Fast, homing minions allow for accurate crowd control
  • It can carry you until Golem
  • Minions go through walls

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 35 (Summon)
  • Knockback - 8 (Very strong)
  • Mana - 10
  • Use time - 36 (Very slow)
  • Velocity - 10

How to get the Sanguine Staff:

Guide on how to get the Sanguine Staff

6. Dart Pistol

Who had ever thought that darts could bounce?

The Dart Pistol is the Crimson version of the dart weapon series in Terraria. While it has lesser direct damage than its Corruption counterpart, the Dart Rifle, it makes up for it with its speed. Equip yourself with great darts and you're set. 

What makes the Dart Pistol awesome:

  • Different situations call for different darts
  • Crystal Darts are great for crowd control
  • Cursed Darts are good for constant damage
  • Ichor Darts are great for reducing enemy defense

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 28 (Ranged)
  • Knockback - 3.5 (Weak)
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 22 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 13

How to get the Dart Pistol:

Guide on how to get the Dart Pistol

5. Ice Sickle

Ice Sickle...get it?

Although closer to being a scythe, the Ice Sickle is an excellent early hardmode weapon to have. You can immediately farm for it once you hit hardmode by going directly into the Ice biome. It's very effective for short-ranged crowd control and can be enhanced greatly with auto-swing accessories.

What makes the Ice Sickle awesome:

  • The hovering projectile disappears after 5 seconds or after piercing 5 enemies
  • Great for worm enemies
  • Excellent crowd control for early hardmode

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 42 (Melee)
  • Knockback - 5.5 (Average)
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 25 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 8

How to get the Ice Sickle:

Guide on how to get the Ice Sickle

4. Titanium Repeater

You can never go wrong with a good crossbow

Terraria has a plethora of flashy weapons that you sometimes forget that the classics are still a good choice. A good example of this would be the Titanium Repeater. This auto-firing crossbow is great for dealing damage and can be enhanced further by using special arrows.

What makes the Titanium Repeater awesome:

  • Has high damage for a craftable pre-mech boss repeater.
  • Use special arrows for more damage, or use an endless arrow quiver for non-stop action

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 41 (Ranged)
  • Knockback - 2.5 (Very weak)
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 18 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 10.5

How to get the Titanium Repeater:

Guide on how to get the Titanium Repeater

3. Golden Shower

It's just magic, I promise!

The Golden Shower, despite its embarrassing name, is a great magic weapon that can be used until the late game. It shoots out streams of Ichor that apply a defense-reducing debuff that lasts for a few seconds. This allows you and your team to deal massive damage with just a single spray.

What makes the Golden Shower awesome:

  • It is the only source of Ichor for mages
  • Defense reduction can be used even after its damage is no longer relevant

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 21 (Magic)
  • Knockback - 4 (Weak)
  • Mana - 7
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 18 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 30

How to get the Golden Shower:

Guide on how to get the Golden Shower

2. Daedalus Stormbow

Let it rain! With arrows this time...

The Daedalus Stormbow is one of the most popular bow weapons in the game. It allows you to shoot arrows from the sky, shooting 3 at a time in one click. This allows for extreme damage when paired with Chlorophyte Arrows or Holy Arrows. This bow is so good that it can be used up until the endgame

What makes the Daedalus Stormbow awesome:

  • Extremely widespread arrows that fall from above makes it hard to miss
  • Fires 3 arrows at the cost of 1

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 38 (Ranged)
  • Knockback - 2.25 (Very weak)
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 19 (Fast)
  • Velocity - 12.5

How to get the Daedalus Stormbow:

Guide on how to get the Daedalus Stormbow

1. Sergeant United Shield

I can do this all day!

The Sergeant United Shield is a very interesting weapon as it allows you to hit multiple enemies while also giving you a block ability. For shields, it has a unique passive that allows you to deal 400% more damage after a successful parry (Right-click on PC). This damage buff is not limited to the shield itself and can be very deadly through the use of hot-swapping. This makes the shield a viable tool for both offensive and defensive use.

What makes the Sergeant United Shield awesome:

  • Holding the alternative attack key will put up the shield which adds 20 defense
  • Using the block at the correct timing will parry the attack and negate all damage taken
  • Has relatively high damage for an item that can be bought as soon as hardmode starts

Weapon stats:

  • Damage - 80 (Melee)
  • Knockback - 0
  • Critical chance - 4%
  • Use time - 36 (Very slow)
  • Velocity - 20

How to get the Sergeant United Shield:

Guide on how to get the Sergeant United Shield

 

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A BardBarian that has explored everywhere from the slums of Midgard, the mountains of High Hrothgard, to beyond the Astral plane to bring wonderful stories and magic to all the uninitiated.
Gamer Since: 1996
Currently Playing: Granblue Fantasy
Top 3 Favorite Games:The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin


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