Terraria's main gameplay is split into different phases. The first is Pre-Hardmode, where things are a bit easy, and the second is Hardmode, which comes after beating the Wall of Flesh. You'll find that it's still manageable to survive with your equipment in the first few minutes of Hardmode, but that's soon to change after you start destroying Demon Altars for upgraded ores. If you want to know which upgrade path is the best, here are our Top 15 Terraria Best Gear for Hardmode and how to get them!

1. Hardmode Hooks

Longer, better, faster, stronger

After a few spelunking trips and early Mechanical Boss fights, you'll soon find your current hook lacking. This is the perfect time to go ahead and upgrade your pre-existing hook into a better version. For now, you have 4 choices. Killing Mimics and Biome Mimics for the Dual Hook, Illuminant Hook, and Worm/Tendon Hook or killing Queen Slime for the Hook of Dissonance. If you still want to upgrade after this, you'd need to start the Frost Moon or Pumpkin Moon events for either the Spooky or Christmas Hooks.

Item details:

• Allows for better platforming

What makes it great:

• Can keep you alive while falling
• Helps you traverse vertically efficiently
• Hook of Dissonance is special in that it teleports you directly as soon as your hook latches

How to get it:

• Click here for more crafting info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Hooks#Hardmode

2. Tabi

Dash to your heart's content

If you're playing in Expert mode, you're able to dash using the Shield of Cthulhu. If you're in Classic mode, however, there's no dashing equipment prior to the Tabi. This accessory drops from Bone Lee's in the Dungeon after Plantera has been defeated. Normally, dash items are necessary to even get to that point, but Classic mode is very easy and Plantera can be beaten without one.

Item details:

• Allows you to dash with a one-second cooldown

What makes it great:

• For Expert mode, it combines into a better accessory than the Shield of Cthulhu, making the shield obsolete
• For Classic, it's your very first dash item

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Tabi

3. Black Belt

Channel your inner martial artist

The Black Belt is another piece of equipment that drops from Bone Lee's in the Dungeon. This accessory allows you to dodge incoming attacks, including spikes and lava. This is a highly valuable piece of equipment as there's no other way to increase dodge rate aside from the Brain of Confusion from Expert mode Brain of Cthulhu. Unlike the Titanium Armor set bonus, this dodge happens at a chance rather than a cooldown. This means you can dodge damage continuously as long as you're lucky.

Item details:

• 10% chance to dodge incoming damage

What makes it great:

• Dodge is not on cooldown as compared to the Titanium Armor set bonus
• Combine with the Brain of Cthulhu for a total of 26.67% chance to dodge attacks
• Can save you from one-hit damage like the Dungeon Guardian and day version of Empress of Light

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Tsunami

4. Master Ninja Gear

With the Tabi and Black Belt, become the ultimate ninja!

There's a reason why we recommended that you get the Tabi and Black Belt. This is to craft the highly-practical Master Ninja Gear which combines the effects of them, along with the ability to climb walls. If you're lucky early-game, you might have already been able to craft the Tiger Climbing Gear with the Shoe Spikes and Climbing Claws from wooden chests. Now, combine all three accessories and you can become the ultimate Terraria Ninja Warrior.

Item details:

• Allows you to dash with a one-second cooldown
• Allows you to climb walls
• 10% chance to dodge incoming damage

What makes it great:

• Combines 3 accessories into one mega accessory, freeing up accessory slots

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Master_Ninja_Gear

5. Neptune's Shell

Now how does this work?

Neptune's Shell is an accessory that drops from the Creature from the Deep during the Solar Eclipse event. It effectively allows you to breathe underwater by transforming you into merfolk as soon as you touch any liquid.

Item details:

• Allows water-breathing

What makes it great:

• It combines into a vital mega accessory

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Neptune%27s_Shell

6. Moon Charm

I can still see some werewolf fur sticking out

The Moon Charm is the second half of Neptune's Shell and can be obtained from Werewolves during a Full Moon. The charm allows you to turn into a werewolf at night providing an astounding amount of buffs. On its own, it's a highly effective accessory since most bosses are fought during the night anyways.

Item details:

• +2% melee critical hit chance
• +5.1% melee damage
• +5.1% melee speed
• +5% movement speed
• +3 defense
• Slightly increased jump height and jump speed
• +0.5 HP regeneration per second (similar to the Band of Regeneration, but with half the speed)

What makes it great:

• It combines with Neptune's Shell, creating the Moon Shell item

How to get it:

• Click here for more crafting info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Spectre_Boots

7. Celestial Stone

Get stronger under the moon and sun

The Solar Eclipse event is home to another important enemy, the Vampire, which drops the Moon Stone. The Sun Stone, on the other hand, drops from the Golem in the Underground Temple. Both stones effectively boost your stats day and night. These combined will give you the Celestial Stone, which basically gives you the buff at any point during the day.

Item details:

• +10% melee speed
• +10% damage (all types)
• +2% critical strike chance
• +1 HP/s health regeneration
• +4 defense
• +15% mining speed
• +0.5 minion knockback

What makes it great:

• Get boosts during Daytime and Nighttime

How to get it:

• Click here for more crafting info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Lightning_Boots

8. Celestial Shell

We know where this came from

Now that you have both the Celestial Stone and Moon Shell, you finally have access to the Celestial Shell. It basically combines all of their effects, saving you accessory slots to put other stuff in.

Item details:

• Combines the stats of the Moon Shell and Celestial Stone

What makes it great:

• Makes you strong during the day and extra strong during the night
• Allows you to breathe underwater

How to get it:

• Click here for more crafting info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Celestial_Shell

9. Ankh Shield

Now you can't get sick

The Ankh Shield is an all-in-one remedy to most status effects in Terraria. It allows you to ignore knockback while also increasing your overall defense. This may sound like a wonderful item, but some players don't even bother to craft it since it's very tedious to make

Item details:

• Grants immunity to knockback and fire blocks
• Grants immunity to most debuffs
• Defense - 4

What makes it great:

• You don't need to worry about debuffs anymore

How to get it:

• Click here for more crafting info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Recall_Potion

10. Charm of Myths

Keeps you alive for longer

The Charm of Myths is an excellent overall accessory. It allows you to bypass the Potion Sickness debuff by a whopping 25%. This allows you to use healing potions every 45 seconds instead of the usual 60. On top of that, it also provides an extra point of health regeneration.

Item details:

• Increases health regeneration by 1 per second

What makes it great:

• Potions are very important in boss fights. Having them available earlier is always good.

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Charm_of_Myths

11. Emblems

The pinnacle of Hardmode power

Emblems are a sure way to increase your character's damage in Terraria. There are different kinds of emblems, but they all do the same thing. Each emblem affects a specific damage type, but combining them into an Avenger or Destroyer Emblem makes them universal. Doing this, however, will result in a lower damage bonus. They also combine with various class-based equipment like the Mechanical Glove and Celestial Emblem.

Item details:

• Increases damage by 15% for base emblems
• Accessories combined emblems increase damage from 10-12% instead

What makes it great:

• Boosts your overall damage
• Every emblem stacks with their combined versions as well

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Emblem

12. Fishron Wings

Cut from the Duke himself

Wings are important in keeping your character away from danger. The best wing you can get before the Moon Lord fight comes from the infamous Duke Fishron. Although there are many other wings out there, the Fishron Wings' ability allows you to create bubble traps in your arena that you won't be encumbered by.

Item details:

• Great wing stats
• Allows you to move freely in liquid

What makes it great:

• It provides an overall excellent flying experience

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/The_Bee%27s_Knees

13. Witch's Broom

Fly me to the moon~

Flying Mounts are considered niche to some Terraria players. We've included this item in our list since it provides you the fastest move speed among regular flying mounts. This item comes from the Expert mode Mourning Wood during the Pumpkin Moon event.

Item details:

• Max Speed - 46mph horizontally, 41mph vertically, 62mph diagonally

What makes it great:

• Behaves like the UFO Mount, but does not dismount in liquids
• Combined with the Neptune's Shell accessory tree, liquids will no longer slow you down
• Has only a 3-tile height, unlike other mounts that go to 4-tiles in height

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Witch%27s_Broom

14. Soaring Insignia

Fly freely forever

The Soaring Insignia is an Expert Mode drop from the Empress of Light. It grants you an immense boon by increasing your movement to 'soaring' lengths. This item is a must-have for everyone that prefers being in the sky than on the ground.

Item details:

• Increases movement speed by 10%
• Doubles base acceleration from 0.3 tiles/second^2 to 0.6 tiles/second^2
• Grants infinite flight time
• Increases jump speed by 2.4

What makes it great:

• Infinite flight for wings is a valuable buff and it also increases all of your other speed stats as well

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Soaring_Insignia

15. Zenith

No words necessary

We tried our best to not focus much on weapons in this list, but this item is a cut above any weapon you can get in the game. Although people will argue that it's useless since you can only get it post-Moon Lord, it's still a fun weapon to have.

Item details:

• Damage - 190 (Melee)
• Knockback - 6.5 (Strong)
• Crit Chance - 14%
• Use Speed - 30 (Very Slow)
• Velocity - 32

What makes it great:

• Shreds everything to pieces

How to get it:

• Click here for more info: https://terraria.wiki.gg/wiki/Zenith

You may also be interested in:

• [Top 5] Best Terraria Summoner Weapons and How to Get Them
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• [Top 10] Best Terraria Weapons and How to Get Them