When you first enter the Terraria world you start off with a basic copper shortsword that you'll struggle with even for slime killing since it has no slash effect nor an autoswing ability. In order to be able to progress, soon enough you'll have to decide which type of playstyle you want your character to be (ranged, melee, magic or summoner) and find the most powerful pre-hardmode weapons. This is where this article comes in, as I've written a thorough guide on the 15 best Terraria pre-hardmode weapons and how to acquire each of them. Picking any of these fantastic weapons will allow you to steamroll through early game content and kill the Wall of Flesh to progress into hardmode and unlock the next tiers of weaponry.
15 Demon Scythe
The Demon Scythe is a powerful magic weapon that fires fast-moving scythe projectiles. These projectiles pierce through multiple enemies, making the Demon Scythe highly effective for crowd control. The scythes deal substantial damage and travel through walls, allowing players to attack enemies from a safe distance or through obstacles. I find that the Demon Scythe is particularly useful in confined spaces and against segmented bosses like the Eater of Worlds.
Strengths:
- Fast-moving, piercing projectiles
- High damage output
- Effective in confined spaces
How to get the Demon Scythe: The Demon Scythe can be obtained from Demons in the Underworld. It has a relatively low drop rate, so farming may be required.
14 Bee Keeper
The Bee Keeper is a unique sword obtained from the Queen Bee, a boss found in the Jungle biome. This sword not only deals solid melee damage but also has a chance to release friendly bees upon hitting an enemy. These bees home in on other enemies, dealing additional damage and providing excellent crowd control. The Bee Keeper also inflicts the Confused debuff, causing enemies to wander aimlessly. This combination of melee damage, summoned bees, and debuff makes the Bee Keeper a versatile weapon, especially useful in boss fights and against large groups of enemies.
Strengths:
- Summons friendly bees
- Inflicts Confused debuff
- Effective crowd control
How to get the Bee Keeper: Defeat the Queen Bee in the Jungle biome. The Bee Keeper has a chance to drop as part of the loot from this boss fight.
13 Trimarang
The Trimarang, introduced in the 1.4.4 Labor of Love Update, is a game-changer for the Melee class at the beginning of Pre-Hardmode. This weapon is crafted from three different boomerangs: the Ice Boomerang, Enchanted Boomerang, and Shroomerang. Each of these components is found in specific biomes, making the Trimarang somewhat challenging to assemble. However, the effort is worthwhile because the Trimarang can devastate early-game bosses such as the Eye of Cthulhu and King Slime. This weapon allows players to throw up to three high-velocity boomerangs simultaneously, which return to the player after hitting enemies. Its fast use time and ability to pierce multiple enemies make it ideal for crowd control, especially when facing the Goblin Army or hordes of weaker monsters.
Strengths:
- High crowd control capabilities
- High DPS
- Effective against early bosses
How to get the Trimarang: Gather the Enchanted Boomerang (Gold Chests), Ice Boomerang (Ice Chests), and Shroomerang (Mushroom Chests). Combine them at a Workbench.
12 Enchanted Sword
The Enchanted Sword is a powerful early-game weapon that fires a magical sword beam when swung. This beam travels a long distance and deals significant damage, making the Enchanted Sword effective against both close-range and distant enemies. Its unique projectile ability allows players to maintain a safe distance while still dealing high damage, which is particularly useful against dangerous foes and during exploration, being a huge step-up from Blade of Grass.
Strengths:
- Fires a magical sword beam
- Long-range attack capability
- High damage output
How to get the Enchanted Sword: The Enchanted Sword can be found in Enchanted Sword Shrines, which are small, rare underground structures. Alternatively, it can be obtained from Golden Crates in Hardmode.
11 Amazon
The Amazon is an exceptional yo-yo weapon sourced from the Jungle biome and I always find myself grabbing one on my melee playthroughs. This weapon stands out due to its high damage output, extended range, and ability to maintain a constant hit on enemies for up to 8 seconds. Yo-yos in Terraria are unique because they follow the player's cursor, allowing for precise control over their attacks. The Amazon is particularly effective against the Eye of Cthulhu, one of the first major bosses players encounter. Additionally, its 'cheesing' capabilities allow you to attack enemies through small gaps in walls, providing a strategic advantage in many combat situations because you can box yourself in dirt and leave just one cell open so that you can hit enemies through it with the Amazon.
Strengths:
- Easy to obtain
- Effective for Eye of Cthulhu boss killing
- Allows for cheesy playstyles
How to get the Amazon: Combine 8 Rich Mahogany Wood, 2 Stingers, 1 Vine, and 3 Jungle Spores at an Anvil.
10 Beenades
Beenades are consumable ranged weapons that become available in the late stages of Pre-Hardmode, just in time to face the Wall of Flesh. They are excellent for dealing with this formidable boss due to their unique ability to release a swarm of bees upon explosion. These bees home in on enemies, inflicting substantial damage over a short period. Beenades are versatile and can be used by any class, making them a go-to choice for players who want to maximize their damage output during critical boss fights. Their high damage and ease of acquisition make them a staple for players preparing to transition into Hardmode.
Strengths:
- High DPS
- Easy to obtain
- Great for crowds and bosses
How to get the Beenades: Defeat the Queen Bee in the Jungle to obtain Beenades. They can also be crafted using Bee Wax and grenades from the Demolitionist NPC.
9 Vampire Frog Staff
If you're on the lookout for a summoning weapon, the Vampire Frog Staff summons Vampire Frogs, which are considered the best minions for Summoner builds in Pre-Hardmode. These minions are quick and deal high damage, making them valuable allies in combat. The staff is especially effective when paired with whips like the Snapthorn or Spinal Tap, which boost the minions' attack power and direct their attacks. Vampire Frogs excel in both single-target damage and crowd control, allowing summoners to handle a variety of combat scenarios. This staff's ease of acquisition and high damage output make it a top choice for summoners preparing for the Wall of Flesh and beyond.
Strengths:
- High DPS
- Great in conjunction with any whip
- Massive longevity
How to get the Vampire Frog Staff: Fish during a Blood Moon to spawn Zombie Merman or Wandering Eye Fish, which have a ⅛ chance to drop the staff.
8 Snapthorn
The Snapthorn is a whip weapon designed for the Summoner class, available before any bosses are defeated. This whip deals significant damage, inflicts a poison debuff on enemies, and grants the Jungle's Fury buff, which increases attack speed. The Snapthorn is particularly effective when used in conjunction with minions, as the whip's strike directs minions to attack the targeted enemy. This synergy makes the Snapthorn a consistent damage dealer against both single targets and groups of enemies. Its decent range allows summoners to keep a safe distance from foes while maintaining high damage output.
Strengths:
- Consistent DPS
- Grants Jungle’s Fury buff
- Decent range
How to get the Snapthorn: Combine 15 Stingers, 3 Vines, and 12 Jungle Spores at an Anvil.
7 Boomstick
The Boomstick is a strong shotgun-style weapon found in Ivy Chests within the Jungle biome. It fires a spread of bullets, making it a formidable choice for players who prefer the Ranged class. Each shot from the Boomstick can deal substantial damage, especially when all bullets hit a single target. This weapon is particularly effective against larger enemies and bosses like Skeletron, the Eye of Cthulhu, and the Eater of Worlds. Its ability to hit multiple targets with a single shot also makes it useful for clearing out groups of enemies. Upgrading to Meteor Shots further enhances its effectiveness by increasing the damage and allowing bullets to bounce off surfaces.
Boomstick is an excellent way of saving yourself 35 Gold coins because it's as powerful as the Minishark gun in most cases.
Strengths:
- Massive damage per shot
- Useful for crowds
- Great longevity
How to get the Boomstick: Found in Ivy Chests in the Underground Jungle.
6 Ballista Rod
The Ballista Rod is a powerful sentry weapon obtained from the Tavernkeep NPC after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu. Brain of Cthulhu is quite an easy kill with a proper arena setup, so this weapon is highly accessible. It summons a Ballista sentry that automatically fires high-damage bolts at enemies. It is incredibly useful for defending against events like the Goblin Army and Blood Moon while also being able to deal significant damage to bosses when used strategically.
Strengths:
- Summons a high-damage sentry
- Effective for defense
- Strong against waves of enemies and bosses
How to get the Ballista Rod: Purchase the Ballista Rod from the Tavernkeep NPC after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu.
5 Vilethorn
The Vilethorn is a magic weapon obtained from Shadow Orbs in Corruption worlds. It generates a series of piercing projectiles that travel through walls, making it highly effective against groups of enemies and segmented bosses like the Eater of Worlds. The Vilethorn's ability to hit multiple targets simultaneously and its relatively low mana cost make it a favorite among magic users. Its piercing damage allows it to deal with the minions of bosses and the bosses themselves at the same time, providing a significant tactical advantage in many battles.
Strengths:
- Piercing damage
- Effective against Eater of Worlds
- Great for crowd control
How to get the Vilethorn: Break Shadow Orbs in the Corruption biome.
4 Hellwing Bow
The Hellwing Bow is a powerful ranged weapon that replaces fired arrows with flaming bats. These bats pierce through enemies and set them on fire, dealing continuous damage. The bow's ability to shoot piercing projectiles makes it particularly effective against the Wall of Flesh and large groups of enemies. Its high damage and unique attack style allow it to remain useful even in the early stages of Hardmode. The Hellwing Bow's versatility and power make it a staple for ranged players looking to maximize their damage output in the later stages of Pre-Hardmode.
Strengths:
- Arrows pierce
- High DPS
- Effective Wall of Flesh boss killer weapon
How to get the Hellwing Bow: Unlock Shadow Chests in the Underworld using a Shadow Key from the Dungeon.
3 Phoenix Blaster
The Phoenix Blaster is a highly effective ranged weapon crafted from a Handgun and Hellstone Bars. This weapon offers incredible speed and damage, making it one of the best pre-Hardmode guns. Its rapid firing rate allows it to deal substantial DPS, which is particularly useful against bosses and large groups of enemies. The Phoenix Blaster's firepower makes it a valuable asset for players preparing to transition into Hardmode.
Strengths:
- High firing rate
- Substantial DPS
- Effective against bosses and crowds of enemies
How to get the Phoenix Blaster: Combine a Handgun (found in the Dungeon) with Hellstone Bars at an Anvil.
2 Water Bolt
The Water Bolt is a highly effective magic weapon found in the Dungeon. It fires slow-moving, bouncing projectiles that pierce through enemies and bounce off walls multiple times. This unique behavior allows the Water Bolt to hit the same enemies repeatedly in enclosed spaces, dealing massive damage. The weapon is particularly effective against the Wall of Flesh, as it can simultaneously damage the boss and its minions. Its high DPS and ability to control the battlefield make the Water Bolt a favorite among magic users in Pre-Hardmode.
Strengths:
- Piercing and bouncing
- Multi-hit potential in wall-heavy encounters
- High DPS
How to get the Water Bolt: Click on books in the Dungeon after defeating Skeletron. The Water Bolt book is blue with a yellow band on it, and hovering your mouse over it will show the tooltip, something other books do not do.
1 Night's Edge
The Night’s Edge is the ultimate sword in Pre-Hardmode, known for its massive damage and wide swinging arc. Terraria's patch 1.4.1 gave the sword higher attack speed and the ability to autoswing. It was then buffed again in patch 1.4.4, making the Night’s Edge create a large damaging arc around the player when swung, hitting multiple enemies at once. Its piercing capabilities and high base damage make it exceptionally effective against the Wall of Flesh and other tough bosses. The Night’s Edge is crafted from four powerful swords: the Light’s Bane or Blood Butcherer, Blade of Grass, Volcano, and Muramasa. This combination of blades results in a weapon with unparalleled power and versatility in Pre-Hardmode, making it an essential tool for any melee-focused player.
Strengths:
- The large damaging arc pierces multiple enemies
- Massive area of damage
- Very high base damage
How to get the Night's Edge: Combine the Light’s Bane or Blood Butcherer, Blade of Grass, Volcano, and Muramasa at a Demon or Crimson Altar.
