Is Obsidian Armor Worth It in Terraria? A Deep Dive
Yes, Obsidian Armor is absolutely worth considering in Terraria, especially for summoner builds. While it’s a pre-Hardmode armor set, its offensive capabilities are surprisingly high, rivaling some post-Golem armors in terms of summon damage boosts. This makes it a viable choice throughout a large portion of the game, despite its lower defense. Obsidian Armor excels as an offensive option for summoners who prioritize damage over survivability. It’s an excellent stepping stone and can remain competitive even after you acquire many other armor sets. The set’s ability to enhance whip speed multiplicatively also boosts DPS. While it might not be the absolute best in any single category, it offers an impressive blend of offensive power, utility and longevity that is worth exploring. Let’s dive deeper to understand why.
Obsidian Armor: An Offensive Powerhouse
Understanding its Core Strengths
The primary appeal of Obsidian Armor lies in its powerful minion damage boost. It grants a significant percentage increase to the damage your minions inflict. This is exceptionally valuable for summoners, who rely on their minions to deal most of their damage. The armor’s set bonus enhances whip speed, allowing you to command your minions more frequently and deal supplemental damage. This combined effect turns early game summoner builds into potent offensive threats.
A Pre-Hardmode Staple That Lasts
While it’s accessible before entering Hardmode, Obsidian Armor’s summon damage boost ranks among the highest in the game until much later. It surpasses many Hardmode options like Bee Armor, Spider Armor, Hallowed Armor, and even Tiki Armor. Only Spooky armor, Stardust Armor, and the Tier 3 Old One’s Army armor offer higher damage boosts. This speaks volumes about the armor’s strength and viability. Its offensive prowess makes it a popular choice for players wanting an offensive edge.
The Competitive Landscape
Obsidian Armor’s real worth is seen when compared to other armors. While Bee Armor, acquired later, has been thought to be superior, Obsidian Armor can surpass it in damage output, particularly with its whip speed bonus. This can be further augmented with accessories to fine-tune an effective build. The fact that Obsidian Armor can compete with these sets demonstrates its enduring usefulness. Its early accessibility makes it an especially appealing option for players wanting a strong summoner setup without too much post-game grinding.
Obsidian Armor vs. The Alternatives
Bee Armor: The Early Hardmode Rival
Historically, Bee Armor was considered a superior summoner option. While it can be more readily obtainable after the Wall of Flesh, its DPS output now falls behind. Obsidian Armor, with its multiplicative whip speed, often offers higher damage potential overall. The Bee Armor may be easier to access, but if damage is your priority, obsidian is the better choice.
Other Summoner Armors
The Spider Armor and Hallowed Armor offer some benefits, but fall short in terms of direct damage output when compared to the Obsidian Armor. The later game Tiki Armor also lacks the overall punch provided by Obsidian Armor. Obsidian’s viability long into Hardmode stems from its effective combination of damage boosts and whip-speed. When you compare it with post-game armor, it stands its ground well until those sets become available.
Defense vs. Offense: The Obsidian Tradeoff
It’s crucial to understand that Obsidian Armor is a glass cannon option. Its defense is relatively low. Players using it must be prepared to dodge enemy attacks and rely on offensive capabilities to defeat enemies quickly. It’s ideal for skilled players who can manage encounters effectively and want the highest possible damage output. It’s not suited to those looking for a tanky option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Obsidian Armor to provide even more insight:
1. How do you craft Obsidian Armor in Terraria?
You need Obsidian and Silk. The armor is crafted at a loom with: 10 Obsidian and 20 Silk per armor piece.
2. What is the set bonus for Obsidian Armor?
The set bonus is a significant increase in whip speed, which stacks multiplicatively with other melee speed buffs.
3. Is Obsidian Armor good for early game?
Absolutely! It’s a fantastic choice for summoner builds early in the game, providing a significant boost to damage output.
4. Does Obsidian Armor make you immune to lava?
No, Obsidian Armor does not provide immunity to lava. The Obsidian Skull accessory does provide resistance to burning damage from touching lava and meteorites but it isn’t part of the armor.
5. How does Obsidian Armor compare to post-Plantera armor?
Obsidian Armor’s damage boost is still very effective, making it usable even post-Plantera until you can acquire Spooky Armor.
6. Is Obsidian Armor better than Spider Armor?
Yes, Obsidian Armor generally provides a higher damage boost and is therefore the better choice for offensive summoner builds.
7. Can Obsidian Armor be used with melee weapons?
Yes, the whip speed bonus benefits melee builds that utilize whips but the set isn’t ideal for most melee builds that don’t use whips.
8. How important is the whip speed bonus on Obsidian Armor?
The whip speed bonus is highly important, as it multiplies with other speed buffs, allowing you to command your minions more frequently and deal more overall damage.
9. Is Obsidian Armor a viable option for expert mode?
Yes, it’s still viable in Expert Mode, but players need to be careful of their defenses and rely on dodging. Its high damage output makes fights faster, reducing the risk of mistakes.
10. What is the best accessory to pair with Obsidian Armor?
Accessories that increase summon damage or whip range, like the Summoner Emblem or Feral Claws are good options, as are those that boost your defense.
11. Can Obsidian Armor be used throughout the entire game?
While you’ll eventually want to transition to Spooky Armor or Stardust Armor for even higher damage potential, Obsidian Armor remains very useful for a large portion of the game. It can still work in a pinch even much later in the game.
12. How does Obsidian Armor compare to the Old One’s Army Tier 2 armor?
Obsidian Armor generally provides a higher damage boost than the Tier 2 OOA Armor. The Tier 3 armor is a step up from obsidian, but requires the defeat of Golem.
13. What are the downsides of using Obsidian Armor?
The primary downside is its low defense, requiring players to be careful and focus on dodging and damage. It trades some survivability for high damage potential.
14. Does Obsidian Armor’s whip bonus stack with melee speed boosts?
Yes, the whip speed bonus stacks multiplicatively with other melee speed boosts. This makes it an excellent option for builds that use whips.
15. Is Obsidian Armor the best pre-hardmode summoner armor?
Yes, in terms of pure damage potential and sustained DPS thanks to its whip bonus, it is arguably the best pre-Hardmode summoner armor available.
Conclusion: The Verdict
Obsidian Armor is a highly valuable and surprisingly powerful armor set in Terraria. Its ability to provide such a significant summon damage boost, combined with a useful whip speed bonus, makes it a competitive option for summoners long into the Hardmode portion of the game. It’s ideal for players who prioritize offense and are skilled at dodging, making it a staple for summoner classes. If you’re building a summoner and want a powerful early game option, then Obsidian Armor is absolutely worth it.