Can You Have More Than One Town Pet in Terraria? A Comprehensive Guide
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The simple answer is no, you cannot have more than one of the same type of town pet active at a time in Terraria. However, Terraria does allow the player to have multiple town pets in different houses as long as there is one pet per house. This means one town cat, one town dog, one town bunny and all the town slimes as each of these pets are considered to be of a different type.
This rule applies to regular pets as well. You can only have one summoned pet of each type active at any given moment. If you summon a new pet while another is active, the first pet will disappear. Understanding this limitation is key to optimizing your gameplay and managing your adorable companions!
Understanding Terraria’s Pet System
Terraria’s pet system is multifaceted, with several categories of pets each with unique functions and acquisition methods. Let’s break down the different types and how they interact:
Town Pets
These lovable creatures are essentially NPCs that move into your town after meeting specific conditions. Unlike regular pets, they occupy houses and contribute to town happiness and defense.
- Town Cat, Town Dog, and Town Bunny: These pets are the classic town pets acquired by purchasing a license from the Zoologist.
- Town Slimes: These unique pets are found throughout the world under specific circumstances, such as fighting King Slime or opening breakable pots underground. They each have their own quirks and requirements for moving in.
Regular Pets
These pets are summoned using pet-summoning items and follow the player around, providing companionship and often aesthetic appeal. They don’t occupy houses and are purely cosmetic. Examples include the Baby Dinosaur, the Penguin, and the Zephyr Fish.
Mounts
While not technically pets, mounts are creatures that the player can ride. Some mounts are obtained as rare drops from enemies (like the Blessed Apple for the Unicorn) while others are crafted or purchased from NPCs. They offer increased mobility and, in some cases, combat abilities.
Light Pets
These helpful companions provide light, illuminating the surroundings and making exploration easier. They are especially useful in the early game or when venturing into dark areas. The Wisp in a Bottle is a classic example.
Pet Priorities and Restrictions
The game enforces limitations to prevent the player from overwhelming the screen with pets and to maintain balance. Understanding these restrictions is crucial:
- One Pet of Each Type: As stated earlier, you can only have one regular pet active at a time. Summoning a new pet dismisses the previous one. There is no limit for number of pets in each individual house.
- Mounts Override Other Pets: When you use a mount, your regular pet is typically hidden until you dismount. Some mounts have their own accompanying pets, adding to the visual flair.
- Town Pet Housing: Each town pet requires its own valid house. You cannot put multiple town pets (including town slimes) in the same house. This adds a layer of strategic planning to your town layout.
Optimizing Your Pet Setup
While you can’t have multiple active regular pets at once, you can optimize your setup by strategically choosing which pet, mount, and light pet to use depending on the situation. For example:
- Exploration: Use a light pet like the Wisp in a Bottle and a fast mount like the Unicorn.
- Combat: Choose a pet with a visually appealing effect or a mount with combat capabilities.
- Town Decoration: Collect all the town pets and assign them to unique houses, creating a lively and charming village.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the Terraria pet system:
1. Do town pets Respawn in Terraria?
Yes, town pets will respawn if they are killed. The message “
2. How many pets can you have in Terraria?
You can have one regular pet, one mountable pet (mount), and one light-giving pet active simultaneously. There is no limit on the total number of town pets in the world as long as they have suitable homes.
3. Do town pets count as NPCs?
Yes, town pets count as NPCs. They contribute to meeting the requirements for pylons and influence enemy spawn rates. They are also considered when determining NPC happiness.
4. What is the rarest pet in Terraria?
According to the article, the rarest pets are likely the Unlucky Yarn and the Lizard Egg, due to their low drop rates.
5. Is there a Moon Lord pet in Terraria?
Yes, the Piece of Moon Squid is a pet item that drops from the Moon Lord in Master Mode, summoning a miniature Moon Lord head.
6. What is the fastest pet in Terraria?
The Unicorn mount, obtained from the Blessed Apple, is one of the fastest mounts, granting invulnerability at high speeds.
7. Can you revive dead NPCs in Terraria?
Yes, NPCs will respawn if they are killed, provided there is a suitable vacant house available and any initial spawning requirements are met.
8. Do town slimes need houses?
Yes, town slimes require valid housing, and they cannot be placed in the same house as other town slimes or town pets.
9. What happens if a pet dies in Terraria?
Regular pets are invincible and cannot die. If the player dies, summons a different pet, leaves the world, or cancels the associated buff, the pet will disappear. Town pets are able to die.
10. Do town slimes do anything in Terraria?
Town slimes function like other town pets, contributing to pylon requirements, reducing enemy spawn rates, and generally adding to the liveliness of your town.
11. Can you have 2 pets in Terraria?
While you can’t have two regular pets active, you can have a regular pet and a light pet, or a regular pet and a mount. The main restriction is one of each type.
12. What kills NPC Terraria?
Rotten Eggs are one of the few player-wielded weapons that can damage friendly NPCs. The Clothier and Guide Voodoo Dolls also allow you to kill specific NPCs.
13. Why is the Princess not Respawning in Terraria?
The Princess will only spawn once all other town NPCs are present, which requires defeating Plantera and having the Cyborg NPC move in.
14. What happens if the old man dies in Terraria?
The Old Man will respawn at the Dungeon entrance the following day if he dies or if Skeletron is not defeated.
15. What’s the best rideable in Terraria?
The answer to what is the best rideable mount in Terraria is subjective and depends on preference and what part of the game you are in. One great option is the Winged Slime, summoned by the Gelatinous Pylon.
Conclusion
While you can’t amass an army of identical pets, Terraria’s pet system offers plenty of room for customization and collection. By understanding the restrictions and unique qualities of each pet type, you can create a vibrant and engaging town and optimize your gameplay experience. Now, go forth and collect those adorable companions! You might even learn something about game-based learning along the way, just like the community at the Games Learning Society are doing at GamesLearningSociety.org.