The Ultimate Guide to Cheese the Nebula Pillar in Terraria

So, you’re struggling with the Nebula Pillar in Terraria? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This pillar, with its teleporting foes and damaging lasers, can be a real pain. Luckily, there are several “cheese” strategies you can employ to make the fight much easier.

The core of cheesing the Nebula Pillar involves exploiting the AI and pathing of the enemies it spawns. By creating specific structures or using certain tactics, you can limit the enemy’s ability to attack you effectively, turning a challenging encounter into a manageable one.

The most popular and effective method involves building a simple box or enclosed structure around yourself. This will prevent enemies like the Suckers from reaching you. Adding a roof will stop most of the Nebula Floaters lasers, however they can still teleport inside. It’s not perfect, but it offers significant protection. From this safe haven, you can then use weapons with piercing or area-of-effect (AoE) damage to efficiently eliminate the incoming threats. The key is to find that balance between protection and offensive capability.

Detailed Cheese Strategies for the Nebula Pillar

Let’s dive into some specific strategies, breaking down what you’ll need and how to execute them effectively.

The Classic Box Method

This is the simplest and most widely used method:

1. Materials: Gather around 50 blocks of any sturdy material. Stone, wood, or even dungeon bricks will do. Anything the enemy cannot break.
2. Construction: Build a box that is roughly 5×5 blocks in size. Ensure it’s fully enclosed, including a roof. Leave a small gap or use a weapon that can attack through the wall.
3. Execution: Stand inside the box and use a weapon that can pierce multiple enemies or deals AoE damage. This allows you to hit enemies even through the walls.
4. Optional additions Place a honey pool, campfire and heart lantern to boost regen in the confined space.

This setup limits the movement of most enemies, making them easy targets for your attacks. The box prevents most ground enemies from reaching you and reduces the effectiveness of ranged attacks from the Nebula Floaters.

The Star Box Variation

This method is mentioned in the original text:

1. Materials: 5 blocks of any sturdy material.
2. Construction: Place the blocks around your character in a star-like fashion. The shape isn’t as important as the overall placement of blocks in key locations.
3. Execution: Stand inside the structure and use a weapon with piercing or area-of-effect to eliminate the enemies.

This method, while less commonly used today, reportedly exploits specific pathing issues with the Nebula enemies. The star-like placement supposedly prevents certain enemy types from passing through, while also reducing the accuracy of the Floaters. This setup can be less reliable than the complete box, so ensure to experiment with the layout.

The High Platform Strategy

This tactic focuses on vertical mobility and utilizing gravity to your advantage:

1. Materials: Several stacks of blocks, a grappling hook, and optional platforms.
2. Construction: Build a tall, vertical shaft reaching high into the sky. Place horizontal platforms at regular intervals within the shaft.
3. Execution: Use the grappling hook to quickly ascend and descend the shaft, dodging enemy attacks and raining down projectiles from above.

This strategy requires more active movement and can be more challenging to execute consistently. However, it allows you to easily avoid ground enemies and provides a clear line of sight for your ranged attacks.

The Terrain Exploitation Method

Sometimes, the terrain itself can be your best ally:

1. Location: Find a naturally occurring cave or narrow passage near the Nebula Pillar.
2. Modification: Enlarge or modify the existing terrain to create a defensible position.
3. Execution: Use the confined space to your advantage, funneling enemies into a chokepoint where you can easily eliminate them.

This method relies on adapting to the environment and using the terrain to control enemy movement. It can be particularly effective if you find a cave system with multiple levels or branching pathways.

Weapon Choices for Cheesing

No cheese strategy is complete without the right weapon. Here are some excellent choices for taking down the Nebula Pillar:

• Nebula Arcanum: As mentioned earlier, this is a fantastic choice after you’ve beaten the pillar once. The AoE damage melts the enemies.
• Razorblade Typhoon: Another great option for mages, offering both high damage and a wide attack range.
• Phantasm with Holy Arrows: Excellent for ranged users, providing rapid-fire damage and piercing capabilities.
• Solar Eruption: A melee weapon that can attack through walls, making it ideal for use within an enclosed box.
• Stardust Dragon Staff: Summoners can use the Stardust Dragon to deal consistent damage to multiple enemies.

The key is to choose a weapon that complements your chosen cheese strategy and allows you to efficiently eliminate the incoming waves of enemies.

Remember, the goal of cheesing is to make the encounter easier, not necessarily trivial. You’ll still need to be aware of your surroundings, dodge incoming attacks, and manage your resources effectively. With a well-chosen strategy and the right gear, you can conquer the Nebula Pillar and claim your rewards!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Nebula Pillar and cheesing strategies:

1. Why is the Nebula Pillar so difficult?

The Nebula Pillar is difficult due to the combination of fast-moving projectiles, teleporting enemies, and the sheer number of enemies that spawn. The Nebula Floater, in particular, can be a major threat with its high-damage lasers and unpredictable teleportation.

2. What are the key enemy types spawned by the Nebula Pillar?

The main enemy types are Suckers, Brain Suckers, Evolution Beasts, and Nebula Floaters. Each enemy has unique attack patterns and abilities that can pose a challenge to unprepared players.

3. What gear should I have before attempting the Nebula Pillar?

Ideally, you should have end-game gear obtained after defeating the Golem, such as the Beetle Armor for melee, Shroomite Armor for ranged, or Spectre Armor for magic. A strong weapon, like the ones listed above, is also crucial.

4. How many enemies do I need to defeat to lower the Nebula Pillar’s shield?

You need to defeat 100 enemies in normal mode and 150 enemies in expert mode to lower the shield around the Nebula Pillar.

5. Does exiting the game reset the enemy count for the Nebula Pillar?

Yes, exiting the game will reset the enemy count, forcing you to start over from zero.

6. What are Nebula Fragments used for?

Nebula Fragments are used to craft powerful magic weapons and the Nebula Armor, which provides significant bonuses to magic damage and mana.

7. Which pillar should I target first if I’m a mage?

The Nebula Pillar is the obvious choice for mages, as it drops the fragments needed to craft powerful magic weapons and armor. However, the Stardust Pillar may be easier to defeat and can provide a powerful summon to aid in the other pillar fights.

8. What are some good accessories for fighting the Nebula Pillar?

Useful accessories include the Celestial Emblem (for mages), Ranger Emblem (for ranged), Warrior Emblem (for melee), Summoner Emblem (for summoners), wings, and accessories that boost defense and mobility.

9. How can I improve my survivability during the Nebula Pillar fight?

Focus on increasing your defense, maximizing your health regeneration, and improving your mobility. Using buffs like Ironskin, Regeneration, and Swiftness potions can also be very helpful.

10. Is there a way to predict where the Nebula Floaters will teleport?

Unfortunately, the teleportation of the Nebula Floaters is largely unpredictable. The best strategy is to stay mobile and try to anticipate their movements based on their previous location and attack patterns.

11. Can the Nebula Pillar spawn enemies inside my base?

If your base is located too close to the Nebula Pillar, enemies can spawn inside your base. It’s best to fight the pillar in a designated area away from your main base.

12. What happens after I destroy all four Celestial Pillars?

After destroying all four Celestial Pillars, the Moon Lord will spawn one minute later. Be prepared for the final boss fight!

13. Does the difficulty mode affect the Nebula Pillar fight?

Yes, expert mode increases the number of enemies required to lower the pillar’s shield (150 instead of 100) and generally makes the enemies more challenging.

14. Can I use traps to help defeat the Nebula Pillar?

Yes, traps can be a very effective way to supplement your damage and control enemy movement. Place traps strategically around your arena to maximize their impact.

15. Where can I learn more about Terraria strategies and gameplay mechanics?

You can find a wealth of information on the official Terraria wiki, YouTube channels dedicated to Terraria gameplay, and community forums. You can also explore resources provided by organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org which explores the educational and engaging aspects of gaming.

This detailed guide should equip you with everything you need to effectively cheese the Nebula Pillar and progress further in Terraria! Good luck, and happy gaming!