How to Ditch Wood Armor and Get Stronger in Terraria
The starting point for every Terraria adventure is humble: wood armor. While it offers basic protection, it’s far from adequate for the challenges that await. The question on every new player’s mind is, “How do I get better armor than wood?” The answer lies in exploring your world, gathering resources, and crafting superior gear. Here’s a comprehensive guide on transitioning from wood to more formidable protection.
Transitioning From Wood: Your First Steps
The most direct answer to upgrading your armor beyond wood is to mine ores and craft armor sets from them. Your initial focus should be on gathering resources found in the world’s surface and underground biomes. This usually involves exploring caves and gathering ores like copper, tin, iron, or lead. Each ore has an associated armor set that is significantly stronger than wood.
The basic progression goes like this: After obtaining enough ore, you will need to create a furnace (from stone), an anvil (from iron/lead), and then use these crafting stations to convert the ore into bars and then into individual armor pieces. You may also find it helpful to locate and loot chests for pre-generated armor sets.
Key Armor Sets Beyond Wood
- Copper/Tin Armor: These are the first metal sets available. Copper is slightly weaker than tin, but both are significant upgrades over wood. Copper armor has a defense stat of 2 for the helmet, 3 for the breastplate, and 2 for the greaves. Tin has defense stat of 3 for the helmet, 4 for the breastplate, and 3 for the greaves.
- Iron/Lead Armor: Found deeper underground, these are stronger than copper and tin. Iron has defense stat of 4 for the helmet, 5 for the breastplate, and 4 for the greaves. Lead armor has a slightly higher defense of 5 for the helmet, 6 for the breastplate, and 5 for the greaves.
- Silver/Tungsten Armor: These provide even greater defense and are a key mid-early game set. Silver provides a defense stat of 5 for the helmet, 6 for the breastplate, and 5 for the greaves. Tungsten provides a defense of 6 for the helmet, 7 for the breastplate, and 6 for the greaves.
- Gold/Platinum Armor: The strongest pre-hardmode metal armor options, offering excellent defense and protection. Gold armor has a defense of 7 for the helmet, 8 for the breastplate, and 7 for the greaves. Platinum armor has a defense of 8 for the helmet, 9 for the breastplate, and 8 for the greaves.
Beyond Ores: Alternative Early Options
While mining and crafting is the primary method, there are also alternative early-game armor options.
- Cactus Armor: Found in the desert biome, Cactus armor is a surprising upgrade to wood. Its main advantage is the “Thorns” effect, which damages enemies when they strike you. It provides 15, 30, or 45 damage on hit depending on how many pieces are equipped. It may be better than iron in certain scenarios depending on playstyle.
- Shadow/Crimson Armor: While these options may take a while to obtain, and are less common, they have their benefits. Crimtane gives a defense of 5, 6, and 5. Shadow gives a defense of 4, 5, and 4.
Strategic Armor Choices
Choosing the right armor depends on your playstyle. While defense is crucial, other factors also matter. For example, a melee-focused player will want high defense, whereas a summoner might prefer armor that increases their minion damage. Experiment with different armors to find what best suits your needs.
Once you have moved through the first few levels of ore, consider the type of gameplay you would like to use and research the best armor options for that specific playstyle. For example, a mage build is going to require a different set of armor than a melee-based build.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 common questions about upgrading from wood armor in Terraria:
1. What is the quickest way to find better ores?
Explore your world! Start by digging straight down until you hit caves. Search along the sides of the cave for ores. The higher the tier of ore, the deeper into the ground you will have to go. Using mining potions and equipment will help speed up this process.
2. Is it worth it to skip Copper/Tin armor?
Yes, it is possible. If you find iron or lead ore quickly, you can skip the weaker sets. However, copper and tin provide a good starting point if no other ores are found first.
3. How does Cactus Armor compare to basic metal armor?
Cactus armor is not better than Iron, Lead, Silver, or Tungsten in defense but the “Thorns” set bonus can make it situationally better, especially in early game scenarios. Metal armor provides consistent protection that will be useful no matter what. Cactus armor is a great option if metal is not readily available.
4. What is the best pre-hardmode armor for defense?
Platinum armor offers the highest defense among readily available pre-hardmode armors. Gold armor is a suitable alternative if platinum is unavailable.
5. Is there an early armor that boosts magic damage?
Not significantly in the early game. Focus on getting the best defense set available to you before you focus on specific playstyles. There are items that increase magic damage, but they usually are not part of the basic armor sets.
6. Can you obtain better armor by fishing?
Yes, fishing can sometimes yield crates that contain useful items such as potions, equipment, and sometimes even armor. It’s not a reliable method of obtaining armor, but it can be a supplemental option.
7. Is there a difference between iron and lead armor?
Yes, lead armor has slightly better defense than iron armor, making it the superior choice if you have access to it.
8. Is exploring the jungle biome early a good idea?
The jungle biome can offer more challenges, but it contains resources that can assist in obtaining better armor. However, be prepared for more aggressive enemies. Proceed with caution.
9. What is the fastest way to get money for armor?
Selling valuable items such as gems, ores, and boss drops is a common strategy. Exploring caves can quickly yield materials to sell.
10. Should I prioritize defense or mobility in early game armor?
Prioritize defense in the early game. The additional mobility is nice but protection from damage is far more important in early gameplay. As you progress, mobility becomes more important, but early game is about survival, so prioritize that.
11. Is it worth using the different types of wood armor?
While wood armor does exist in various forms, only Pearlwood is considerably stronger than basic wood. The others should be skipped over as soon as possible.
12. What is the strongest craftable armor in the entire game?
The Solar Flare Armor is the strongest craftable armor for defense. It requires extremely end-game resources that are obtained after defeating the final boss of the game, which means it is not immediately attainable.
13. Can armor be upgraded once crafted?
No, armor in Terraria is not upgradable. You must craft a new, stronger armor set to upgrade your defense.
14. What armor should I get after wood, if I’m playing melee?
For a melee build, any of the ore-based armors like Iron, Lead, Silver, or Tungsten are great starting points. Prioritize defense, as stated previously, and work your way to higher-tier armors.
15. Is there a rare early-game armor I should be on the lookout for?
While not “rare,” finding a complete set of any ore-based armor in a chest is beneficial. However, focus on obtaining metal ores and crafting them over relying on random drops.
Conclusion
Transitioning from wood armor is a critical step in Terraria. By mining ores, exploring biomes, and strategically choosing your gear, you can quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Remember to focus on obtaining higher-tier metal armors as soon as possible and do not be afraid to switch between different sets to find which suits your gameplay best. With this information, you can confidently progress from humble beginnings to facing the greatest challenges Terraria has to offer.