What Do You Fight After Golem in Terraria? A Comprehensive Guide
The defeat of Golem in Terraria marks a significant turning point in the game. You’ve conquered a powerful foe and unlocked the next stage of progression. But what exactly awaits you now? The answer isn’t as simple as just one more boss. Instead, defeating Golem opens the door to a variety of challenges, culminating in a showdown against the game’s final boss. Immediately after Golem falls, you are primed to face the Lunatic Cultist and the Lunar Events. Additionally, the Martian Madness event becomes available, and optional bosses like Duke Fishron also become more attainable. This guide will explore everything you can expect to battle after defeating Golem in Terraria.
The Immediate Aftermath: Cultists and the Lunatic Cultist
Once Golem is vanquished, keep an eye on the entrance to your Dungeon. You’ll notice several Cultists have appeared. These cultists are not random mobs; they are a critical part of progression. You must defeat them all to summon the Lunatic Cultist.
Summoning the Lunatic Cultist
To bring forth the Lunatic Cultist, you need to eliminate the four Cultist Devotees and two Cultist Archers that spawn around the Dungeon entrance. Be careful; these cultists are not weak. They fire magic projectiles and move around unpredictably. Once you have defeated these cultists, the Lunatic Cultist will materialize, ready for battle.
The Lunatic Cultist Boss Fight
The Lunatic Cultist is a challenging boss with a variety of magical attacks. He uses different projectiles, teleports, and creates illusions of himself. It’s crucial to learn his attack patterns and have well-suited gear to survive this battle. Defeating the Lunatic Cultist is a pivotal step because it initiates the Lunar Events, the final events of the game’s progression. This is considered a mandatory step to reach the end-game.
Lunar Events and the Celestial Pillars
Upon defeating the Lunatic Cultist, four Celestial Pillars will spawn across your world: Solar, Vortex, Nebula, and Stardust. Each pillar is protected by unique enemies and is themed around its respective element. The goal is to defeat each pillar by destroying the protective shield and then defeating the monsters within it. After a Celestial Pillar is defeated, the enemies from that specific pillar will continue to spawn across your world.
Preparing for the Pillars
The pillars are difficult, and it’s essential to be prepared with appropriate weapons, armor, and potions. Experiment with your classes and different items. Each pillar demands a different approach. Also, be sure to use an arena and set up traps and strategic placements to minimize damage from enemies. It can be a good idea to take on the Pillars one at a time and slowly clear the waves of enemies before damaging the pillar shield.
The Final Showdown: The Moon Lord
Once all four Celestial Pillars are defeated, the Moon Lord, the final boss of Terraria, will spawn, ready for your final challenge. This is a multi-stage battle with many different attacks and phases. This will be your greatest challenge yet. Be sure to have a good arena and prepare well for this boss fight.
Optional Challenges and Events Post-Golem
While the Lunatic Cultist and Lunar Events are your main path, there are other things you can do after defeating Golem. These are optional but offer great loot and challenges.
Martian Madness Event
After Golem is defeated, Martian Probes will begin to spawn randomly. If a probe escapes, it triggers the Martian Madness event. This event features hordes of Martian enemies and culminates with the fight against the Martian Saucer. This event is a great way to get high-tier items. Be prepared; this event can get quite chaotic.
Optional Boss: Duke Fishron
Duke Fishron is a challenging optional boss that can be summoned by fishing in the ocean using a Truffle Worm as bait. This boss is notorious for its speed, high damage, and difficulty. Defeating Duke Fishron provides powerful weapons, and armor that can significantly boost your character’s abilities. This fight is recommended before going up against the Lunar Events as he drops some very valuable loot.
Frost and Pumpkin Moons
These are special night-time events that can be triggered with specific items. The Frost Moon features hordes of winter-themed enemies, while the Pumpkin Moon hosts Halloween-themed foes. Both events offer unique drops, and rewards, and are a good test of your combat skills. They are a fun way to farm for resources and rewards if you are looking for something to do.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about what to do after defeating Golem in Terraria:
1. Is Golem the final boss in Terraria?
No, Golem is not the final boss. He is a mandatory boss needed to progress through the game and unlock the next stages, but he is far from the last challenge. The final boss is the Moon Lord.
2. What is the order of boss progression?
The order of boss progression varies from player to player, but a general order is: Eye of Cthulhu, King Slime, Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu, Skeletron, Queen Bee, Wall of Flesh, The Destroyer, The Twins, Skeletron Prime, Plantera, Golem, Lunatic Cultist, and finally Moon Lord. There are of course several optional bosses like Duke Fishron, Queen Slime, and Empress of Light that can also be fought.
3. Can I skip Golem?
No, you cannot skip Golem. His defeat is a direct trigger for the next phases of the game, just like the other mandatory bosses.
4. Is the Lunatic Cultist a good guy?
No, the Lunatic Cultist is a main antagonist, a cult leader who is preparing for the return of the Moon Lord.
5. What happens if the Lunatic Cultist kills you?
If you are defeated by the Lunatic Cultist, you must defeat all the Cultists again before you can attempt the fight again. He does not despawn unless he is pulled to far away from the spawning point.
6. What’s next after the Lunar Events?
After defeating the Moon Lord, you’ve effectively completed the main progression of the game. From there, you can work on building, gathering, creating a new character, or starting a new world. The end-game is all about working on your builds and experimenting with different items.
7. What is the easiest way to defeat the Lunatic Cultist?
There is no “easiest” method, but having excellent armor like Beetle Armor or Spectre Armor, dodging skills, a strong weapon, and accessories like Master Ninja Gear and Celestial Shell greatly help.
8. What happens if I don’t kill the cultists by the dungeon?
If you do not kill the cultists, or lure them away, the Lunatic Cultist will not spawn. This can be fixed by saving the world and reloading.
9. Can you fight the Lunatic Cultist more than once?
Yes, if you want to refight the Lunatic Cultist, you must defeat all four of the Celestial Pillars and then the Cultists will respawn at the dungeon entrance.
10. When should I fight Duke Fishron?
Duke Fishron can be fought after defeating Plantera, but it is recommended to fight him after Golem as he is very challenging and his loot is very valuable.
11. Is Duke Fishron harder than Golem?
Yes, Duke Fishron is significantly harder than Golem. He is among the most difficult optional bosses.
12. What are the Martian Madness drops?
The Martian Madness event drops various items, including weapons, armor, and accessories. Key drops include the Cosmic Car Key, Xeno Staff, and the Influx Waver
13. What are the Frost Moon drops?
The Frost Moon event drops a variety of themed items including pets, weapons, mounts, and other unique items.
14. What are the Pumpkin Moon drops?
Similarly to the Frost Moon, the Pumpkin Moon offers Halloween themed drops including pets, weapons, mounts, and more.
15. What weapons are recommended for post-Golem bosses?
Post-Golem, many weapons are viable. Some notable ones are the Vampire Knives, Terra Blade, Piranha Gun, and the Razorblade Typhoon dropped by Duke Fishron. It is a good idea to experiment to see what weapons best suit your class.
In conclusion, defeating Golem is a significant milestone, opening up various avenues of gameplay. From battling the Lunatic Cultist, facing the Lunar Events, and tackling optional bosses like Duke Fishron and events such as the Martian Madness, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in the latter stages of Terraria. Prepare well, gather your best gear, and embark on these final adventures. Good luck!