Terraria’s Superior Firearms: Guns That Outshine the Megashark
The Megashark is a powerful weapon in Terraria, often hailed for its high fire rate and respectable damage output, making it a go-to choice for many players. However, as you progress through the game, especially into Hardmode and beyond, several guns emerge that significantly surpass the Megashark in terms of raw power, utility, or specific combat applications. While the Megashark is undoubtedly a strong contender in its own right, several weapons offer superior performance, cementing their places in the higher echelons of Terraria’s arsenal. Let’s delve into the details of which guns reign supreme over this popular choice.
Direct Upgrades and Powerhouses
S.D.M.G. (Space Dolphin Machine Gun)
The S.D.M.G. is widely considered the direct upgrade to the Megashark. This post-Moon Lord gun boasts several advantages: a slightly faster firing rate, a notable increase in damage, and a 66% chance not to consume ammo. This significantly improves ammo efficiency, making it a much more sustainable choice for prolonged combat. If you’re looking for a straight upgrade that offers increased DPS and resource management, the S.D.M.G. is the clear winner. The S.D.M.G. is not only a fantastic weapon but a sign that the player is close to end game.
Chain Gun
The Chain Gun is another strong contender, especially for its insane fire rate. While it might lack the raw damage per shot compared to the S.D.M.G, its incredibly rapid firing speed (over 75% faster than the Megashark) and the 50% chance to not consume ammunition allow it to achieve some of the highest DPS in the game. The primary drawback of the Chain Gun is its wide spread, which makes it less precise than the Megashark. This gun makes up for its lack of precision by being a fast damage dealer.
Vortex Beater
The Vortex Beater, a post-Lunatic Cultist weapon, is a very versatile gun that uses both bullets and rockets, which it fires at a high rate. It excels at crowd control and rapid damage output. Although it shares some accuracy issues with the Chain Gun, its dual ammunition capabilities and high DPS potential can quickly obliterate bosses and hordes of enemies alike. The bullets fired from the Vortex Beater are not the only thing to consider; when used with rockets, it can become an extremely powerful weapon.
Sniper Rifle
The Sniper Rifle trades fire rate for incredibly high single-shot damage. This Hardmode weapon, while not always practical for every situation due to its slower firing speed, can absolutely devastate most enemies with its powerful damage output, especially with the right ammunition. The high knockback it provides can also give a tactical advantage during intense fights. When paired with the right ammo the Sniper Rifle is a devastating weapon for high value targets.
Situational Superiority and Alternatives
The Uzi
The Uzi is an interesting alternative to the Megashark, especially given its accessibility. Obtainable from Angry Trappers before defeating any Hardmode bosses, the Uzi can fill the role of a high-speed firing gun during the early Hardmode stages, but it is quickly outclassed. While not as potent as the Megashark, it serves well for players in the transition phase of the game and is a good stepping stone to better weapons. The Uzi is an important pre-Hardmode gun to get.
Coin Gun
The Coin Gun is a unique weapon that utilizes coins as ammunition. While it might seem impractical, when loaded with Platinum Coins, it becomes one of the most powerful weapons in the game. Its damage output, however, comes at a high economic cost, but can be mitigated with the Greedy Ring or Lucky Coin, which can generate additional coins during combat. The coin gun has the potential to be incredibly powerful.
Xenopopper
The Xenopopper is a Hardmode weapon that many users have lauded as one of the strongest in the game. Although the weapon is capable of dealing a high amount of damage when paired with Crystal Bullets. Many users still find the Megashark to be the better option, despite this. Both weapons excel at dealing high amounts of damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the S.D.M.G. truly the best gun in Terraria?
The S.D.M.G. is often considered the best ranged weapon, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. The Zenith is generally agreed upon to be the most powerful weapon overall due to its versatile nature, making it ideal for almost any fight. For pure ranged damage, however, the S.D.M.G. is hard to beat.
2. How does the DPS of the Megashark compare to other guns?
The Megashark has a respectable DPS of 230. The Clockwork Assault Rifle, however, is shown to have a higher DPS at 311, but the Megashark is more highly recommended by many. Guns such as the S.D.M.G., Chain Gun and Vortex Beater all have higher DPS if used correctly.
3. What ammunition works best with the Megashark?
Crystal Bullets are often considered optimal for use with the Megashark, especially when fighting bosses. The secondary shards from Crystal Bullets allow the weapon to hit multiple times per shot. Crystal Bullets are a must have if you plan on using the Megashark.
4. Can the Megashark defeat the Moon Lord?
Yes, the Megashark can defeat the Moon Lord, especially when paired with Crystal Bullets. However, it’s not the most efficient option. Weapons like the S.D.M.G. or Vortex Beater are generally better suited for this difficult boss fight. The Megashark is not the worst option, but it is not the best.
5. Is the Chain Gun better than the Megashark for DPS?
Yes, the Chain Gun is considered to have a much higher potential DPS than the Megashark, mainly due to its superior firing rate. Its less accurate spread, though, can make it less reliable in some scenarios. The Chain Gun can deal more DPS but requires some experience to use.
6. What are the best bullets in Terraria?
The best bullets generally include Chlorophyte Bullets and Luminite Bullets for late-game, as well as Crystal Bullets for mid-game and High Velocity Bullets for their speed. These options excel in various categories like damage, piercing, and speed. There is no one best option and each can have specific use cases.
7. What is the fastest gun in Terraria?
The Chain Gun is currently the fastest firing gun in the game. Its unparalleled fire rate makes it a formidable weapon, even with its inaccurate spread. The firing speed is not the best stat on every weapon, but for the Chain Gun, it works.
8. Is the Slime Gun rare?
The Slime Gun is not very rare, with a 66.67% chance of dropping from King Slime. It cannot be reforged and does not have modifiers. The Slime Gun is not known for its power, but more for its fun.
9. Is the Space Gun good?
The Space Gun is a decent early-game magic weapon. Its ability to pierce through enemies makes it useful for events like the Goblin Army and the Wall of Flesh boss fight. The Space Gun is not just used for boss fights, it is used all throughout the early game.
10. What is the best pre-Hardmode ranged weapon?
The Bee’s Knees is often cited as one of the best pre-Hardmode weapons. It excels in damage output and utility. There are other weapons in this category, but the Bee’s Knees are an essential part of a pre-Hardmode kit.
11. How do you get the Zenith?
The Zenith is crafted using various swords as components. You’ll need the Muramasa, Demonite/Crimtane Ore, Jungle Spores, Stingers, Hellstone, Obsidian, Souls of Fright, and Souls of Might. Gathering all the necessary materials can be a difficult task, but crafting it is worth it.
12. Is the Coin Gun really that strong?
Yes, the Coin Gun can be extremely powerful when using Platinum Coins. It can achieve very high damage, making it a viable option in certain situations despite the cost. The coin gun has the potential to be a top tier weapon.
13. How does the Xenopopper compare to the Megashark?
The Xenopopper, paired with Crystal Bullets, can be exceptionally potent in terms of raw damage and its potential. Many players argue that the Megashark is better due to the reliability that it can provide. Both weapons are good and worth trying.
14. What is the loudest weapon in Terraria?
The Vortex Beater is well-known for being one of the loudest weapons in the game, due to its high firing rate and dual ammunition types. The Vortex Beater is one of the more satisfying weapons in the game because of this.
15. Is the Terra Blade still good?
The Terra Blade is still a good weapon, especially in the mid-to-late Hardmode stages, for its balance of speed, damage, and piercing. It does have a slight disadvantage compared to the Influx Waver in single target scenarios. The Terra Blade still has high value to this day.
Conclusion
While the Megashark is a solid gun that serves well during early Hardmode, numerous weapons outclass it later on. The S.D.M.G. serves as a direct and powerful upgrade, while weapons like the Chain Gun, Vortex Beater, and Sniper Rifle offer alternative options, each excelling in different areas. Understanding which weapons perform better than the Megashark in specific situations will significantly improve your combat efficiency and overall gameplay. Using other weapons will greatly improve the variety of weapons that a player can use.