What is the Highest Damage Weapon in Pre-Hardmode Terraria?
The question of the highest damage weapon in pre-Hardmode Terraria is a common one, often sparking debate among players. While “damage” can be interpreted in different ways (like single hit damage versus damage per second), for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on weapons that can inflict the most raw damage on a single hit or in a short burst. With that in mind, the crown for highest damage pre-Hardmode weapon goes to the Star Cannon.
The Star Cannon stands out not just for its high single-shot damage but for its unique ammunition. Unlike typical ranged weapons, it fires fallen stars as ammunition, dealing a whopping 60 base damage per star. However, its high damage is balanced by the fact that it’s not easily obtained. The Star Cannon requires a significant amount of fallen stars (which are only available at night) and it’s a relatively late-game pre-Hardmode weapon. You can buy the Mini Shark from the Arms Dealer and craft the Star Cannon using that and 20 fallen stars. The Star Cannon’s high damage per shot gives it the edge, outperforming even the popular Night’s Edge in pure damage output. It’s important to note that while the Night’s Edge is considered one of the best pre-Hardmode swords, its higher attack speed is a key factor in its overall damage dealing capability. The Star Cannon, despite being a ranged weapon, excels in delivering extremely high damage in single instances, hence the title.
Pre-Hardmode Melee Powerhouses
While the Star Cannon reigns supreme in pure single-hit damage, melee options shouldn’t be overlooked in pre-Hardmode Terraria.
The Night’s Edge
Often cited as the most powerful pre-Hardmode sword, the Night’s Edge is not the highest damage weapon in a single hit. However, it offers a potent combination of good damage (40 base damage), a reasonably fast attack speed, and its projectiles, making it highly effective against groups of enemies. Players must collect specific swords like the Blade of Grass, Blood Butcherer (or the Light’s Bane), Muramasa, and Fiery Greatsword to craft it.
Other Notable Melee Options
Other melee weapons like the Volcano and Purple Clubberfish come close in single hit damage, but they lack the overall effectiveness or range of the Night’s Edge. The Bat Bat and Bee Keeper also provide a decent damage per second, particularly the Bee Keeper with its bee projectiles.
Pre-Hardmode Ranged Alternatives
While the Star Cannon is clearly the top damage dealer, several other ranged weapons deserve mention for their utility and damage output.
The Molten Fury
The Molten Fury bow, crafted using Hellstone Bars, stands as one of the top bows before Hardmode. While its damage is less than the Star Cannon it still provides a significant ranged damage option for players.
Other Ranged Contenders
The Hellwing Bow is an excellent choice, and the Sharanga offers high damage with a more direct attack. Consumables like Bouncy Grenades can also be powerful in pre-Hardmode situations, especially for crowd control.
Why Is the Star Cannon So Powerful?
The key to the Star Cannon’s high damage lies in its unique ammunition – fallen stars. Unlike regular bullets or arrows, these stars deal a substantial 60 base damage each. Furthermore, the star projectiles travel with a decent speed, though they have a slight arc making targeting moving enemies can be difficult. The main downside of the Star Cannon is its limited ammo which requires players to collect fallen stars every night.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify weapon options in pre-Hardmode Terraria:
1. What is the best pre-Hardmode bow?
The Sharanga is considered one of the best pre-Hardmode bows, with a base damage of 36. However, the Molten Fury is also a popular and powerful choice due to its ease of crafting and good damage output of 31.
2. What are the best pre-Hardmode bullets?
While regular Musket Balls are serviceable, Silver Bullets (or Tungsten Bullets) offer better damage for a slight increase in cost and are considered the best option pre-Hardmode.
3. Is the Katana worth it in Terraria?
Yes, the Katana is a valuable early-game sword, especially with its high critical strike chance and auto-swing feature.
4. What is the best pre-Hardmode pickaxe?
The Molten Pickaxe is the best pre-Hardmode pickaxe. It is capable of mining Cobalt Ore and Palladium Ore, making it essential for early Hardmode progression.
5. How do I get the Muramasa?
The Muramasa is found in Locked Gold Chests or Golden Lock Boxes inside the Dungeon, both of which require Golden Keys to open.
6. What is the fastest melee weapon in pre-Hardmode?
While the Fetid Baghnakhs are the fastest melee weapon in the whole game, they’re only obtainable in Hardmode. Before hardmode, it depends on your gear, however, many consider the Katana with its fast auto swing capabilities, to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest melee weapon pre hardmode.
7. What is the best pre-Hardmode summon weapon?
The Hornet Staff is generally considered the best pre-Hardmode summon weapon, summoning a hornet minion that inflicts poison.
8. What is the second best pre-Hardmode sword?
After the Night’s Edge, many would consider the Volcano to be the second-best option, due to its high base damage of 40, however, it is slower and has less range than the Night’s Edge.
9. What are some good early Hardmode melee weapons?
Good early Hardmode melee options include the Night’s Edge, Dark Lance, Sunfury or Cascade, often paired with Molten Armor for extra melee damage.
10. Which Terraria weapon does the most damage overall?
The Zenith is generally considered the most powerful weapon in the game overall, capable of extremely high DPS.
11. Is the Terra Blade the strongest weapon in Terraria?
No, while the Terra Blade is a powerful weapon before the Moon Lord, it is surpassed by the Zenith in terms of damage output.
12. What is the most overpowered sword in Terraria?
The Zenith is considered the most overpowered sword, an amalgamation of several powerful swords with extremely high damage and range.
13. What is the best melee armor in pre-Hardmode?
The best melee armor before Hardmode would be Molten Armor, which provides extra melee damage bonuses.
14. What is the highest DPS weapon in the game?
The Zenith can reach extremely high DPS, exceeding 1 million DPS against the Destroyer, making it arguably the highest damage per second weapon.
15. Is the Coin Gun a good weapon?
The Coin Gun is a powerful weapon, especially when used with Platinum Coins, but it can become very costly. The Greedy Ring or Lucky Coin can provide more infinite ammo when paired with it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Night’s Edge is a powerful all-around weapon and remains a fan-favorite, the Star Cannon is the highest damage weapon in pre-Hardmode Terraria when considering single hit burst damage. Its reliance on fallen star ammo can be a drawback, but in situations where high single-shot damage is needed, the Star Cannon truly shines. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of various weapons will help players prepare for the challenges that await in both pre-Hardmode and beyond.