Pylon Pushers: Which NPCs Sell You These Essential Terraria Teleporters?

The short answer is this: any NPC that sells anything (except for the Tavernkeep and the Traveling Merchant/Skeleton Merchant) can sell pylons, provided they are happy enough! Reaching that state of bliss depends on their location, their neighbors, and even the size of their house!

Understanding Pylon Sales: The Happiness Equation

NPC happiness is the key to unlocking pylon sales. It’s a complex interplay of factors, but understanding the core mechanics is crucial. Think of it as a set of bonuses applied to the base price of items. If the modifiers bring the price of items down to 85% or less, the NPC will offer a pylon for sale corresponding to their current biome.

The Pillars of Pylon Purchasing:

• Biome Preference: Each NPC has a preferred biome. Being in that biome makes them happier. A loved biome provides a larger happiness boost than a liked biome.

• Neighborly Love: NPCs have preferences for who they live near. Some NPCs love living next to others, some merely like it, and some actively dislike or even hate certain neighbors. A loved neighbor is worth more than a liked neighbor.

• Crowding: NPCs don’t like living in cramped quarters! Reduce the NPC Price Modifier to 90% by following these simple rules:

  • There can be no more than one other NPC within 25 tiles.
  • There can be no more than three NPCs within 120 tiles.

Achieving that sweet spot where the NPC’s price modifier is below 85% opens up the pylon sales window. Note that NPC relationships aren’t always symmetrical. The NPC they like or love doesn’t need to reciprocate the feeling for it to work. Only the vendor NPC must be happy enough to sell the pylon.

Special Cases and Considerations

While nearly all merchant NPCs can sell pylons, some scenarios and nuances are worth pointing out:

• Celebrationmk10 Seed: As the text says, playing Celebrationmk10 seed allows early access to the hallow pylon.
• Post-Moon Lord Perks: Some NPCs get new inventory options once the Moon Lord is defeated. For example, the Zoologist sells the Universal Pylon after the Bestiary is completed.
• Calamity Mod: If you’re venturing into the Calamity Mod, there are additional pylons beyond those in vanilla Terraria.
• Party Girl and Stylist: As the provided text states, while these NPCs can sell pylons, they often struggle to reach the necessary happiness threshold without careful planning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pylon Sales

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of pylon acquisition:

1. Can I get early access to all pylons before defeating any bosses?

It’s a long stretch, but can be done using some luck and proper placement. The text suggests that the Arms Dealer and Nurse combo, in the right biomes (and with the Celebrationmk10 seed for the Hallow Pylon), can sell all pre-hardmode pylons without boss fights.

2. Why won’t my NPCs sell pylons even with a liked neighbor and biome?

Several factors could be at play. Make sure the NPC is actually in their liked or loved biome and has a liked or loved neighbor. Crowding is a common culprit – ensure there are enough free living spaces around them. Remember, you need less than 85% NPC price modifier.

3. Do Calamity NPCs sell pylons?

While this isn’t explicitly stated, the provided text mentions four unique pylons available in the Calamity Mod, implying that Calamity Mod NPCs sell them.

4. Does the Zoologist sell pylons?

Yes, the Zoologist sells the Universal Pylon after defeating the Moon Lord and completing the Bestiary.

5. Do town slimes count towards pylon requirements?

Yes, Town Slimes count towards the minimum NPC count required for a pylon to function. As a bonus, they don’t affect NPC happiness negatively.

6. Can I have multiple of the same pylon?

No, you cannot have two pylons of the same type in your world. You can only have one of each type present.

7. Can the Party Girl sell pylons?

Yes, she can. But the Party Girl can be difficult to achieve the needed level of happiness to sell pylons. You’ll need to carefully plan her biome and neighbors.

8. Who does the Pirate like?

The Pirate is noted to have an affinity for the Angler, strangely enough!

9. How do I get a merchant to sell my Pylon?

The vendor NPC must be happy with a price modifier of 90% or better. You’ll want to carefully consider the NPC’s biome and housing location.

10. Do pets count for pylons?

Yes, Town Pets count towards the minimum NPC count required for a pylon to function.

11. Can NPCs get married and provide free items?

That’s not quite how Terraria works. The text mentions marriage, dating, and other relationships to further explain how to reach the needed happiness.

12. Who is the most powerful NPC?

The Nurse stands above all others in terms of power, and allows you to win otherwise unwinnable fights by healing.

13. What happens if a town slime dies?

Town Slimes, like other town NPCs, will respawn on their own after death, provided the conditions for their initial appearance are still met.

14. How do I make my NPC happy?

Minimize crowding, place them in their preferred biome, and house them next to NPCs they like or love. Remember that lack of crowding multiplies the total by 95%, a loved biome or NPC multiplies by 88%, and a liked biome or NPC multiplies by 94%.

15. What are the happiness thresholds for selling pylons?

To sell pylons, NPCs need enough happiness to bring their price modifier below 85%. 90% – Not Crowded (No more than 1 other NPC within 25 tiles, no more than 3 within 120) 90% – Loved Biome.

Mastering NPC Happiness: A Strategy for Pylon Paradise

Getting NPCs to sell pylons requires more than just randomly sticking them in houses. Here’s a strategic approach:

1. Identify Biome Preferences: Research which NPCs love or like specific biomes. The official Terraria wiki is your best resource for this.

2. Plan Your Town Layout: Group NPCs with compatible preferences together. Consult online guides for optimal pairings.

3. Prioritize Key Vendors: Focus on making the NPCs who sell essential items (like the Arms Dealer, Merchant, and Goblin Tinkerer) as happy as possible, as their discounts on other items will be great.

4. Manage Crowding: Spread out houses to avoid overcrowding penalties. Use the 120-tile and 25-tile rules as a guideline.

5. Monitor Prices: Keep an eye on the prices of items sold by your vendors. This is a direct indicator of their happiness level.

Beyond the Pylon: The Benefits of a Happy Town

While pylons are a fantastic reward, remember that happy NPCs also offer significant discounts on their goods. This can save you a substantial amount of money in the long run, especially when purchasing expensive items like reforges from the Goblin Tinkerer. A happy town is not just a convenient town; it’s an economically thriving town!

Ultimately, mastering the art of NPC happiness is a key skill for any Terraria player. It’s a complex but rewarding system that adds depth and strategy to the game. So, take the time to understand the nuances of NPC relationships, biome preferences, and housing requirements, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a thriving and prosperous town, complete with readily available pylons for all your teleportation needs. You can learn even more about game-based learning at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.