Goblin Tinkerer (2024)

The Goblin Tinkerer is an NPC that sells several unique items, as well as providing the Reforge function. He can be acquired after a Goblin Army has been defeated, spawning randomly in open areas in the Cavern layer (Underground layer in the Don't Dig Up and Everything seeds.) He will appear to be bound at first, and like the Mechanic, Wizard, Golfer, Tavernkeep, Angler, and Stylist, talking to him in this state will free him. He will then respawn as long as a vacant House is available.

The Goblin Tinkerer's reforge option allows the player to randomize the Modifier for a weapon or accessory, which can make the item better or worse than it was originally. Reforges cost one-third of the item's current value, which can also be affected by its current modifier. The reforge cost is also affected by the Goblin Tinkerer's Happiness, and can be decreased by equipping a Discount Card or Greedy Ring.^[2]

The modifiers of items used in crafting have no effect on the crafted item's modifier. Any modifier given to the newly crafted item will be completely random.

On the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, Old Chinese version, tModLoader version, and tModLoader 1.3-Legacy version when threatened by enemies, the Goblin Tinkerer will defend himself by throwing Spiky Balls, which behave like those thrown by the player and deal 15 / 22 / 26 damage at the start of the game, and (on the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, and tModLoader version) as players progress he will gain various stat increases.^[1]

The Goblin Tinkerer prefers to be in the Cavern layer or with the Mechanic.

The Bound Goblin is one of the few entities that can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer or its upgrades.

Items sold[]

Inventory

Item	Cost	Availability
Rocket Boots	5	Always available.
Ruler	10 1	Always available.
Tinkerer's Workshop	10	Always available.
Grappling Hook	2	Always available.
Toolbelt	10	Always available.
Spiky Ball	80	Always available.
Rubblemaker	25	When the Wall of Flesh has been defeated.
Any Pylon	10	When in a specific biome and is happy enough.

Living preferences []

For more information, see NPC happiness.

Shimmered form []

Shimmered Goblin Tinkerer and his Map Icon.

When submerged in Shimmer, the Goblin Tinkerer will transform into his Shimmered form. This has no impact on gameplay or dialogue and is only a visual change. He can be returned to his classic look by submerging him in Shimmer again.

Names[]

The Goblin Tinkerer may have any of the following names:

Tips[]

• Before the Goblin Tinkerer has been rescued, the Bound Goblin periodically spawns near the player as they travel the Cavern layer, despawning if they get too far away. Therefore, spending hours clearing the map and searching every tunnel is unnecessary.
• Consuming a Hunter Potion will cause the Bound Goblin to light up, making him easier to find.
• While the Bound Goblin can be found in any open area underground, bound NPCs may be easier for players to find in the Dungeon, as it is an expansive and easily navigated underground space. NPCs can also be found in the Jungle Temple.
• As a cost saving measure, it is beneficial to make the Goblin Tinkerer as happy as possible, so his Reforges cost less.
• Avoid reforging items that will be combined at the Tinkerer's Workshop because any modifiers are lost in the combining.
• When practical, bring two of the item to be reforged: Reforge one until the modifier is decent, then swap and reforge the other until the modifier is better. That way, if you run out of money, you aren't stuck with a bad modifier.

Quotes[]

Interaction quotes[]

Happiness quotes []

Trivia[]

• He is the only goblin who has round ears. Also, his glasses do not rest on top of his ears.
• As evidenced by some of his quotes, the Goblin Tinkerer has a crush on the Mechanic, and, referenced by some of her quotes, she has a crush on him too.
  • This is also proven by his happiness quote, "<Name of Mechanic> makes my cardiac core function improperly, it appears I love how that feels!"
  • It is possible that his hate of the Clothier stems from the fact that the Mechanic and Clothier hate each other (see Mechanic and Clothier living preferences).
• The Goblin Tinkerer and the Mechanic can be seen together in the Terrarian Gothic painting.
• The quote, "Yo, I heard you like rockets and running boots, so I put some rockets in your running boots." is a reference to the Xzibit "Yo Dawg" meme. It is also a reference to how the Tinkerer's Workshop can combine Rocket Boots with running boots (Hermes Boots, Flurry Boots, Dunerider Boots, or Sailfish Boots).
• His quote, "I'm working on a Photon Sack. It's an invention to trap all the ghasts lurking around outside!" is likely a reference to the movie Ghostbusters, as in the movie the protagonists wield Proton Packs to trap ghosts.
• One of his names, "Dalek", is a reference to the British show Doctor Who. The Daleks are an antagonistic race famed for their advances in technology and desire to exterminate all "inferior" beings.
• One of his names, "Gnudar", is possibly a reference to Futurama, as there is an alien known by the name Nudar featured as an antagonist in one of the movies.
• The quote "YES, gold is stronger than iron. What are they teaching these humans nowadays?" is a reference to the fact that gold is stronger than iron in Terraria, though iron is more durable in real life.
• Unlike other goblins, the Goblin Tinkerer doesn't drop his weapon (Spiky Balls) if he dies. Ironically, he is also the only goblin to actually use Spiky Balls as a weapon.
• The quote, "Goblins are surprisingly easy to anger. In fact, they could start a war over cloth!" is a reference to the Goblin Battle Standard, one of the ways you can summon the Goblin Army event.

The Bestiary entry for the Goblin Tinkerer: "Exiled from the rest of goblinkind for being an intelligent pacifist, the Tinkerer sells tools for combining accessories into stronger versions."

History[]

• Desktop 1.3.5: Fixed Goblin Tinkerer being slightly smaller than intended.

• Desktop 1.3.4: Added quote about Etherian Goblins.

• Desktop 1.3.0.1: Sprite updated.

• Desktop 1.1.1: Now can be untied with Autopause enabled.

• Desktop 1.1: Introduced.

• Console-Release: Introduced.

• Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

• Mobile-Release: Introduced.

• 3DS-Release: Introduced.

References[]