Quick Links
- Available NPCs
- NPC Happiness
- Forest Biome
- Snow Biome
- Desert Biome
- Jungle Biome
- Ocean Biome
- Glowing Mushroom Biome
- Underground Biome
- Hallows Biome
- The Princess
We saw a complete overhaul of NPCs with the 1.4 update of Terraria in 2020. They have become a bit more complicated, and it can be hard to figure out what to do with them. The Journey's End Update brought us more NPCs as well as a happiness system. NPCs will have living preferences and neighbors that they prefer — satisfying these needs will boost their happiness.
With a large number of NPCs, it can be hard to sort out who wants to live where, but that's where we come in! Let's go over each habitable biome and the ideal NPCs to place within them for maximum happiness.
Updated June 15th by Jacqueline Zalace: There are a lot of NPCs in Terraria, so we've updated the formatting of this guide to help fully understand the placement of each. Additionally, we've added how to unlock these NPCs, just in case you don't have them yet.
Available NPCs
There are 26 NPCs in Terraria. This includes 18 pre-Hardmode NPCs and 8 hardmode NPCs. When you first start in your world, the difficulty will be set to pre-Hardmode; in this mode, you will not have all enemies and NPCs unlocked yet.
To convert a world to Hardmode, you will need to defeat the Wall of Flesh. Once this boss is defeated, you will have access to a new biome and the 8 NPCs.
Below, you can check out all the possible NPCs as well as how to unlock them.
Pre-Hardmode NPCs
| NPC | How To Unlock |
|---|---|
| Guide | Unlocked by default |
| Merchant | Have a total of 50 Silver |
| Nurse | Have more than 100 Health |
| Demolitionist | Obtain an explosive |
| Dye Trader | Obtain dye |
| Angler | Find at the beach |
| Dryad | Defeat any boss other than the Wall of Flesh or the Slime King |
| Painter | Unlock 8 other NPCs |
| Golfer | Speak to him in the underground Desert |
| Zoologist | Filled 10% of Bestiary |
| Arms Dealer | Obtain bullets or a gun |
| Tavernkeep | Defeat the Brain of Cthulhu or the Eater of Worlds |
| Stylist | Free her inside a spider cave |
| Goblin Tinkerer | Defeat the Goblin Invasion |
| Witch Doctor | Defeat the Queen Bee |
| Mechanic | Found in dungeon |
| Party Girl | With 14 NPCs, she will have a small chance to spawn |
| Clothier | Defeat Skeletron |
Hardmode NPCs
| NPC | How To Unlock |
|---|---|
| Wizard | Found in Cavern |
| Tax Collector | Use Purification Powder in the Underworld |
| Truffle | Create a surface Glowing Mushroom biome |
| Pirate | Defeat the Pirate Invasion |
| Steampunker | Defeat Skeletron Prime, The Destroyer, or The Twins |
| Cyborg | Defeat Plantera |
| Princess | Unlock all other NPCs besides Santa Claus |
| Santa Claus | Defeat the Frost Legion
|
NPC Happiness
All NPCs in Terraria have a happiness level. This is affected by biomes and other NPCs. Each person has a favorite and least favorite biome, as well as others that they prefer to live near. For example, the Zoologist likes the forest, dislikes the desert, and loves living near the Witch Doctor.
When an NPC is the happiest they can be, they will sell special items — including Pylons. A pylon is an item that allows you to teleport to different biomes. They are incredibly useful for traveling, so you will definitely want all of your NPCs to be as happy as possible.
Below, we will look at each habitable biome, and what NPCs to move into each. The NPC preferences do not line up perfectly, but that's okay. If more than one villager sells a pylon, you really only need to focus on one of them.
Once you have every item and pylon, you can move all of your NPCs into a giant house. Although they will be unhappy, it ensures that they won't die if enemies are nearby. You will also be able to quickly access anyone without running around the world.
Forest Biome
| NPCs | Golfer, Guide, Zoologist |
|---|
The Forest is the first biome that you will encounter. It's pretty basic and many NPCs prefer not to live here.
These three NPCs are pretty simple to find. The guide will already be in the Forest when you start in your world and you will have no problem finding the others. With this setup, you will be able to purchase the Forest Pylon.
You will need to have more than one pylon in order to use them efficiently. So if this is your first pylon, it won't be of much use.
Snow Biome
| NPCs | Mechanic, Goblin Tinkerer, Cyborg |
|---|
Next, we have the NPCs in the snow biome. The Mechanic and Goblin Tinkerer both love each other, so they make a perfect pair. Although the Goblin Tinkerer doesn't prefer living in the snow, he supplements the Mechanic's happiness.
When adding in the Cyborg, the Mechanic will be as happy as can be and will proceed to sell the Snow Pylon.
Santa Claus can also be placed in this biome, but since he is only available for part of December, you do not have to worry about placing him. He will always sell the same items (with the exception of a pylon, which depends on his happiness).
His appearance is a nice holiday treat, but largely just that since you can reliably get pylons elsewhere.
Desert Biome
| NPCs | Nurse, Arms Dealer, Steampunker |
|---|
The Nurse is an important NPC early into a game. For a small fee, she will completely heal you. This is very useful when just starting out since you do not have that much health. Overall, you will want to place her in the desert, but remember that you can temporarily relocate her to heal you.
For example, you will probably fight the Eye of Cthulhu first. Having the nurse nearby will ensure that you don't die during this fight. Once you are strong enough, move the Nurse to the desert with the Arms Dealer. After converting to Hardmode, add the Steampunker.
Jungle Biome
| NPCs | Dryad, Painter, Witch Doctor |
|---|
This is probably the easiest biome to set up. All of the NPCs like each other and the biome they are in, and the painter is in love with the Dryad. Once you discover a Jungle, add these three NPCs and you will have the pylon in no time.
Ocean Biome
| NPCs | Merchant, Angler, Pirate |
|---|
The ocean is the biome that's furthest away from you. Because of this, it will probably take you a while to get there. You will have to cross dangerous biomes to get here, so you will definitely want to prepare.
The Merchant will be one of the first NPCs you find, but you don't have to place him at the ocean right away. The Angler will already be at the ocean, so you can just build him a house right as you encounter him with no relocation necessary.
When the world is converted to Hardmode, add the Pirate and buy your pylon!
Glowing Mushroom Biome
| NPCs | Stylist, Dye Trader, Truffle |
|---|
This unique biome has two variations. Above, you can see the underground version. This biome can also be present on the surface. The surface version of this biome must be created, so it takes a little bit of work.
Once you build yourself an above-ground Glowing Mushroom biome, you can place the Stylist, Dye Trader, and Truffle.
Underground Biome
| NPCs | Clothier, Demolitionist, Tax Collector |
|---|
Underground can refer to several different biome variations. But for NPC placement, we are going to focus on the Caverns because the bulk of the underground consists of caverns. When exploring, you will see the wall/background made with dirt. The wall will eventually change to a stone material once you come across the Cavern biome.
It can be a bit difficult to make suitable houses in this biome. You will need to clear out any existing wall with a hammer and make a flat surface to place your house. Once you have enough room for 3 NPCs, place the Clothier, Demolitionist, and Tax Collector.
Try not to place these NPCs too far away from your main base; the Demolitionist is a great source of bombs. You don't want to be too far away from him.
Hallows Biome
| NPCs | Party Girl, Tavernkeep, Wizard |
|---|
Finally, we have the Hallows biome. The Hallows unlocks when the world is converted to Hardmode, so you may not have this biome yet. Fortunately, you can just temporarily relocate the Party Girl and Tavernkeep. Try to keep them together and then move their houses when you have a Hallows biome.
The Hallows biome can spread as well. After your world is in Hardmode and you have enough of the Hallows, place the Party Girl, Tavernkeep, and Wizard.
The Princess
You may have noticed that the Princess is nowhere on this list. The Princess is a unique NPC in that she has no preferences.
When placed in any biome with up to 3 other NPCs, she is happy. Additionally, every NPC likes her. You can pretty much place her anywhere you want as long as there are other NPCs nearby. Her happiness will go down if she is lonely.
Now, all of your NPCs should be placed in different biomes! As mentioned earlier, feel free to buy all of their items and then move them back into a giant house. In Hardmode, it can be difficult to keep NPCs alive — especially if they are far from you. A large house will help keep track of all of them.
Next: Terraria: Best Pre-Hardmode Weapons
