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Few players know how many NPCs are in Terraria, primarily because some are hard to get to. Both players and servers in the celebrated Metroidvania benefit greatly from using the various NPCs. Whether you’re tossing another Guide into the fiery depths of Hell to summon the Wall of Flesh or trying to get the Dryad’s positioning just right to help defend, there’s a lot that players need to understand about Terraria‘s NPC system — starting, of course, with the quantity.
How Many NPCs Are There in Terraria?
Terraria has a total of 29 NPCs across a full playthrough. 3 NPCs are not residents: Old Man, Skeleton Merchant, and Traveling Merchant. Players can obtain 18 NPCs pre-Hardmode. They can find 8 NPCs post-Hardmode. Thus, a full residency within Terraria equates to 26 residents across the map.
Non-Resident NPCs in Terraria
As mentioned, players will come across 3 NPCs not interested in moving into player-built housing: the Old Man, Traveling Merchant, and Skeleton Merchant.
Character | Criteria |
Old Man | Found at the entrance of the Dungeon during the daytime. Interacting at night turns this NPC into Skeletron, a defacto first boss of a playthrough. |
Traveling Merchant | A 22% chance of this NPC arriving at your base; he will stay until night with a moderate, randomized selection of goods. |
Skeleton Merchant | Found rarely in caverns beneath the ground, with some exclusive items available in the inventory. |
Pre-Hardmode NPC Residents in Terraria
When players enter a new Terraria game world, it begins in what the community refers to as pre-Hardmode. There are 18 NPCs in Terraria that players will want to add to their menagerie before entering Hardmode.
Character | Criteria—note that all NPCs aside from the Guide need housing to spawn. |
Guide | Available on game start, this NPC will die every time a Voodoo Doll is thrown into the lava in Hell, summoning the Wall of Flesh. |
Merchant | Once players have 50 silver in their inventories, the Merchant will arrive. |
Nurse | Once a player in the world has more than 100 health and the Merchant is housed, this NPC will arrive. |
Demolitionist | This NPC will arrive once a player has an explosive, and the Merchant is housed. |
Dye Trader | This NPC will spawn once players have dyes or dyed items in their inventory. |
Angler | The Angler is found in the Ocean biome which will spawn on either side of the map. |
Zoologist | Fill a minimum of 10% of the bestiary to add this to your Terraria NPCs. |
Dryad | Any of the first three bosses have been defeated: Skeletron, Eye of Cthulu, or Eater of Brains/Brains of Cthulu. |
Golfer | Found in the Underground Desert. |
Painter | The game world consists of at least four housed NPCs. |
Arms Dealer | Any player has bullets or a firearm in their inventory. |
Tavernkeep | Spawns in-world after the defeat of either Brain of Cthulu/Eater of Worlds, depending on world corruption. |
Stylist | Found underground in a Spider Nest. |
Goblin Tinkerer | Found in the Cavern layer of the Dungeon, post Goblin-invasion. |
Witch Doctor | Found after the Queen Bee has been defeated in the Jungle. |
Clothier | Spawns after the defeat of Skeletron. |
Mechanic | Found in the Dungeon. |
Party Girl | 2.5% to spawn after 14 other NPCs are in the world. |
Related:
How To Summon (& Beat) Moon Lord in Terraria
Post-Hardmode NPCs
A set of events will play out in Terraria once players defeat the Wall of Flesh. New enemies, bosses, items, and Terraria NPCs become available. Players can find 8 NPCs in this game mode once players complete the following criteria.
Character | Criteria—note that all NPCs need housing to spawn. |
Wizard | Found in the Cavern layer of the world. |
Tax Collector | Transform a Tortured Soul with Purification Powder. |
Truffle | An available house is located in the above-ground Glowing Mushroom biome. |
Pirate | Defeat the Pirate Invasion once. |
Steampunker | Defeat a Mechanical Boss. |
Cyborg | Spawns once Plantera has been defeated in the Jungle |
Santa Claus | The Frost Legion has been defeated, and it is Christmas. |
Princess | All other Town NPCs are in the world — Santa Claus is unnecessary. |