When you first enter Hardmode in Terraria, the game takes a sharp difficulty curve. Enemies become stronger, new biomes emerge, and powerful bosses begin to appear. For summoners, transitioning into early Hardmode can be especially challenging due to the limited number of effective summoner weapons available at this stage. However, with the right choices and strategies, summoners can remain competitive and powerful. Understanding which early Hardmode summoner weapons to use is key to surviving and progressing through this new stage of the game.
Why Early Hardmode Is Crucial for Summoners
Early Hardmode is the period right after defeating the Wall of Flesh. The world changes dramatically: new ores spawn, the Corruption or Crimson and Hallow spread, and stronger enemies start spawning. As a summoner, your main strength lies in your minions and your ability to stay mobile while they attack. However, unlike other classes, your weapon upgrades may feel limited unless you know where to look.
This stage is essential for collecting stronger gear, preparing for mechanical bosses, and exploring new crafting recipes. Choosing the right summoner weapons early on ensures you don’t fall behind in combat efficiency compared to melee, ranger, or magic users.
Recommended Early Hardmode Summoner Weapons
Spider Staff
The Spider Staff is often the first new summoner weapon available after entering Hardmode. It is crafted using 16 Spider Fangs, dropped by Black Recluses, which spawn in underground spider nests in Hardmode. This staff summons spider minions that cling to enemies, dealing rapid damage over time.
Why it’s useful:
- High damage output for early Hardmode
- Minions latch onto enemies and stay on them
- Spider Fangs are relatively easy to farm
The Spider Staff is often paired with Spider Armor, which provides summoner boosts and increases the maximum number of minions.
Slime Staff (with Whips)
Although the Slime Staff is typically a pre-Hardmode weapon, it can still be viable early in Hardmode when paired with powerful whips. With its incredibly fast attack speed, the Slime Staff’s potential increases when the minions are properly directed by whip tags.
When to consider using it:
- If you haven’t yet crafted a Spider Staff
- When you have a strong summoner whip
- For mobility-based playstyles where minion persistence matters less
While not ideal for sustained boss fights, it can help during exploration or farming weaker enemies.
Blade Staff
The Blade Staff is a stealthy but powerful choice in early Hardmode. It is dropped by Enchanted Swords and Crimson Axes, which appear in the Underground Hallow and Crimson respectively. Although its base damage is low, its extremely high attack speed and armor-piercing properties make it surprisingly powerful against high-defense enemies.
Strengths of the Blade Staff:
- Bypasses enemy defense entirely
- Pairs well with whips that increase minion damage
- Useful against mechanical bosses due to speed
This staff truly shines when upgraded with summoner gear and whip tag boosts, making it a hidden gem in early Hardmode loadouts.
Important Whips for Early Hardmode
Durendal
The Durendal is a powerful early Hardmode whip that can be crafted using Hallowed Bars from early mechanical boss fights. It increases minion attack speed and is very effective at controlling your summons.
Why Durendal matters:
- Increases minion damage speed after striking enemies
- Good range and tag damage
- Essential for buffing weaker minions like those from the Blade or Slime Staff
Using Durendal in conjunction with fast-hitting summons results in massive damage output, especially in sustained battles.
Firecracker
The Firecracker whip causes minions to deal explosive damage when they hit tagged enemies. It drops from the Wall of Flesh in Hardmode worlds, giving it great availability early on. This weapon makes a great combination with high-speed minions.
Key features:
- Causes explosive minion hits on tagged targets
- Works well with multi-hit minions like spiders
- Easy to obtain after entering Hardmode
The Firecracker is especially effective in crowd control situations or when dealing with large groups of enemies.
Best Summoner Armor in Early Hardmode
Spider Armor
Spider Armor is typically the first set available for summoners in Hardmode. Crafted from Spider Fangs, it offers solid minion bonuses, including:
- +3 minion capacity (one from each piece)
- Increased minion damage
- Synergy with the Spider Staff
This armor makes you significantly stronger and should be your early priority. Farming a spider cave early on is a good way to secure both your staff and your first Hardmode armor set.
Obsidian Armor (Optional)
Though it’s technically a pre-Hardmode set, Obsidian Armor can still be a strong choice in early Hardmode if you haven’t yet transitioned to Spider Armor. Its whip-focused bonuses and decent defense make it viable until you gather Spider Fangs.
Obsidian Armor benefits:
- Increased whip speed and range
- +1 minion slot
- Boosted minion damage
Use it if you’re struggling to farm Spider Armor early or want to focus more on whip usage over minion quantity.
Other Useful Summoner Accessories and Buffs
Summoner Accessories
- Summoner Emblem: Increases minion damage by 15% and is dropped by the Wall of Flesh.
- Pygmy Necklace: Increases the maximum number of minions by one; can be bought from the Witch Doctor at night in a jungle house.
- Bewitching Table: Grants one additional minion slot when used.
Buffs and Potions
- Summoning Potion: +1 minion slot
- Wrath/Rage Potion: Increase damage and critical chance
- Well Fed Buff: Provides extra defense and regen
Using these buffs and accessories consistently can significantly boost your summoner build’s performance during the early stages of Hardmode.
Fighting Mechanical Bosses as a Summoner
The first major challenge in Hardmode is defeating the mechanical bosses: The Twins, The Destroyer, and Skeletron Prime. To tackle these, a summoner should focus on mobility, buff management, and smart minion placement.
Recommended strategy:
- Use Spider or Blade Staff depending on the boss
- Equip Spider Armor with supporting accessories
- Use a whip like Durendal or Firecracker to tag enemies
- Stay mobile using platforms or mount-based movement
Defeating these bosses not only progresses your world but also unlocks stronger summoner gear like the Optic Staff and Hallowed Whips, pushing you into mid-Hardmode with more powerful tools at your disposal.
Early Hardmode can be a tough period for summoners, but with the right approach and weapons, you can thrive in this dangerous new phase of Terraria. Prioritize crafting the Spider Staff and Spider Armor, farm for the Blade Staff when possible, and support your summons with effective whips like the Firecracker or Durendal. Combine these tools with accessories and buff potions to maintain a strong advantage. Mastering early Hardmode as a summoner sets the foundation for future success, including taking down the mechanical bosses and exploring more advanced gear later on.