Terraria (Wiki): Gold Shortsword

The Gold Shortsword is a melee weapon that performs a short-ranged stabbing motion when used. It is an early-game metal shortsword and a counterpart of the Platinum Shortsword.

A Gold Shortsword cannot autoswing. Its attack reaches two tiles in radius. At an optimal distance, the Gold Shortsword can pierce one enemy. However, multiple bodies will be damaged should they all line up for the player.

No light is emitted when using the Gold Shortsword. Its attacks also do not damage enemies behind a cover.

Variations of attacks exist depending on where Terraria is played. It can be in any direction (desktop, mobile, console) or locked horizontally (3DS, old-gen consoles).

Because of the limited range of motion and use time, the Gold Shortsword is ineffective against highly-mobile land or air enemies. Nonetheless, the player can still survive most weak fighter enemies.

Although ranking second among all shortswords in damage, the Gold Shortsword, alongside the Platinum Shortsword, possesses the highest knockback.

Since the Gold Shortsword is a melee weapon, using all Flask types will imbue their respective properties that will have different effects on enemies.

Legendary is the best modifier to apply to the Gold Shortsword for overall stats improvement.