Terraria (Wiki): Iron Shortsword

The Iron 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 Lead Shortsword.

An Iron Shortsword cannot autoswing. Its attack reaches two tiles in radius. At an optimal distance, the Iron 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 Iron 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 Iron Shortsword is ineffective against highly-mobile land or air enemies. Nonetheless, the player can still survive most weak fighter enemies.

Another weapon counterpart - the Iron Broadsword - is preferable to the Shortsword because of the former’s arcing motion.

Since the Iron 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 Iron Shortsword for overall stats improvement.