Terraria (Wiki): Tin Shortsword

The Tin 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 Copper Shortsword.

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

Despite being the second weakest shortsword after its Copper counterpart, the Tin Shortsword is not an ingredient in crafting the Zenith.

No light is emitted when using the Tin 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 Tin Shortsword is ineffective against highly-mobile land or air enemies. Nonetheless, the player can still survive most weak fighter enemies.

Since the Tin 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 Tin Shortsword for overall stats improvement.