The 180+ Best Melee Weapons in Terraria: Facts & Secrets (2023)
Detailed Lists
- Best Pre-Hardmode Melee Weapons in Terraria (2023)
- Best Yoyos in Terraria (2023)
- Best Boomerangs in Terraria (2023)
- Best Hardmode Melee Weapons in Terraria (2023)
- Best Other Spears in Terraria (2023)
- Best Ore Broadswords in Terraria (2023)
- Best Flails in Terraria (2023)
- Best Ore Shortswords in Terraria (2023)
- Best Miscellaneous Melee Weapons in Terraria (2023)
- Best Ore Spears in Terraria (2023)
- Best Hardmode Ore Swords in Terraria (2023)
- Best Whips in Terraria (2023)
My Favorite Items Listed:
Terraria (Wiki): Meowmere
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Terraria (Wiki): Flairon
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Terraria (Wiki): Paladin’s Hammer
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Offers the highest raw damage output.
- Offers the highest knockback potential.
- Has the fightest projectile travel speed.
- Use time reset is close to the Bananarang’s short delay.
- Perfect against waves of strong enemies, events, and some Bosses.
Weakness
- Risky and tricky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Terrarian
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Terraria (Wiki): Night’s Edge
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Strongest damage among other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Volcano (Fiery Greatsword)
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Offers the highest base damage.
- Offers the strongest knockback potential.
- Inflicted debuff deals decent damage over second.
- Great for controlling waves of enemies.
- Included in the top three of best-performing Pre-Hardmode Melee Weapons.
- Perfect against tanky enemies.
Weaknesses
- Extremely tricky to obtain for Pre-Hardmode players.
- Suffers from slow usage cooldown.
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Terraria (Wiki): Platinum Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Highest damage potential.
- Offers the strongest knockback potential.
- Fastest usage cooldown.
Weakness
- Better alternatives from other weapon classes exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): Chlorophyte Claymore
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High damage output.
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
- Great against waves of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Slow attack speed.
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Terraria (Wiki): Zenith
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Terraria (Wiki): Chlorophyte Partisan
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Best among the standard Ore Spears.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Easy to obtain upon reaching Hardmode.
Weakness
- The Spore Cloud won't be used if the enemy is nearby.
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Terraria (Wiki): Star Wrath
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Terraria (Wiki): Terra Blade
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Terraria (Wiki): Blood Butcherer
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Outperforms low-tier Broadswords.
- Good for tanky Pre-Hardmode enemies.
- Inflicted debuff causes additional damage over second effect.
Weaknesses
- Risky to obtain for Pre-Hardmode players.
- Underwhelming knockback potential.
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Terraria (Wiki): Gold Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Decent damage against extremely weak enemies.
- Offers the strongest knockback potential.
Weakness
- Better weapons with the same crafted material exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): The Eye of Cthulhu
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Terraria (Wiki): Sergeant United Shield
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Explosive damage output.
- Perfect against waves of tanky enemies.
- Homing capability can delete most enemies with a click.
- Granted buff reduces contact damage.
- Parrying enemy attacks enabled.
Weaknesses
- Extremely slow use time.
- Weak knockback.
- Slightly expensive to purchase.
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Terraria (Wiki): Flower Pow
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Terraria (Wiki): North Pole
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Terraria (Wiki): Bee Keeper
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Summons killer bees.
- Inflicted debuff deals bonus damage.
- Perfect against waves of slightly strong enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Blade of Grass
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Wide arc of fire.
- Inflicted debuff deals bonus damage.
- Second largest sword among all other swords.
Weaknesses
- Slightly tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Starlight
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Terraria (Wiki): Enchanted Sword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against small waves of enemies.
- Better damage than other early-game swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): True Excalibur
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Terraria (Wiki): Muramasa
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Better damage than other early-game swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): True Night’s Edge
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Terraria (Wiki): Daybreak
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Terraria (Wiki): Solar Eruption
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Terraria (Wiki): Gungnir
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Highest base damage among Ore Spears.
- Strongest knockback.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Cannot attack enemies from a greater distance (from 18 tiles away)
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Vampire Knives
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Terraria (Wiki): Chain Guillotines
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Terraria (Wiki): Mushroom Spear
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Terraria (Wiki): Possessed Hatchet
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Aiming not needed.
- Above average damage output.
- Above average projectile travel speed.
Weaknesses
- Risky to obtain.
- Outpowered by the Paladin’s Hammer.
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Terraria (Wiki): Kraken
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Terraria (Wiki): Starfury
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Offers the fastest projectile travel speed among all Pre-Hardmode Swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Dangerous to use in Underground Jungle.
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Terraria (Wiki): Light’s Bane
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Attacks can pass through walls.
- Outperforms low-tier Broadswords.
- Good for slightly tanky Pre-Hardmode enemies.
Weaknesses
- Risky to obtain for Pre-Hardmode players.
- Underwhelming knockback potential.
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Terraria (Wiki): Sky Dragon’s Fury
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Terraria (Wiki): Chlorophyte Saber
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High damage output.
- Fast attack speed.
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
- Great against waves of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Extremely weak knockback.
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Terraria (Wiki): Flying Dragon
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Terraria (Wiki): Tentacle Spike
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Fast use time.
Weaknesses
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
- Tricky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Influx Waver
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Terraria (Wiki): Ice Blade
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Gladius
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Strongest shortsword in the game.
- Great against enemies with low health.
Weaknesses
- Slowest velocity.
- Tricky to obtain at the early stages of the game.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Tungsten Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths (none)
Weakness
- Better weapons of the same class exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): Valkyrie Yoyo
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Terraria (Wiki): Golem Fist
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Terraria (Wiki): Platinum Broadsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Outperforms low-tier Broadswords.
- Good for slightly tanky Pre-Hardmode enemies.
- Offers the highest knockback potential.
- Offers the fastest cooldown usage
Weakness
- Slightly challenging to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Adamantite Sword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Decent range for a melee weapon
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better swords exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Tonbogiri
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Terraria (Wiki): Flying Knife
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Extremely indispensable against waves of enemies.
- Good cooldown reset.
- Unrivaled piercing capabilities.
- Decent damage.
Weakness
- Underwhelming knockback.
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Terraria (Wiki): Ruler
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Easy to obtain once Goblin Tinkerer is available.
- Necessary tool for block counting.
Weaknesses
- Weakest knockback.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Seedler
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Terraria (Wiki): Tragic Umbrella
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Great against small groups of enemies.
- Fast use time.
- Higher melee damage than Umbrella.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies
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Terraria (Wiki): The Horseman’s Blade
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Terraria (Wiki): Red’s Throw
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Terraria (Wiki): Light Disc
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Offers high knockback potential.
- Slightly above average raw output damage potential.
- Fires six damaging projectiles.
Weakness
- Slightly tricky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Scourge of the Corruptor
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Terraria (Wiki): Drippler Crippler
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Terraria (Wiki): Gold Broadsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Outperforms low-tier Broadswords.
- Good for slightly tanky Pre-Hardmode enemies.
- Offers the highest knockback potential.
Weakness
- Slightly challenging to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Psycho Knife
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Terraria (Wiki): Titanium Sword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High damage output.
- Best of the six hardmode ores
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better swords exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Silver Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths (none)
Weakness
- Better weapons of the same class exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): Titanium Trident
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Slightly easy to obtain upon reaching Hardmode.
Weaknesses
- It doesn't make the player swim better underwater, unlike its Pre-Hardmode version, the Trident.
- Better Ore Spears exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Keybrand
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Terraria (Wiki): Brand of the Inferno
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Terraria (Wiki): Orichalcum Sword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High damage output.
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better swords exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Tungsten Broadsword
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Superior to most metal Shortswords.
- Okay for low-tier enemies.
Weakness
- Outperformed by other Broadswords.
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Terraria (Wiki): Bananarang
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Fires ten damaging projectiles.
- Offers near-infinite barrages of damage.
- Fastest use time, resulting in high DPS.
Weakness
- Slightly risky and tricky to obtain.
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Terraria (Wiki): Dark Lance
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Terraria (Wiki): Yelets
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Terraria (Wiki): Lead Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths (none)
Weakness
- Better weapons of the same class exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): Dao of Pow
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Terraria (Wiki): Bladetongue
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Terraria (Wiki): Christmas Tree Sword
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Terraria (Wiki): Sleepy Octopod
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Terraria (Wiki): Iron Shortsword
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths (none)
Weakness
- Better weapons of the same class exist.
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Terraria (Wiki): Adamantite Glaive
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Perfect against waves of enemies
- Slightly easy to obtain upon reaching Hardmode.
Weaknesses
- Lower base damage than its ore counterpart.
- Better Ore Spears exist for waves of enemies with high damage.
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Terraria (Wiki): Excalibur
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Terraria (Wiki): Code 2
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Terraria (Wiki): Combat Wrench
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Good for waves of enemies and segmented worms.
- Decent cooldown reset.
Weaknesses
- Low knockback potential.
- Slightly underwhelming damage considering the piercing capability.
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Terraria (Wiki): Mythril Sword
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Decent against small groups of enemies.
- Better damage versus low-tier swords.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better swords exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Silver Broadsword
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Superior to most metal Shortswords.
- Okay for low-tier enemies.
Weakness
- Outperformed by other Broadswords.
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Terraria (Wiki): Sunfury
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Terraria (Wiki): Umbrella
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Best when combined with a jump-enhancing accessory.
- Great against small groups of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Weak knockback.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Obsidian Swordfish
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Terraria (Wiki): Falcon Blade
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Easy to obtain.
- Great against waves of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Frostbrand
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Terraria (Wiki): Breathing Reed
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Higher damage output.
- Great against small waves of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Death Sickle
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Terraria (Wiki): Purple Clubberfish
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Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Strongest knockback among other swords.
- Great against a small group of enemies.
Weaknesses
- Tricky and risky to obtain.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Green Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Orange Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Flamarang
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Inflicted debuff offers damage over time to hostiles.
- High knockback potential.
- Decent damage.
Weaknesses
- Underwhelming cooldown reset.
- Double damage is impossible compared to other boomerangs.
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Terraria (Wiki): Purple Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Red Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Palladium Sword
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- Decent against small groups of enemies.
- Better damage versus alternate ore counterpart.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain.
- Better swords exist for waves of enemies.
- Weakest damage output versus other Hardmode swords.
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Terraria (Wiki): White Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.
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Terraria (Wiki): Yellow Phaseblade
Rating:
Pro and Cons:
Strengths
- High base damage than other melee weapons.
- Perfect against waves of enemies.
- Best for finding caves and ores.
Weaknesses
- Tricky to obtain at early stages.
- Better melee weapons exist for waves of enemies.