These items are very different in terms of their damage and effects. Inexperienced players might rush the wrong magic artifacts, which would only lead to frustration. To prevent this, we’ve created a short guide that not only talks about Terraria magic weapons but points out the best of them.

Terraria magic weapons basics

Terraria magic weapons are artifacts ideal for long-ranged characters. Like with all other equipment in the game, there are no specific requirements that would prevent anyone from using them. However, they are much better for classes with a high mana pool, as each one of these weapons depletes mana with use.

Although there are a few general categorizations for Terraria magic weapons (magic wands, magic guns, etc.), each one of them feels unique. Most notably, this category of items includes all the artifacts that deal direct damage to opponents through the use of mana. In other words, it doesn’t include summoning weapons.

These weapons fire unique projectiles and evoke other elemental and non-elemental effects. For example, magic guns are completely different from other ranged items as they fire energy beams, rainbows, leaves, bubbles, etc. So, you can easily distinguish these artifacts from other weapons in the game.

Listing Terraria magic weapons       

Here are the main subcategories of Terraria magic weapons. We’ll focus on some of the best artifacts from each class.

Pre-Hardmode

Wands

(the category includes Wand of Sparkling, various gem staffs, Vilethorn, Aqua Scepter, Weather Pain, Magic Missile, Thunder Zapper, Flower of Fire, and Flamelash)

Wands are the first magic weapon you’ll likely get in Terraria. You should find Wand of Sparkling almost immediately in some of the basic Chests. As soon as you get some amethysts, topaz, and sapphires, you’ll have the option of making gem staffs. Diamond Staff is fairly powerful and can serve you until late pre-Hardmode.

Most of these items come from containers such as Gold and Shadow Chests. Weather Pain is a bit different as it drops from Deerclops. Flower of Fire is the best item from this category, spawning a bouncy fireball that can hit several opponents and inflict On Fire! Debuff.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Wand of Sparking

Wand of Sparkling is the first item you get. Although not especially powerful, you’ll use it for a while during pre-Hardmode. It is vital for those early parts of the game when you have limited access to other equipment.

·        Magic Missile

If you’re looking for a fun, early-game weapon, it doesn’t get better than Magic Missile. Once you fire a projectile, you can control its movement with a mouse. Even better, you can use the artifact later on to create Sky Fracture.

·        Flower of Fire

Flower of Fire has extremely high damage and can be useful in the early Hardmode. It’s noticeably stronger than the alternative, Flamelash.

Others

(the category includes Demon Scythe, Water Bolt, Space Gun, Gray Zapinator, Bee Gun, Book of Skulls, and Crimson Rod)

This class of items includes all other artifacts that aren’t staffs. In other words, it features spell books, magic guns, and a rod. Unlike staffs, you can get guns from various sources. Space Gun is a fun weapon that you can craft from Meteorite Bars. If you also have Meteor Armor, the gun doesn’t require mana to use.

The strongest weapon in this category is the Bee Gun, which fires a nice-looking swarm of bees that track down enemies. Crimson Rod is another fantastic item that you can find only in the Crimson biome. Aside from these weapons, the class also features tomes available from Dungeon and at Lava level.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Bee Gun

Bee Gun is especially awesome if you manage to collect Hive Pack. You can get the weapon rather easily, as there is a 33% chance it’ll drop from Queen Bee.

·        Crimson Rod

The thing we like about Crimson Rod is that it’s fantastic during events. If used correctly, one cloud can cause enormous damage to static or slow-moving targets.

Hardmode

Wands

(the category includes Life Drain, Crystal Vile Shard, Meteor Staff, Sky Fracture, Crystal Serpent, Flower of Frost, Frost Staff, Poison Staff, Rainbow Rod, Unholy Trident, Venom Staff, Nettle Burst, Tome of Infinite Wisdom, Inferno Fork, Shadowbeam Staff, Razorpine, Bat Scepter, Spectre Staff, Staff of Earth, Resonance Scepter, Blizzard Staff, and Betsy’s Wrath)

Unlike its pre-Hardmode predecessors, Hardmode wands are mainly acquired by beating strong opponents. Sky Fracture, Meteor Staff, Rainbow Rod, and Venom Staff are the only exceptions, as you need to craft them. Sky Fracture is an upgraded version of Magic Missile and is a nice option at the very start of the Hardmode.

One of the potential strategies is to rush immediately to the Lava level and start grinding Red Devils. They drop Unholy Tridents at a reasonable rate of 3.33%. Poison Staff is another caster weapon that is relatively easy to obtain and has nice debuffs. Later on, you can upgrade it to Venom Staff.

Although wands are fairly powerful, they are not the strongest category of caster weapons.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Poison Staff

You can use Poison Staff and its upgraded version, Venom Staff, for a good part of the Hardmode. These are one of the rare weapons inflicting Poisoned and Acid Venom debuff, so they can easily be paired with other caster artifacts.

·        Bat Scepter

In a way, Bat Scepter is a variation of the Bee Gun. However, instead of bees, you fire bats. This magical artifact is much better for single targets. Depending on how you’re using them, they might travel a short distance before homing in onto the nearby opponents.

·        Razorpine

Despite the fact you can acquire it midway through Hardmode, it remains relevant throughout the game. Razorpine has one of the highest single-target damage outputs but isn’t particularly reliable. 

·        Blizzard Staff

Blizzard Staff drops hailstorm on opponent’s head. It is very fun to use and causes enormous damage. The weapon is much better in open areas than underground.

Magic Guns

(the category includes Leaf Blower, Wasp Gun, Orange Zappinator, Laser Rifle, Heat Ray, Rainbow Gun, Bubble Gun, Laser Machinegun, and Charged Blaster Cannon)

Hardmode magic guns are rather fast weapons. There aren’t many of them, but the few that are available produce interesting effects. Orange Zapinator is one of the most fun magic artifacts in the game, producing random effects with each shot. It is also the first item you’re likely to acquire from this category.

Half of all Hardmode magic guns drop from Plantera and during the Martian Invasion event. Our suggestion is to focus on some other item classes during your mage run. If you get some cool gun along the way, it’s just an added benefit.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Orange Zapinator

Orange Zapinator is probably the coolest item in the game, creating random effects.

·        Charged Blaster Cannon

Charged Blast Cannon has several types of attacks. Each tap on the attack button creates an orb. Holding the button releases six subsequent orbs. As you keep holding the button, the player launches a massive orb. By holding it for more than two seconds, you’ll create a large beam.

·        Bubble Gun

The biggest issue with Bubble Gun is its short range. Despite that, it remains an extremely powerful weapon that has one of the highest damage potentials in the game. The bubble visual effect looks fantastic on top of that.

Spell Books

(the category includes Crystal Storm, Golden Shower, Cursed Flame, Razorblade Typhoon, Magnet Sphere, and Lunar Flare)

Spell Books are among the strongest items in this category. Half of them are craftables (Cursed Flame, Golden Shower, and Crystal Storm), and the rest of them are drops. The great thing about low-tier tomes is that you can get them relatively quickly in Hardmode. Cursed Flames and Golden Shower have fantastic debuffs, allowing players to create some nice combos.

Lunar Flare and Razorblade Typhoon are among the most powerful artifacts in the game. Razorblade Typhon is an especially fun item to use, as its homing missiles decimate opponents.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Razorblade Typhoon

Razorblade Typhoon creates quite a mess on the screen. The weapon fires large, circular projectiles that home into the opponents, pierce them, and ricochet against obstacles.

·        Lunar Flare

Lunar Flare has the most impressive effect of all the magic weapons. You use it to summon a hailstorm of lunar beams on top of enemies’ heads.

Others

(the category includes Spirit Flame, Magic Dagger, Ice Rod, Medusa Head, Shadowflame Hex Doll, Slinger Staff, Nimbus Rod, Blood Thorn, Nightglow, Toxic Flask, Magical Harp, Stellar Tune, Nebula Blaze, Nebula Arcanum, and Last Prism)

Lastly, we have other category. This class of magical weapons features some incredible artifacts, most of which are drops from enemies and bosses. The thing we like about this group is that each one of these feels so different, so unique. You can get the first weapons rather easily, and the top-tier artifacts only come from Empress of Light and Moon Lord.

Medusa Head is a good example of an excellent weapon design. You show the creature’s head to opponents, and they simply melt. Toxic Flask is also interesting, creating clouds of poison at the target location. When you play Stellar Tune, a bunch of stars attack your opponents.

Here is a short breakdown of the notable weapons from this tier:

·        Ice Rod

Ice Rod allows you to quickly construct ice blocks at the target location. They last for 15 seconds, preventing opponents‘ advances. However, you can also use the blocks as projectiles to damage monsters directly.

·        Medusa Head

The artifact can strike three different targets four times per second. Each attack uses 15 mana, whether you struck one enemy or three. Although great in a radius around the character, it doesn’t work well at a range.

·        Spirit Flame

When you use Spirit Flame, small fire orbs appear around the player. They will hover around until they notice a suitable target, after which they’ll fly straight into it, dealing splash damage.

·        Last Prism

This is one of the strongest items in the game. It creates several beams of light that can damage multiple opponents within a cone. As you hold the fire button, they start converging to the center, creating one powerful beam.