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This is a Guide page.
This is a Guide page.
This means the page will walk you through a specific task, strategy, or enemy/boss fight.
Status: Under revision (This Guide is currently being revised or has been revised partially. It hasn't met all quality standards yet.)
Duke FishronFirst FormHardmode exclusive
Duke Fishron
Map Icon Duke Fishron
Map Icon
Classic mode icon Classic
Expert mode icon Expert
Master mode icon Master
Statistics
Type
Environment
AI TypeDuke Fishron AI
Damage100/140/210 (melee)
200280420 (melee when enraged) [1]
80100150 (Sharknado) [2]
100150225 (Detonating Bubble) [3]
Max Life 60000 / 500007800099000
Defense50
100 (when enraged) [1]
KB Resist100%
Immune toConfusedStunned
Inflicts
Inflicts
DebuffBleedingBleeding
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Chance33%
Duration3–10 seconds
DebuffFeral BiteFeral Bite
Debuff tooltipIncreased damage, Decreased life regen, Causes status effects
Chance33%
Duration3–10 seconds
Drops
Coins25
1
6250
Duke FishronSecond FormHardmode exclusive
Duke Fishron (Phase 2)
Map Icon Duke Fishron
Map Icon
Classic mode icon Classic
Expert mode icon Expert
Master mode icon Master
Statistics
Type
Environment
AI TypeDuke Fishron AI
Damage120201302 (melee, second stage)
n/a184277 (melee, third stage) [1]
200280420 (melee when enraged)
160200300 (Cthulunado) [2]
Max Life30000/6000039000/7800049500/99000
Defense40 (second stage)
n/a0 (third stage) [1]
100 (when enraged)
KB Resist100%
Immune toPoisonedAcid VenomOn Fire!ConfusedFrostburnStunned
Inflicts
Inflicts
DebuffBleedingBleeding
Debuff tooltipCannot regenerate life
Chance33%
Duration3–10 seconds
DebuffFeral BiteFeral Bite
Debuff tooltipIncreased damage, Decreased life regen, Causes status effects
Chance33%
Duration3–10 seconds
Drops
Coins25
1
6250

1 250

Duke Fishron Trophy "The mutant terror of the sea..." Duke Fishron Trophy

Duke Fishron is a tough Hardmode Boss and one of the final Bosses in Old-gen console version Old-gen console, Windows Phone version Windows Phone, and 3DSNintendo 3DS version versions of Terraria. With very high movement speed, high damage and deadly sharknadoes, it can be considered one of the most difficult bosses in the game.

Spawn Condition[]

Duke Fishron can be spawned by using a Golden Fishing RodFishing Pole with a Truffle WormTruffle Worm as Bait in the Ocean. Truffle Worms can be found underground in the Glowing Mushroom biome.

It must then be fought within the Ocean Biome or else it will become enraged.

The Fight[]

Duke Fishron has two phases normally, and a third phase in Expert Mode and Master Mode.

First Phase[]

Duke Fishron will attack in three different ways during the first phase. The first thing Fishron will do is begin his charging flurry. He will charge towards the player exactly five times, with a short pause between each charge.

After each charge, he will execute one of the two Projectile attacks:

  • The first attack fires around 20 Detonating BubbleDetonating Bubbles;
  • The second attack will create two small Bubbles on either side of where he is located that will each generate a Sharknado. The Sharknadoes are not only tall and do damage, but they also fire SharkronSharkrons towards the player.

Second Phase[]

When Duke Fishron falls below 50% health, he will stay stationary for a second, then his eyes will glow as he enters his second stage. His damage and speed increase significantly. However, his defense drops to 40.

His charge flurry only has 3 charges, but they are a bit faster than before. He still has two kinds of projectile attacks, but their patterns change:

  • The Detonating Bubble attack now causes him to move around in a circle, dropping the bubbles in a circle around his original location. This spreads out the bubbles, making it more difficult to pop them all. It also makes it difficult to hit Duke Fishron consistently, so this can be a good time to refill your mana with a Mana Regeneration Potion or re-apply Ichor.
  • His Sharknado attack upgrades to summon a Cthulhunado. He will fire a special bubble that homes in towards the nearest player. The bubble deals no damage on contact, but it will spawn a Cthulhunado, an upgraded version of the Sharknado that is much taller, deals more damage, fires more Sharkrons, and lasts much longer.

Duke Fishron's charging attack is his primary attack and can be difficult to dodge when without proper mobility accessories.

The key to dodging it is to try to move perpendicularly to where he is aimed, right before he makes his charge. For example, if you are horizontal with him when he is about to charge, you need to quickly move up or down. (The fastest way to drop down is to briefly mount a Slimy Saddle or Gelatinous Pillion). If he is right above or below you, then you need to quickly move left or right. Do not fly all the way into the space layer, or the reduced gravity will render you helpless.

One important element of the Sharknado attack is that they will spawn in the location where Duke Fishron was when he fired the attack, and they will despawn almost exactly when he is ready to drop another pair of Sharknadoes.

As long as the player keeps in mind what attack Duke Fishron will do next, the player can put him in a position that makes it hard for the player to hit the Sharknadoes themselves. For example, during the charging flurry before the Sharknado attack, the player can move towards the edge of the screen, horizontally. That way, the player can run the other way knowing that they will not encounter Sharkrons from that direction. This also means that attacks towards Duke Fishron will also be towards the direction of incoming Sharkrons.

Also, note that Duke Fishron's first attack will always be bubbles.

Sharknadoes are quite tall; getting over them will require fast Angel WingsWings or an infinite flight mount like the Cosmic Car KeyCosmic Car Key.

The upgraded Sharknado attack is a bit more difficult to deal with. It's taller, and it does more damage than the original, plus it fires more Sharkrons.

However, there is one thing that makes it a bit easier to deal with: the Cthulhunado will spawn in the location where you were when the bubble hit you. This gives you a bit more control over where the tornado spawns, so you have more of a chance (if you are fast) to make sure it doesn't spawn in an inconvenient place. You likely do not have the speed to outrun the attack, but you can help get it out of the way.

The downside of course is that, once the bubble hits you, you need to quickly move, lest it spawn on top of you. Do not allow the bubble to hit you while you are moving upwards straight or on the ground, or you are likely to take damage (and possibly get stunlocked) from it immediately.

Another important factor to note is that you should attempt to avoid a Cthulhunado by any means necessary. They deal about 100 damage, which will turn the fight in Duke Fishron's favor. Always use Wings to fly over them. Alternatively, use the Rod of Discord to teleport to the other side.

Expert Mode[]

Duke Fishron’s Phase 2 lunges are delayed by a second, requiring that you time your dodges a bit later than usual to avoid them.

When Duke Fishron drops below 9000 health, he will transform again and the background will notably darken, while making himself invisible except for his glowing eyes.

He will only be able to use his charge attacks in this stage, but he will gain the ability to teleport behind the player before attacking. The charges will come in a set pattern: After teleporting, he will successively charge once, then twice, and finally three times before the pattern resets.

While his contact damage is reduced, the high speed of his charges can cause you to get hit many times in a quick succession. Pay attention to his attack pattern, and make sure to not stand still during the fight. Dashing around can help avoid attacks more easily. You should also try to get away from any Cthulhunadoes left from the second stage.

Because Duke Fishron is untargetable while teleporting, minions and many slower homing weapons will almost stop working entirely. As there won't be many opportunities to deal damage, you should try to deal as much burst damage as possible during his charges. Slow, highly-damaging weapons like the Sniper Rifle and Tactical Shotgun work well during this phase.

A possible strategy for this form is placing a teleporter with a pressure plate on top at surface level, and an actuated teleporter on a platform 200 blocks above, which you can use to fall endlessly, and giving Fishron a hard time hitting you.

Note that, after the battle is over, care should still be taken. If he has launched a Cthulhunado, it may still fire Sharkrons. He may also have died in the Cthulhunado, so don't charge into it to collect his drops until it dissipates.

General Strategies[]

General Tips[]

This content is transcluded from Guide:Practical tips § Combat.

Terrain Preparation[]

The arena must be located in the Ocean, unless you're very confident that you can beat an enraged Fishron, which is usually not recommended.

  • Make an arena with 3 - 5 rows of Platforms, each about 50 tiles apart due to the height of the Cthulhunadoes. The arena should span at least the width of the Ocean. Asphalt BlockAsphalt Blocks can be useful to outrun Duke Fishron's attacks, but since the player cannot travel through them, they can severely limit vertical movement and thus should only be used on the bottom row.
  • The arena must be very tall: the tornadoes are very tall, and require a significant amount of flight time to fly over.

Gearing up[]

It's highly recommended to defeat Golem first if you haven't already, as these tips will take that into account. For more information about this boss, check its own strategy guide.

By this point it's recommended to have 500 maximum health via the use of Life Fruits.

Armor[]

For melee users:

For ranged users:

For magic users:

For summoners:

  • The best set consists of Spooky armorSpooky armor.
  • For a bit more survivability, Hallowed armorHallowed armor can be used.
  • Tiki armorTiki armor provides an extra 20% whip range and provides more defense than Spooky armor, and can be obtained without fighting the Pumpkin Moon, but at the cost of an additional 28% summon damage.

Weapons[]

For Melee users:

  • The Influx WaverInflux Waver is a very powerful choice if you have defeated Martian Madness already.
  • The StarlightStarlight deals heavy damage, but can only be used safely when Fishron stays still, such as during phase transitions.
  • The Terra BladeTerra Blade is virtually just a weaker Influx Waver that could be obtained earlier.
  • The SeedlerSeedler is an excellent option due to its auto-targeting nature.
  • The Possessed HatchetPossessed Hatchet has lacking DPS, but a very reliable homing projectile.
  • The Paladin's HammerPaladin's Hammer can break through homing bubbles and Sharkrons while still dealing damage to Fishron, however, its range is lacking.
  • The Eye of CthulhuThe Eye of Cthulhu is the best Yo-yo that can be used at this point.
  • Vampire KnivesVampire Knives are very useful for stealing life combined with decent damage.
  • The Scourge of the CorruptorScourge of the Corruptor is somewhat low in damage, but it makes up for this by homing in on Fishron during the fight.
  • The Sergeant United ShieldSergeant United Shieldis an incredibly versatile weapon that that offers consistency and the ability to parry, which is exceptional for dealing with Phase three.

For Ranged users:

For Magic users:

  • The RazorpineRazorpine is very strong due to its excellent DPS, although it requires you to get closer than with other weapons.
  • The NightglowNightglow is also very strong because of its homing ability and high DPS.
  • The Golden ShowerGolden Shower spell is helpful as it reduces his defense and easily pops all the Detonating Bubbles.
  • Betsy's WrathBetsy's Wrath is a higher DPS alternative to the Golden Shower that also lowers his defense more, at the cost of having to get a bit closer.
  • The Spectre StaffSpectre Staff is effective due to its homing nature allowing one to focus on dodging, especially during the third and final phase in Expert/Master Mode.
  • The Inferno ForkInferno Fork clears out bubbles easily and deals moderate amounts of damage.
  • The Blizzard StaffBlizzard Staff is very good for attacking while he is stationary.
  • The Laser MachinegunLaser Machinegun can be used if the player has already defeated Martian Madness.
  • The Magnet SphereMagnet Sphere can deal a lot of damage and only needs to be cast once in a while.
  • The Heat RayHeat Ray is also a viable option.
  • The Spirit FlameSpirit Flame,Crystal SerpentCrystal Serpent, Rainbow RodRainbow Rod, and Venom StaffVenom Staff are the best pre-Plantera magic weapons against this boss, with the former two being available at the start of Hardmode.

For Summoners:

  • The TerraprismaTerraprismais, without a doubt, the best minion available. It can shred through Duke in a matter of seconds. It requires the player to have defeated the Empress of Light during the day, which is arguably the more difficult fight. Pair it with the KaleidoscopeKaleidoscopefor the maximum damage output possible. The Kaleidoscope can replace any whip listed below, if you have defeated the Empress only at night.
  • The Sanguine StaffSanguine Staff is the best option available upon reaching Hardmode. It is obtained as a drop from the Dreadnautilus. Pair it with DurendalDurendal or Morning StarMorning Star if available. If you challenge Duke before any Mechanical Bosses, you should equip the Sergeant United ShieldSergeant United Shield, as it will offer you the best DPS increase to your bats available at this point. If you are a pure summoner and don't wish to use a melee weapon, your best option is the SnapthornSnapthorn.
  • The Xeno StaffXeno Staff is the best minion weapon available for any world pre-1.4. It should be used with a combination of DurendalDurendal,Morning StarMorning Star for stacking tag damage in 1.4 onwards. For pre-1.4, it is best paired with either a weapon from another class, especially one that can inflict Ichor, or by using a strong sentry such as the Ballista StaffBallista Staff, the Staff of the Frost HydraStaff of the Frost Hydra or the Queen Spider StaffQueen Spider Staff.
  • The Blade StaffBlade Staff is also reliable and tends to completely nullify Fishron's bubbles, but depends heavily on tag damage from whips. It should be used with DurendalDurendal and Morning StarMorning Star, and alternating between the two to stack tag damage is highly recommended.
  • The Desert Tiger StaffDesert Tiger Staff is a powerful alternative after its AI buff in 1.4.1.2. It should be used with FirecrackerFirecracker, though you should be mindful of its slightly shorter range.
  • The Sergeant United ShieldSergeant United Shield, although not a summon weapon, is an incredible option that easily contends with the best whips available, especially for this fight. Check its page for details.

Accessories[]

Potions and Buffs[]

More In-Depth Strategies[]

Minecart Strategy[]

This strategy differs from others in that it doesn't use a skybridge, replacing it with looped minecart track above the ocean, so the player won't have to deal with his enraged behavior. It does, however, need some more work than other ones, especially when building the arena.

Materials[]

  • 600-1200 normal minecart tracks for building loop + 2 booster tracks
  • Any kind of hammer

Arena Preparation[]

The essence is to make looped minecart track approx. 60 tiles above Ocean itself. It should consist of at least 600 tiles; while shape is pretty loose, it should have at least two places in which player drastically changes altitude, as well as at least 100 tiles long flats.

One should also make a "Starter" - a short molo with boosters, from which player will summon Duke Fishron and quickly escape to the loop.

It should be noted also that arena shouldn't exceed Ocean biome.

Execution[]

When everything's done, player should sit in a minecart on "Starter" and summon the Fishron. As soon as it's done, one should quickly go to loop (boosters will help). At this point, everything that remains is to shoot Fishron while maintaining speed on track, healing a/o replenishing mana when needed. Some tips:

  • Use a homing weapon, especially if your arena is pretty large. Fishron will spend most time off-screen, and high speed will often change directions you're facing.
  • Though stock minecart shouldn't be used, Mechanical Cart is not a good choice. Even though with it provides defense bonus, as well as speed to avoid Fishron's charges, it can easily outrun him causing Fishron to despawn, which is possible on larger arenas. Higher speed means also that you will more often run into Sharknados.
  • Try to make arena consisting of approx. 800 tiles, but don't make it horizontally-long. If you do so, Fishron will frequently run into you, and Cthulunados in his second stage will quickly kill you as there won't be any way to dodge them.

Abuse of Invincibility Frames[]

Standing in Lava with an Obsidian Rose and a Cross Necklace equipped will give the player invincibility frames for almost all of the fight while taking extremely little damage from the Lava due to the Rose's effects. this can also be done standing on a Spike.

Enraged Anti-Gravity Hook Strategy[]

When Enraged, Duke Fishron is much faster and does much more damage. But with this strategy, this strength can be turned into a weakness. What you must do is get an Anti-Gravity Hook and place one or more platforms in the air. After Duke Fishron becomes enraged, you use your Anti-Gravity Hook in the platform and start using it to spin in a circle. This makes it possible to dodge all attacks. Keep in mind that this strategy only works with enraged Duke Fishron, because in his enraged behavior he will do nothing but attempt to ram you. Then you use the hook on the platform, start spinning and dodge his charges.

Enraged Parry (Sergeant United Shield / Brand of the Inferno)[]

Again, we turn Duke Fishron's enraged behaviour against him. His increased damage and simple dash pattern is taken advantage of by the parry ability. With enough well-timed parries, Duke Fishron will essentially defeat himself. The timing requires a little practice, but is not terribly difficult. Fighting this way requires no arena or any other setup. Simply ensure that no other mobs can potentially interfere, and you're good to go.

Each Parried attack will deal 400 / 560/ 840before applying the usual ±15% random deviation, and is affected by Duke's defense. The number of parries required to defeat him can be decreased significantly by making a few preparations:

  • Using a Sharpening Station, Flask of Ichor, Shark Tooth Necklace and Stinger Necklace combine to provide 37 defense penetration, useful for the first two phases of the fight.
  • The Cactus Armor will increase damage dealt by a flat 15 / 30/45per parry, affected by Duke's defense, but has no random variability nor is it affected by luck.
  • Damage reflection is inversely affected by luck (negative luck is better). Ensure the absence of anything that causes positive luck, and consider releasing and killing a (Gold) Ladybug before starting the fight.
  • Thorns Potion and Turtle Armor Thorns damage do not stack with parry damage, and will not increase damage dealt.
  • Attacking with the shield between parries will ensure Duke remains inflicted with Ichor and increases DPS substantially, thanks to the Striking Moment buff that the Shield grants after parrying. Equip any shield accessory other than the Huntress' Buckler to ensure that you can parry even while the Sergeant United Shield is in flight.


The Black Spot (outdated as of 1.4.1)[]

In Master Mode, it is possible to defeat Duke Fishron with The Black SpotThe Black Spot, as the mount is faster than the Duke. It only requires flying back and forth across the ocean, attacking the Duke.

Things to keep in mind:

  • All the general tips for items (potions, reforges, etc)
  • Arena (campfire, star in a bottle, heart lantern, etc)
  • Be careful to not to go too far out of the ocean

Additional tips:

  • Since you already have ability to fly, you no longer have the need for boots or wings, meaning you have two extra accessory slots. Good candidates for replacement are:
  • It is recommended to use Hallowed armorHallowed Armor for this fight, as the Sharkrons will occasionally hit you as you pass by.
  • A Cobalt ShieldCobalt Shield or its upgrades are also recommended, so you can negate the knockback taken from a stray Sharkron.
  • You will also need a dashing accessory for the final stage, like a Shield of CthulhuShield of Cthulhu or Master Ninja GearMaster Ninja Gear.
  • Duke has a lot of defense, so use Ichor to lower it. The Duke is not immune to Cursed Flames, either, so use that to your advantage.
  • For the final stage, switch one of your accessories to a Lucky HorseshoeLucky Horseshoe so you don't take fall damage when falling to the bottom platform. Using autopause will make it easier to open your inventory (Although this is not needed if the player decides to keep the wings that can also negate fall damage).

The fight itself is pretty simple, just make sure to watch out for the Sharkrons.

The only dangerous thing is the last stage (on Expert or Master):

  1. Before the fight, set up an arena high up in the air that spans across the ocean. When the Duke is transforming into his third stage, quickly make your way up to the platform.
  2. When the Duke teleports behind you, fall off the platform and start dashing away from his line of charge. Repeat this process until you reach your bottom platform. You will no longer need the ship mount for this.
  3. When you reach the bottom platform, use a Gravitation PotionGravitation Potion and repeat step two. When you reach the top platform, rinse and repeat.
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Information taken from the PC version PC 1.4.0.5 source code, AI_069_DukeFishron() in Terraria.NPC.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current PC version PC version is 1.4.4.9.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Information taken from the PC version PC 1.4.0.5 source code, Kill() in Terraria.Projectile.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current PC version PC version is 1.4.4.9.
  3. See Detonating Bubble.
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