Summon weapons are a type of weapon that spawns secondary characters that will aid during battle by automatically attacking enemies within range. They cannot be damaged or killed, and deal summon damage. Summon weapons come in two different categories:
- Minions are mobile summons. They follow the player indefinitely until the player dies, summons a replacement Minion, or cancels their buff. There are several different Minions, some of which can walk or fly, and attack using melee or ranged means. A Minion costs 10 mana to summon initially, but follows the player indefinitely thereafter at no further cost.
- By default, a player can only have a single Minion summoned at once. Various boosts can raise the player's Minion capacity, allowing multiple simultaneous Minions. With Minion cap boosts in effect, the same Minion can be summoned multiple times, or several different Minions can be summoned. Minion cap boosts do not affect Pets or Light Pets.
- Minions follow players in a manner similar to Pets, flying and passing through blocks as necessary to keep pace with the player's movements, though most cannot move through blocks for the purposes of attacking. Exceptions are the minions summoned by the Tempest Staff, Xeno Staff, and Stardust Dragon Staff, which can attack through blocks.
- On the PC version, the respective minion summoning items can be right-clicked to target the entity nearest to the cursor. As long as the minions have their target in within their line of sight, they will specifically attack it.
- Sentries are the other type of summon available. Unlike Minions, Sentries cannot follow the player, and will instead remain rooted in place. Sentries will automatically disappear after a fixed amount of time, but can persist even after their owner dies.
- By default, a player can only have a single Sentry summoned at once. Various boosts can raise the player's Sentry capacity, allowing multiple simultaneous Sentries. With Sentry cap boosts in effect, the same Sentry can be summoned multiple times, or several different Sentries can be summoned. On the Console and Mobile versions, the player has no Sentry capacity, but they are limited to only summoning one of each Sentry type.
Additionally, the set bonuses of the Stardust armor and Forbidden armor will summon an entity to fight for the player in a manner similar to minions, although they do not fall into either of the categories above.
There are currently 19 summon weapons on the PC version, 11 on the Console version and the Mobile version.
Minion Summons
Pre-Hardmode
Item | Minion | Damage | Acquired / Made From | Bonus | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:Il2c | Baby Slime | 8 |
|
n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Hornet | 9 | 14 Template:Item link2 | n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Imp | 21 | 17 Template:Item link2 | n/a |
Hardmode
Item | Minion | Damage | Acquired / Made From | Bonus | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:Il2c | Spider | 26 | 16 Template:Item link2 | Each minion only counts .75 to the total minion capacity | ||
Template:Il2c | Twins Minion.png | Twins | 30 | 2 Template:Item link2 / 1 Template:Item link2 / 12 Template:Item link2 / 20 Template:Item link2 | Both Twins are spawned as 1 minion | |
Template:Il2c | Pirate | 40 | Pirates (0.05% or 1/2000 chance).
Flying Dutchman |
n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Template:Mirror | Pygmy | 34 | Plantera (25% or 1/4 chance; 50% or 1/2 chance). | n/a | |
Template:Il2c | UFO | 36 | Martian Saucer |
n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Raven | 37 | Pumpking (1.79% to 14.29% chance depending on wave) | n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Sharknado | 50 | Duke Fishron (20% or 1/5 chance) | n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Deadly Sphere | 50 | Deadly Sphere |
n/a | ||
Template:Il2c | Stardust Dragon | 40 | 18 Template:Item link2 | Each segment added to the initial minion counts .5 to the total minion capacity | ||
Template:Il2c | Stardust Cell | 60 | 18 Template:Item link2 | n/a |
Sentry Summons
Standard
Item | Minion | Damage | Acquired / Made From | Bonus | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:Item link2 | Queen Spider Staff | Queen Spider | 21 | 24 Template:Item link2 | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Staff of the Frost Hydra | Frost Hydra | 100 | Frozen Chest | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Lunar Portal Staff |
Lunar Portal | 50 | Moon Lord |
n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Rainbow Crystal Staff |
Rainbow Crystal | 150 | Moon Lord |
n/a |
Tavernkeep's sentries Template:Pc icon
Sentries summoned by items from the Tavernkeep are associated with the Old One's Army event. They are purchased with Defender Medals (instead of coins), which are awarded only during the event. At first, they can only be used within the event. After the event is completed once, they can be used outside the event, and will function as normal sentries.
The Tavernkeep's sentries remain placed permanently throughout the entire event, and Etherian Mana collected during the event allows additional sentries to remain summoned. Etherian Mana cannot be used outside the event, but armor sold by the Tavernkeep can allow multiples to be summoned outside the event.
Each of the Tavernkeep's sentry summon weapons come in three tiers: Rod, Cane, and Staff; with the Staff being the most expensive and the most powerful.
Item | Minion | Damage | Acquired / Made From | Bonus | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:Item link2 | Lightning Aura Rod Template:Pc icon | Lightning Aura | 12 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Flameburst Rod Template:Pc icon | Flameburst Tower | 17 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Explosive Trap Rod Template:Pc icon | Explosive Trap | 24 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Ballista Rod Template:Pc icon | Ballista | 27 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Lightning Aura Cane Template:Pc icon | Lightning Aura | 33 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Flameburst Cane Template:Pc icon | Flameburst Tower | 42 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Explosive Trap Cane Template:Pc icon | Explosive Trap | 59 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Ballista Cane Template:Pc icon | Ballista | 67 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Lightning Aura Staff Template:Pc icon | Lightning Aura | 102 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Flameburst Staff Template:Pc icon | Flameburst Tower | 88 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Explosive Trap Staff Template:Pc icon | Explosive Trap | 126 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Ballista Staff Template:Pc icon | Ballista | 140 | Sold by Tavernkeep. | n/a |
Armor Summons
Certain armor sets will summon a unique minion when the full set is worn. Each player can only have one that remains active as long as the armor is worn, and can be directed by double-pressing ▼ Down. They do not count against either mobile or sentry minion caps.
Item | Minion | Damage | Acquired / Made From | Bonus | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template:Item link2 | Forbidden armor |
Forbidden Sign | 25 | 3 Template:Item link2 / 46 ( Template:Item link2 or Template:Item link2 ) | n/a | |
Template:Item link2 | Stardust armor |
Stardust Guardian | 20 | 36 Template:Item link2 / 45 Template:Item link2 | n/a |
Boost gear
Armor
Appearance / Name | Minion Boost(s) | Acquired / Made From | |
---|---|---|---|
Template:Item link2 | Bee armor |
|
30 Template:Item link2 |
Template:Item link2 | Forbidden armor |
|
3 Template:Item link2 / 46 ( Template:Item link2 or Template:Item link2 ) |
Template:Item link2 | Spider armor |
|
36 Template:Item link2 |
Template:Item link2 | Apprentice armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Monk armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Huntress armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Squire armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Tiki armor |
|
Witch Doctor (Pygmy Staff in inventory, Plantera has been defeated) |
Template:Item link2 | Dark Artist armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Shinobi Infiltrator armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Red Riding armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Valhalla Knight armor |
|
Sold by Tavernkeep |
Template:Item link2 | Spooky armor |
|
750 Template:Item link2 |
Template:Item link2 | Stardust armor |
|
36 Template:Item link2 / 45 Template:Item link2 |
Accessories
Item | Minion Boost(s) | Acquired / Made From | |
---|---|---|---|
Pygmy Necklace |
|
Witch Doctor (Pygmy Staff in inventory, Plantera has been defeated, at night) | |
Hercules Beetle |
|
Witch Doctor (Pygmy Staff in inventory, Plantera has been defeated, in Jungle biome) | |
Apprentice's Scarf |
|
Dropped by Ogre | |
Monk's Belt |
|
Dropped by Ogre | |
Huntress's Buckler |
|
Dropped by Ogre | |
Squire's Shield |
|
Dropped by Ogre | |
Necromantic Scroll |
|
Mourning Wood (2% to 20% chance depending on wave) | |
Papyrus Scarab |
|
1 / 1 | |
Summoner Emblem |
|
Wall of Flesh (12.5% chance) | |
Avenger Emblem |
|
1 or 1 or 1 or 1 / 5 / 5 / 5 Template:Pc icon | |
Destroyer Emblem |
|
1 / 1 | |
Sun Stone |
|
Golem (12.5% or 1/8 chance) | |
Moon Stone |
|
Vampire (2.86% chance) , (4.29% chance) - Expert Mode | |
Celestial Stone |
|
1 / 1 | |
Celestial Shell |
|
1 / 1 |
Buffs
Item | Minion Boost(s) | |
---|---|---|
Well Fed |
| |
Wrath Potion |
| |
Cute Fishron Mount Template:Desktop icon |
| |
Feral Bite |
| |
Damage Nebula Template:Desktop icon |
| |
Summoning Potion |
| |
Bewitching Table |
|
Achievement
Notes
- Minions will never attack other players, making them useless in PvP. Some Minion Weapons can still damage players if specifically targeted (Frost Hydra, Rainbow Crystal Staff), or if they deal incidental contact damage (Ravens).
- While all Summon weapons can obtain the Mythical Modifier, the Ruthless modifier offers the most effective Minion boost by solely increasing the Minion's damage per hit the most. The reduced mana cost, increased speed, critical strike chance, and knockback provided by Mythical are less useful because Summon weapons use mana only once (on the initial summoning rather than the minion attacks themselves), minions cannot deal critical hits, and their knockback is negligible even with modifiers.
- Once summoned, the minion's attack will not change even if the player removes minion damage enhancing equipment.
- It is not necessary to upgrade an Avenger Emblem to a Destroyer Emblem for the purpose of minion damage, since they cannot deal critical hits. However, the damage bonuses of the Avenger Emblem and Destroyer Emblem will stack, when both are equipped simultaneously.
- Minions will not attack the Cultists at the Dungeon if they are not yet hostile to the player as the result of another attack. Minions that deal contact damage can still deal incidental contact damage to Cultists without specifically targeting them, which will then cause them to become hostile.
- A minion's nominal damage can be increased by as much as 262%:
- + 18% from Ruthless modifier on the minion-summoning staff.
- + 66% from wearing Stardust armor.
- + 15% from the Hercules Beetle accessory.
- + 15% from the Summoner Emblem accessory.
- + 12% from the Avenger Emblem accessory.
- + 10% from the Destroyer Emblem accessory.
- + 10% from the Celestial Stone or Celestial Shell accessories.
- + 24% from reforging all six accessories to have +4% Damage.
- + 5% from the Well Fed buff (from eating food).
- + 10% from Wrath buff (from drinking a Wrath Potion).
- + 15% from the Cute Fishron Mount buff (caused by riding the Cute Fishron in water or 6 seconds thereafter).
- + 20% from the Feral Bite debuff (inflicted by Bats in Expert mode).
- + 45% from a 3-stack of Damage Booster buffs (acquired from a teammate's Nebula armor).
- = 280% (or 262% applied to the damage shown for a Ruthless minion-summoning staff). Example: An ordinary Stardust Cell Staff would summon a Stardust Cell hitting for 60 summon damage. After reforging the staff to have the Ruthless modifier, the staff would summon a Stardust Cell hitting for 60 + 18% = 71 summon damage. After wearing the above gear, eating food, drinking a Wrath Potion, dousing yourself with water while riding the Cute Fishron, getting bitten by a bat (in Expert mode), and picking up a 3-stack of Damage Booster buffs in multiplayer, the staff would summon a Stardust Cell hitting for 257 damage.
- Template:Desktop icon The maximum possible minion capacity is 11. It requires equipping Stardust Armor, and the Papyrus Scarab, Necromantic Scroll, and Pygmy Necklace accessories. It also requires being under the temporary effects of the Summoning Potion and the Bewitching Table.
- Template:Mobile icon Template:Console iconThe maximum possible minion capacity is 9. It requires equipping Tiki armor, and the Papyrus Scarab, Necromantic Scroll, and Pygmy Necklace accessories. It also requires being under the temporary effects of the Summoning Potion.
Tips
- Minions do not differentiate between enemies summoned by Statues and normal enemy spawns. This causes them to sometimes interfere with enemy-based engines, as they will zip off to slaughter any statue-summoned enemies in range (the Dragon from the Stardust Dragon Staff is especially prone to this behavior).
- Summon weapons are the only weapon type that isn't regularly available in the first parts of the game. While the first summon weapon, the Slime Staff is technically the earliest obtainable weapon, it is extremely rare, and is likely to go un-dropped until far later in the game.
Trivia
- All minion summoning items and Tavernkeep's tier three sentries have the word "staff" in it.
zh-cn:召唤物