Melee Build Guide
Melee is the tankiest class in Terraria, with high defense and devastating close-range damage. Later on, melee gains powerful ranged options (boomerangs, thrown swords, yoyos) that make it viable at all stages.
Class Tip
Melee is the easiest class for beginners due to high defense. The tradeoff is you need to get close to deal damage — which means you'll take more hits until you learn boss patterns.
Pre-Hardmode Melee
Best Weapons
- Enchanted Boomerang — available day 1 from gold/plat + 3 gems. Excellent range and damage
- Night's Edge — the goal weapon. Crafted from Muramasa + Blade of Grass + Fiery Greatsword + Light's Bane/Blood Butcherer at a Demon Altar
- Star Cannon — consumes stars as ammo. Insane pre-HM damage, great for boss fights
- Sunfury — best pre-HM flail, drops from Shadow Chests in the Underworld
Best Armor
- Molten Armor — 25 defense, 17% melee damage boost. Crafted from Hellstone Bars (need Shadow/Crimson pickaxe first)
- Shadow Armor (Corruption) — 19 defense, boosts movement speed, good set bonus
- Crimson Armor (Crimson) — 19 defense, boosted life regen set bonus
Accessories
- Feral Claws (increases melee speed)
- Shield of Cthulhu (dash + invincibility frames)
- Spectre Boots → Lightning Boots
- Warrior Emblem (from Wall of Flesh)
Hardmode Melee
Best Weapons
- True Night's Edge — upgrade with a Broken Hero Sword (from Mothron in Solar Eclipse)
- Death Sickle — drops from Reapers in Solar Eclipse. High damage, piercing projectile
- Paladin's Hammer (post-Plantera) — drops from Paladins in Dungeon. Excellent knockback and DPS
- Terra Blade — the classic endgame sword. Crafted from True Night's Edge + True Excalibur + Broken Hero Sword
- Flairon (post-Duke Fishron) — homing bubbles, very high DPS
Best Armor
- Frost Armor (early HM) — melee + ranged hybrid, 43 defense, melee speed boost
- Hallowed Armor (mid HM) — 50 defense, Holy Protection set bonus (dodge every 30s)
- Beetle Armor (post-Plantera) — two modes: Shell (tank + damage reduction) or Scale (offensive, damage boost)
- Solar Flare Armor (endgame) — 78 defense (highest in the game), massive melee boost, shield charge
Accessories
- Fire Gauntlet (melee damage + fire damage)
- Celestial Shell (all stats, transforms at night)
- Destroyer Emblem (10% damage + 8% crit)
- Frozen Shield (Paladin's Shield + Ice Barrier — high defense)
Melee Progression Table
| Stage | Weapon | Armor |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Enchanted Boomerang | Gold/Platinum |
| Mid pre-HM | Night's Edge | Molten |
| Early HM | Death Sickle | Frost / Hallowed |
| Mid HM | Terra Blade | Beetle (Shell) |
| Endgame | Meowmere / Star Wrath | Solar Flare |