Ranged Build Guide
Ranged is the safest class in Terraria — you deal high damage from a distance with bows, guns, and rocket launchers. Great for boss fights and events where staying mobile is critical.
Class Tip
Ranged has the best "bullet hell" potential. With good mobility accessories and a fast weapon, you can focus entirely on dodging while your attacks chip away at the boss.
Pre-Hardmode Ranged
Best Weapons
- Minishark — buy from Arms Dealer for 35 gold. Fast fire rate, consumes ammo quickly but high DPS
- Phoenix Blaster — upgrade Handgun with Hellstone Bars. Very fast pistol, excellent boss DPS
- Demon Bow / Tendon Bow — crafted from Demonite/Crimtane bars. Good damage with Jester's Arrows
- Molten Fury — Hellstone bow. Best pre-HM bow, turns wooden arrows into flaming arrows
- Star Cannon — ridiculous damage but expensive to use
Best Armor
- Necro Armor — 19 defense, 15% ranged damage, 15% chance to not consume ammo. Crafted from Bones in the Dungeon
- Fossil Armor — 13 defense, 9% ranged crit, 20% chance to save ammo. Good early option
Best Ammo
- Jester's Arrows — unlimited pierce, good for crowds and bosses
- Unholy Arrows — two pierces, good knockback
- Meteor Shot — bounces off enemies, great with Minishark
- Silver/Tungsten Bullets — high damage per bullet
Hardmode Ranged
Best Weapons
- Onyx Blaster — upgrade Shotgun with Dark Shards + Soul of Night. Devastating spread
- Daedalus Stormbow (early HM) — drops from Hallowed Mimics. With Holy Arrows, this shreds the mechanical bosses
- Megashark — Minishark upgrade with illegal gun parts and Souls of Might. 50% ammo conservation
- Chlorophyte Shotbow (post-Plantera) — fast bow, excellent with Venom Arrows
- Sniper Rifle — slow but massive single-shot damage, hitscan
- Tsunami (post-Duke Fishron) — fires 5 arrows at once. Insane with Ichor/Venom arrows
- Vortex Beater (endgame) — SMG-like fire rate, homing bullets
Best Armor
- Frost Armor (early HM) — melee + ranged hybrid, frostburn on attacks
- Shroomite Armor (mid HM) — 51 defense, 46% ranged damage, stealth mode for even more damage
- Vortex Armor (endgame) — 62 defense, massive ranged boost, stealth mode for crit chance
Best Ammo (HM)
- Holy Arrows — stars fall from sky on hit. Pairs with Daedalus Stormbow for insane DPS
- Crystal Bullets — shatter on impact for extra hits. Great with Megashark
- Ichor Bullets/Arrows — reduce enemy defense by 20 for 15 seconds
- Chlorophyte Bullets — homing projectiles. Less raw DPS but near 100% accuracy
- Venom Arrows/Bullets — venom debuff, excellent sustained damage
Ranged Progression Table
| Stage | Weapon | Armor |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Demon Bow + Jester's Arrows | Fossil |
| Mid pre-HM | Minishark / Phoenix Blaster | Necro |
| Early HM | Daedalus Stormbow + Holy Arrows | Frost |
| Mid HM | Megashark + Crystal Bullets | Shroomite |
| Endgame | Vortex Beater + Chlorophyte Bullets | Vortex |