Best Hardmode Guns In Terraria

Highlights

• Hardmode Guns in Terraria are crucial for Ranged Class players to keep up with tougher opponents and secure better crowd control.
• Onyx Blaster, Phoenix Blaster, and other select Hardmode Guns offer burst fire capabilities for players in Terraria.
• Players looking to dominate Hardmode battles in Terraria should consider upgrading their arsenal to guns like the Megashark and Vortex Beater.

Guns pack quite a punch in Terraria gameplay, especially when players need a fast-paced weapon for their Ranged Class builds. However, the tougher opponents of Terraria Hardmode may outpace the player’s overall damage output, putting them in bigger danger even when playing from afar.

Thankfully, acquiring the best Hardmode Guns in Terraria helps players retake the advantage against heavier-hitting opponents. With the right Hardmode Guns, Ranged Class players can confidently move around the battlefield while blasting enemies before they have a chance to strike back.

Updated February 21, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Terraria gearing up for its much-awaited Version 1.4.5 Update poised to have as much of an impact on the game as its acclaimed Journey’s End overhaul, fans and newcomers to the sandbox RPG may want to consider enjoying the game’s current offerings before the upcoming version makes massive changes to the overall gameplay.

Among must-tries for fans is the game’s Hardmode Difficulty which ups the ante across most of the game’s segments, with the Ranged Build having the potential to give players the security of distance against the game’s heavy hitters. Fans who want to explore long-ranged plays may want to consider using real-life inspired weapons like shotguns and handguns, a fiery pistol, a shotgun that practically becomes a cannon, and a traditional-looking rifle that packs a punch.

15 Shotgun

Damage: 24

When it comes to using Guns in the Hardmode difficulty in Terraria gameplay, the Shotgun is a reasonable first choice for its crowd control capabilities. Essentially an upgrade of the Pre-Hardmode Boomstick that drops from most sources, the Shotgun’s burst capabilities can make it effective in most basic incursions before players opt to upgrade to either the Onyx Blaster or the Tactical Shotgun.

Using the base Shotgun can see better performance when equipped with the right kind of Bullets. For instance, using Exploding Bullets can secure better crowd control while Cursed Bullets with the Cursed Inferno debuff can make the Shotgun a more competitive choice for PVP.

14 Onyx Blaster

Damage: 24

The dominating appearance of the Onyx Blaster can make for a surprising reveal that it’s one of the lesser-damaging Hardmode weapons at base, making it a meme-worthy Terraria weapon. That is until players fire the Onyx Blaster and realize how useful it is for burst fire incursions.

The Onyx Blaster is considered a direct upgrade of the Shotgun as the prior weapon is used alongside 2x Dark Shard and 10x Soul of Night on a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil to craft the weapon. Upon its acquisition, the Onyx Blaster can fight mechanical bosses or even get to the point of fighting Duke Fishron and Golem with its ease of dealing burst damage up close or at a distance. Combining Onyx Blaster with the Endless Musket Pouch as well as the Megashark could make it a candidate for the ultimate crowd control weapon.

13 Handgun

Damage: 26

Among weapons players can use in Terraria‘s Hardmode, the rather plainly named Handgun can become a dependable asset for long-ranged combatants. Players can acquire the weapon from Gold Chests and Golden Lock Boxes, making it an easy find to start Hardmode playthroughs with.

In the earlier stages of Hardmode, the Handgun can become a player’s must-have for fighting foes at a distance and even the mode’s first couple of bosses, although its base damage can make it a tough weapon to use in the long term. If possible, players should transition to the Phoenix Blaster as soon as possible.

12 Phoenix Blaster

Damage: 24

Despite its rather awesome appearance as a fire-inspired Gun, the Phoenix Blaster has virtually the same performance as a Handgun but this time boasts more damage per bullet, better velocity, and less knockback. In terms of base damage, the Phoenix Blaster is the third after the Star Cannon and Musket for the highest numbers before players enter Hardmode. Players can acquire the Phoenix Blaster by combining 10 Hellstone Bars and a Handgun on an Iron or Lead Anvil.

The fast-paced firing of the Phoenix Blaster can help players pulverize threats rather quickly in the early game until the early stages of the midgame of Hardmode. Its stats already outclass some of Hardmode’s early weapons, making Phoenix Blaster a viable candidate to fight the Wall of Flesh due to its firing rate.

11 Megashark

Damage: 25

Being a direct upgrade to the Minishark, the Megashark is a gatling gun that fires bullets in a straight line. Also, it has a 50% chance of not using ammo while having one of the lowest use times among all guns in the game.

The Megashark’s stats make it a decent weapon against more brutal mechanical bosses or even against Duke Fishron, with its numbers capable of serving players even before fighting Plantera. Despite similarities with the Uzi and the Gatligator, the Megashark is the easiest to obtain on top of being the fastest and the most accurate.

10 Tactical Shotgun

Damage: 29

At first glance, the Tactical Shotgun seems like a reskin of the Shotgun with a drum barrel, and this is because this weapon serves as a direct upgrade to the latter. When acquired from Tactical Skeletons in the Dungeon instead of being created in a Crafting Station, the Tactical Shotgun is an automatic shotgun from other shooters capable of auto-firing a bullet that spreads into six pellets.

Despite lacking significant battlefield effects, the Tactical Shotgun’s stats make it quite the formidable early-Hardmode weapon. Using this in Terraria gameplay gives players the advantage of knockback and multi-hit, making the Tactical Shotgun great for fighting hordes of enemies.

9 Uzi

Damage: 30

After fighting the ferocious Angry Trappers in the Jungle, players enjoying their Terraria gameplay might expect a plant-related drop from these creatures. This makes the Uzi a rather pleasant surprise, as the weapon looks and acts like an Uzi in real life. When activated, the Uzi boasts the same vicious firing rate as its variant in other video game shooters.

In Terraria gameplay, the Uzi also transforms Tungsten Bullets, Silver Bullets, and Musket Balls into High Velocity Bullets that pierce two enemies at the cost of a 15% damage cut per target hit. While the Uzi is similar to the Megashark in terms of performance, the Uzi being a monster drop can make this weapon a decent armament even before fighting Hardmode bosses.

8 Musket

Damage: 31

Despite technically being a weapon available even before Hardmode, the Musket can become quite a heavy-hitting Gun for Terraria players who can manage to time their shots at a distance. Early game playthroughs could benefit from the Musket’s high damage, being able to carry the player through the Queen Bee, the Skeleton, Eater of Worlds, and only needing to be replaced when fighting the Wall of Flesh.

Although the gun has a rather slow nature, it still deals higher damage compared to its Crimson counterpart, the Undertaker. To acquire the Musket, players need to destroy their first Shadow Orb in a Corruption World. This always drops a Musket and 100 Musket, with a 20% Chance of being dropped from destroyed Shadow Orbs, as well as Corrupt and Defiled Crates afterward.

7 Chain Gun

Damage: 31

When one looks at how straightforward the Chain Gun appears in Terraria gameplay, one might be surprised that this weapon comes from Santa-NK1 during Hardmode’s “Frost Moon” event. After acquisition, the Chain Gun boasts the fastest fire rate in the game at the cost of a relatively wide bullet spread.

The wide attack spread may affect the Chain Gun’s overall accuracy, making it useful against hordes or facing the likes of giant bosses like the Golem. Players can synergize the Chain Gun with certain upgrades to boost its performance, such as homing (Chlorophyte Bullets) and multi-hit (Crystal Bullets).

6 Candy Corn Rifle

Damage: 44

What makes the Candy Corn Rifle of the “Pumpkin Moon” event rather impressive isn’t just the fact that it fires actual Candy Corn. Instead, the weapon has a 33% chance to save ammo, and each Candy Corn bullet can ricochet up to four times on top of being able to pierce up to two enemies.

Sadly, these benefits come at the cost of limited range due to the Candy Corn Rifle pellets being affected by gravity. However, the pierce and ricochet features make the Candy Corn weapon efficient against worm-type enemies such as The Destroyer.

5 Xenopopper

Damage: 45

Boasting one of the more colorful palettes of a Terraria gear, the Xenopopper releases four to five “bubbles” that float quickly before firing lasers corresponding to the number of bubbles where the cursor is located. Although there are multiple bubbles per shot, each bubble group only costs one ammo.

The firing delay makes the Xenopopper act more like a shotgun than a rifle, making it more suitable for single targets. When facing multiple opponents, it’s recommended for players to position the cursor further away so the Xenopopper can hit more targets.

4 Vortex Beater

Damage: 50/70 (Bullets/Rockets)

After players defeat the Lunar Cultist in Hardmode, they can spice things up for a Ranged Class Terraria build by creating the Vortex Beater in the Ancient Manipulator with 18 x Vortex Fragments. Although it fires in a scattered pattern like the Gatlingator, what makes the Vortex Beater unique is its double-damage format, as alongside its Vortex Beater bullets is a homing Vortex Rocket released every 0.583 seconds.

The Vortex Beater only uses ammo with released bullets, not with the Vortex Rocket. Due to the sporadic firing mode of the weapon, the Vortex Beater is more suitable against enemies that occupy large battlefield segments such as bosses.

3 Venus Magnum

Damage: 50

Players who eventually defeat Plantera in their Terraria gameplay can acquire the Venus Magnum, a green manual-fire handgun that packs quite a punch at 50 Damage and a high firing rate. This weapon gets the High Velocity Bullet buff when using Musket Balls, Silver Bullets, and Tungsten Bullets, allowing them to pierce up to two opponents with 15% damage loss per enemy struck.

Stats-wise, the Venus Magnum is a direct improvement to the Phoenix Blaster. And while the Venus Magnum is better than the similarly-performing Uzi in terms of numbers, the Uzi does autofire.

2 S.D.M.G.

Damage: 85

The S.D.M.G. or Space Dolphin Machine Gun is a possible drop from the Moon Lord in Terraria gameplay’s Hardmode. Its stats make it quite the potent endgame upgrade to the Megashark and the Chain Gun, with a slightly lower (but arguably unnoticeable) firing rate.

Despite its machine gun nature, the S.D.M.G. gives players a 66% chance not to consume ammunition. Upgrading this gun with certain items does boost its effects, such as additional piercing (Luminite Bullets), homing (Chlorophyte Bullets), multi-hit (Crystal Bullets), and defense debuffs (Ichor Bullets).

1 Sniper Rifle

Damage: 185

It’s no surprise that a weapon like the Sniper Rifle dominates Hardmode in a player’s Terraria gameplay, especially with its rather potent 185 Base Damage on top of its zooming capabilities. Although the Sniper Rifle can’t auto-fire, its high-enough 29% Crit Chance can make each shot rather devastating to opponents.

The Sniper Rifle synergizes with various items, especially those that stack its overall attack, making it extremely dangerous. For instance, the Shroomite Armor’s and Vortex Armor’s stealth effects can significantly boost the Sniper Rifle’s base damage to take out bosses in a few hits. Combining Vortex Armor with the Celestial Shell, Destroyer Armor, Sniper Scope, and Unreal Modifier can practically guarantee Crits. Lastly, more creative bullets can add effects to the Sniper such as homing bullets (Chlorophyte), multi-hits (Crystal), and piercing (Musket).