Going full mage in Terraria is one of the most rewarding ways to play—massive burst, piercing AoE, homing projectiles, and the joy of deleting bosses from a screen away. This guide walks you through the most reliable magic weapons by progression, with what they do best and how to get them—so you’re never stuck wondering what to farm next.
How to use this guide: Pick from the tier you’re currently in (pre-Hardmode → early Hardmode → post-Plantera → endgame), then follow the quick farm notes.
Endgame (Post-Cultist → Moon Lord)
Last Prism — the boss evaporator
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What it does: Channel a prism that collapses into a single, eye-watering beam. Highest practical boss DPS when you can stand and channel.
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Where to get it: Moon Lord drop.
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When to use: Moon Lord and event waves with tanky targets; bring Mana Regeneration/Magic Power potions and Nebula or Spectre (mask).
Lunar Flare — burst through walls
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What it does: Calls three flares from above to cursor; ignores blocks and explodes on impact.
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Where to get it: Moon Lord drop.
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When to use: Caves, arenas with ceilings, events where enemies hide behind terrain.
Nebula Blaze — homing artillery
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What it does: Rapid-fire homing bolts with occasional empowered shots; great on agile bosses.
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Where to get it: Craft with Nebula Fragments at the Ancient Manipulator.
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When to use: Mobile bosses and dodgy targets where Last Prism’s channeling is risky.
Late Hardmode (Post-Plantera / Post-Golem / Specialty Bosses)
Razorblade Typhoon — ricochet control
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What it does: Persistent, homing spinning discs; melts groups and pressures bosses.
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Where to get it: Duke Fishron drop.
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When to use: Great all-rounder for invasions and boss arenas.
Nightglow — rainbow seekers
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What it does: Slow, homing motes that swarm targets; superb sustained pressure while dodging.
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Where to get it: Empress of Light drop.
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When to use: Bosses where you must move a lot; pairs well with Golden Shower debuff.
Spectre Staff — smart homing bolts
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What it does: Homing shots with solid single-target DPS.
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Where to get it: Ragged Caster (post-Plantera Dungeon) drop.
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When to use: Tight corridors; synergizes with Spectre Armor (mask) for damage.
Shadowbeam Staff — hallway laser
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What it does: Beam that bounces off walls; amazing in tunnels/rooms.
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Where to get it: Necromancer (post-Plantera Dungeon) drop.
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When to use: Dungeon farming, events in enclosed arenas.
Razorpine — close-range boss shredder
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What it does: Extremely fast needles with obscene DPS at mid-close range.
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Where to get it: Everscream (Frost Moon) drop.
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When to use: Bosses where you can safely park close for maximum hit rate.
Mid Hardmode
Magnet Sphere — “set and forget” orb
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What it does: Spawns a roaming orb that continuously zaps nearby enemies.
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Where to get it: Armored Bones variants (post-Plantera Dungeon) drop.
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When to use: Holds lanes during events; great in hybrid builds.
Crystal Serpent — fishing MVP
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What it does: Projectile splits into homing shards; reliable generalist damage.
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Where to get it: Fished in the Hallow (Hardmode).
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When to use: Early/mid Hardmode when you want dependable ranged pressure.
Meteor Staff — cursor-guided meteors
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What it does: Calls meteors from above; excels under ceilings or platform arenas.
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Where to get it: Craft: 20 Meteorite Bars + 10 Pixie Dust + 10 Souls of Light (Mythril/Orichalcum Anvil).
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When to use: Events (Goblin Army, Pirate Invasion) and bosses you can pen in.
Sky Fracture — high-crit slicer
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What it does: Fires three energy blades with very high base crit chance—burst DPS machine.
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Where to get it: Craft: Magic Missile + 2 Light Shards + 16 Souls of Light.
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When to use: Mobile fights where crit spikes shine.
Betsy’s Wrath — defense breaker
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What it does: Applies Betsy’s Curse (defense reduction). Stacks with Ichor for huge effective DPS.
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Where to get it: Betsy (Old One’s Army Tier 3) drop.
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When to use: Support spell for bosses/events; cast once, swap to a DPS wand/prism.
Early Hardmode / Transition
Golden Shower — the support king (Ichor)
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What it does: Fast, piercing spray that inflicts Ichor (lowers enemy defense).
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Where to get it: Craft: Spell Tome + 20 Ichor + 15 Souls of Night (Bookcase).
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When to use: Always—tag bosses and elites, then switch to your main DPS weapon.
Nimbus Rod — clouds that do the work
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What it does: Summons rain clouds that deal constant damage overhead.
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Where to get it: Angry Nimbus (rain) drop (Hardmode).
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When to use: Boss arenas and choke points; place and kite.
Pre-Hardmode / Early Game Staples
Space Gun — infinite beam with Meteor set
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What it does: Rapid magic bolts; free to cast while wearing Meteor Armor.
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Where to get it: Craft with Meteorite Bars; wear full Meteor armor for zero mana cost.
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When to use: Dominates early game and even early Hardmode with armor synergy.
Bee Gun — homing bees, big coverage
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What it does: Fires homing bees; great coverage and safe damage while dodging.
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Where to get it: Queen Bee drop (Jungle).
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When to use: Pre-Wall of Flesh bossing and early events.
Demon Scythe — spiraling pierce
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What it does: Slow-starting, high-damage piercing scythes.
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Where to get it: Demon & Voodoo Demon drops (Underworld).
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When to use: Tunnels, grouped enemies, Skeletron arena.
Utility note: Ice Rod vs. Frost Staff
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Ice Rod: Purchased from the Wizard—creates temporary ice blocks (mobility/building utility, not a damage wand).
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Frost Staff: Dropped by Ice Elementals (Hardmode Snow)—actual damaging ice projectiles.
Mage Loadouts: Quick Wins
Armor path
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Early: Jungle → Meteor (for Space Gun) → Wizard Hat/Robes mixes as needed
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Hardmode: Hallowed (headpiece: magic) → Spectre (mask for damage, hood for lifesteal) → Nebula (endgame)
Accessories
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Mana sustain: Mana Flower → Celestial Cuffs (Magnet + Cuffs)
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Damage: Sorcerer Emblem, Celestial Emblem, Avenger/Destroyer lines
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Quality of life: Magic Quiver is ranged (skip); focus on movement (Frog Leg line, Soaring Insignia late) to keep casting windows open.
Potions & buffs
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Magic Power, Mana Regeneration, Wrath/Rage (Corruption/Crimson), Endurance, Lifeforce for boss pushes.
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Food (Well Fed/Exquisitely Fed) for all-around stats.
Arena tips
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Add platform ceilings for Meteor Staff/Lunar Flare angles.
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Place Heart Lanterns, Campfires, Bast Statues; wire Heart/Star statues to timers for sustain during events.
Quick Reference: What to Farm Next
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Just hit Hardmode? Crystal Serpent (Hallow fishing), Golden Shower (craft), Nimbus Rod (rain).
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Post-Plantera: Magnet Sphere, Spectre/Shadowbeam Staffs (Dungeon), Razorblade Typhoon (Duke Fishron).
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Endgame: Nebula Blaze (craft), Lunar Flare & Last Prism (Moon Lord).
The mage class thrives on debuff stacking (Ichor/Betsy’s Curse), homing control, and burst windows. Rotate Golden Shower (or Betsy’s Wrath) into your opener, then swap to a primary DPS wand for brutal results. With these weapons and loadout tips, you’ll glide from early game to Moon Lord with confidence.