Terraria NPC Guide: All NPCs and How to Spawn Them

(Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes)

One of the first sights players are greeted by in a new world in Terraria is the game's first NPC, the Guide. This non-player character will give you some information about the game, such as how to craft. But bear in mind that the Guide is only one of many NPCs you can spawn and meet in the game, and there are many more useful friends to have in the world of Terraria. With that, here is every currently accessible Terraria NPC, what they offer, and how to spawn them in your game!

Every Terraria NPC

You can spawn most NPCs by creating houses or rooms for them. Do note that an NPC won’t spawn unless this space has a chair, table, and lighting fixture. It must also be a closed establishment with a wall and a door. The Terraria NPCs that arrive in your built houses or rooms will also arrive in chronological order. But some NPCs will only spawn if you meet specific requirements. You can also see some of these non-playable characters during your underground excursions. Warning: NPCs can die if their health drops to zero, but they’ll also respawn after some time.

Pre-Hardmode NPCs

These Terraria NPCs are accessible from the very beginning of the game provided you meet their spawn requirements and do not require players to reach Hardmode content first.

NPC	Function	Spawn Requirements
Guide	Provides tips for starters and acts as a general guide for new players	Immediately exists upon starting a new world
Angler	Provides fishing quests and rewards	Look for him in an Ocean biome
Arms Dealer	Sells guns and ammo	One player is carrying at least one gun or bullets
Clothier	Sells various vanity items	Defeat the Skeletron boss
Demolitionist	Sells explosives	One player is carrying at least one explosive
Dryad	Sells nature and Corruption/Crimson items Provides a report on the Corruption or Crimson taking over the world	Defeat the Eye of Cthulhu, Skeletron, or the Eater of Worlds/Brain of Cthulhu bosses
Dye Trader	Sells and trades dyes	One player is carrying at least one dye or dye-crafting material
Goblin Tinkerer	Sells various items like the Tinkerer’s Workshop Reforge certain items	Look for this NPC in the Cavern layer after defeating the Goblin Invasion event
Golfer	Sells golf-themed items	Look for him in the Underground Desert biome
Mechanic	Sells tools and other mechanism-related items	Look for this NPC in the Dungeon
Merchant	Sells basic equipment and supplies	Players need to have at least 50 Silver Coins
Nurse	Heals and cancels debuffs for a fee	One player in the world has at least more than 100 health
Painter	Sells paint, paintings, and painting tools	Found at least 8 NPCs
Party Girl	Sells items with visual flare	Randomly shows up as the next NPC to spawn after at least two other NPCs are in your town
Star Merchant	Sells magical items and magic-themed decorations	Low chance to spawn after acquiring all other pre-Hardmode NPCs
Stylist	Changes the player’s hairstyle Sells hair dyes	Look for her in a Spider Cave
Tavernkeep	Sells summoning items	Look for him in the world after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu bosses
Witch Doctor	Sells summoner equipment Sells the Blowgun, Leaf Wings, and Imbuing Station	Defeat the Queen Bee boss
Zoologist	Sells critter, mount, pet, and vanity items	The Bestiary should have at least 54 entries

Hardmode NPCs

The following Terraria NPCs are only accessible during the Hardmode portion of the game.

NPC	Function	Spawn Requirements
Cyborg	Sells items like Nanites, Rockets, and the Proximity Mine Launcher	Defeat the Plantera boss
Pirate	Sells pirate-themed items	Defeat at least one Pirate Invasion event
Princess	Sells various furniture and vanity items	Invite all other NPCs (excluding Santa Claus and town pets)
Santa Claus	Sells Christmas-themed items, including the Santa armor set	Defeat the Frost Legion event It should be Christmas
Steampunker	Sells items like the Teleporter and Jetpack	Defeat at least one mechanical boss
Tax Collector	Collects 50 Copper Coins per NPC as property taxes	Look for the Tortured Soul in the Underworld and use the Purification Powder on it
Truffle	Sells mushroom-related items and the Autohammer	Look for this NPC in an above-ground house over the Glowing Mushroom biome
Wizard	Sells various magic-related items	Look for him in the Cavern layer

Other Terraria NPCs

The following NPCs won’t stay in your town permanently, so don't get too attached!

NPC	Function	Spawn Requirements
Traveling Merchant	Sells random items	Random chance to spawn during the day and leaves at night
Old Man	Summons the Skeletron boss	Found at the entrance of the Dungeon
Skeleton Merchant	Sells various items like the Magic Lantern, Spelunker, and Yoyo Glove	Chance to spawn in the Caverns

You can join the many Terraria NPCs available in the game and start your adventures via our dedicated servers here.