Terraria Progression Guide: Boss Order, Gear & Hardmode
A standard playthrough in 10 stages: what to aim for, which bosses to fight and the armor that fits each class at that point.
Version: Desktop 1.4.5 (Bigger and Boulder, January 27, 2026). Console and mobile are on 1.4.4.9.
1 Start
- Chop wood, build a shelter and house the Guide before the first night
- Mine Copper, Iron, Silver and Gold to craft tools, armor and an anvil
- Explore caves for Life Crystals, chests and early accessories
- Gather Lens drops and craft a Suspicious Looking Eye when ready
Armor: Melee: Copper to Gold/Platinum ore armor, Ranged: Gold/Platinum ore armor, Magic: Gold/Platinum ore armor with a wand, Summoner: Flinx Fur Coat with ore armor
2 After Eye of Cthulhu
- Reach the Jungle, Ocean and Desert and recruit new NPCs
- Grow herbs and start brewing potions
- Find the evil biome and break orbs or hearts for loot and early boss summons
- Collect materials to summon the evil biome boss
Armor: Melee: Gold/Platinum armor, Ranged: Fossil armor, Magic: Jungle armor, Summoner: Flinx Fur Coat or Bee armor later
3 After the evil boss
- Craft Shadow or Crimson gear and a Nightmare or Deathbringer Pickaxe
- Fight the Queen Bee in the Underground Jungle
- Defeat Skeletron to open the Dungeon
- Try the Old One's Army and collect Defender Medals
Armor: Melee: Shadow/Crimson armor, Ranged: Fossil or Shadow/Crimson armor, Magic: Jungle armor, Summoner: Bee or Obsidian armor
4 Pre-Wall of Flesh
- Loot the Dungeon for gear and the Necro armor set
- Mine Hellstone and craft molten tools and weapons
- Build a long bridge across the Underworld for the fight
- Get a Guide Voodoo Doll from Voodoo Demons in the Underworld and set up buff stations
Armor: Melee: Molten armor, Ranged: Necro armor, Magic: Meteor or Jungle armor, Summoner: Bee or Obsidian armor
5 Early Hardmode
- Smash altars with the Pwnhammer to spawn new ores
- Chain up through Cobalt, Mythril and Adamantite tiers
- Rescue the Wizard and purify a Tortured Soul for the Tax Collector
- Get wings and contain the spread of evil and Hallow
Armor: Melee: Adamantite/Titanium armor, Ranged: Adamantite/Titanium or Frost armor, Magic: Mythril/Orichalcum or Titanium armor, Summoner: Spider armor
6 After mechanical bosses
- Craft Hallowed gear and the Pickaxe Axe or Drax
- Mine Chlorophyte in the Underground Jungle
- Use the Steampunker's Clentaminator to clean infected land
- Find Plantera's Bulb in the Underground Jungle
Armor: Melee: Hallowed or Chlorophyte armor, Ranged: Hallowed or Chlorophyte armor, Magic: Hallowed armor, Summoner: Hallowed or Spider armor
7 After Plantera
- Unlock the Jungle Temple with the Temple Key
- Farm the post-Plantera Dungeon for new weapons and Ectoplasm
- Try the Pumpkin Moon and Frost Moon
- Craft Shroomite and Spectre gear
Armor: Melee: Turtle armor, Ranged: Shroomite armor, Magic: Spectre armor, Summoner: Tiki or Spooky armor
8 After Golem
- Craft Beetle armor from Beetle Husks
- Find a Martian Probe to start Martian Madness
- Farm moon events and Duke Fishron for top gear
- Prepare to face the Lunatic Cultist at the Dungeon entrance
Armor: Melee: Beetle armor, Ranged: Shroomite armor, Magic: Spectre armor, Summoner: Spooky armor
9 Lunar Events
- Destroy all four Celestial Pillars
- Gather Lunar Fragments from pillar enemies
- Craft early lunar weapons before the final boss
- Prepare an arena with buffs for the Moon Lord
Armor: Melee: Beetle armor, Ranged: Shroomite armor, Magic: Spectre armor, Summoner: Spooky armor
10 Endgame
- Smelt Luminite and fragments into the strongest armor, tools and wings
- Craft endgame weapons such as the Zenith
- Farm the Moon Lord for rare drops
- Finish the Bestiary, Angler quests and building projects
Armor: Melee: Solar Flare armor, Ranged: Vortex armor, Magic: Nebula armor, Summoner: Stardust armor
FAQ
What should I do first in Terraria?
Chop wood, build a shelter and house the Guide before the first night. Mine Copper, Iron, Silver and Gold to craft tools, armor and an anvil. Explore caves for Life Crystals, chests and early accessories. Gather Lens drops and craft a Suspicious Looking Eye when ready.
When should I enter Hardmode?
Once you have Hellstone or Molten gear and can beat the Wall of Flesh. Prepare a long bridge in the Underworld first.
What do I do after Plantera?
Unlock the Jungle Temple with the Temple Key. Farm the post-Plantera Dungeon for new weapons and Ectoplasm. Try the Pumpkin Moon and Frost Moon. Craft Shroomite and Spectre gear.
Sources & picture credits
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the Terraria Wiki. Boss statistics and drop rates are the game values shown in the Terraria Wiki’s infoboxes. Sprites and artwork © Re-Logic; local copies archived from Terraria Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).