Lunatic Cultist Terraria boss · Hardmode · #17 in the usual order
The masked leader of the cult camped outside the Dungeon. After Golem, its followers gather to worship a tablet. Beating it starts the Lunar Events, the last step before Moon Lord.
- Stage
- Hardmode
- Required?
- Needed to progress
- Where
- Dungeon entrance, any time (after Golem)
- Max life
- 32,000 (Classic)
- Defense
- 42
Biome: Dungeon
Stats by difficulty
| Stat | Classic | Expert | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max life | 32,000 | 48,000 | 61,200 |
| Contact damage | 50 | 75 | 112 |
How to summon Lunatic Cultist
Kill the group of Cultists that appear in front of the Dungeon after Golem has been beaten. The Lunatic Cultist then appears. Skeletron must also be defeated.
Attacks and phases
- Cycles through fireball bursts, an ice mist ball that throws shards, and a lightning orb.
- Summons copies of itself in a ritual; if the real one is not hit in time, a Phantasm Dragon or Ancient Visions appear.
- At half health it adds spreads of Ancient Light, and Expert adds Ancient Doom projectiles.
Strategy
- Build a platform arena over the Dungeon entrance.
- During the ritual, hit the real Cultist quickly to cancel it. Minions and homing shots ignore all the copies, so aim by hand.
- Dodge fireballs by moving away and keep clear of the ice mist.
- Kill a Phantasm Dragon fast if one spawns, since it can shred you.
- Standard buff potions and post-Golem gear are enough.
Recommended weapons
Melee
Influx Waver or Terra Blade
Ranged
Tsunami or Chain Gun
Magic
Razorblade Typhoon or Magnet Sphere
Summoner
Xeno Staff with the Kaleidoscope
Drops
| Item | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|
 Ancient Manipulator | 1 | 100% |
 Lunatic Cultist Mask | 1 | 14.29% |
 Lunatic Cultist Trophy | 1 | 10% |
 Greater Healing Potion | 5–15 | 100% |
Expert and Master Mode extras
Tablet Fragment Master · 25%
Lunatic Cultist Relic Master · 100%Classic Mode rates. In Expert and Master Mode most loot comes in a treasure bag.
After you beat Lunatic Cultist
- The Lunar Events: four Celestial Pillars appear across the world
- The Ancient Manipulator for crafting endgame gear
- Beating all four pillars summons the Moon Lord
Did you know? Its mask and trophy were first named Ancient Cultist, an old development name.
FAQ
How do you summon Lunatic Cultist in Terraria?
Kill the group of Cultists that appear in front of the Dungeon after Golem has been beaten. The Lunatic Cultist then appears. Skeletron must also be defeated.
How much health does Lunatic Cultist have?
32,000 in Classic, 48,000 in Expert and 61,200 in Master Mode.
What does Lunatic Cultist drop?
Ancient Manipulator, Lunatic Cultist Mask, Lunatic Cultist Trophy, Greater Healing Potion.
What should I use against Lunatic Cultist?
Melee: Influx Waver or Terra Blade. Ranged: Tsunami or Chain Gun. Magic: Razorblade Typhoon or Magnet Sphere. Summoner: Xeno Staff with the Kaleidoscope.
Sources & picture credits
- Lunatic Cultist (Terraria Wiki)
- Picture: Lunatic_Cultist.gif
- Picture: Lunatic_Cultist_Relic.png
- Picture: Lunatic_Cultist_Trophy.png
- Picture: Ancient_Manipulator.png
- Picture: Lunatic_Cultist_Mask.png
- Picture: Greater_Healing_Potion.png
- Picture: Tablet_Fragment.png
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).