Terraria Progression Master Hub — Class Builds, Boss Order, and Hardmode-to-Moon-Lord Roadmap

How to read this index
Terraria splits cleanly into three eras: pre-hardmode (world creation up to Wall of Flesh), hardmode (post-Wall up to Moon Lord), and post-Moon-Lord (modded / master / endgame challenges). Inside each era, what you build is decided by your class and what you fight is decided by the boss order. The progression guide is the spine — read it first if you are new. The class guides branch off it and tell you which weapons and armor to chase for each era. The boss guides cover individual encounters.
If you want a class-first read, start at one of the four class chains: melee, ranger, mage, summoner. If you want a boss-first read, start at the progression guide for the order and the individual boss guides for the fights themselves. This hub keeps every link in one place so you do not have to navigate from article to article.
Class progression chains
| Class | What it covers | Linked guides | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee | Melee | Yoyos / swords / true melee; high defense + close-range damage | Melee class guide + Melee progression build |
| Ranger | Ranger | Bows / guns / launchers; ammo economy + ranged crit stacking | Ranger class guide + Ranger progression build |
| Mage | Mage | Mana economy + spell weapons; highest single-target burst late | Mage class guide + Mage progression build |
| Summoner | Summoner | Minions + sentries + whips; lowest defense, highest passive DPS | Summoner class guide + Summoner progression build + Best endgame summoner build |
| Weapon tier list | Weapon tier list | Cross-class ranking by era; what to chase next | Terraria weapon tier list |
| Reforge priorities | Reforge priorities | Goblin Tinkerer reforges by class — what modifier to lock in | Terraria reforge priorities guide |
Boss order — pre-hardmode
| Boss | When | Linked guide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Bee | Queen Bee | Jungle biome; drops Bee weapons + Beenades — fight early once you have ~200 HP | How to beat Queen Bee |
| Skeletron | Skeletron | Dungeon gatekeeper; required before hardmode dungeon farming | How to beat Skeletron |
| Wall of Flesh | Wall of Flesh | Hardmode trigger; build a Hellbridge across the Underworld first | How to beat Wall of Flesh |
| Pre-hardmode armor | Pre-hardmode armor | Molten armor is the universal stop before WoF | Best pre-hardmode armor + Molten armor crafting |
| Pre-hardmode progression | Pre-hardmode progression | Full order from spawn to Wall of Flesh | Progression guide |
Boss order — hardmode + endgame
| Boss | When | Linked guide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardmode prep | Hardmode prep | Cobalt / mythril / adamantite ore tier; pre-mechs setup | Hardmode preparation guide + Hardmode ore farming guide |
| Plantera | Plantera | Post-mechs Jungle bulb; gates the Dungeon Temple | How to beat Plantera |
| Moon Lord | Moon Lord | Final vanilla boss; Lunatic Cultist + 4 pillars unlock him | How to beat Moon Lord |
| Post-Moon-Lord | Post-Moon-Lord | Master mode + modded content roadmap after the credits | Post Moon Lord progression roadmap |
| Master Mode strategy | Master Mode strategy | The ramped-difficulty mode strategy + boss adjustments | Terraria master mode strategy guide |
Accessories + wings + souls + ore farming
| Topic | What it covers | Linked guide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best accessories | Best accessories | Tier list of every slot-worthy accessory by era | Best accessories tier list |
| How to get wings | How to get wings | Every wing recipe + the fastest path to flight | How to get wings |
| Hardmode ore farming | Hardmode ore farming | Cobalt / mythril / adamantite spawning + altar smashing | Hardmode ore farming guide |
| How to farm souls | How to farm souls | Soul of Light / Night / Sight / Might / Fright / Flight farms | How to farm souls |
| Biome farming chain | Biome farming chain | Artificial biome layout for sequential drops | Biome farming chain guide |
| Corruption vs Crimson | Corruption vs Crimson | Which world evil to pick at world creation and why | Corruption vs Crimson choice |
Housing + NPCs + pylons + utilities
- Best pylons + housing guide — pylon prerequisites + NPC placement for happiness.
- NPC happiness + pylon guide — biome + neighbour rules that unlock teleport pylons.
- Terraria potions guide — buff potions by encounter; what to brew before each boss.
- Terraria events guide — Goblin Army, Blood Moon, Pirate Invasion, Frost Moon, Pumpkin Moon, and Old One's Army.
- Terraria fishing + Angler guide — fish quests + Angler rewards (Bottomless Bucket, Sextant).
Modding + advanced reads
- Terraria modding introduction — tModLoader basics and the major-mod overview.
Frequently asked questions
What is the recommended boss order in Terraria?
Pre-hardmode: Eye of Cthulhu → Brain of Cthulhu / Eater of Worlds → Queen Bee → Skeletron → Wall of Flesh. Hardmode: Queen Slime (optional) → the three Mechanical Bosses (Twins / Destroyer / Skeletron Prime) → Plantera → Golem → Empress of Light (optional) → Duke Fishron (optional) → Lunatic Cultist → Lunar Pillars → Moon Lord. The progression guide covers the full chain with armor / accessory unlocks at each step.
Which class is best for beginners?
Ranger and melee are the most beginner-friendly because their kits are simple (shoot from range or hit things in front of you) and they have strong armor at every era. Mage has higher single-target burst but needs mana management; summoner has the lowest defense but the highest passive DPS once you stack minions. The four class guides cover the kit; the four progression builds cover the weapon and armor chain for each era.
When can I start hardmode?
After you kill the Wall of Flesh in the Underworld. The Wall drops the Pwnhammer (used to break Demon / Crimson Altars and spawn the hardmode ores) and triggers the world conversion. Build a Hellbridge across the Underworld first, then read the WoF guide. The hardmode preparation guide covers what to do in the first hour after triggering hardmode (altar smashing, ore mining, soul farming).
What armor do I need before Wall of Flesh?
Molten armor (crafted from Hellstone bars after the Eater / Brain fight). It is the universal pre-hardmode stop because it gives massive defense + a melee crit bonus on the full set. The Molten armor crafting guide covers Hellstone mining safely (lava-immunity potions + obsidian skin) and the alternative pre-hardmode armor picks for non-melee classes.
Where do I go after Moon Lord?
Vanilla Terraria has nothing past Moon Lord — the credits roll. You can either flip the world to Master Mode for a tougher second loop or install mods (Calamity, Thorium, Spirit) for hundreds of post-Moon-Lord bosses and tiers. The post-Moon-Lord roadmap covers both options; the master-mode strategy guide covers vanilla replay; the modding introduction covers tModLoader setup.
Sources & verification
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Continue this guide path
- ›Terraria Best Accessories Tier List — Wings, Boots, Shields & Combat PicksEvery meaningful Terraria accessory ranked by phase. From Cloud in a Bottle and Hermes Boots through Master Ninja Gear, Celestial Stone, Ankh Shield, and Fishron Wings to the endgame stacks. Includes reforge recommendations and which to combine via the Goblin Tinkerer.
- ›Best Endgame Summoner Build in Terraria — Post-Moon Lord MinionsThe Summoner class reaches its peak in the post-Moon Lord endgame with Stardust Armor, the Terraprisma or Stardust Dragon Staff, and whips that empower your entire minion army. This guide covers the complete post-Moon Lord summoner build including every accessory slot and the Empowerment mechanic.
- ›Best Pre-Hardmode Armor in Terraria — Which Set to Use for Each ClassCompare every pre-Hardmode armor set in Terraria to find the best choice for your class. Covers Molten, Necro, Meteor, Bee, Jungle, Shadow, and more.
- ›Terraria Biome Farming Chain Guide — Build Artificial Biomes for LootHow to build artificial biomes in Terraria for efficient farming: Hallow, Corruption, Crimson, Mushroom, Snow, Desert, Jungle, and Underworld. Includes block counts, depth requirements, mob spawn rules, and the chained farm setups that let you grind Souls, Keys, and rare drops without leaving your base.
- ›Corruption vs Crimson in Terraria — Which World Evil Should You Choose?When creating a Terraria world, you choose between Corruption and Crimson as your world's evil biome. The choice is permanent and affects exclusive items, biome spread mechanics, and a significant part of your Hardmode experience. This guide breaks down every exclusive item and mechanic difference.