Terraria NPC Guide 2023

Terraria NPCs are useful characters that you can interact with, and you can get various items from them via their Shop in exchange for coins, get Pylons for teleportation, and unlock more benefits. These NPCs will move into their own houses that you need to build and they have some very specific requirements. Apart from housing, you have to manage their happiness levels as well and we’ll get into the details further ahead.

There’s a lot in the game that’s dependent on them and this Terraria NPC guide will walk you through all the important things to know about them, right from their happiness levels, spawning issues, moving-in issues, favorite biomes, teleportation, and more.

Terraria NPC Guide 2023

How Many NPCs are there?

Terraria has a total of 28 NPCs (18 Town NPCs in the Regular Mode, 7 Town NPCs in Hardmode, and 3 NPCs apart from that) and 3 pets. All won’t be unlocked from the beginning – you have to progress in the game and fulfill various requirements to unlock them one by one.

Terraria House Requirements 1.4

• It has to be a fully enclosed space. You can use blocks, platforms, doors, or tall gates to close up the house.
• You need floors and ceilings for which you can use blocks, platforms, or even trap doors.
• The floor needs at least 1 solid block for the NPC and it should not be adjacent to a wall.
• You will need a 2×3 area (PC) to build the house and accommodate the NPC.
• Needs at least one entrance.
• The size (including the frame) must be at least 60 tiles but less than 750. Needs player-placed background walls.
• It should have a light source or multiple light sources.
• A flat surface item like a table (furniture) and an item to make the NPC comfortable like a chair.
• The max corruption or crimson rating is 250.

Thanks to Youtuber GrobeMan Guides & Gameplay for this explanation! You can watch their step-by-step Terraria NPC house design tutorial and build right here:

How to Get NPCs in Terraria (Spawn Requirements)

There’s a certain criteria you need to fulfill to spawn NPCs. Here’s a table that mentions all the important stuff about Town NPCs (Pre-hardmode). We will be updating the details for Hardmode NPCs soon.

The Guide
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	He will appear by default when you start a new world.
What does this NPC do	As the name suggests, he guides you with tips and ways to get other NPCs.
Weapon	Wooden Bow (Ranged)
Preferred Biomes	The Forest
Preferred Neighbors	The Merchant, The Golfer and The Zooloist
Dislikes	Steampunker and Ocean biome
Hates	Painter

The Merchant
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	If you have more than 50 Silver in your inventory, and you have an empty house, then The Merchant will spawn.
What does this NPC do	He will sell various useful items to the player like the safe, piggy bank, iron anvil, shuriken, glowstick, flare and can sell Any Pylon too.
Weapon	Throwing Knives (Ranged)
Preferred Biomes	The Forest
Preferred Neighbors	The Princess, The Golfer, The Nurse
Dislikes	Tax Collector and Desert Biome
Hates	The Angler

The Nurse
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	She will spawn if you have an empty house, your max health is more than 100 and if the Merchant is present.
What does this NPC do	When you give her coins, she will heal you and also remove debuffs.
Weapon	Syringes (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	The Hallow
Preferred Neighbors	The Princess and The Wizard
Dislikes	Party Girl, Dryad and the Snow biome
Hates	Zoologist

The Demolitionist
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	If you have an explosive in the inventory, have an empty house and the Merchant is present with you, this NPC will spawn.
What does this NPC do	He will sell you some explosives like dynamites, land mines, bombs, grenade and more.
Weapon	Grenades (Ranged)
Preferred Biomes	The Underworld, Underground, Cavern
Preferred Neighbors	The Mechanic, The Tavernkeep, The Princess
Dislikes	Goblin Tinkerer, Arms Dealer and Ocean biome
Hates	Nothing

The Dye Trader
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	If you have an item that is related to dyeing (dye, dye ingredient or a Strange Plant), plus have at least 4 Town NPCs already in your world and if you have defeated one pre-hardmode boss, he will spawn. Bosses are Eye of Cthulhu, Skeletron or Eater or Worlds / Brain of Cthulhu.
What does this NPC do	He can sell a variety of Dyes, Dye trader robe, Any Pylon as well as Dye vat crafting station.
Weapon	Exotic Scimitar (Melee)
Preferred Biomes	Desert
Preferred Neighbors	The Arms Dealer, The Painter, The Princess
Dislikes	Steampunker, The Forest biome
Hates	Pirate

The Angler
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Once you have gone to the Ocean biome, you need to find The Angler and talk to him. Also make sure that you have an empty house for him.
What does this NPC do	He gives you fishing-related quests that will earn you some awesome rewards.
Weapon	Frost Daggerfish (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	Ocean
Preferred Neighbors	The Demolitionist, The Party Girl, The Princess, The Tax Collector
Dislikes	Desert biome
Hates	Tavernkeep

The Zoologist
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Players have to fill at least 10% of the Bestiary to unlock this NPC.
What does this NPC do	She sells you animal-related items as well as vanity items, accessories, mounts, pets and the Universal Pylon.
Weapon	Claws (Melee)
Preferred Biomes	Forest
Preferred Neighbors	The Golfer, The Princess & loves Witch Doctor
Dislikes	Angler and the Desert biome
Hates	Arms Dealer

The Dryad
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	If you have an empty house and have defeated ye of Cthulhu, Eater of Worlds, Brain of Cthulhu, Skeletron or Lepus, go to the Jungle biome to get her to spawn.
What does this NPC do	The Dryad will sell nature related items and also inform you the percentages of Corruption/Crimson and Hallow that exist in the world you are in. You can buy Planter Boxes, seeds, grass walls and various powders from her.
Weapon	Dryad’s Blessing (AoE)
Preferred Biomes	Jungle
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Witch Doctor, Truffle
Dislikes	Angler and the Desert
Hates	Golfer

Painter
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Apart from an empty house, you need 8 other Town NPCs to have already spawned in the world.
What does this NPC do	She will sell you paint and painting related items like tools, paintings and wallpapers.
Weapon	Paintball Gun (Ranged)
Preferred Biomes	Jungle
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Party Girl and loves Dryad
Dislikes	Forest
Hates	Nothing

Golfer
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Visit him in the Underground Desert and talk to him. WHen you do so he will spawn if you have an empty house.
What does this NPC do	He will sell you golfing related items like clubs, trophies, flags, caps, trousers and more.
Weapon	Golf Balls (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	Forest
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Painter, Zoologist and loves Angler
Dislikes	Underground, Cavern, The Underworld and Pirate
Hates	Merchant

Arms Dealer
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	You need to have at least one bullet or bullet-firing gun in your inventory aside from having a vacant house.
What does this NPC do	He will sell you weapons and ammo like Shotgun, arrows, illegal gun parts and more.
Weapon	Flintlock Pistol (Ranged) HM: Minishark
Preferred Biomes	Desert
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Steampunker and loves Nurse
Dislikes	Golfer and Snow biome
Hates	Demolitionist

Tavernkeep
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Defeat the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu to make this NPC spawn.
What does this NPC do	He will sell you items in exchange for Defender Medals. His inventory consists of Eternia Crystal, Ballista weapons, Explosive traps, Lightning Auro weapons, Defender’s Forge and more.
Weapon	Ale (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	The Hallow
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Goblin Tinkerer
Dislikes	Guide and Snow biome
Hates	Dye Trader

Stylist
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Find her in Spider Caves which are mini biomes that you can find in the Cavern layer. Talk to her and then she will move into an empty house.
What does this NPC do	She can help you change your hairstyle, color and also sells hair dyes.
Weapon	Stylish Scissors (Melee)
Preferred Biomes	Ocean
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Pirate
Dislikes	Tavernkeep and Snow biome
Hates	Goblin Tinkerer

Goblin Tinkerer
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Once you defeat a Goblin army, he will spawn in the Cavern layer. Talk to him and he will move in to an empty house.
What does this NPC do	He provides the reforging service and sells various unique items.
Weapon	Spiky Balls (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	Underground, Cavern, The Underworld
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Dye Trader and loves Mechanic
Dislikes	Jungle and Clothier
Hates	Stylist

Witch Doctor
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Defeat the Queen Bee to spawn the Witch Doctor NPC.
What does this NPC do	He sells various unique items like Imbuing station, Stake, Cauldron, Tiki Totem, Vial of Venom and more.
Weapon	Blowgun (Ranged)
Preferred Biomes	Jungle
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Dryad, Guide
Dislikes	Nurse and The Hallow
Hates	Truffle

Clothier
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	Once you have defeated Skeletron, the Old man (who is the Clothier himself) will be freed from a curse and he will spawn if you have an empty house.
What does this NPC do	The Clothier sells vanity items like thread, hats, shirts, pants, robes, suits, coats and more.
Weapon	Book of Skulls (Magic)
Preferred Biomes	Underground, Cavern, The Underworld
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Tax Collector, Truffle
Dislikes	Nurse and The Hallow
Hates	Mechanic

Mechanic
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	After you kill Skeletron, you can find her in the Dungeon in the Cavern layer and talk to her.
What does this NPC do	The Mechanic sells items like wrenches, pressure plates, wire cutters, wire bulb and more.
Weapon	Combat Wrench (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	Snow biome
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Cyborg and loves Goblin Tinkerer
Dislikes	Underground, Cavern, The Underworld, Arms Dealer
Hates	Clothier

Party Girl
How to Get this NPC (Spawn Requirements)	She is an extremely rare NPC spawn and may appear if there’s an empty house and 14 other Town NPCs are in the world. The chance of spawning is 1/40.
What does this NPC do	She sells festive and novelty items like confetti, bubble machine, laval lamp, beach ball, party wagon and more.
Weapon	Happy Grenade (Thrown)
Preferred Biomes	The Hallow
Preferred Neighbors	Princess, Stylist, and loves Wizard and Zoologist
Dislikes	Underground, Cavern, The Underworld and The Merchant
Hates	Tax Collector

Here’s a video that shows all of the NPCs in action.

What is NPC Happiness in Terraria?

As you can see in the table above, every NPC has a favorite biome and neighbor. If you wish to maintain the happiness level of all NPCs, you need to manage their likes, dislikes, and living preferences. Players have to ensure that the favorite and least favorite biome and neighbor of Terraria NPCs are taken into consideration. This makes the whole thing tricky because while some NPCs may like one other, some dislike/hate others and can’t be placed near each other.

• NPCs may get a 12% or 6% bonus for being in a preferred biome but can also get a penalty for being in a living situation that they don’t like.
• There’s also a penalty for having 3+ NPCs nearby, even if they like each other.
• If NPCs are happy, the prices that you have to pay for buying their items will be lower and higher if unhappy, leading to money loss.
• You might want to ensure more important NPCs like the Gobin Tinkerer, The Nurse, and the Tax Collector stay happy. Plus, there has to be another happy vendor who will buy your items at higher prices.
• You don’t have to consider the Guide’s happiness.

Without all of this and more in mind, Terraria wiki has come up with a recommended setup.

	Recommended Setup for Terraria NPC
Biome(s)	NPCs (and price modifier – lower is better)
Forest	Zoologist(0.84)	Golfer(0.84)	n/a
Forest1	Merchant(0.84)	Nurse(0.84)	Arms Dealer(0.84)
Hallow	Party Girl(0.79)	Wizard(0.89)	n/a
Underground Hallow	Tavernkeep(0.79)	Demolitionist(0.79)	n/a
Desert	Steampunker(0.79)	Cyborg(0.89)	n/a
Jungle	Dryad(0.84)	Painter(0.79)	Witch Doctor(0.84)
Ocean	Stylist(0.84)4	Angler(0.89)	Pirate(0.83)
Underground Snow	Goblin Tinkerer(0.75)	Mechanic(0.79)	Dye Trader(0.95)
Snow	Clothier(0.89)	Tax Collector(0.89)	n/a
Snow	Santa Claus(0.84)	n/a	n/a
Glowing Mushroom biome	Guide(0.95)	Truffle(0.79)	n/a

And that’s the Terraria NPC guide with basics on happiness level, how to get them to spawn, favorite biomes, neighbors and disliked biomes/hated neighbors. We will be updating this article with Hardmode NPCs soon.