Basic information about NPCs

Setting Up Basic Housing

In Terraria, a player can build houses so that NPCs (non-playable characters) will move in, and help the player throughout their journey. A basic house must contain a chair, a table, a light source, and walls.

Note: there are certain naturally generated walls throughout Terraria that do not count for housing. NPCs will not move into a house if it is too big, too small, near certain biomes, or already occupied by another NPC. A player can check whether or not a house is valid by opening their inventory, going to the housing tab, going to the question mark, and clicking on the house(s) they wish to check. The housing tab also shows a list of NPCs, which allows the player to change which houses NPCs live in.

Summary of NPCs

Most NPCs in the game move in after certain requirements have been met: one main requirement is having available housing. There are a few NPCs that don't move in however. The table below summarizes the NPCs that can be found.

Pre-hardmode

NPC name	When they appear	Purpose	Additional Information
Pre-hardmode
Guide	The Guide spawns in as soon as the world is created.	The Guide helps give the player tips on what to do and shows crafting recipes.	The Guide drops a Green Cap when he is named Andrew. This is a reference to the creator of Terraria. Also, the Guide is needed to be alive to summon the Wall of Flesh.
Merchant	The Merchant moves in once a player has at least 50 silver coins.	The Merchant sells some basic items, such as potions.	In a snow biome, the Merchant sells marshmallows.
Nurse	The Nurse moves in once a player has 100 health or more.	The Nurse can heal the player and remove debuffs for coins.	A player can earn the achievement "The Frequent Flyer" by spending over 1 gold in total from getting healed by the nurse.
Demolitionist	The Demolitionist moves in once a player has an explosive item in their inventory.	The Demolitionist sells explosive items to the player.	No additional information.
Arms Dealer	The Arms Dealer appears when the player either has a gun or bullets in their inventory.	The Arms Dealer sells bullets and guns to the player.	No additional information.
Goblin Tinkerer	The Goblin Tinkerer appears as the Bound Goblin in the cavern layer after the player defeats a goblin army. Once he is found and talked to, he'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Goblin Tinkerer sells a few useful accessories and a crafting station. The Goblin also can reforge items to give additional buffs (and debuffs) to weapons and accessories.	No additional information.
Dye Trader	The Dye Trader moves in once the player obtains a material to craft dye, and defeats a pre-hardmode boss or obtains a Strange Plant.	The Dye Trader sells some dyes and dye vat, which allows players to craft dyes to change their appearance. The Dye Trader also exchanges Strange Plants for special dyes.	The Dye Trader has a chance of dropping an Exotic Scimitar upon being killed.
Dryad	The Dryad moves in after any boss, other than King Slime or the Wall of Flesh, is defeated.	The Dryad sells various natural items, such as seeds and planter boxes. The Dryad also states the percentage of the Corruption/Crimson biomes and Hallow biome.	The Dryad gives a buff to players and NPCs to increase defense when enemies are nearby.
Tavernkeep	The Tavernkeep appears as the Unconscious Man after the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu is defeated. Once he is found and talked to, he'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Tavernkeep sells various items related to the Old One's army, such as summoning items, armor, and weapons. The Tavernkeep also gives information about the Old One's army.	The Tavernkeep has a chance of dropping an Ale Tosser upon being killed.
Angler	The Angler can be found as the Sleeping Angler in the ocean biome. Once he is found and talked to, he'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Angler will give the player fishing quests for rewards.	The Angler is the only child NPC in the game.
Painter	The Painter moves in after 8 NPCs have moved in.	The Painter sells paint and other items for decorating houses.	The Painter has a chance of dropping a Paintball Gun upon being killed. Some of the items the Painter sells depend on the biome he's in.
Stylist	The Stylist can be found as the Webbed Stylist in the Spider Caves. Once she is found and talked to, she'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Stylist sells hair dyes and allows players to change the appearance of their hair.	The Stylist has a chance of dropping Stylish Scissors upon being killed.
Witch Doctor	The Witch Doctor appears once Queen Bee has been defeated.	The Witch Doctor sells a few summoner related items, fountains, and a few crafting stations.	The Witch Doctor sells additional items when he is in the Jungle biome.
Clothier	The Clothier moves in after Skeletron has been defeated.	The Clothier sells vanity outfits for the player to change the appearance of their character.	The Clothier's shop changes depending on the moon phase. If the Clothier is killed during night by a player holding the Clothier voodoo doll, Skeletron can be re-summoned. The Clothier always drops the Red Hat upon being killed.
Mechanic	The Mechanic can be found in the Dungeon as the Bound Mechanic once Skeletron has been defeated. Once she is found and talked to, she'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Mechanic sells mechanism related objects, which allow for complex machines.	No additional information.
Party Girl	The Party Girl has a random chance of moving in after 14 other NPCs have moved in.	The Party Girl sells a variety of party-based decorative items.	The Party Girl sells additional items when the party event is occurring. The Party Girl has a chance of dropping Happy Grenades upon being killed: once another Party Girl moves in, she'll sell Happy Grenades afterwards if the player has some in their inventory.
Hardmode
Wizard	The Wizard appears as the Bound Wizard in the cavern layer after the player starts hardmode. Once he is found and talked to, he'll move in shortly afterwards if there is available housing.	The Wizard sells magic related items.	No additional information.
Tax Collector	Once hardmode starts, there is a rare enemy that spawns in the underworld called the "Tortured Soul". If a player uses Purification Powder on him, he'll become the Tax Collector, and he'll move in shortly after if there is available housing.	The Tax Collector gathers coins over time that the player can collect.	The Tax Collector can only gather 10 gold coins at one point in time
Truffle	The Truffle moves in after a house has been built in a Glowing Mushroom biome located above ground during hardmode.	The Truffle sells mushroom related items and a crafting station.	The Truffle is the only NPC that requires housing in one specific biome. The items the Truffle sells changes depending on the progression of the player.
Pirate	The Pirate moves in after a Pirate Invasion has been defeated.	The Pirate sells a few pirate related items.	The Pirate looks exactly the same as the Pirate Captain from the pirate invasion.
Steampunker	The Steampunker moves in after at least one Mechanical boss has been defeated.	The Steampunker sells a few crafting stations, logic gate items, and a few items that help the player change their world biomes.	The items the Steampunker sells changes based off of the biome she's in and the moon phase.
Cyborg	The Cyborg moves in once Plantera has been defeated.	The Cyborg sells rocket ammo and a few high-tech items.	No additional information.
Miscellaneous NPCs
Old Man	The Old Man appears at the entrance of the dungeon as soon as the world is created.	The Old Man can summon Skeletron during night. Once Skeletron has been defeated, the Old Man turns into the Clothier.	The Old Man gives various dialogue based on the health and defense of the player as a tip.
Traveling Merchant	The Traveling Merchant has a random chance of spawning in each Terraria day.	The Traveling Merchant sells a variety of items each day: the items he sells are randomly selected.	The Traveling Merchant always drops the Peddler's Hat when he is killed.
Skeleton Merchant	The Skeleton Merchant randomly spawns in the Caverns.	The Skeleton Merchant sells a variety of items such as yo-yo based items and other caving items.	Most of the items the Skeleton Merchant sells is based off of the current moon phase.
Santa Claus	Santa Claus appears after the player defeats the hardmode Frost Legion event during the Christmas season.	Santa Claus sells a vanity outfit and various items for decorating the Christmas Tree item.	Santa Claus is the only NPC with one possible name.