The following analysis outlines the best summoner weapons in Terraria for both pre-Hardmode and Hardmode, as detailed in the provided article by Damien Mason, published on September 1, 2025. These weapons are categorized by game stage, with key attributes and strategic applications highlighted to assist players in optimizing their summoner playstyle. The focus is on minions and sentries, emphasizing delegation and tactical planning, which are central to the summoner class.

Pre-Hardmode Summoner Weapons

1. Finch Staff

• Stats: 7 damage, 10 mana cost, 4 knockback, 10 velocity, very slow speed (36), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Dropped from Living Trees with some luck.

• Description: The Finch Staff is the earliest summoner weapon, summoning a single bird minion that hovers and pecks at enemies. It introduces players to indirect combat, providing consistent chip damage in early-game encounters. While its low damage and lack of knockback limit its mid-game utility, it is an accessible starting point for summoners.

• Strategic Use: Ideal for beginners, offering a low-risk way to deal passive damage while focusing on dodging or gathering resources. Best paired with early-game armor to maximize survivability.

2. Ballista Rod

• Stats: 30 damage, 5 mana cost, 4.7 knockback, 1 velocity, average speed (30), sentry summon type.

• Acquisition: Obtained from the Tavernkeep after defeating the Goblin Army.

• Description: This sentry weapon deploys a stationary ballista turret that fires piercing bolts, effective for controlling choke points or adding pressure in boss fights. Unlike minions, sentries remain fixed, requiring strategic placement. The ability to summon additional sentries with items like the War Table (granting the Strategist buff) enhances its utility without consuming minion slots.

• Strategic Use: Excellent for defensive setups during wave-based events or boss battles, allowing summoners to combine sentries with minions for versatile damage output.

3. Vampire Frog Staff

• Stats: 11 damage, 10 mana cost, 5 knockback, 10 velocity, very slow speed (36), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Dropped by Zombie Merman or Wandering Eye Fish during the Blood Moon event.

• Description: A significant step up, this staff summons aggressive frogs that leap at enemies, delivering rapid crowd control. Its 11 damage and quick attacks make it a reliable choice for pre-Hardmode, transforming the summoner class into a viable playstyle.

• Strategic Use: Excels against enemy swarms due to the frogs’ speed and aggression. Ideal for surviving the Blood Moon and tackling early bosses, providing a dependable damage source.

4. Imp Staff

• Stats: 17 damage, 10 mana cost, 2 knockback, 10 velocity, very slow speed (36), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Crafted with 17 Hellstone Bars in the Underworld.

• Description: The premier pre-Hardmode summoner weapon, the Imp Staff summons imps that fire piercing fireballs from a distance. Its high damage and ranged attacks make it particularly effective against the Wall of Flesh and other late pre-Hardmode challenges.

• Strategic Use: Perfect for maintaining distance in dangerous environments like the Underworld. The piercing fireballs ensure consistent damage, making it a strong transitional weapon into early Hardmode.

Hardmode Summoner Weapons

1. Spider Staff

• Stats: 26 damage, 10 mana cost, 3 knockback, 10 velocity, very slow speed (36), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Crafted from 16 Spider Fangs, farmed from spider caves in Hardmode.

• Description: The Spider Staff summons fast-moving spiders that deal 26 damage with rapid bites and inflict the Acid Venom debuff (6 health per second). These minions excel at close-range combat, particularly against single-target bosses like the mechanical bosses.

• Strategic Use: Effective for overwhelming single targets due to the spiders’ speed and debuff. Pair with armor and accessories that boost minion count to maximize damage output.

2. Queen Spider Staff

• Stats: 26 damage, 10 mana cost, 7.5 knockback, 14 velocity, average speed (30), sentry summon type.

• Acquisition: Crafted from 24 Spider Fangs.

• Description: This sentry staff summons a turret that shoots explosive eggs, spawning two baby spiders per hit and applying the Acid Venom debuff. As a sentry, it does not consume minion slots, allowing synergy with a full roster of minions.

• Strategic Use: Provides supplementary damage and crowd control, ideal for stationary defense or boss fights. Its ability to spawn additional spiders enhances its scaling potential with increased minion capacity.

3. Raven Staff

• Stats: 55 damage, 10 mana cost, 3 knockback, 10 velocity, average speed (28), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Dropped during the Pumpkin Moon event.

• Description: A late Hardmode powerhouse, the Raven Staff summons ravens that deal high damage with swift aerial attacks. Its 55 damage per raven makes it a formidable choice for melting bosses and handling invasion waves.

• Strategic Use: Ideal for late Hardmode and event-based challenges. With sufficient minion slots and supporting gear, the ravens create a relentless barrage, making this staff viable into the endgame.

4. Stardust Dragon Staff

• Stats: 40 damage per segment, 10 mana cost, 2 knockback, 10 velocity, very slow speed (36), minion summon type.

• Acquisition: Crafted from 18 Stardust Fragments after completing the Lunar Events.

• Description: The pinnacle of summoner weapons, this staff summons a celestial dragon that grows longer with each minion slot invested. Each segment deals 40 damage, and a fully extended dragon delivers devastating, sweeping attacks that dominate endgame content.

• Strategic Use: Unmatched in endgame scenarios, the Stardust Dragon excels against bosses and large enemy groups. Its single-entity focus maximizes damage output when paired with summoner gear that boosts minion capacity.

Strategic Considerations

• Minions vs. Sentries: Minions offer mobility, following the player and engaging enemies dynamically, while sentries provide stationary, high-damage defense for specific areas. Combining both (e.g., Imp Staff with Ballista Rod in pre-Hardmode, or Spider Staff with Queen Spider Staff in Hardmode) creates a balanced offense and defense.

• Gear Synergy: To maximize summoner potential, pair these weapons with summoner-focused armor (e.g., Spider Armor in early Hardmode or Stardust Armor in endgame) and accessories that increase minion capacity or damage (e.g., Pygmy Necklace, Summoner Emblem).

• Game Progression: The progression from Finch Staff to Stardust Dragon Staff reflects the summoner’s journey from modest beginnings to overwhelming power. Early reliance on chip damage evolves into commanding devastating forces, rewarding patience and strategic planning.

• Event Dependency: Weapons like the Raven Staff require specific events (Pumpkin Moon), necessitating preparation and timing. Plan to farm these events to unlock their full potential.

Conclusion

The summoner class in Terraria thrives on delegation, transforming the player into a battlefield commander who orchestrates minions and sentries to devastating effect. In pre-Hardmode, the Finch Staff, Ballista Rod, Vampire Frog Staff, and Imp Staff provide a strong foundation, with the Imp Staff standing out for its ranged prowess. In Hardmode, the Spider Staff, Queen Spider Staff, Raven Staff, and Stardust Dragon Staff elevate the summoner to new heights, with the Stardust Dragon Staff reigning supreme as the ultimate endgame weapon. By mastering these tools and supporting them with appropriate gear, summoners can dominate Terraria’s challenges without ever wielding a blade directly. For further details on Terraria or to purchase the game, it is available on platforms like Amazon ($14.99) or GameStop ($29.99) for PS3, as noted in the article.