Onyx Blaster: A Comprehensive Guide to Terraria’s Dark-Powered Shotgun

Introduction

Harness the shadows and unleash explosive devastation with the Onyx Blaster, Terraria’s potent shotgun that fires dark, energy-infused blasts. This weapon, a favorite among players who appreciate both raw power and a touch of the macabre, offers a unique blend of close-range dominance and surprising area-of-effect potential. Are you ready to delve into the intricacies of this shadowy firearm?

This comprehensive guide is your one-stop resource for mastering the Onyx Blaster. We’ll explore its crafting recipe, dissect its statistics, unveil winning gameplay strategies, and compare it to other contenders in Terraria’s vast arsenal. Prepare to become an Onyx Blaster expert!

Obtaining the Onyx Blaster: Gathering the Shadows

Crafting this powerful weapon requires venturing into the depths and confronting the forces of Corruption or Crimson. The process is straightforward, but gathering the necessary materials will demand a bit of exploration and resourcefulness. You will need a specific crafting station and the required materials.

Crafting Station Requirements

To forge the Onyx Blaster, you will need a Mythril Anvil or an Orichalcum Anvil. These anvils are crafted using Mythril Bars or Orichalcum Bars respectively, which are in turn refined from Mythril Ore or Orichalcum Ore. These ores are found in the cavern layer after defeating the Wall of Flesh in Hardmode. Once you have access to either of these anvils, you are one step closer to obtaining the Blaster.

The Necessary Components

The crafting process requires a Shotgun, Dark Shards, and Onyx Blocks. Here’s a breakdown:

• The Reliable Shotgun: A core component of the Onyx Blaster, the Shotgun can be purchased from the Traveling Merchant for a hefty sum of gold. Keep an eye out for this wandering merchant, as his inventory changes daily. If the Shotgun is available, be prepared to spend the necessary coins to secure this essential ingredient.
• Dark Shards: Essence of the Underground Evil: These shadowy fragments are the heart of the Onyx Blaster’s power. They are dropped by enemies within the Underground Corruption or Underground Crimson biomes. These areas are dangerous, filled with powerful monsters, so be prepared for a fight. Enemies like Corrupt Slimes, Slimers, and Blood Crawlers have a chance to drop these shards upon defeat. To efficiently farm Dark Shards, consider equipping gear that boosts your damage output and movement speed. Potions that enhance combat abilities, such as Wrath Potions or Rage Potions, can significantly improve your farming efficiency. Also, consider building a farm in the biome to increase the spawn rate.
• Onyx Blocks: The Building Blocks of Darkness: These blocks are purchased from the Steampunker NPC in a graveyard biome using purple solution. The Steampunker will only sell the solution if the Wall of Flesh has been defeated and you are in hardmode. To obtain the solution, you will need a Clentaminator and purchase green solution to revert biomes into basic forest. After this is done, create a graveyard biome by placing many tomb stones into a small area, and talk to the Steampunker to buy the purple solution.

Forging the Weapon: Assembling the Onyx Blaster

Once you have gathered all the necessary ingredients and have access to the appropriate crafting station, the process is simple. Stand near your Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil, open your crafting menu, and locate the Onyx Blaster recipe. With all the materials in your inventory, you can craft the weapon.

Onyx Blaster Statistics and Attributes: Power in Numbers

The Onyx Blaster’s power is evident in its impressive statistics. Understanding these attributes will help you maximize its effectiveness in combat.

• Damage Output: The Onyx Blaster deals a significant amount of ranged damage per shot. This raw power makes it a formidable weapon against a wide range of enemies.
• Critical Strike Potential: The weapon has a respectable critical chance, allowing for occasional bursts of even higher damage. Equipping accessories that further boost critical chance can dramatically increase the Blaster’s overall damage potential.
• Firing Speed and Use Time: The Onyx Blaster has a moderate use time, meaning you can fire it at a decent rate. Balancing fire rate with accuracy and ammo consumption is key to effective combat.
• Knockback Force: The weapon’s knockback is substantial, allowing you to keep enemies at bay and control the flow of battle. This is particularly useful against melee-focused enemies.
• Projectile Speed: The Onyx Blaster fires projectiles at a moderate velocity. This allows for relatively easy targeting, even against fast-moving enemies.
• Explosive Projectiles and Special Properties: The most defining feature of the Onyx Blaster is its explosive projectiles. Upon impact, each shot detonates in a small radius, dealing damage to all enemies within the blast zone. This area-of-effect damage is incredibly useful for crowd control. The projectiles also possess piercing capabilities, allowing them to pass through multiple enemies before detonating.

Gameplay and Strategies: Mastering the Blaster in Battle

The Onyx Blaster excels in specific combat scenarios and benefits greatly from strategic use. Mastering these tactics will transform you into a force to be reckoned with.

• Ideal Combat Ranges: The Onyx Blaster is most effective at close to medium range. The shotgun spread ensures that multiple projectiles hit the target, maximizing damage output. However, the weapon’s accuracy diminishes at longer ranges.
• Crowd Control Capabilities: The explosive projectiles make the Onyx Blaster an excellent choice for crowd control. The area-of-effect damage can quickly decimate groups of weaker enemies.
• Boss Battles and Strategic Advantages: The Onyx Blaster can be surprisingly effective against certain bosses, particularly those with multiple segments or vulnerable points. The Destroyer, for instance, is highly susceptible to the Blaster’s piercing and explosive damage.
• Synergistic Armor and Accessories: To maximize the Onyx Blaster’s potential, consider pairing it with armor sets that boost ranged damage, such as the Shroomite Armor or the Titan Armor. Accessories that increase critical chance, damage, and projectile speed are also highly beneficial. The Ranger Emblem, Magic Quiver, and Avenger Emblem are excellent choices.
• Ammo Choices and Considerations: The type of ammunition you use can significantly impact the Onyx Blaster’s performance. Crystal Bullets are a popular choice, as they fragment upon impact, creating additional shrapnel that further enhances the area-of-effect damage.
• Advanced Tips and Tricks: Position yourself strategically to maximize the explosion radius. Use the Blaster to hit enemies behind cover by aiming near obstacles. Practice your aiming to compensate for the shotgun spread.

Onyx Blaster: A Comparison to Other Contenders

While the Onyx Blaster is a powerful weapon, it’s important to understand its strengths and weaknesses compared to other options.

• Onyx Blaster versus Tactical Shotgun: The Tactical Shotgun offers a higher fire rate and slightly better accuracy, but it lacks the explosive power of the Onyx Blaster. The choice between the two depends on your preferred playstyle and the specific combat situation. The Tactical Shotgun is more suitable for sustained DPS against single targets, while the Onyx Blaster excels at burst damage and crowd control.
• Onyx Blaster versus Coin Gun: The Coin Gun is a novelty weapon that fires coins as ammunition. While it can be surprisingly effective with high-value coins, it’s primarily a farming tool and doesn’t offer the consistent damage output of the Onyx Blaster. Farming coins is an additional step to having a Coin Gun be an effective weapon.
• Onyx Blaster versus Chlorophyte Shotbow: The Chlorophyte Shotbow, using arrows, provides a different playstyle. Its homing arrows offer high accuracy, making it effective at longer ranges. However, it lacks the raw power and area-of-effect potential of the Onyx Blaster. The Onyx Blaster has more versatility due to the various kinds of bullets available.

Conclusion: Embracing the Shadowy Power

The Onyx Blaster is a formidable shotgun in Terraria, offering a unique blend of raw power, area-of-effect damage, and a touch of dark mystique. Its crafting requirements are manageable, its statistics are impressive, and its gameplay potential is significant. While it may not be the best choice for every situation, the Onyx Blaster is a worthy addition to any Terrarian’s arsenal, particularly for mid to late-game adventures. Embrace the shadows and unleash the explosive potential of the Onyx Blaster – you won’t be disappointed. Its strategic flexibility and raw firepower make it a truly memorable and effective weapon in your Terraria journey.

Onyx Blaster in Different Game Modes

Game modes change the experience of Terraria, and the Onyx Blaster’s viability is no exception.

Classic Mode: A Baseline of Power

In Classic Mode, the Onyx Blaster is a strong choice once acquired. Its raw damage and AoE make it a valuable asset. Gathering the resources is also straightforward.

Expert Mode: A Tool to even the odds

In Expert Mode, enemies are tougher and hit harder. The Onyx Blaster’s high damage output can help take down tougher foes faster, before you are overwhelmed. The Dark Shard farming can be more treacherous, requiring careful planning and good gear.

Master Mode: Staying alive with damage output

Master Mode pushes Terraria to its limits. Enemies are significantly stronger. The Onyx Blaster’s ability to quickly eliminate weaker enemies becomes crucial for survival. However, its close-range focus and need for Dark Shard farming mean you need to be very careful when using it.

Fun Facts and Trivia about the Onyx Blaster

Did you know that the Onyx Blaster’s dark projectiles are visually similar to those fired by other Corruption-themed weapons? This adds to its thematic consistency and reinforces its connection to the shadowy forces of Terraria. While not directly confirmed by the developers, many players believe the Onyx Blaster’s explosive nature is a subtle nod to other famous shotgun-like weapons found in gaming history. For more information and community discussions, be sure to check out the Terraria Wiki and the official Terraria forums.