The Pygmy Necklace: A Terraria Summoner’s Must-Have

Introduction

Terraria, the action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic, has captivated players for years with its endless possibilities, intricate crafting system, and challenging boss encounters. While players can choose from a variety of classes, one that stands out for its unique playstyle and strategic depth is the Summoner. The Summoner class relies on commanding minions to do the heavy lifting, offering a hands-off approach to combat that is both engaging and rewarding. However, mastering the Summoner requires careful consideration of gear and accessories, and among these, the Pygmy Necklace reigns supreme as a key item for any aspiring minion master. Prepare to unleash your inner summoner with the help of the Pygmy Necklace, a game-changing item that significantly enhances your minion army.

What is the Pygmy Necklace?

The Pygmy Necklace is an accessory in Terraria that, while simple in appearance, holds immense power for summoner builds. It’s a relatively small trinket, often described as a string of miniature, intricately crafted totems. Its main function is to increase the player’s maximum number of minions by one. This seemingly small increase makes a significant impact, allowing summoners to field a larger and more formidable army. The necklace directly boosts your capacity to summon minions.

Where to Find the Pygmy Necklace

Obtaining the Pygmy Necklace isn’t about dungeon crawling or defeating bosses. It’s about building a relationship with a specific non-player character. To acquire this precious accessory, you’ll need to seek out the Witch Doctor. He won’t always have it in stock. There’s a specific condition that must be met before he’s willing to part with it. The Witch Doctor will only offer the Pygmy Necklace for sale after Plantera has been defeated. Furthermore, he must be residing in a Jungle biome. Plantera is a formidable boss that lives in the underground Jungle, so defeating her is a significant milestone.

Once you’ve met these criteria, interacting with the Witch Doctor will reveal the Pygmy Necklace in his inventory. It comes at a price of forty gold coins, a sum that’s achievable in the mid-game, making it a relatively accessible and impactful upgrade for summoners.

Why is the Pygmy Necklace Important for Summoners?

For summoners, the number of minions they can control is directly proportional to their damage output and overall effectiveness. The Pygmy Necklace’s ability to grant an additional minion slot is a game-changer, especially in the early to mid-Hardmode stages of the game. The summoner class gameplay relies on the strength of the minions.

Think of each minion as an additional combatant fighting alongside you. More minions mean more consistent damage, more opportunities to inflict debuffs, and increased survivability. While a single minion might not seem like much, the cumulative effect of having an extra one can be substantial.

For example, imagine you’re facing a challenging boss. Having an extra Stardust Cell dealing consistent damage or an additional Imp chipping away at the boss’s health can make the difference between victory and defeat. The Pygmy Necklace isn’t just about raw damage, though. It also enhances the strategic depth of the Summoner class. More minions can provide better crowd control, allowing you to focus on dodging attacks and managing your resources.

Synergy with Other Summoner Gear

The Pygmy Necklace is even more powerful when combined with other accessories. Summoner gear is designed to enhance the effectiveness of minions. Several accessories further complement the Pygmy Necklace, amplifying its benefits and transforming your summoner into a true force to be reckoned with.

Armor plays a crucial role. Sets like the Tiki Armor, the Spooky Armor, and the Obsidian Armor provide significant boosts to minion damage and minion slots. The Tiki Armor can be obtained post-Plantera from the Witch Doctor. It is a fantastic set to start out with. The Spooky Armor requires farming the Pumpkin Moon event. The Obsidian Armor is an easy armor set to aquire.

Combine the Pygmy Necklace with accessories like the Papyrus Scarab (crafted from the Necromantic Scroll and the Hercules Beetle) and the Necromantic Scroll itself, and you’ll be summoning an even greater number of minions, each dealing more damage. These items stack, so the effects of these bonuses all adds up. This can create a truly devastating summoner build.

Strategies and Tips for Using the Pygmy Necklace

To truly master the Summoner class and maximize the benefits of the Pygmy Necklace, it’s essential to understand the strategies and tips that experienced summoners employ. It’s important to note that summoner damage can be maximized.

To start, you can use potions. The Summoning Potion, in particular, is a must-have. It grants an additional minion slot for a temporary duration. Proper positioning is also crucial. Stay mobile, dodge attacks, and let your minions do the work. Certain minions excel in specific situations. Consider equipping minions that specialize in single-target damage for boss fights and minions that can handle crowd control for events like the Goblin Army or the Blood Moon.

Conserving mana is essential for Summoners, as summoning and re-summoning minions costs mana. Use mana-regenerating accessories and potions to ensure you don’t run out of mana in the middle of a battle.

Alternatives to the Pygmy Necklace

While the Pygmy Necklace is a staple for summoners, there are alternatives that can be considered, especially before and after obtaining it.

Before obtaining the Pygmy Necklace, accessories that provide general defensive bonuses, such as increased defense or mobility, can be useful for staying alive in the early game. If you are lucky, you can find the Flinx Staff in a snow biome cave, which has a low manacost, and you can focus on survivability while your minion helps you out.

After obtaining the Pygmy Necklace, you may want to eventually upgrade your accessories, such as accessories that provide minion slot increases. Other strong examples include the aforementioned Papyrus Scarab. This is crafted with the Hercules Beetle, another drop from the Jungle biome and the Necromantic Scroll.

End-game options will eventually surpass the Pygmy Necklace with more optimized combinations. However, the Pygmy Necklace remains a fantastic choice for mid to late hardmode.

Conclusion

The Pygmy Necklace is an essential accessory for any aspiring Terraria Summoner. Its ability to increase the maximum number of minions directly translates to higher damage output, improved crowd control, and enhanced survivability. Obtaining it from the Witch Doctor after defeating Plantera unlocks a new level of power for summoner builds, paving the way for conquering challenging bosses and events.

So, equip the Pygmy Necklace, summon your loyal minions, and embark on a journey to become the ultimate Terraria Summoner! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different minion combinations and gear setups to find the perfect build for your playstyle. The world of Terraria is waiting to be conquered, and with the power of the Pygmy Necklace, you’ll be well-equipped to face any challenge that comes your way.