The Pygmy Necklace: Your Guide to Summoning Power in Terraria

Introduction

Terraria, the acclaimed sandbox adventure, is renowned for its sprawling world, intricate crafting system, and diverse combat styles. Amidst a vast arsenal of weapons, armor, and accessories, players often find themselves meticulously optimizing their character builds. For those drawn to the power of minions and the art of commanding a spectral army, the Summoner class offers a unique and rewarding playstyle. At the heart of many successful Summoner builds lies a seemingly simple yet profoundly impactful accessory: the Pygmy Necklace. This guide will delve into the intricacies of the Pygmy Necklace, unraveling its secrets, detailing its acquisition, and showcasing its strategic value to budding and veteran Summoners alike. Consider this your comprehensive journey into the world of minion mastery.

What is the Pygmy Necklace?

The Pygmy Necklace is an accessory found within Terraria that grants a single, invaluable benefit to the wielder: it increases the maximum number of minions they can summon by one. Visually, the Pygmy Necklace is represented by a string adorned with what appears to be tribal fetishes, reflecting its origin in the depths of the jungle. Equipping this necklace allows players to bolster their ranks of summoned creatures, turning the tide of battle with sheer numbers. The in-game tooltip succinctly captures its essence: “Increases your maximum number of minions by one.” This seemingly small increase can have a dramatic impact, particularly in the early stages of Hardmode.

Functionally, the Pygmy Necklace operates by directly modifying the player’s minion capacity. The game engine tracks the number of active minions a player currently controls, comparing it against the player’s maximum minion count. When equipped, the Pygmy Necklace effectively raises this cap by one, allowing for the deployment of an additional summoned creature. This additional minion adds to the overall damage output, provides better crowd control, and allows the summoner to focus on dodging enemy attacks.

Obtaining the Pygmy Necklace

Acquiring the Pygmy Necklace requires venturing into the depths of the Hardmode Jungle and interacting with a rather eccentric non-player character. The key to unlocking this summoning power lies with the Witch Doctor. However, the Witch Doctor doesn’t just give away his secrets; you’ll have to meet certain conditions to earn his favor.

First, the world must be in Hardmode. This means defeating the Wall of Flesh in the Underworld and ushering in a new era of challenges and opportunities. Second, the Witch Doctor must be residing in a house within the Jungle biome. The Witch Doctor has very specific tastes. Only in the jungle biome will he sell you the magical trinket you require. Third, and critically, the Pygmy Necklace is only available for purchase from the Witch Doctor during the nighttime hours. During the day, he will not offer the necklace.

Assuming these conditions are met, simply speak to the Witch Doctor during the night while he is located in the Jungle. He will offer the Pygmy Necklace for the price of forty gold coins.

For those struggling to attract the Witch Doctor, ensuring that a suitable house is available in the Jungle biome is paramount. A suitable house must be fully enclosed and contain a light source, a flat surface like a table or workbench, and a comfort item such as a chair. If these criteria are met, the Witch Doctor will eventually spawn and occupy the house, assuming you’ve met the Hardmode requirement. Keep in mind that non-player characters will not spawn if there is no available housing or if the world is too chaotic with ongoing events.

Strategic Value and Synergies

The value of the Pygmy Necklace stems from its ability to push a Summoner’s minion count beyond their natural limit. In the early stages of Hardmode, the difference between two minions and three minions can be significant, impacting damage output, enemy aggro management, and overall survivability. This is especially important while farming for better gear.

The power of the Pygmy Necklace is further enhanced when combined with other minion-boosting accessories. Accessories such as the Summoner Emblem, the Papyrus Scarab, and the Necromantic Scroll also increase the maximum number of minions the player can control. These bonuses stack additively, allowing for a substantial increase in minion capacity.

For example, equipping the Summoner Emblem, which is dropped by the Wall of Flesh, in conjunction with the Pygmy Necklace grants a significant damage boost and an additional minion. The Necromantic Scroll, crafted from ectoplasm dropped by Dungeon Spirits in the post-Plantera Dungeon, and the Papyrus Scarab, which combines the Necromantic Scroll and a Turtle Shell, provide even greater boosts to minion capacity and damage.

Certain minion types benefit more from the Pygmy Necklace than others. Early Hardmode minions, like the Spider Queen and the Twins (summoned via the Optic Staff), are prime candidates for multiplication. These minions, while individually powerful, become exponentially more effective when bolstered by an additional unit. The increased damage output and enhanced crowd control capabilities allow Summoners to tackle challenging Hardmode bosses and events with greater ease.

Simply put, more minions equate to more damage, more crowd control, and a greater capacity to survive. The Pygmy Necklace provides a tangible boost to these areas, making it a valuable addition to any Summoner’s accessory loadout.

Alternatives and Upgrades

While the Pygmy Necklace is a powerful early-Hardmode accessory, it is not the only option for boosting minion capacity. Before entering Hardmode, players can rely on other summoning methods to get a head start.

Before Hardmode, alternatives to the Pygmy Necklace exist, albeit less potent. The Imp Staff, crafted from Hellstone Bars found in the Underworld, provides a relatively early source of minion power. The Flinx Staff, obtained through crafting with Flinx Fur found in snow biomes, offers a pre-Hardmode minion option as well. These options are useful for building a Summoner-focused character before taking on the challenges of Hardmode.

As players progress further into Hardmode, better alternatives and upgrades to the Pygmy Necklace become available. The Papyrus Scarab, mentioned earlier, is a superior option, combining the benefits of the Necromantic Scroll and the Hercules Beetle. It grants a greater increase to minion damage and an additional minion. The Necromantic Scroll itself is also a solid choice, providing a substantial boost to minion damage and another minion slot.

Ultimately, the Pygmy Necklace is a stepping stone towards greater summoning power. While it may eventually be replaced by more powerful accessories, its early-Hardmode impact cannot be overstated.

Tips and Tricks

Maximizing the effectiveness of minions requires more than simply summoning them. Proper positioning, strategic whip usage, and a keen understanding of enemy behavior are crucial for unleashing their full potential. Whips are weapons that allow you to directly target your minions to attack a specific enemy.

When engaging in boss fights, utilizing the Pygmy Necklace to its fullest potential involves careful planning and execution. Before summoning, make sure to clear the arena of any unnecessary obstructions. This will allow your minions to move freely and attack without hindrance. During the fight, focus on dodging enemy attacks while your minions relentlessly assault the boss. Use whips strategically to focus your minions’ attention on the boss’s weak points.

Beyond boss fights, minions are invaluable for farming resources and exploring the world. Summoning a small army of minions allows players to passively deal damage to enemies while focusing on other tasks, such as mining ore or gathering materials. This is especially useful for farming specific items or currencies.

The world of summoning is a nuanced one, with various strategies and techniques to master. Experiment with different minion types, accessory combinations, and weapon choices to discover the summoning playstyle that best suits your preferences.

Conclusion

The Pygmy Necklace, a seemingly unassuming accessory, plays a pivotal role in the journey of a Terraria Summoner. Its ability to increase the maximum number of minions by one unlocks a world of strategic possibilities, enabling players to overcome early-Hardmode challenges and lay the foundation for more powerful Summoner builds.

This unassuming trinket, acquired from the eccentric Witch Doctor residing in the Jungle during nighttime, represents a tangible step towards minion mastery. When combined with other minion-boosting accessories, the Pygmy Necklace unlocks new levels of damage output, crowd control, and overall survivability.

While it may eventually be superseded by more powerful accessories, the Pygmy Necklace’s early-Hardmode impact is undeniable. For any aspiring Summoner, it is an investment well worth making. Explore the world of summoning, experiment with different setups, and embrace the power of your miniature army. The Pygmy Necklace is your key to unlocking the full potential of the Summoner class.