Unleash Your Inner Summoner: A Comprehensive Guide to the Terraria Pygmy Necklace

Introduction

Imagine commanding a horde of miniature warriors, tiny pygmy warriors, each fiercely loyal and ready to tear apart any monster that dares to approach. This is the power of the summoner class in Terraria, a playstyle that relies on conjuring minions to fight on your behalf. Central to mastering this build is a particular accessory: the Pygmy Necklace. This unassuming piece of jewelry drastically enhances your summoning capabilities, opening the door to devastating strategies and power levels in the mid-to-late game. This article delves into everything you need to know about the Pygmy Necklace, from how to acquire it to how to maximize its potential within a complete summoner build. Prepare to become the master of your pygmy army!

Acquiring the Pygmy Necklace

The key to unlocking the power of the Pygmy Necklace lies with a specific non-player character: the Witch Doctor. This enigmatic figure, adorned with tribal markings and selling unique wares, is the sole source of this valuable accessory. However, he won’t offer it willingly right away. The Witch Doctor must first be inhabiting your world. To get him to sell the item, you must meet a certain requirement. Once you have slain Plantera, a fearsome boss lurking in the depths of the Jungle, the Witch Doctor will then stock the Pygmy Necklace in his inventory.

With Plantera defeated, locating the necklace is a simple matter of finding the Witch Doctor and browsing his wares. Be prepared to part with some gold, though. The Pygmy Necklace will set you back thirty gold coins. It’s a significant sum in the mid-game, but a worthwhile investment considering the power it unlocks. Compared to some other essential summoner gear, obtaining the Pygmy Necklace is relatively straightforward. The main hurdle is defeating Plantera, which can be a challenging fight in itself, but the reward is well worth the effort.

The Power of Summons: How the Pygmy Necklace Enhances Your Build

The Pygmy Necklace’s true strength lies in its ability to increase your summon capacity. In Terraria, summon capacity determines the number of minions you can have active at any given time. Initially, this number is quite limited, often restricting you to just one or two summons. The Pygmy Necklace adds plus one to your maximum number of minions. While this may sound like a small boost, it significantly impacts your overall damage output and effectiveness in combat.

That extra minion can make a world of difference in various scenarios. The increased damage can melt bosses faster, allowing you to progress through the game more quickly. Improved crowd control keeps smaller enemies at bay, providing crucial breathing room in chaotic encounters. Having more minions provides better coverage against different enemy types. For example, some enemies are resistant to certain damage types, so having a diverse group of minions can help overcome these resistances. Imagine fighting a particularly challenging boss. That extra pygmy can be the difference between a hard fought victory and starting over again.

Furthermore, the Pygmy Necklace synergizes beautifully with other summon-boosting items. As you progress through the game, you’ll acquire other accessories that further increase your summon capacity, turning you into a veritable one person army.

Building a Pygmy Powerhouse: Combining the Necklace with Other Gear

The Pygmy Necklace is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to crafting a powerful summoner build. To truly maximize its potential, you need to pair it with the right armor, weapons, and accessories.

Armor Choices

Two prominent armor sets are available:

Tiki Armor

This set is often the first dedicated summoner armor players will acquire, dropped by the Witch Doctor. The entire set bonus significantly boosts minion damage and provides an additional summon slot. This synergizes perfectly with the Pygmy Necklace, allowing you to command even more minions.

Spooky Armor

This armor is obtained during the Pumpkin Moon event. While more challenging to obtain, Spooky Armor offers even greater minion damage at the cost of defense. The set bonus is also centered around increasing minion damage.

Other armor options exist, but Tiki and Spooky Armor are generally considered the top choices for summoner builds around the time you acquire the Pygmy Necklace.

Weapon Choices

The next important aspect of your summoner build is your weaponry. Players will commonly have a few early game summon weapons:

Imp Staff

Crafted from hellstone bars, the Imp Staff summons a fiery imp to attack your enemies.

Spider Staff

Summoning spiders to attack foes, this staff is gained after defeating Queen Spider, which can be a significant hurdle for new summoners.

It’s also important to consider whips when building a summoner. Whips don’t summon minions directly, but they play a crucial role in controlling and enhancing them. Whips allow you to target specific enemies for your minions to attack, increasing your overall damage and allowing you to focus fire on priority targets. It’s worth considering whips that apply debuffs to enemies.

Accessory Choices

Finally, Accessories are crucial for completing the summoner playstyle. Several accessories boost minion damage and capacity:

Necromantic Scroll

Increases summon damage and provides another summon slot.

Papyrus Scarab

Combines the effects of the Necromantic Scroll and the Hercules Beetle.

Hercules Beetle

Increases minion damage.

Beyond summoning-specific accessories, prioritize items that improve your survivability and mobility. Wings are essential for navigating the environment and dodging enemy attacks. Boots provide increased movement speed, allowing you to reposition yourself quickly during combat. Shields can protect you from incoming damage.

Strategies and Tactics with the Pygmy Necklace

The Pygmy Necklace and its accompanying summons offer unique strategic options for tackling Terraria’s challenges. During boss battles, smart positioning is key. Keep your distance and let your minions do the work. Use whips to focus their attacks on the boss’s weak points. Target prioritization is also crucial. Eliminate any adds or secondary enemies that the boss spawns to prevent being overwhelmed.

Events like the Pumpkin Moon, Frost Moon, and Martian Madness require a different approach. These events throw waves of enemies at you, so crowd control is paramount. Use summons that excel at dealing with large groups of enemies. Create strategic chokepoints to funnel enemies into kill zones.

In general gameplay, efficient minion management is essential. Keep an eye on their health and replace them if they take too much damage. Use whips to direct their attacks and clear out areas quickly. Experiment with different summon types to find what works best for your playstyle and the situation at hand.

Pygmy Necklace vs. Alternatives: Is it Worth It?

It is worth noting that summoner builds may not be the best choices earlier in the game. Some early game weapons are more effective, which could result in the player not using the Pygmy Necklace.

While other playstyles offer their own unique strengths, the Pygmy Necklace is an absolute must have for anyone dedicated to a summoner playthrough. The increase in summon capacity it provides is simply too valuable to pass up.

Conclusion

The Pygmy Necklace is a cornerstone of any successful summoner build in Terraria. Its simple effect belies its immense impact on your damage output, crowd control, and overall effectiveness. The item is relatively simple to acquire and it is worth the effort required. By combining the Pygmy Necklace with the right gear and strategies, you can transform yourself into a formidable force, commanding a horde of minions to conquer any challenge that Terraria throws your way. So, equip your Pygmy Necklace, summon your minions, and unleash your inner summoner! What are your preferred summoner builds and tips? Share them in the comments below!