Unleashing the Pygmy Army: A Guide to the Terraria Pygmy Necklace

Introduction

In the sprawling and challenging world of Terraria, summoner builds offer a truly unique and rewarding playstyle. Instead of directly engaging in combat with swords, bows, or magic, summoners command armies of loyal minions to fight their battles. Central to mastering this class and bolstering your minion numbers is the invaluable Pygmy Necklace. This seemingly simple accessory holds the key to unlocking the true potential of your summoner character. By granting you the ability to summon one additional minion, the Pygmy Necklace significantly amplifies your damage output and defensive capabilities.

So, what exactly *is* the Pygmy Necklace? It’s an accessory found in Terraria that bestows a single, but vital, benefit: it increases the maximum number of minions you can summon simultaneously by one. This effect, while seemingly small, has a huge impact on the power and effectiveness of a summoner build. Each additional minion contributes its own damage and can serve as a meat shield, protecting you from incoming attacks.

Why is this necklace so important? Because in Terraria, more minions often equate to more power. As a summoner, your minions are your primary source of damage. The more minions you have fighting alongside you, the faster you can take down enemies and bosses. The Pygmy Necklace effectively amplifies your offensive and defensive capabilities, making it an indispensable item for any aspiring summoner.

This article will delve deep into the world of the Pygmy Necklace. We’ll explore how to obtain it, analyze its stats and functionality, discuss effective strategies and synergies, consider alternatives and upgrades, and provide essential tips and tricks to maximize its potential. Get ready to unleash your own pygmy army and dominate Terraria!

Acquiring the Power: How to Get the Pygmy Necklace

The path to acquiring the Pygmy Necklace isn’t a walk in the park. You’ll need to venture deep into the underground jungle and face a formidable foe: Plantera. That’s right, the only way to obtain this vital summoner accessory is by defeating this tenacious plant-based boss.

Taking down Plantera requires careful preparation and a well-thought-out strategy. This boss is no pushover. You’ll need to have geared up significantly and be prepared for a multi-stage fight that involves dodging, weaving, and dealing consistent damage. Plantera occupies a large arena and requires you to have defeated all three mechanical bosses. Without access to those key items you’re unable to obtain the necessary items to progress and acquire the Pygmy Necklace.

Once you’ve successfully defeated Plantera, the Pygmy Necklace has a chance to drop. To be precise, there’s approximately a one in seven chance that the necklace will be among the loot you collect. This might require multiple attempts at defeating the boss. Remember, it’s all about persistence.

Considering that the Pygmy Necklace drops from Plantera, it should be obvious that you won’t be able to get it until you’ve reached hardmode and progressed to the point where you can successfully defeat the mechanical bosses and awaken Plantera. While earlier summoner equipment exists, the Pygmy Necklace marks a significant power spike for the class.

Understanding the Pygmy Necklace: Stats and Functionality

At its core, the Pygmy Necklace is a simple item with a profound effect. Its primary function is to increase your maximum number of summonable minions by one. This means that if you could previously summon three minions, equipping the Pygmy Necklace will allow you to summon four. This simple addition significantly amplifies your overall damage output.

The beauty of the Pygmy Necklace lies in its ability to stack with other minion-boosting accessories and buffs. This means that you can combine it with items like the Bewitching Table, Summoning Potion, Papyrus Scarab, and Necromantic Scroll to further increase your minion capacity. By stacking these bonuses, you can create a truly formidable army of minions that will decimate your enemies.

The necklace is essential due to its compatibility with nearly every type of summoner equipment, from early game to late game. Its effects are consistent, even when other stats are changed or altered. This makes the Pygmy Necklace a reliable choice and helps with any progression.

Strategies and Synergies: Maximizing Minion Power

The Pygmy Necklace is more than just a passive stat boost; it’s a catalyst for strategic minion management and synergy. Let’s explore some effective strategies for utilizing the necklace at different stages of the game.

In early hardmode, the Pygmy Necklace provides a significant power boost to your minion damage output. This is the point where many players look to refine their builds and the Pygmy Necklace is a huge step in being able to focus on a more refined loadout. Using it in conjunction with equipment like the Spider armor can drastically increase your ability to tackle early to mid-hardmode content.

For mid-game builds, consider pairing the Pygmy Necklace with the Tiki armor set. This armor provides a substantial boost to minion damage and allows you to summon additional minions on top of the necklace’s bonus. Combine this with powerful minions like the Optic Staff or the Tempest Staff for devastating results. The damage output of the Tiki Armor set combined with the Pygmy Necklace is often enough to take down many of Terraria’s foes.

In the late game, the Spooky armor offers the ultimate summoner experience. This armor provides an exceptional boost to minion damage and allows you to summon even more minions. When combined with the Pygmy Necklace and endgame minions like the Stardust Dragon Staff or the Terraprisma, you’ll become an unstoppable force capable of obliterating even the most challenging bosses. The sheer number of entities on screen can often trivialize some boss encounters.

The Pygmy Necklace shines in many specific boss fights. Its ability to enhance the number of minions can be crucial to some of Terraria’s later boss encounters. These fights often require a large amount of damage output. By boosting your maximum minion count, you are able to pump out significantly more damage and gain a crucial advantage.

Expanding the Arsenal: Alternatives and Upgrades

While the Pygmy Necklace is a powerful accessory, it’s not the only option for boosting your minion capacity. Let’s explore some alternatives and upgrades to consider as you progress through the game.

Before hardmode, your minion options are limited, but items like the Flinx Fur Coat can provide an early boost to your summoning capabilities. While these pre-hardmode options are weaker than the Pygmy Necklace, they can be helpful for getting started. The number one goal in the early stages of the game should be focused on optimizing for when you obtain the Pygmy Necklace.

When exploring minion accessories, it’s important to compare and contrast the Pygmy Necklace with other accessories like the Papyrus Scarab, Necromantic Scroll, and Hercules Beetle. The Papyrus Scarab provides a boost to minion damage and allows you to summon an additional minion, making it a direct upgrade to the Pygmy Necklace. The Necromantic Scroll increases minion damage and knockback, while the Hercules Beetle enhances minion damage. These accessories each have their own unique strengths, and the best choice will depend on your specific build and playstyle. Often it’s best to stack all of them for maximum effectiveness.

Beyond accessories, summoner armors and buffs are crucial for maximizing your minion power. Armor sets like the Tiki Armor, Spooky Armor, and Stardust Armor provide substantial boosts to minion damage and capacity. Additionally, buffs like the Summoning Potion can further increase your minion count, allowing you to create an even more formidable army.

Tips and Tricks: Mastering the Minion Playstyle

The Pygmy Necklace is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic bullet. Mastering the summoner playstyle requires careful planning, strategic minion management, and a focus on mobility and defense.

Mobility is key for summoners. While your minions handle the damage, you need to be able to dodge enemy attacks and position yourself strategically. Invest in movement accessories like wings and boots to stay agile on the battlefield.

Minion placement is also crucial. Experiment with different minion types and formations to maximize their effectiveness. Some minions excel at close-range combat, while others are better suited for ranged attacks.

Don’t neglect your defense. While your minions can act as meat shields, you still need to be able to withstand enemy attacks. Invest in defensive armor and accessories to increase your survivability.

Conclusion

The Pygmy Necklace is an indispensable accessory for any aspiring summoner in Terraria. By increasing your maximum number of minions, it significantly amplifies your damage output and defensive capabilities. Whether you’re just starting your summoner journey or are a seasoned veteran, the Pygmy Necklace is a must-have item for unleashing the true potential of your minion army.

In conclusion, the Pygmy Necklace allows you to unlock the full potential of your summoner build. It is an essential item to obtain and use in conjunction with other summoner accessories, armor, and minions. By investing time into acquiring the accessory and learning its benefits you will increase your ability to handle much of Terraria’s most difficult challenges.

Experiment with different builds, master minion management, and unleash your own pygmy army to conquer the world of Terraria. With the Pygmy Necklace by your side, you’ll be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. Good luck, summoner!