Deerclops is a pre-hardmode boss in Terraria, and it is not necessary to kill this boss but will definitely provide valuable resources. In this article, we will cover in much detail what facing this boss is like and what you should do to prepare for the fight. So get ready for the ultimate guide to beating Deerclops.
The Deerclops is a pre-hardmode boss in Terraria, which looks easy but can make quick work of you. He can be summoned either manually using a Deer Thing item or naturally in certain situations. You need to be prepared for the Frost and Slow debuff this boss inflicts; otherwise, the fight could end quickly.
We have prepared this detailed guide for you on how to beat Deerclops in Terraria using the best builds and most effective strategies.
How to Spawn Deerclops?
Deerclops can be summoned manually by using a Deer Thing at any time of the day but only in the Snow biome. There are two ingredients to craft a Deer Thing:
- 3 Flinx Fur, 5 Demonite Ore, and 1 Lens
- 3 Flinx Fur, 5 Crimtane Ore, and 1 Lens
- You will need either a Demon Altar or Crimson Altar to craft it
Deerclops has the potential to appear naturally within the Snow biome on the surface during a Blizzard that occurs at midnight. This can happen under the following circumstances:
- At least one player in the world possesses a minimum of 9 defense or has a health pool of at least 200.
- A player is present within the Snow biome on the surface.
- No town NPCs are located within a rectangular area of dimensions 240×135 tiles, centered around the aforementioned player.
- No other bosses or hostile events, except for the Blood Moon, are currently active.
However, if Deerclops has been vanquished previously in the world, there is only a 25% probability for it to naturally reappear.
How to Defeat Deerclops?
Defeating the Deerclops in Terraria boils down to the class you are using. Some classes will find it harder to beat this boss while for others it will be a breeze. We will go over which weapons best suit the class when fighting the boss.
Melee Class Strategy
When it comes to swords, a reliable choice is the Blade of Grass. However, if you’re up for a greater challenge, the Volcano and Night’s Edge are superior options, albeit more difficult to obtain. Another excellent performer is the Terragrim, provided you manage to acquire it.
If you prefer ranged attacks, the Starfury is capable of dealing substantial damage with its falling stars. Keep in mind that the stars cannot pass through platforms, though. For battling Deerclops, the Thorn Chakram or Flamarang are recommended due to their impressive range.
Flails are also a solid choice, given their extended reach. The Storm Spear and The Rotted Fork offer a decent range, while the Dark Lance boasts even greater strength, although obtaining it requires defeating Skeletron and venturing into the Underworld.
As for Yoyos, both Amazon and Code 1 are favorable options. The Valor is slightly superior to these, but it necessitates defeating Skeletron and locating one in the dungeon.
On the other hand, the Cascade surpasses the Valor and can be obtained prior to taking down Deerclops. Defeating the Queen Bee grants you access to the Hive-Five, which releases bees upon striking enemies, making it arguably the best pre-hardmode yoyo.
For armor, the Crimson armor stands out with its exceptional defense values and increased damage. Shadow armor is also a good choice.
However, if you’re looking for the finest pre-hardmode melee armor set, the Molten armor reigns supreme. Just be prepared for a trip to the Underworld and the need for a pickaxe capable of mining Hellstone.
Ranged Class Strategy
For Rangers, the recommended bows are the Demon Bow, Tendon Bow, or Molten Fury, assuming you have access to them. It’s advisable to bring arrows that can pierce through enemies, such as Jester’s Arrows or Unholy Arrows.
The Blood Rain Bow is a potent choice, but it requires a spacious arena to be effectively utilized. It pairs well with Unholy Arrows or Hellfire Arrows if you happen to acquire them.
The Hellwing Bow boasts a rapid use time and unlimited piercing, making it formidable against Deerclops. However, its accuracy and arrow speed make it more suitable for close-range encounters.
Decent alternatives for firearms include the Musket, The Undertaker, and the Minishark. The Boomstick is an especially powerful option. Players who have already defeated Skeletron can acquire the Quad-Barrel Shotgun, although its accuracy is lacking, necessitating close proximity to the target when using it.
The Star Cannon is a viable choice due to its infinite piercing capability and high damage per second (DPS). However, keep in mind that its ammunition requires careful conservation.
When using firearms, it is recommended to utilize Silver Bullets or Tungsten Bullets as ammunition. Meteor Shots work well with the former two, as they do not encounter issues with the invincibility frames caused by piercing attacks.
For ranger-specific armor sets, the Fossil armor and Necro armor are the only options available. The Necro armor can be obtained within the Dungeon.
Mage Class Strategy
In worlds tainted by Crimson, mages can greatly benefit from wielding the Crimson Rod. This powerful tool allows you to fire it once and then swiftly switch to another weapon, effectively increasing your overall damage output.
The Space Gun is an exceptional weapon, particularly when paired with Meteor armor, creating a potent combination. Another excellent choice is the Gray Zapinator, which boasts high damage output, especially when utilized alongside said armor.
For mana-efficient options with respectable piercing damage, both the Ruby Staff and Diamond Staff are solid choices. However, the Thunder Zapper offers similar damage at a higher mana cost.
While the Water Bolt is a decent option, its effectiveness can be hindered by vast arenas. On the other hand, the Vilethorn proves to be a reliable choice, capitalizing on the boss’s lower defense.
To swiftly and accurately strike your target, consider the Magic Missile and its upgraded form, Flamelash. These spells can be employed to unleash a barrage of precise attacks.
For those willing to undertake the challenge, the Demon Scythe presents a formidable option. However, obtaining it requires a visit to the Underworld. If seeking homing and piercing capabilities, the Book of Skulls is a viable choice.
When it comes to armor, the Wizard set, combined with leg armor that enhances magic or defense, yields the highest damage potential for mages. Alternatively, if prioritizing defense, Jungle armor or Meteor armor can be utilized.
Summoner Class Strategy
The Imp Staff and the Vampire Frog Staff stand as the most powerful summoning weapons currently available for summoners. Their capabilities surpass those of other options. If you have yet to explore the Underworld, the Hornet Staff serves as a viable alternative.
Among the sentry weapons offered by the Tavernkeep, the Ballista Rod and the Explosive Trap Rod prove to be the top choices. The Ballista Rod boasts immense damage, and its bolts possess piercing capabilities.
On the other hand, the Explosive Trap Rod inflicts area-of-effect damage. While the sentries themselves may have a slow attack speed, you can repeatedly summon them to increase their rate of attack, effectively reducing the cooldown time.
Combining the Snapthorn with the Spinal Tap results in a devastating combination capable of dealing tremendous amounts of damage. Alternatively, the Snapthorn can be used on its own with significant effectiveness.
At this stage of the game, the optimal summoner armor set is the Obsidian armor. It provides the highest benefits for summoners. However, an alternative option is the Bee armor, suitable if you have defeated the Queen Bee and have yet to venture into the Underworld.
Other Strategies
Staying Warm:
When engaging in combat against Deerclops, it proves advantageous to utilize a Warmth Potion, as the boss is susceptible to its effects.
Furthermore, it is advisable to equip a Hand Warmer during the battle to counteract the Chilled and Frozen debuffs. These debuffs pose a significant threat, as they can swiftly lead to the player’s demise if left untreated.
Respawn Strategy:
Prepare an arena for the Deerclops encounter by establishing a spawn point using a Bed. It’s crucial to note that Deerclops will remain present in the vicinity as long as a player remains nearby for a specific duration.
By utilizing this tactic, the player can perish an unlimited number of times throughout the battle. While this approach may be time-consuming, particularly when equipped with lower-tier gear, it significantly increases the chances of ultimately triumphing over Deerclops.
As long as the player can inflict some damage with each respawn, the defeat of Deerclops becomes almost certain.
Short Skybridge:
Construct a sky bridge positioned approximately 20-30 blocks above the ground, stretching for around 100 blocks. Ensure that there is a flat area beneath the bridge.
In this setup, Deerclops will position himself beneath the platforms, following the player’s movements closely. However, he will refrain from using his Ice Spikes attack. Instead, he will either summon Shadow Hands if the player is above him or hurl debris if the player is positioned to one side.
To effectively handle Deerclops in Terraria, employ a simple strategy. Slowly walk just ahead of him until he initiates the debris-throwing action. At that moment, swiftly jump in the opposite direction to evade the incoming ice chunks. Continue walking in the opposite direction until he throws debris again.
In the Expert Mode, the shadow hands possess the ability to knock the player in an unfavorable direction, potentially resulting in collisions with debris or prompting Deerclops to summon numerous shadow hands.
To mitigate this risk, utilize the Cobalt Shield or Gladiator Armor to resist knockback. Alternatively, you can simply leap over the shadow hand to avoid its impact.
What are the Difficulty Differences?
Deerclops has different stats depending on the difficulty you are playing Terraria on and the phase it is in. These differences are as follows:
Classic Mode
In Classic Mode the Deerclops has the following stats:
- Damage: 20 to 36 (depending on the attack)
- HP: 7000
- Defense: 10
- Knockback Resistance: 100%
- Immune to Shimmering and Confused
- Inflicts Slow Debuff for 12 Seconds
- Inflicts Frozen Debuff for 0.33 seconds
When Deerclops draws near to the player, it will raise its arms and forcefully strike the ground, initiating a series of Ice Spikes that rapidly advance toward the player.
These Ice Spikes intensify with each consecutive wave. However, every third wave diverges from the standard trajectory, spreading outward from both directions instead of traveling as far. It’s important to note that these Ice Spikes can freeze the player upon impact.
If the player is situated at a distance that prevents Deerclops from executing the Ice Spikes attack, it will resort to a “scooping” motion, launching multiple chunks of Debris high into the air.
These debris chunks follow large, vertical arcs before descending back down. Notably, these debris chunks have the ability to pass through solid blocks.
Periodically, Deerclops will come to a halt and emit a mighty roar, inflicting the Slow debuff upon all players within a range of 50 tiles for a brief duration unless they are already affected by the debuff.
Should the player remain positioned above Deerclops for an extended period, it temporarily ceases its movements and unleashes a resounding roar, summoning five Shadow Hands in close proximity to the player.
When the player exceeds a distance of 30 tiles from Deerclops, it becomes cloaked in a mysterious shadowy aura. While in this state, Deerclops becomes entirely impervious to damage.
Only when the player once again approaches within 30 tiles of its current location will Deerclops revert back to his regular appearance and behavior.
Expert Mode
In Expert Mode the Deerclops has the following stats:
- Damage: 40 to 72 (depending on the attack)
- HP: 11900
- Defense: 10
- Knockback Resistance: 100%
- Immune to Shimmering and Confused
- Inflicts Slow Debuff for 24 Seconds
- Inflicts Frozen Debuff for 0.67 Seconds
During Expert Mode, Deerclops exhibits a distinct behavior whereby it intermittently summons Shadow Hands.
These ethereal appendages manifest in three different ways: some move gradually toward the player, and others swiftly converge on the player while executing curved or spinning motions.
Notably, these Shadow Hands possess a remarkable ability to anticipate the player’s movements, making them more challenging to evade. Furthermore, as Deerclops’ health diminishes, the frequency of Shadow Hand summoning increases, intensifying the battle dynamics.
Master Mode
In Master Mode the Deerclops has the following stats:
- Damage: 60 to 108 (depending on the attack)
- HP: 15172
- Defense: 10
- Knockback Resistance: 100%
- Immune to Shimmering and Confused
- Inflicts Slow Debuff for 30 Seconds
- Inflicts Frozen Debuff for 0.83 seconds
The boss’s behavior stays the same as in Expert Mode with added damage and health. The Debuff times also get a devastating boost so be extra careful for that.
Is Deerclops Harder Solo or With Friends?
Deerclops is a much harder experience for a solo player, especially on higher difficulties when the boss gets a significant health and damage bump.
The debuffs this freakish goat inflicts make the fight harder and more annoying. The Shadow Hands are also in the same category.
A well-prepared team can easily take out this “corrupt cattle” just by taking turns aggroing it. Whenever a team member gets struck by a debuff, the other member should be there to cover their back jump in front of this raging bull (not the same animal but whatever).
What are the Rewards for Defeating Deerclops?
The rewards for defeating the Deerclops differ according to the difficulty. The majority of rewards are the same for all difficulties except a few, and sometimes the drop rates increase at higher difficulties. We will highlight all these rewards and changes below:
Classic Mode Rewards
| Reward | Quantity | Drop Rate % |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coins | 5 | 100% |
| Healing Potion | 5-15 | 100% |
| Eyebrella | 1 | 33% |
| Eye Bone | 1 | 33% |
| Radio Thing | 1 | 33% |
| Dizzy’s Rare Gecko Chester | 1 | 7.14% |
| Deerclops Mask | 1 | 14.29% |
| Deerclops Trophy | 1 | 10% |
| Only one of the following 4 items is a guaranteed drop | ||
| Lucy the Axe | 1 | 25% |
| Pew-matic Horn | 1 | 25% |
| Weather Pain | 1 | 25% |
| Houndius Shootius | 1 | 25% |
Expert Mode Rewards
| Reward | Quantity | Drop Rate % |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coins | 12 | 100% |
| Silver Coins | 50 | 100% |
| Treasure Bag | 1 | 100% |
| Bone Helm | 1 | 100% |
| Extra Gold Coin | 10 | 100% |
Master Mode Rewards
| Reward | Quantity | Drop Rate % |
|---|---|---|
| Deerclops Eyeball | 1 | 25% |
| Deerclops Relic | 1 | 100% |
There you go; this was the ultimate guide to beating Deerclops in Terraria. The difficulty you chose and the class you play will greatly impact your experience, and hopefully, our guide will have pointed you in the right direction.