How to Get the Pumpkin Moon in Terraria: A Comprehensive Guide
To summon the Pumpkin Moon in Terraria, you must craft a Pumpkin Moon Medallion at a Mythril/Orichalcum Anvil, requiring 30 Pumpkins, 5 Ectoplasm, and 10 Hallowed Bars. Once created, use the medallion at nighttime to initiate the event.
Introduction to the Pumpkin Moon
The Pumpkin Moon is a challenging, post-Plantera event in Terraria, unleashing waves of increasingly difficult Halloween-themed enemies. It’s a fantastic opportunity to acquire rare and powerful items, provided you’re well-prepared to survive the onslaught. Mastering this event is crucial for progressing through the late-game content.
Why Farm the Pumpkin Moon?
The Pumpkin Moon offers a plethora of benefits, making it a highly sought-after event for experienced Terraria players:
- Unique Weapons: Obtain powerful weapons such as the Bat Scepter, Raven Staff, Candy Corn Rifle, and Stake Launcher.
- Cosmetic Items: Collect various masks and trophies from the event’s bosses.
- Accessories: Acquire the Spooky Hook, providing increased grappling speed and range.
- Money Farming: The high enemy spawn rate allows for effective money farming.
- Event-Specific Drops: Obtain Spooky Wood, used for crafting Spooky Armor, a popular summoner set.
Preparing for the Pumpkin Moon
Before summoning the Pumpkin Moon, adequate preparation is paramount for survival and success. Key aspects to consider include:
- Arena Construction: Create a well-lit and strategically designed arena. Consider:
- Multiple Platforms: Allows for maneuverability and dodging enemy attacks.
- Traps: Place traps such as Flame Traps, Super Dart Traps, or Lava Traps to deal damage to enemies automatically.
- NPC Placement: Place helpful NPCs like the Nurse for healing.
- Gear Optimization: Ensure you have optimized your equipment for maximum damage output and survivability.
- Armor: Spooky Armor (for summoners), Beetle Armor (for melee), or Shroomite Armor (for rangers) are excellent choices.
- Weapons: High-damage weapons such as the Terra Blade, Last Prism, or Tsunami with Holy Arrows are recommended.
- Accessories: Equip accessories that boost damage, defense, and mobility, such as the Avenger Emblem, Celestial Emblem, and Wings.
- Potion Preparation: Stock up on essential potions:
- Healing Potion: For quick health regeneration.
- Mana Potion: Essential for magic users.
- Buff Potions: Ironskin Potion (defense), Regeneration Potion (health regeneration), Wrath Potion/Rage Potion (damage), Swiftness Potion (movement speed).
Crafting the Pumpkin Moon Medallion: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Pumpkin Moon Medallion is the item used to initiate the Pumpkin Moon event. Here’s how to craft it:
- Gather Pumpkins: Pumpkins can be grown by planting Pumpkin Seeds in any soil type on the surface. They require a decent amount of space and time to grow, so plant a large farm.
- Acquire Ectoplasm: Ectoplasm is dropped by Dungeon Spirits, which only spawn in the post-Plantera Dungeon. These spirits appear after defeating any dungeon enemy, but their spawn rate is relatively low.
- Obtain Hallowed Bars: Hallowed Bars are dropped by the Mechanical Bosses (The Destroyer, The Twins, and Skeletron Prime). Defeating these bosses is a prerequisite for crafting the Medallion.
- Craft the Medallion: Combine 30 Pumpkins, 5 Ectoplasm, and 10 Hallowed Bars at a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil to create the Pumpkin Moon Medallion.
Activating the Pumpkin Moon
Once you’ve crafted the Pumpkin Moon Medallion, activate it only at nighttime. The event will begin immediately and last until dawn (4:30 AM). Be prepared for a relentless wave of enemies.
Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Your Pumpkin Moon Runs
- Use Minions: Summoning minions significantly boosts your damage output, especially against hordes of enemies.
- Focus on Bosses: Prioritize defeating Mourning Wood and Pumpking to advance through the waves and maximize loot drops.
- Exploit Enemy Weaknesses: Certain enemies are vulnerable to specific damage types. Adjust your weapon and strategy accordingly.
- Strategic Retreating: Don’t be afraid to retreat to heal or recharge mana. A well-prepared arena allows for safe maneuvering.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underestimating the Difficulty: The Pumpkin Moon is a challenging event. Adequate preparation is crucial.
- Ignoring the Waves: Pay attention to the wave progression and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Forgetting Potions: Potions are essential for survival. Keep them readily available.
- Poor Arena Design: A poorly designed arena can hinder your mobility and make you more vulnerable to attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I summon the Pumpkin Moon in pre-Hardmode?
No, the Pumpkin Moon is a post-Plantera event, meaning you must defeat Plantera before you can access the necessary materials (Ectoplasm from the post-Plantera Dungeon) to craft the Pumpkin Moon Medallion.
2. What happens if I die during the Pumpkin Moon?
Dying during the Pumpkin Moon doesn’t end the event. You will respawn and can continue fighting until dawn. However, you’ll lose valuable time and progress on the wave counter.
3. How many waves are there in the Pumpkin Moon?
There are 15 waves in the Pumpkin Moon. Reaching wave 15 is the ultimate goal for maximizing loot and achievements.
4. Can I summon the Pumpkin Moon during the day?
No, the Pumpkin Moon Medallion can only be used at nighttime. If you attempt to use it during the day, it will not work.
5. What is the best weapon to use during the Pumpkin Moon?
The “best” weapon is subjective and depends on your class and playstyle. However, commonly recommended weapons include the Terra Blade (melee), Last Prism (magic), Tsunami with Holy Arrows (ranged), and various powerful summoner weapons.
6. Does difficulty (Classic, Expert, Master) affect loot drops in the Pumpkin Moon?
Yes, higher difficulties increase the quantity and probability of certain loot drops. Expert and Master Mode offer better rewards.
7. What’s the difference between the Pumpkin Moon and the Frost Moon?
The Pumpkin Moon is a Halloween-themed event with pumpkin-based enemies and loot, while the Frost Moon is a Christmas-themed event with ice-based enemies and loot. They are both summoned using similar medallions crafted with event-specific resources.
8. Can multiple people activate Pumpkin Moons simultaneously in a multiplayer game?
No, only one Pumpkin Moon (or Frost Moon) can be active at a time in a world. Activating another medallion will do nothing while one event is already running.
9. How do I effectively farm Ectoplasm?
To effectively farm Ectoplasm, create a large open area in the post-Plantera Dungeon. Use a powerful weapon to quickly defeat dungeon enemies, maximizing the chance of Dungeon Spirits spawning. A Water Candle and Battle Potion will increase spawn rates.
10. Is Spooky Armor better than Tiki Armor for summoners?
Spooky Armor offers higher damage and crit chance for minions, making it generally preferred for Pumpkin Moon farming. Tiki Armor provides slightly more defense and minion slots, making it a viable alternative in other situations.
11. What are the best traps to use in a Pumpkin Moon arena?
Flame Traps and Super Dart Traps are highly effective due to their high damage output and rapid firing rate. Lava Traps can also be used, but be careful not to burn valuable loot.
12. Does luck affect Pumpkin Moon drops?
Yes, luck does affect the drop rates of items from enemies in the Pumpkin Moon. Increasing your luck stat can improve your chances of obtaining rare drops.