Summary
The Melee Class inTerrariaboasts a preference for taking on threats up close and personal, touting Swords and Spears to protect themselves and their comrades from threats within an arm’s reach. Of all Classes inTerraria, the Melee Class is straightforward in their preference to tank enemies, soak damage, and dish out fierce slashes to outlast the competition.
However, a Melee Class character is only as effective as the Armor they wear. Without the right kind of defensive setup, even the mightiest Sword can shatter under the weight of enemy pressure. WhileTerrariaoffers different ways of min-maxing a set of armor, certain definitive Armor Sets provide the kind of bonuses that boost the Melee Class’s overall combat performance.
Updated July 09, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:As players of Terraria eagerly await Terraria 1.4.5 with bated breath, fans of the acclaimed RPG might be looking forward to features such as Dead Cells-themed items, new furniture sets, unique Transformation Mounts (including a roller skate!), the Axearang, and various new additions like item variants. However, fans who couldn’t wait for these new features may want to play the game more extensively first, especially with Melee builds that often depend on being heavy hitters on the frontlines.
Thankfully, players who are just starting their Melee characters can count on the ideal beginner gear to get them going in their pursuit for greatness, with must-haves including gear that makes them look like ancient Greek warriors and even the most powerful early-game ore-based armors they can get at the time.
16 (5/6/5)
Source
Hoplites in Marble Caves
Fans who want to give theirTerrariagameplaya unique aesthetic spin may appreciate being an elite melee fighter through theGladiator Armor. Built to resemble a Spartan warrior or a Greek hoplite, the bronze armor with red details can give melee fighters a sense of combat prowess that the game’s other armor can’t provide - at least, in this stage of their gameplay.
While certainly not the best in terms of overall Defense and available effects, the Gladiator Armor as a set does provide immunity to Knockback. This will allow melee fighters to continue fighting opponents who would ordinarily push them back, which will help them avoid the setback of having to close the distance before dishing out damage. The armor pieces are dropped by Hoplites in Marble Caves, with around a 15% to 25% probability depending on the piece.
19 (6/7/6)
60 Crimtane Bars, 45 Tissue Samples
When players visit the Crimson Biome, they can obtain Crimtane Bars and Tissue Samples they can use to create theCrimson Armor. Befitting its bloody origins, the Crimson Armor boasts a foreboding hard red shell with greyish-black details, giving players a sense of dread while wearing it. Red bubbles form whenever players walk around with the full set, with each armor piece providing +3% Damage and the set as a whole greatly boosting Life Regeneration.
It’s the health regeneration component that makes the Crimson Armor an interesting piece ofTerrariagear, as players heal 1HP per red “pulse” the armor generates. These pulses increase in frequency if players avoid damage and stand still. The Crimson Armor is the direct opposite of the Shadow Armor, the latter of which can be obtained in the Corruption Biome. Unlike the Shadow Armor, however, the Crimson Armor doesn’t have an Ancient counterpart.
Eater of Souls, Transmuting Shadow Armor in Shimmer
When players startfightingTerrariabosses, they might be surprised that the floating Eater of Souls may actually dropAncient Shadow Armor. While technically identical to the Shadow Armor found in the Corruption, the Ancient Shadow Armor boasts a more archaic appearance that fans of classic medieval literature will appreciate. Most noticeable would be the Ancient Shadow Armor’s more open-faced helm with two horns, and a less imposing armor compared to more conventionally angular armor sets.
The unconventional armor, which in its simplicity resembles classicRuneScapearmor, is also quite rare as fans can only obtain each piece with a 0.19% drop rate from the Eater of Souls. If they already have pieces of the Shadow Armor, they may also obtain the Ancient Shadow Armor by transmuting them in Shimmer.
20 (5/6/5)
75 Platinum Bars (360 Platinum Ore)
When players acquire thePlatinum Armorby crafting it with 75 Platinum Bars, they will obtain a rather imposing suit of armor. Compared to other pieces that focus on regality and adding a sense of nobility to a melee fighter, Platinum Armor focuses on hardcore defense. Much of the armor is greyish-cobalt blue, with subtle red highlights. Perhaps most noticeable in the set would be the tri-horned helm, with the presence of the large horn completing a rhino-esque motif thatresembles theSpider-Manvillain.
Despite its status as an armor set created through bars, the Platinum Armor is the strongest ore-based armor that can be mined with a Copper Pixaxe. While its original defense adds up to 16, the complete set pushes the armor to provide players with 60 Defense. Its expensive nature makes Jungle, Hellstone, and Meteor sets more financially viable, but completionists may want to consider acquiring this set regardless.
18 Demonite Ore via an Iron or Lead Anvil
The spiky appearance and purple-heavy colors of theShadow Armorcan give the immediate impression ofYu-Gi-Oh!’s Dark Magician archetype, although its stats are nowhere near the former’s magical inclination. Should players manage to craft the Shadow Armor through Demonite Ore and an Iron or Lead Anvil, they can obtain one of the more decent mid-game gear for the game that offers higher DPS through damage boosts.
When fully equipped, players will immediately notice an afterimage effect during movement that comes with slight sparkles and bubbles. Stats-wise, this entails not just an acceleration bonus but also +15% Movement Speed and Critical Strike Chance, making the build more recommended for players who want to create crit-heavy builds.
25 (8/9/8)
135 Hellstone, 45 Obsidian via the Iron or Lead Anvil
It’s quite surprising to realize that the simple-lookingMolten Armoris the most difficult armor toobtain in Pre-HardmodeTerraria, although it also boasts the highest base protection at 25 Defense. From afar, it looks like plain iron armor with yellowing metal, with two slits for eyes and a plain belt. However, it possesses molten details lining the head, arms, and legs - something that can surprise players once they see how they leave a trail of fire whenever they walk.
Such a special effect reveals the difficulty in its acquisition, as it requires a hefty amount of Hellstone to craft. Hellstone is only present in the Underworld, and can only be mined with the Nightmare or Deathbringer Pickaxe. Its On Fire! Debuff immunity can give players a significant edge when fighting builds that rely on damage-over-time effects, while its basic boosts to Melee Damage, Speed, and Critical Strike Chance can cement an endgame Pre-Hardmore player’s Melee build with the right jump in DPS.
46 (8/22/16)
Tavernkeep, 45 Defender Medals
Playersenjoying theirTerrariagameplaywho want a martial arts take on their melee combat would likely enjoy wearing theMonk’s Armor. This transforms their character into a Shaolin-inspired character, complete with a red top and short leggings that represent their freeform movement. Meta-wise, the Monk’s Armor is a Hardmode armor that can also be worn by Summoners, specifically for its +20% Damage and imposing 16.7% Critical Hit Chance to Lightning Aura Sentries.
However, where the Monk’s Armor shines in its combat performance is its compatibility as a Melee armor as well. Not only does it provide +20% Movement Speed to pave the way for fast-paced attackers, but it gives a decent +15% Melee Critical Strike Chance on top of +20% Melee Speed and Melee Damage, potentially boosting a Melee fighter’s damage output by allowing them to swing their weapons faster.
60 (26/20/14)
Ocram (11.11%), or Souls of Blight + Souls of Might + a Hallowed/Cobalt/Mythril/Adamantite/Titanium Gear via Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil
Players embarking on their HardmodeTerrariajourneymight want a Melee armor that truly embraces the combat role - something theDragon Armoris seemingly built to look like. The armor gives its user the appearance of a warrior wearingMonster Huntergear, complete with limb-inspired gear and a dragon head for a helmet.
Wearing the full set of armor can grant Melee users much-needed boosts not just to Melee Damage but also to Melee Speed, Movement Speed, and Critical Strike Chance. Being fast enough can allow players to outmaneuver foes who try to overwhelm them, while a fast enough attack speed on top of crit chance can help players dish out more DPS - perfect for eliminating elite mobs and bosses.
12/14/10
Bonuses, Effects
-All Pieces:+5% Critical Strike Chance, +5% Damage, +20% Movement Speed, +10% Melee Speed, +10% Reduced Ammo Usage, +10% Reduced Mana Usage -As Set:+10% Damage, +10% Critical Strike Chance, Dash
Queen Slime (Drop)
Befitting its sneaky appearance, theCrystal Assassin Armortakes its shiny decor and enhances the player’s overall speed. When used in combat, the armor provides not just additional speed but reduced resource expenditure, allowing players to enjoy boosted critical strike chances on top of a highly mobile dash effect.
Acquired as potential loot after defeating Queen Slime, the Crystal Assassin Armor’s offensive and defensive potential can make it a neat alternative to early-game Hardmode sets. Its dash is also uninterruptible, making the Crystal Assassin Armor extremely suitable forfighting tricky opponents like the Twins.
19/13/10
-All Pieces:+6% Critical Strike Chance, +11% Movement Speed, +11% Melee Damage, +11% Movement Speed -As Set:Petals fall on the target for extra damage
54 Orichalcum Bar at Mythril/Orichalcum Anvil
WhenTerrariausers often wear melee-oriented armor, its bonuses often come in the form of defensive buffs, recovery boosts, or even chances to hit back enemies that strike them. The case is different with theOrichalcum Armor, as the set’s rather bright purplish colors that exude a flowery feeling are also reflected in its set bonus.
When used,the Orichalcum Armor will have petals fall on a player’s targetthat deals extra damage. Angling this correctly can make the set effect especially useful against The Destroyer and Wyverns, as their worm-like nature can be hit multiple times in one go. Combined with the fact that the melee-oriented set pieces contribute to both movement speed and attack speed, players may be able to proc the petal bonuses much faster than they anticipated.
