Best Melee Armor In Terraria

Key Takeaways

• Shadow and Molten Armor are recommended for Melee DPS in pre-Hardmode; Dragon and Chlorophyte for Hardmode.
• The Melee Class excels in close combat and focuses on tanking and dealing fierce damage with swords and spears.
• Melee build effectiveness depends on armor choice; certain definitive sets offer bonuses to enhance combat performance.

The Melee Class in Terraria boasts 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 in Terraria, 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. While Terraria offers 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 November 27, 2024 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.

1 Gladiator Armor

Defense: 16

Fans who want to give their Terraria gameplay a unique aesthetic spin may appreciate being an elite melee fighter through the Gladiator 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.

2 Crimson Armor

Defense: 19

When players visit the Crimson Biome, they can obtain Crimtane Bars and Tissue Samples they can use to create the Crimson 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 of Terraria gear, 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.

3 Ancient Shadow Armor

Defense: 19

When players start fighting Terraria bosses, they might be surprised that the floating Eater of Souls may actually drop Ancient 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 classic RuneScape armor, 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.

4 Platinum Armor

Defense: 20

When players acquire the Platinum Armor by 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 that resembles the Spider-Man villain.

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.

5 Shadow Armor

Defense: 19

The spiky appearance and purple-heavy colors of the Shadow Armor can give the immediate impression of Yu-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.

6 Molten Armor

Defense: 25

It’s quite surprising to realize that the simple-looking Molten Armor is the most difficult armor to obtain in Pre-Hardmode Terraria, 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.

7 Monk’s Armor

Defense: 46

Players enjoying their Terraria gameplay who want a martial arts take on their melee combat would likely enjoy wearing the Monk’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.

8 Dragon Armor

Defense: 60

Players embarking on their Hardmode Terraria journey might want a Melee armor that truly embraces the combat role – something the Dragon Armor is seemingly built to look like. The armor gives its user the appearance of a warrior wearing Monster Hunter gear, 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.

9 Crystal Assassin Armor

Total Defense: 36

Befitting its sneaky appearance, the Crystal Assassin Armor takes 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 for fighting tricky opponents like the Twins.

10 Orichalcum Armor

Total Defense: 42

When Terraria users 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 the Orichalcum 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 target that 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.

11 Squire Armor

Total Defense: 56

At first glance, the Squire Armor seems more suitable as a Summoner’s Armor instead of a mere melee attacker’s gear. However, its bonuses to melee damage and melee strike chance can make the armor set quite suitable for frontline combatants who want a change of pace. Purchased from the Tavernkeep for 45 Defender Medals after defeating any mechanical boss, the Squire Armor can become quite the stylish armor for players who want to look like a traditional knight.

However, the only saving grace of the Squire Armor in this regard is its boosted life regen on top of boosts in movement speed and overall melee performance. The Armor’s inherent summoning bonuses still make the Armor Set ideal for Summoner builds, which may encourage players to eventually prepare a Summoner kit should things go south.

12 Valhalla Knight’s Armor

Total Defense: 68

Despite its reputation as perhaps the highest-defense armor for Summoners in the Terraria experience, the Valhalla Knight’s Armor and its Norse aesthetic remain useful for players who want a competent piece of armor to fight the game’s main bosses. Valhalla Knight’s Armor is notable for its chest plate alone, as its boosts to health regen, movement speed, and defense can synergize well with other defensive plays.

What makes the Valhalla Knight’s Armor a suitable melee armor set is how its critical strike bonuses only apply to melee attacks, giving frontline players room to wear the armor and still enjoy boosted damage. Since the armor’s breastplate can stack its life regen with that of the Squire’s Great Helm, players having a tough time against bosses can enjoy a fusion of this set for higher defense.

13 Shinobi Infiltrator Armor

Total Defense: 54

Considered the direct upgrade of the Valhalla Knight’s Armor, the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor adds a more Eastern-inspired mystic ninja feeling to a player’s Terraria gameplay. At first glance, the armor set seems heavily inclined to aid Summoners in the more hardcore offerings of the game. However, its slate of set bonuses may still be able to largely benefit melee players when used correctly.

When analyzed, the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor gives much higher melee buffs compared to the Solar Flare Armor, although all components of the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor have “upgrade” pieces. Since melee combatants won’t have use of the Shinobi Infiltrator Armor’s Lightning Aura sentry buffs, they can trade the chest piece for the Valhalla Knight’s Breastplate for added defensive buffs.

14 Palladium Armor

Total Defense: 32

The Palladium Armor is notable for its Rapid Healing buff that constantly heals the player, giving them a hefty boost in terms of damage mitigation. While its Helmet variants allow players to transition to Ranged Class and Magic Class gameplay in Terraria, its Melee Class build is its tankier variation.

However, the rather low defense of the Palladium Armor’s Melee version demands technical play on the user’s part, being only able to outclass the higher-defense Adamantite Armor should players avoid damage to supplement their healing.

15 Mythril Armor

Total Defense: 37

Similar to other Hardmode Armors, the Mythril Armorcreated in a Crafting Station has dedicated Helmets for specific builds, although its Melee Class benefits may help players capitalize on crit-heavy setups.

Unlike other armors, the Mythril Armor doesn’t have a special effect. Rather, using the full set provides different Set Bonuses depending on the headgear used, with the Mythril Helmet providing even more Critical Strike Chance. While more crits eventually translate to more DPS, players may want to switch to a more defensively heavy Armor Set to secure survivability.

16 Frost Armor

Total Defense: 43

The Frost Armor is a sleek Terraria Armor Set that encases players in spiked ice armor, with matching snow trails wherever they walk. Moreover, players are guaranteed to cause damage over time with Frostbite whenever they deal damage.

Since only Duke Fishron, Mourning Wood, and the Destroyer are the bosses immune to Frostburn, the Frost Armor is a decent anti-boss Armor Set of choice. Players who want to take advantage of the constant debuff can pair the Frost Armor with the Magma Stone and a Flask of their choice to theoretically trigger 3 DOTs at the same time.

17 Titanium Armor

Total Defense: 49

The sophisticated nature of the Titanium Armor design is reflected in its special effect, where the Titanium Barrier’s Titanium Shards become a formidable long-range defensive option. However, the Titanium Armor does have inferior offensive stats over Adamantite Armor, making the latter a more practical choice.

Players can attempt to circumvent this flaw by refreshing the Titanium Barrier with attacks. Despite the lack of hard offense, the constant Titanium Shards means players always have covering fire whenever they go on the offensive against enemies such as Terraria bosses.

18 Adamantite Armor

Total Defense: 50

The heavy reds of the Adamantite Armor may directly reference the aggression of the Melee Class. As with other multi-helm Armor Sets, the Adamantite Helmet for the Melee Class offers the best defensive benefits for frontliners.

However, players on the lookout to maximize damage output, especially against the likes of the Golem, should consider going for other Armor Sets like Mythril for damage and Hallowed for sustains.

19 Hallowed Armor

Total Defense: 50

Being one of the few Hardmode Armor Sets to have alternating Helmets to accommodate all of the game’s Classes, the Hallowed Armor and its golden-detailed aesthetic is reminiscent of a classic knight armor.

This design fits the Hallowed Armor for its Set Bonus, Holy Protection, that guarantees dodges every second attack once every 30 seconds. With the right usage, Holy Protection could potentially save players in a pinch, especially against powerful opponents like Plantera.

20 Chlorophyte Armor

Total Defense: 56

Perhaps one of the rare times an Armor Set can accommodate most combat roles, the flexibility of the Chlorophyte Armor can encourage flexible melee builds. When using the Chlorophyte Mask, players can enjoy a hefty melee damage and melee critical strike chance increase that they can use with some of the game’s more potent Swords and close-combat options.

With a full Chlorophyte Armor set, players also get a Leaf Crystal as a companion. This floating rock will constantly attack nearby enemies with the Crystal Leaf Shot, giving melee players a much-needed ranged backup in both Hardmode and for Terraria events.