Understanding Terraria's Difficulty Levels

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I’m trying to wrap my head around how the different difficulty settings work in Terraria. I know there are three types of player difficulty: Journey, Classic, and Hardcore, but I’m a bit confused about how they really impact gameplay. For example, I think I get that on Hard mode, after fighting the Wall of Flesh, everything gets tougher, but I haven’t faced Plantera yet, so I’m not entirely sure.

As for player difficulty, it seems like it’s mostly about what happens when you die? I feel like staying on Classic means I won’t lose my items when I die, but does it really have any downsides? Then there’s world difficulty, which seems to affect enemy strength and item drops, along with giving an extra equipment slot? If I want to collect the best gear with the least hassle, would using a Classic character on a Master world be the way to go?

Also, while I have you all here, is crafting in this game as tedious as it seems or am I just missing something?

Understanding Terrarias Difficulty Levels
Terraria

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3 Answers

Elit3Gamer420 -

Player difficulty is mostly for challenge. You have a few options: Journey doesn’t drop your items, Classic drops coins, Mediumcore loses everything and Hardcore means you’re done for if you die. World difficulty actually changes the game; each mode affects enemy strength and drops. Master mode gives you a new accessory slot, which is sweet! And yeah, prehardmode and hardmode are separate phases altogether, triggered by the Wall of Flesh. So, Classic characters on a Master world for less fuss with maximum loot? That’s a solid plan! Also, check out the Terraria Wiki for more crafting recipes.

LootHunter99 -

Oh, and don’t forget, Master mode also permanently gives you an extra accessory slot which is awesome! Definitely a perk you don’t wanna skip.

BossSlayerX -

Honestly, I think starting with Classic or Expert makes way more sense than jumping straight into Master mode. Master mode is a huge step up in difficulty without adding that much more cool loot compared to Expert. Expert mode gives great boss drops and an extra gear slot after beating the Wall of Flesh which makes it worth it!

Lootinator3000 -

Totally agree! I can’t stand playing anything but Master mode now since the extra slot is so crucial, but I get that some players might find Expert more manageable.

CraftingWizard -

For player difficulty, I think going above Classic can be a real headache, especially if you’re new. I’ve only tried Classic, but in games like Valheim, dying and trekking back is such a hassle. In Terraria though, you don’t drop everything, only coins, which makes it a bit easier. Stick with Classic until you’re super comfortable! World difficulty is good if you want a challenge, but Classic is fine until it feels boring!

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