Every Side Boss in Terraria (& How To Beat Them)

Terraria is a sandbox-style game that challenges players to explore. The game has an extensive network of biomes and caves to investigate. There are also a number of creatures for players to find while they’re out and about, and many of them are hostile.

Combat is a big part of Terraria. From squishy bats to the intimidating Wall of Flesh, the game has a long list of enemies for players to encounter. This includes many powerful bosses and side bosses, which are hostile, powerful creatures. They drop important items which players need to progress in their games. Side bosses are one type of boss in Terraria. Despite their name, they’re just as challenging as the game’s other bosses; the only real difference is that most side bosses only spawn during special events. Here's how to beat each and every one of them.

Betsy

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor	Charged Blaster Blizzard Staff
Summoners	Spooky Armor or Tiki Armor	Xeno Staff Celestiel Emblem Stone Wings
Melee	Beetle Armor	Terra Blade North Pole The Eye of Cthulhu
Ranged	Shroomite Armor	Eventide and/or Tsunami Bow Holy Arrows Candy Corn Rifle

Betsy is a Wyvern that spawns in at Tier three of the Old One's Army event. She appears during the seventh wave. Players can summon this event using an Eternia Crystal, which The Tavernkeep will sell after the Golem has been defeated.

Betsy behaves similarly to Duke Fishron. Move quickly to avoid her attacks and avoid being backed into a corner. If possible, target the Etherian Wyverns that appear alongside the boss. Many of Betsy's attacks are fire based. Try to drink an Obsidian Skin Potion before summoning her. This will keep her from inflicting the On Fire! Debuff.

Dark Mage

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Wizard Armor	Water Bolt Weather Pain
Summoners	Bee Armor	Hornet Staff Spinal Tap
Melee	Molten Armor	Arkhalis Cascade Sunfury
Ranged	Necro Armor	Phoenix Blaster with Meteor Shots Hellwing Bow

The Dark Mage spawns during the Old One's Army event. It appears in the fifth wave at Tier one, and in early waves at Tier three. The Dark Mage floats above the ground throughout the fight. It can throw dark energy, heal the player's enemies, and summon Old One's Skeletons.

Defeating the Dark Mage can be tedious. It appears in the final wave of its event, and Terraria players will have to take down lots of smaller enemies before they encounter it. Be sure to stock up on Healing Potions beforehand.

Everscream

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor	Bat Scepter Nimbus Rod
Summoners	Spooky Armor	Tempest Staff The Staff of the Frost Hydra
Melee	Beetle Armor	Terra Blade Vampire Knives
Ranged	Shroomite Armor	Tsunami Bow with Holy Arrows

Everscream is a hard mode boss that appears during Terraria’s Frost Moon event. It is an evergreen tree that attacks the player with pine needles and ornaments. Players can summon the Frost Moon by using a Naughty Present at nighttime.

This boss behaves similarly to Mourning Wood. Most of its attacks are avoidable from a distance, so using weapons with a longer range is a good tactic. Players may also want to build platforms to move between.

Flying Dutchman

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Adamantite Armor	The Frost Staff, A Magic Dagger with the Mythical or Celestial modifier
Summoners	Spider Armor	The Spider Staff
Melee	Palladium Armor	Titanium Sword Flying Knife
Ranged	Titanium Armor	Daedalus Stormbow with Holy Arrows

Named after the mythical ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman is a boss from Terraria’s Pirate Invasion event. Players can trigger this event by using a Pirate Map. It also might occur randomly.

The Flying Dutchman also has four powerful cannons, which players must destroy before the Flying Dutchman can be defeated. It also has the ability to spawn pirates to attack the player. Because of this, it’s best to use weapons that can target multiple enemies.

Ice Queen

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor	Razorpine Golden Shower
Summoners	Spooky Armor	Tempest Staff The Staff of the Frost Hydra
Melee	Beetle Armor	Seedler Flairon Vampire Knives
Ranged	Shroomite Armor	Xenopopper Crystal Bullets

The Ice Queen’s attacks can cause the Chilled and/or the Frozen debuffs, which will slow down or stop players' movement. If possible, drink a Warmth potion before fighting her. It’s also a good idea to use equipment with movement enhancement.

During the fight, the Ice Queen will use a Twirl attack. She’ll spin and unleash a barrage of Frost Shards, but will otherwise stay in the same place. This is a good time for players to attack her. Just be sure to avoid the Shards – using wings can help with this.

Martian Saucer

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor	The Blizzard Staff A Rainbow Gun with a Ruthless modifier
Summoners	Spooky Armor or Tiki Armor	A Raven Staff The Staff of the Frost Hydra
Melee	Beetle Armor	A Paladin's Hammer The Possessed Hatchet
Ranged	Shroomite Armor	The Chain Gun with Chlorophyte Bullets The Candy Corn Rifle

The Martian Saucer is a boss from the Martian Madness event. This event is triggered if a player encounters a Martian Probe and lets it escape. It will only occur if the Golem has been defeated.

The Martian Saucer is modeled after an alien’s UFO. It flies above the player and targets them with one of three attacks. It will shoot lasers and then missiles at the player. The lasers are easy to dodge, but the missiles will follow players as they move. Dodge these by moving in ways that aim them at the ground. The Martian Saucer’s final attack is a death ray. Fly or use a grappling hook to get above the boss.

Mourning Wood

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor with Forbidden Treads and/or Hallowed Headgear	Inferno Fork Nimbus Rod
Summoners	Tiki Armor	Tsunami with Holy Arrows
Melee	Beetle Armor with Scale Mail	Terra Blade Flairon North Pole
Ranged	Shroomite Armor with Forbidden Treads	Chain Gun with Cursed Bullets

Mourning Wood is a tree-themed boss that spawns during Terraria’s Pumpkin Moon, and behaves similarly to the boss Everscream. However, Mourning Wood’s attacks are fire related. It is immune to lava and the On Fire! Debuff.

One of Mourning Wood’s main attacks is to shoot piercing Greek Fire at players. If possible, lure Mourning Wood into a shallow body of water and attack it from a distance. Its attacks will be unable to reach players.

Ogre

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Wizard Armor	The Flamelash Flower of Fire The Crimson Rod
Summoners	Bee or Obsidian Armor	The Hornet Staff Snapthorn
Melee	Molten Armor	The Night's Edge The Dark Lance
Ranged	Necro Armor	Molten Fury with Jester's Arrows

The Ogre is a boss from Terraria’s Old One’s Army event. It is a slow moving creature with a dangerous club, and it appears in the final wave of Tier two and in the fifth and sixth waves at Tier three.

The Ogre has three ways of attacking. Firstly, a single hit from its club inflicts a major amount of damage. Avoid this by keeping some distance from the Ogre. Its jumps will cause a shockwave to knock back and damage players within range. Finally, the Ogre will also throw a ball of Ogre Spit at players. Using a flying mount will negate the Oozed debuff that this attack inflicts.

Pumpking

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor with Forbidden Treads and/or Hallowed Headgear	Inferno Fork Nimbus Rod
Summoners	Tiki Armor	Tsunami with Holy Arrows
Melee	Beetle Armor with Scale Mail	Terra Blade Flairon North Pole
Ranged	Shroomite Armor with Forbidden Treads	Chain Gun with Cursed Bullets

The Pumpking is the final boss of Terraria’s Pumpkin Moon event. Players can initiate a Pumpkin Moon event by using a Pumpkin Medallion.

The Pumpking will try to attack players from above. Its most dangerous attack involves a Flame Scythe projectile. Although its attacks are fast, the Pumpking itself is slow, which is its biggest disadvantage in combat. Players will be able to avoid it by moving in large circles. Just be careful not to get backed into a corner.

Santa-NK1

Player Character Type	Best Armor	Best Weapons
Magic Users	Spectre Armor	Razorpine Golden Shower
Summoners	Spooky Armor	Tempest Staff The Staff of the Frost Hydra
Melee	Beetle Armor	Terra Blade Vampire Knives
Ranged	Shroomite Armor	Tsunami Bow with Holy Arrows

Players will encounter Santa-NK1 during the Frost Moon event. It will attack players with spiked balls, missiles, and a chain gun. It will also drop harmful presents that will damage the player.

Santa-NK1’s attacks can deal a lot of damage. Be especially careful to avoid the spiked balls, as these can be deadly. Players will want to use longer-range weapons to attack Santa-NK1. If possible, equip wings to help evade attacks.

Terraria is available on Android, iOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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