Introduction
The world of Terraria is brimming with possibilities, from constructing sprawling bases to delving into the depths of its dangerous biomes. And what’s an adventurer without their trusty weapons? Terraria boasts a vast and diverse arsenal, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. Among these, the Onyx Blaster stands out as a formidable choice, particularly for players seeking a weapon capable of both crowd control and delivering significant damage. This shotgun-type weapon is a force to be reckoned with, especially when wielded strategically.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the Terraria Onyx Blaster. We’ll delve into how to obtain it, understand its mechanics, learn effective combat strategies, and compare it with other similar weapons. By the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to unleash the darkness and dominate the Terrarian landscape with the Onyx Blaster.
Acquiring the Onyx Blaster
Crafting the Onyx Blaster requires a bit of preparation and a journey through different parts of the world. It’s not a weapon you stumble upon; you need to actively seek out its components. Thankfully, the materials are obtainable relatively early in Hardmode, making it a practical choice for progressing through the game. The required materials are the Shotgun, Dark Shards, and Onyx Blocks.
The Crafting Recipe
To craft the Onyx Blaster, you will need the following materials:
- One Shotgun
- Twenty Dark Shards
- Ten Onyx Blocks
You will need a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil to craft the Onyx Blaster. These anvils are crafted from Mythril Bars or Orichalcum Bars, which are obtained from mining Mythril Ore or Orichalcum Ore, respectively, found in the Underground layer after defeating a Mechanical Boss.
A Closer Look at the Ingredients
Let’s break down each ingredient and where to find it.
The Shotgun
The foundation of the Onyx Blaster is the Shotgun itself. You can purchase this from the Arms Dealer NPC. He sells it after the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu has been defeated in your world. He will sell the shotgun for twenty-five gold coins, so make sure you have the coin!
Dark Shards
Dark Shards are a key ingredient, imbued with the power of the darkness. These can be found in the Underground Desert biome. This biome, characterized by its sandy terrain and unique enemies, is located beneath the surface desert. The best way to find the Underground Desert is by spelunking around the regular desert. The Underground Desert can be accessed by digging straight down or creating a wide tunnel through the desert region. Once in the desert, you can look for the sandstone walls of the underground biome.
You’ll need to battle enemies in the Underground Desert to obtain them. Specifically, the Sand Poachers, Vultures, and Lamias. These enemies have a chance to drop Dark Shards upon defeat. Sand Poachers have the highest drop rate, followed by Lamias, then Vultures.
The drop rates for Dark Shards are approximately twenty percent for Sand Poachers, twelve and a half percent for Lamias, and twelve and a half percent for Vultures. This makes farming them a bit of a grind, but a valuable one.
For efficient farming, consider the following tips:
- Equip items that increase your damage output and critical hit chance.
- Use summons to help you clear out enemies quickly.
- Explore the Underground Desert thoroughly to find areas with high enemy density.
- Consider using a Battle Potion and Water Candle to increase enemy spawn rates.
Onyx Blocks
The final piece of the puzzle is Onyx Blocks. These blocks can be obtained by combining Stone Blocks with Shadow Orbs or Demon Altars in a Blend-O-Matic. The Blend-O-Matic is obtained after defeating the Wall of Flesh and can be purchased from the Steampunker. Simply take the Stone Blocks and Shadow Orbs or Demon Altars to the Steampunker after defeating the Wall of Flesh and use them.
Crafting Instructions
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, head to a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil. Open your inventory, and you should see the Onyx Blaster recipe available. Click on it to craft the weapon.
Understanding the Onyx Blaster: Stats and Mechanics
The Onyx Blaster boasts impressive stats that make it a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled Terrarian. Its effectiveness is further enhanced by its unique mechanics, which set it apart from other ranged options.
Base Statistics
- Damage: Thirty-four
- Knockback: Six (average)
- Critical Hit Chance: Four percent
- Use Time: Twenty-five (fast)
- Velocity: Ten
- Ammo Type: Bullets
Unique Mechanics
The Onyx Blaster fires a spread of dark energy bullets with each shot. This spread is wider than that of the Shotgun, making it effective at hitting multiple enemies simultaneously. The bullets also have a piercing effect, meaning they can pass through multiple enemies, dealing damage to each one. This piercing capability is crucial for crowd control and clearing out tightly packed groups of foes.
However, the Onyx Blaster’s damage falloff is more pronounced than some other ranged weapons. At longer ranges, the damage dealt by each individual bullet is significantly reduced. This makes it less effective against distant targets, and requires players to engage in a more mid-range combat style to maximize its potential. The farther the enemy, the less accurate the weapon also gets.
Mastering the Onyx Blaster: Effective Usage
To truly master the Onyx Blaster, you need to understand its optimal ammunition choices, develop effective combat strategies, and synergize it with the right armor and accessories.
Optimal Ammunition
The Onyx Blaster benefits greatly from certain types of bullets. While regular bullets will do the job, specialized ammunition can significantly enhance its damage output and utility.
Crystal Bullets
These bullets shatter upon impact, releasing shards that deal additional damage to nearby enemies. This synergizes perfectly with the Onyx Blaster’s spread and piercing effect, creating a devastating area-of-effect attack.
High Velocity Bullets
While they don’t offer additional effects, High Velocity Bullets increase the weapon’s range and projectile speed, making it easier to hit moving targets. This is helpful for closing the gap or maintaining a safe distance.
Jester Arrows (For fun)
While technically arrows, if you use the ammo conversion trick of having Jester Arrows as ammo in your inventory, it will convert bullets into Jester Arrows. This is a fun gimmick that allows for homing bullets, which can be useful in some situations.
Combat Strategies
The Onyx Blaster thrives in mid-range combat. Its spread and piercing capabilities make it ideal for clearing out hordes of enemies that get too close. Here are some strategies for using it effectively:
- Positioning: Maintain a mid-range distance from your enemies. This allows you to maximize the damage output of each shot while still avoiding close-quarters combat.
- Crowd Control: Use the Onyx Blaster to quickly dispatch groups of weaker enemies. Its piercing effect will allow you to mow down entire hordes with ease.
- Boss Fights: The Onyx Blaster can be effective against certain bosses, particularly those with multiple segments or minions. However, its damage falloff makes it less effective against single, distant targets.
- Fast Moving Enemies: The Onyx Blaster may prove difficult to fight fast moving enemies. Using High Velocity Bullets can help this, or using the previously mentioned Jester Arrow Trick.
Armor and Accessory Synergies
Choosing the right armor and accessories can significantly boost the Onyx Blaster’s performance.
Armor
Armor sets that provide ranged damage bonuses are ideal. Examples include the Shroomite Armor (late-game) or the Hallowed Armor (mid-game). These sets will increase your overall damage output, making the Onyx Blaster even more deadly.
Accessories
- Ranger Emblem: This accessory grants a fifteen percent increase to ranged damage.
- Magic Quiver/Endless Quiver: Increases ranged damage and reduces ammo consumption (if not using endless ammo).
- Destroyer Emblem: Increases both damage and critical strike chance.
- Any movement accessories: Wings, boots, dashes, and climbing claws all help with positioning and combat movement.
Onyx Blaster: A Comparison
How does the Onyx Blaster stack up against other ranged weapons in Terraria? Let’s compare it to a few popular alternatives:
- Tactical Shotgun: A powerful shotgun obtained later in the game. It generally deals more single-target damage than the Onyx Blaster but lacks its piercing effect.
- Megashark: A rapid-firing minigun that excels at sustained damage. It’s more effective against single targets but less efficient at crowd control.
- Chlorophyte Shotbow: This bow fires a spread of homing arrows. While it offers excellent accuracy, it lacks the raw damage output of the Onyx Blaster.
The Onyx Blaster excels in situations where you need to clear out groups of enemies quickly. It’s a versatile choice for exploring the Underground Desert, tackling invasions, and fighting bosses with multiple segments. However, it may struggle against single, distant targets, where weapons like the Tactical Shotgun or Megashark might be more suitable.
Tips and Tricks for the Aspiring Onyx Blaster Wielder
Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you maximize your potential with the Onyx Blaster:
- When farming Dark Shards, focus on areas with high Sand Poacher density. These enemies have the highest drop rate.
- Consider using a Hunter Potion to highlight enemies in the Underground Desert, making them easier to spot.
- Experiment with different bullet types to find the perfect combination for your playstyle.
- Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with your enemies. The Onyx Blaster’s spread is most effective at close to mid-range.
In Conclusion: Unleashing the Darkness Within
The Terraria Onyx Blaster is a powerful and versatile weapon that can be a valuable asset to any adventurer. Its ability to clear out hordes of enemies, coupled with its decent damage output, makes it a formidable choice for many situations. While it may not be the best option against every enemy type, its strengths make it a worthy addition to your arsenal.
So, venture forth, gather the necessary materials, and unleash the darkness with the Onyx Blaster. Experiment with different setups, refine your combat strategies, and discover the true potential of this remarkable weapon. Happy blasting!
