Most town NPCs wait on a trigger before they move in. The Merchant wants more than 50 silver across everyone in the world, the Nurse wants more than 100 max health, and the Princess comes last, once the rest of the town has settled in. Learn each trigger and you'll know who to chase next.
Arrival stage
Before Hardmode
Guide
Show him an item to see its recipe before you spend materials on it.
- Move-in condition
- Already in every new regular world, so there is nothing to rescue.
- Service
- Shows the crafting recipe for any item you show him. He also helps trigger the Wall of Flesh summon.
- Useful shop items
- No shop
- Preferred biome
- Forest
Merchant
Check his stock early for a Bug Net and a Piggy Bank, then come back for the Safe after Skeletron.
- Move-in condition
- More than 50 silver across everyone in the world. Coins in chests and the Piggy Bank don't count.
- Service
- Sells basic tools, potions and supplies.
- Useful shop items
- Bug Net, Piggy Bank, Mining Helmet and Copper Pickaxe. The Safe appears after Skeletron.
- Preferred biome
- Forest
Nurse
Carry coins for a quick heal in the middle of a tough fight.
- Move-in condition
- A player has more than 100 max health, and the Merchant is in town.
- Service
- Heals players and cures debuffs for a coin fee.
- Useful shop items
- No shop
- Preferred biome
- Hallow
Demolitionist
Bombs handle both mining and fights, and Freeze Bombs show up at night.
- Move-in condition
- A player carries an explosive, and the Merchant is in town.
- Service
- Sells bombs, grenades and explosives.
- Useful shop items
- Bombs and Grenades. Freeze Bombs appear at night once King Slime or Eye of Cthulhu falls.
- Preferred biome
- Underground
Dye Trader
Grab the Dye Vat early. Strange Plants turn into animated dyes once you reach Hardmode.
- Move-in condition
- A player holds a dye, a dye plant, a Strange Plant or a Dye Vat, and four other town NPCs are in the world.
- Service
- Sells dye supplies and trades Strange Plants for animated dyes in Hardmode.
- Useful shop items
- Dye Vat, Silver Dye and Brown Dye. Team Dye appears on multiplayer servers.
- Preferred biome
- Desert
Angler
A new quest is set each day at 4:30 AM, and finishing one pays coins and an item.
- Move-in condition
- Find the Sleeping Angler on the sand or floating on the water in an Ocean, then wake him.
- Service
- Gives a daily fishing quest, with rewards for finishing it.
- Useful shop items
- No shop. Quest rewards are the payoff.
- Preferred biome
- Ocean
Zoologist
His stock opens at set Bestiary milestones, so keep filling it.
- Move-in condition
- The Bestiary is at least 10 percent full, which is 55 entries.
- Service
- Sells critter items, pets and mounts tied to the Bestiary.
- Useful shop items
- Guide to Critter Companionship and Cat License from the start, with more stock as the Bestiary fills.
- Preferred biome
- Forest
Dryad
Purification Powder is how you clear Corruption or Crimson from a world.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat the Eye of Cthulhu, Eater of Worlds, Brain of Cthulhu or Skeletron.
- Service
- Sells purity items, like Purification Powder and grass seeds.
- Useful shop items
- Purification Powder and grass seeds. Hallowed Seeds appear in Hardmode.
- Preferred biome
- Jungle
Painter
Paint and coatings give a base a finished look without rebuilding it.
- Move-in condition
- Eight other town NPCs must already be in the world.
- Service
- Sells paint, coatings and paintings.
- Useful shop items
- Paintbrush and basic paints. Shadow Paint and Negative Paint appear in Hardmode.
- Preferred biome
- Jungle
Golfer
His better clubs unlock as your golf score climbs, so the full set takes time.
- Move-in condition
- Rescue him in the Underground Desert. He is rare, so keep an eye out.
- Service
- Sells golf clubs, balls and other golf gear.
- Useful shop items
- Worn Golf Club (Iron) from the start. Golf Club (Iron) unlocks at a golf score of 500.
- Preferred biome
- Forest
Arms Dealer
Any gun or bullet in your inventory brings him in, and Musket Balls are cheap to stock up on.
- Move-in condition
- A player carries at least one bullet or a gun that fires bullets.
- Service
- Sells guns, bullets and other ammo.
- Useful shop items
- Musket Balls, Flintlock Pistol and Minishark. Silver Bullets appear in Hardmode.
- Preferred biome
- Desert
Tavernkeep
Old One's Army gear comes from the Tavernkeep, so the rescue pays off.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, then rescue the Unconscious Man, who can turn up in any layer.
- Service
- Sells Ale, Eternia Crystals and Old One's Army gear.
- Useful shop items
- Old One's Army weapons and armor. Higher-tier stock follows a mechanical boss and Golem.
- Preferred biome
- Hallow
Stylist
Some hair dyes wait on progress, like Biome Hair Dye in Hardmode.
- Move-in condition
- Rescue the Webbed Stylist from a Spider Nest in the Cavern layer.
- Service
- Sells hair dyes and a Hair Dye Remover.
- Useful shop items
- Hair Dye Remover and Money Hair Dye, which needs 1 platinum in your inventory. Biome Hair Dye appears in Hardmode.
- Preferred biome
- Ocean
Goblin Tinkerer
Reforging costs one-third of an item's current value, and his happiness moves the price.
- Move-in condition
- Rescue the Bound Goblin in the Cavern layer after you defeat a Goblin Army.
- Service
- Reforges gear for a fee and sells accessories and the Tinkerer's Workshop.
- Useful shop items
- Rocket Boots, Grappling Hook, Toolbelt and Tinkerer's Workshop.
- Preferred biome
- Underground
Witch Doctor
The Imbuing Station is her big draw, and Leaf Wings are worth the wait.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat Queen Bee.
- Service
- Sells the Imbuing Station, the Blowgun and water fountains.
- Useful shop items
- Imbuing Station, Blowgun and water fountains. Tiki gear follows Plantera, and Leaf Wings need Hardmode at night in the Jungle.
- Preferred biome
- Jungle
Clothier
The Familiar set has no unlock condition, so you can grab it as soon as he moves in.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat Skeletron.
- Service
- Sells vanity clothing, including the Familiar set.
- Useful shop items
- Familiar set, Black Thread and Pink Thread. Solar Cultist gear follows the Lunatic Cultist.
- Preferred biome
- Underground
Mechanic
Her Red Wrench and Wire are the basics for every wired door, trap and switch.
- Move-in condition
- Rescue the Bound Mechanic in the Dungeon after you defeat Skeletron. She is rare to find.
- Service
- Sells Red Wrench, Wire and other wiring supplies.
- Useful shop items
- Red Wrench and Wire. Spectre Goggles sell in a Graveyard.
- Preferred biome
- Snow
Party Girl
A Confetti Gun costs just one silver, and her stock is cheap to decorate with.
- Move-in condition
- After 20 other town NPCs are in the world, she has a 1-in-40 chance to arrive every two minutes.
- Service
- Sells party and novelty items with colorful effects.
- Useful shop items
- Confetti Gun, Beach Ball and Party Wagon. Fog Machine sells at night, and Bubble is a Hardmode item.
- Preferred biome
- Hallow
Arrival stage
Hardmode
Wizard
The Crystal Ball and Ice Rod are the obvious first buys from his shop.
- Move-in condition
- Rescue the Bound Wizard in the Cavern layer after the Wall of Flesh falls.
- Service
- Sells magic items and books.
- Useful shop items
- Crystal Ball, Ice Rod and Spell Tome. Killing Deck appears during a Hardmode Blood Moon.
- Preferred biome
- Hallow
Tax Collector
His tax keeps coming in while you play, and his happiness changes how much he earns.
- Move-in condition
- In Hardmode, throw Purification Powder on a Tortured Soul in the Underworld.
- Service
- Collects passive tax from each resident who has a house.
- Useful shop items
- No shop. He stores the tax he collects, up to 25 gold.
- Preferred biome
- Snow
Truffle
His Autohammer waits for Plantera, which makes him worth revisiting mid-game.
- Move-in condition
- Hardmode starts, and he can arrive homeless. He settles in a house in a surface Glowing Mushroom biome.
- Service
- Sells mushroom items and the Autohammer.
- Useful shop items
- Mushroom Cap and Dark Blue Solution. Mushroom Spear follows a mechanical boss, and the Autohammer follows Plantera.
- Preferred biome
- Glowing Mushroom
Pirate
He sells the Parrot Cracker only while you're standing in an Ocean.
- Move-in condition
- Complete a Pirate Invasion at least once.
- Service
- Sells cannons and pirate-themed supplies.
- Useful shop items
- Cannon and Cannonballs. Parrot Cracker sells in an Ocean, and Jellyfish Block in a Graveyard.
- Preferred biome
- Ocean
Steampunker
Solutions set what the Clentaminator spreads, so buy the color that matches the biome you want to change.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat The Twins, The Destroyer or Skeletron Prime.
- Service
- Sells the Clentaminator and mechanical supplies.
- Useful shop items
- Clentaminator and AND Logic Gate. Yellow Solution appears after Moon Lord.
- Preferred biome
- Desert
Cyborg
Plantera's defeat opens the rocket shop, and Dry Rockets are always stocked.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat Plantera.
- Service
- Sells rockets and the Portal Gun Station.
- Useful shop items
- Rocket I and Dry Rockets. Rocket III sells at night or during a Solar Eclipse. The Portal Gun Station appears if you hold a Portal Gun.
- Preferred biome
- Snow
Santa Claus
Beating the Frost Legion opens the door, but the calendar decides when he's around. He leaves once the event ends.
- Move-in condition
- Defeat the Frost Legion at least once, then he moves in during the Christmas event, December 15 to 31.
- Service
- Sells Christmas hats, outfits and decorations.
- Useful shop items
- Santa Hat and outfit, Christmas Tree, and lights and garlands.
- Preferred biome
- Snow
Princess
She is the last to settle, so save her for the end.
- Move-in condition
- Every other town NPC must already be in the world. Santa Claus and town pets don't count.
- Service
- Sells vanity items and a Music Box.
- Useful shop items
- Royal Tiara and Bernie's Button. The Music Box (Journey's End) appears after Moon Lord.
- Preferred biome
- No preference
Give Each Terraria Resident a House First
Almost every resident needs a vacant house, and two residents can't share one. Build the house before you go hunting a rescue, since a rescued resident still needs somewhere to settle.
If no house is free, one homeless resident can still arrive each day. They leave at nightfall if they still don't have a house, so get a room ready before dusk. A homeless resident always charges the worst prices, so a house matters for shopping too.
Fill the Town Before the Late Arrivals Show Up
The Dye Trader, Painter, Party Girl and Princess each wait for enough of the town to already be in the world. Town pets, the Old Man and the Traveling Merchant count toward the Dye Trader, Painter and Party Girl, but the Skeleton Merchant never does. The Princess is the exception: she ignores town pets and Santa Claus. Get the early residents settled first, and the rest will follow.
The Residents You Have to Rescue First
Several residents stay out of reach until you free them. The Bound Goblin becomes the Goblin Tinkerer once a Goblin Army has been defeated, the Webbed Stylist waits in a Spider Nest, and the Bound Wizard appears after the Wall of Flesh falls. They are all in the Cavern layer. The Bound Mechanic is in the Dungeon after Skeletron, the Golfer is rare and turns up in the Underground Desert, and the Tavernkeep comes from the Unconscious Man, who can appear in any layer once the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu falls.
A Goblin Army, Skeletron, the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu, and the Wall of Flesh each unlock one of these rescues. Plan your trips around them as your progress goes up.
Shop Stock Depends on Where You Stand and When
Many shop items come with a condition beyond coins. Some check where you're standing, some check the moon or time of day, and some wait on boss progress or Hardmode. The Pirate only sells the Parrot Cracker while you're standing in an Ocean. Freeze Bombs show up at night once King Slime or Eye of Cthulhu falls, and Rocket III sells at night or during a Solar Eclipse. Know the condition before the trip, so you don't cross the map for stock that's still locked.
Put Each Resident in the Biome They Like
A preferred biome makes a resident happier, and a happier resident charges less. Happiness checks the biome you're standing in, not the biome their house sits in, so the trip matters more than the address. Remix seed worlds turn happiness off, so prices stay standard there. The Princess has no biome preference.
Plan a Spare House for Each Boss Fight
Hardmode brings several new arrivals, and some unlock right after a boss falls. Keep one house empty ahead of each fight so you can take in the resident the moment they qualify.
FAQ
Does happiness change shop prices?
Yes. A happy resident sells for less and pays more for what you sell, and an unhappy one does the reverse. Equipping a Discount Card lowers prices too.
Why is Bloodbath Dye missing from the Dye Trader?
Bloodbath Dye only appears during a Blood Moon. Shadow Dye and Negative Dye show up during a full moon, even before Hardmode, so check the moon before you visit.
Which Bestiary milestones unlock Zoologist items?
Stock opens at 3, 10, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50 and 70 percent of the Bestiary, and a full Bestiary unlocks the Universal Pylon. A few other items wait on bosses instead, like the Mud Bud after Plantera.