Summary
Boasting some of the most unique gameplay inTerrariais the Summoner Class, allowing players to rely on Summons to do most of the heavy lifting for them. Despite their fragile nature, a Summoner’sTerrariaexperience can be made more versatile depending on the combination of creatures they summon on the battlefield.
However, Summoners are only as efficient as the armor they wear. While the game offers players a multitude of options to choose armor parts they prefer, certain Armor Sets are just built to complement a Summoner’s spellcasting-heavy arsenal. The following examples are some of thebest Summoner armor inTerraria.
Updated July 12, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:Despite Terraria’s age, the game is still being faithfully updated by its devs and eagerly played by its strong database, with the recent 1.4.5 Update finally tackling issues associated with the beloved Summoner Class. While Summoning has always been an appealing playstyle with its option of conjuring a wide variety of pets in combat, the build class remained rather lacking compared to more traditional Melee, Ranged, and Magic Classes.
Thanks to 1.4.5, Summoner Weapons can now get a prefix buff, where Ballistic, Fabled, Focused, and Rabid - among others - can provide them with different benefits. And for players who want to build their Summoners from scratch, they might be compelled to learn what the best starting armor they should wear is while building toward Summoner staples.
Source
Undead Miners (Drop), Merchant (Sold)
Players might notice that a lot of the better Armor and gear inTerrariaare often created from things their characters mine, especially rarer items that drop at a lower percentage against enemies. For players who have the time to grind for better Summoner gear, theMining Armoris among the best places to start. Although they don’t provide the best defense, they do grant +10% Increased Mining Speed - perfect for players who want to dig through tunnels with the Smart Cursor.
When used alongside the Mining Potion that increases Mining Speed by 25%, this bonus will stack with the inherent bonus of the individual Armor pieces up to a whopping +55% Increased Mining Speed. Should players find an Ancient Chisel that also gives a +25% boost, then players can get up to 80% Mining Speed. When used at the right location, players can shoot their way into getting some of the best gear for Summoners in no time.
3 (0/3/0)
10 Diamond, 1 Robe
Players who want their Summoners inTerrariagameplay to resemble a traditional spellcastercan opt for the Wizard Setin the earlier stages of their playthrough, specifically theDiamond Robethat gives the two-piece set its incredible sheen. Crafted by turning in 10 Diamonds and 1 Robe at the Loom, the Diamond Robe doesn’t offer as much protection with its 0/3/0 stats.
However, where the Diamond Robe shines is its additional effect, where users get not only +80 Mana but also 15% Reduced Mana Cost. While this Robe certainly doesn’t provide any direct stats to a Summoner’s Minions, the decreased Mana Cost can make it much easier for players to release new Minions should they get overwhelmed. This makes the Diamond Robe a worthwhile failsafe while Summoners are still finding better armor to equip.
4 (1/1/1)
Bonuses, Effects
+1 Defense, Attackers take as much as 15/30/45 Damage (based on the Armor equipped)
75 Cactus
AlthoughTerrariagameplay already has Wood Armor for players who want to look more attuned to nature, they might appreciate the spiky green details of theCactus Armor. While its stats aren’t as impressive, the Thorns bonus means enemies now get damage whenever they attack the player - a welcome addition and last resort should the Summoner’s Minions get destroyed by hordes of enemies.
While not necessarily a Summoner-focused Armor piece, players who manage to farm Cactus early on can get this Armor as a supplementary defensive option while they still make their way around the game to gather materials or hunt for more suitable armor for their Summoning skillset.
17 (5/6/6)
16% Reduced Mana Cost (Set Bonus), +80 Maximum Mana, +12% Increased Magic Critical Strike Chance, +6% Increased Magic Damage
10 Stingers, 2 Vines, 32 Jungle Spores
Mana remains an important resource for Summoners inTerrariagameplay, primarily because it’s still a much-needed component in summoning Minions. This is where theJungle Armorcomes in, as it’squite a decent gear for spellcasters. Its 17 Defense might be mediocre in terms of physical combat, but the 16% Reduced Mana Cost on top of +80% Maximum Mana are already attractive buffs for players who don’t have immediate access to Summoner-oriented gear.
The additional Mana can ensure Summoners can release more Minions should they need more firepower, and the reduced Mana Cost can certainly ensure Summoners get out of their summons at any given time. While their Minions will enter the fray without a lot of buffs, the Jungle Armor is a decent starting piece to have until the Summoner gets their ideal battlewear.
9 (2,3,2 +2)
+2 Defense
Using 60 Iron Bars at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil
Despite its status as the game’s third-lowest armor tier,Iron Armordoesn’t look as weak as other lower-ranking armor in the game. Its dull gray-ish tone does imply its nature as a mundane armor, but it’s perfectly serviceable for Summoners who are still making their way through the rest ofthe game’s starting areas.
With 60 Iron Bars, they can technically create a full set of Iron Armor that they can wear while slowly making progress throughout the rest of the title. Defeating Skeletons in the Underground can grant them the much rarer Ancient Iron Helmet, which gives players a taste of early-level grind for rarer armor variants. While not optimized for a Summoner’s kit, they’re perfect for newcomers who have to prioritize overall defense, especially for the glass cannon Summoner in earlier levels.
11 (3,3,2 +3)
+3 Defense
Using 60 Lead Bars at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil
Considered a direct level up from Iron Armor,Lead Armoris the fourth-weakest metal armor in the game. It takes a set of 60 Lead Bars to craft, with no rare armor variants from other creatures. Its straightforward nature means it’s a more worthwhile grind than Iron Armor, and it’s not as “fancy” as Silver and other much stronger armor variants.
Similar to other lower-level armor, its bonuses aren’t tailored to the Summoner’s kit just yet. It should be around this time that players start getting used to mining ore to smelt into bars and craft armor pieces they want to wear. This is especially the case with Summoner-compatible armor, which should have optimized pieces popping up throughout the game world when players get their Lead Armor.
13 (3,4,3 +3)
15 Silver Bars at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil
Players who see theSilver Armorfor the first time might recognize its design from the Steam version ofTerraria, which features a larger-scale version of the armor as its cover art. Compared to other lower-level armor sets, Silver Armor has a more “knightly” appearance, especially with its armet-style helm that is quite unlike other armor players have acquired at the time. While not built for the Summoner’s kit, Silver Armor is worth getting for its Easter Egg value, especially with its connection to the game’s cover.
Acquiring Silver Armor is possible by using 15 Silver Bars at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil, making this yet another entry-level option for Summoners-to-be. While its 13 Armor is respectable for its level, players are advised to have Silver Armor as a backup full armor piece while they start finding Summoner-friendlier individual pieces they can swap for more optimized effects.
15 (4,5,3 +3)
60 Tungsten Bars at an Iron Anvil or Lead Anvil
As players might notice throughout theirTerrariaplaythrough, craftable armor types follow a progression of materials, mostly “familiar” types such as Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and others. However, unique toTerrariais its inclusion of more unconventional materials - in this case, Tungsten forTungsten Armor.
Technically an “alternative” of Silver Armor, Tungsten Armor trumps the former with a more potent 15 total set defense compared to Silver’s 13. Not to mention, Tungsten boasts a unique greenish-purple tinge that makes it among the more unique-looking armor sets for the early-levelTerrariaexperience. This serves as a preview for Summoner hopefuls, as the design of the Tungsten Armor is a tease to the more playful designs of other Summoner-compatible armor in the game.
16 (4/5/4)
75 Gold Bar at an Iron or Lead Anvil
In agame likeTerraria,where metals can be a basis for armor, the prospect of wearingGold Armorcan immediately give the idea of pristine awesomeness to a Class like the Summoner. After all, pulling off a rich vibe while summoning Minions can certainly set the mood in intense sessions.
However, despite its potent defense and +3 Defense bonus, its practicality as a basic armor can be questioned unless players acquire the full 75 Gold Bar cost. Likely, a player would already have access to a higher tier of armor by the time they aim for the Gold Armor Set. However, more careful players who take their time may see the potential benefits of Gold Armor as an early-to-mid-game armor while they’re saving up for more powerful variants.
20 (5/6/5)
75 Platinum Bar at Iron or Lead Anvil
Players who want their Summoners to get into Hardmode witha decent starter armorshould look into completing thePlatinum Armor. Its 20 Defense as a set makes it much stronger than Gold, despite its rather difficult method of acquisition. Moreover, appearance-wise, the Platinum Armor rocks a sleeker, mecha-esque armored look compared to the more plainly pristine aesthetic of the Gold.
However, similar to Gold Armor, players are only advised to get the Platinum Armor if they’re confident they’re able to secure its pieces. Players will likely get lower-Defense Armor sets with more benefits earlier in their gameplay. If this is the case, it’s better to skip the Platinum Armor outright.
