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NPCs and Housing

Town NPCs are merchants and service providers that move into your world as you complete specific milestones. They sell essential items, heal you, and offer powerful upgrades. However, they only move in if you build them a valid house first. This guide explains the strict housing requirements and how to attract the most important early NPCs.

Building a Valid House​

The game checks specific criteria before classifying a structure as a valid house. If one requirement is missing, the NPC will not move in.

A valid house needs the following components:

  • Size: The total size must be at least 60 tiles and fewer than 750 tiles, which includes the ceiling, floor, walls, and frame. The internal area must be completely enclosed.
  • Enclosure: The room must be fully enclosed by solid blocks, platforms, or doors.
  • Background Walls: The background must be completely filled with player-crafted walls. Dirt walls generated by the world do not count.
  • Entrance: You must include at least one door or a platform in the floor/ceiling.
  • Light Source: Place at least one torch, chandelier, or lamp inside.
  • Flat Surface Item: Place a table, workbench, or dresser.
  • Comfort Item: Place a chair, bed, or bench.

To check if a room is valid, open your inventory, click the housing menu icon on the right side of the screen, and use the question mark tool on the room. The game tells you exactly what is missing.

Essential Early NPCs​

Build at least five valid empty houses as soon as you finish your main base. You want these characters to move in immediately once you meet their conditions.

The Guide​

The Guide spawns with you at the start of the game. He offers useful tips and, more importantly, tells you every crafting recipe a material is used in. Show him a piece of gel or iron ore, and he lists exactly what you can make with it and which crafting station you need. Build him a house quickly to keep him safe from zombies.

The Merchant​

The Merchant moves in once all players in the world hold a combined total of more than 50 silver coins directly in their active inventories. Coins secured in portable storage like Piggy Banks do not count. He sells basic supplies like torches, arrows, and the Bug Net. The Bug Net is critical for catching bait to fish, which provides powerful potions. He also sells the Mining Helmet, which lights up the area around you, saving you thousands of torches.

The Nurse​

The Nurse moves in after the Merchant is present and your maximum health is greater than 100. She heals you completely and cures debuffs for a small coin fee. Place her house near your boss fighting arena. You can quickly visit her mid-fight to heal back to full health and save your potion cooldown.

Managing NPC Happiness​

NPCs prefer living in specific biomes and near specific neighbors. When they are happy, their prices drop. When they are unhappy, they charge more for items. For example, the Merchant loves the Forest biome and likes living near the Golfer. If you crowd too many NPCs together, their happiness decreases. Try spreading small clusters of three or four houses across different biomes to maximize their discounts.