The Clothier is a unique NPC in Terraria who offers stylish vanity items and clothing once he joins your town. Unlike most NPCs that move in after certain conditions are met, the Clothier’s appearance is tied to an in-game event and a specific boss encounter. Players often overlook how to get the Clothier in Terraria due to the indirect steps involved. However, by understanding the requirements and preparing accordingly, summoning this fashion-forward NPC becomes a clear and rewarding process. Whether you’re aiming for cosmetics, roleplay, or unlocking other in-game mechanics, adding the Clothier to your village is both useful and satisfying.
Who Is the Clothier?
Overview of the NPC
The Clothier is a town NPC that sells a variety of vanity outfits and occasionally special items based on the time of year or in-game events. He’s essential for players who enjoy customizing their characters’ appearance. The Clothier wears a red coat and is known for his connection to the Dungeon and the mysterious curse tied to it.
Why the Clothier Matters
While the Clothier doesn’t sell weapons or armor that increase combat power, his items are important for players who want to change how their characters look. His inventory can include:
- Familiar set (replaces armor visuals with your original appearance)
- Hat, shirt, and pants that match his red coat style
- Seasonal items during Halloween or Christmas
He is also required to summon a particular boss if certain criteria are met again later in the game.
Requirements to Get the Clothier
Defeat Skeletron
The Clothier is directly linked to the boss calledSkeletron. This boss guards the entrance to the Dungeon and must be defeated before the Clothier can spawn. Here’s what you need to do to fight and defeat Skeletron:
- Find theOld ManNPC standing in front of the Dungeon entrance, usually located at either end of the map’s surface level.
- Talk to the Old Man at night. You will get the option to Curse, which triggers the Skeletron boss fight.
- Defeat Skeletron before dawn. If the sun rises before Skeletron is defeated, the boss will despawn, and the attempt will fail.
Once Skeletron is defeated, the Old Man is freed from his curse. The next day, the freed NPC will reappear in a suitable house as the Clothier.
Prepare a Vacant House
After defeating Skeletron, the Clothier needs a proper house to move in. The house must meet the following criteria:
- Be fully enclosed with walls, a door, and a light source
- Include a flat surface item (like a table) and a comfort item (like a chair)
- Not be too close to corruption, crimson, or other danger zones
If no valid housing is available, the Clothier won’t spawn. You can check the housing status in the game by using the housing query option from the inventory menu.
How to Locate and Fight Skeletron
Finding the Dungeon
The Dungeon is always found at either the far left or far right of the surface map, depending on your world generation. It’s marked by a unique stone-brick structure and the presence of the Old Man NPC. Make sure to bring torches, potions, and gear suited for a boss fight.
Tips to Defeat Skeletron
Skeletron can be a tough boss if unprepared. Here are tips to ensure victory:
- Use ranged weapons to avoid getting too close to his spinning head attack
- Bring healing potions and set a spawn point nearby with a bed
- Focus on destroying his hands first to reduce his offensive abilities
- Build an arena with platforms to move around during the battle
Once you defeat Skeletron, the Dungeon becomes safe to explore, and the Clothier is eligible to spawn.
What Happens After the Clothier Moves In
Shop Inventory
The Clothier’s inventory includes various vanity items. Most of these do not impact combat but are purely cosmetic. TheFamiliar Setis particularly popular, as it restores your original appearance by overriding equipped armor visuals.
Special Event Sales
During certain in-game events like Halloween or Christmas, the Clothier may sell rare or limited-time outfits. These change based on the calendar and can include spooky, festive, or themed clothing sets. It’s a good idea to check his inventory often during these periods.
Clothier and the Guide Voodoo Doll
Later in the game, the player can obtain theClothier Voodoo Dollfrom enemies in the Dungeon. When equipped, this item allows you to attack the Clothier yourself. If you kill the Clothier at night while holding the doll, it will summonSkeletronagain. This mechanic is useful if you want to re-fight the boss for challenge or loot purposes.
Best Practices to Ensure Clothier Spawns
Keep Housing Ready
Make sure there’s always at least one valid, unoccupied house. NPCs won’t spawn without it, even if other conditions are met.
Monitor NPC Population
Terraria NPCs spawn based on priority and available space. If your world is already full of NPCs and housing is limited, the Clothier might be delayed. Free up space or build more houses if needed.
Avoid Corruption or Crimson Nearby
NPCs will not move into areas deemed uninhabitable. Ensure that your NPC village is far from corrupted or crimson blocks to avoid spawn issues.
Summary of Steps to Get the Clothier
Quick Recap
- Explore your world until you find the Dungeon and the Old Man
- Wait until night, then talk to the Old Man and choose Curse to summon Skeletron
- Defeat Skeletron before dawn to break the Old Man’s curse
- Build a valid house that meets all housing conditions
- The Clothier will move in the next day as a free NPC
Unlocking theClothier NPC in Terrariais a unique and rewarding process that blends exploration, boss battles, and town management. It stands out among other NPCs due to the lore-rich method of freeing the Old Man from his curse. Once the Clothier moves in, he becomes a valuable part of your village for vanity, aesthetics, and even boss re-summoning. For players who enjoy building themed towns or customizing their character’s look, the Clothier is an essential addition. By following the steps carefully and making sure your world is properly prepared, you’ll be able to bring style and flair into your Terraria adventure.