Introduction
Terraria, a sandbox adventure game renowned for its exploration, building, and intense combat, boasts an arsenal of weapons that would make any adventurer’s eyes widen. Among this vast collection of tools for survival and conquest, one particular blade stands out for its balanced power, aesthetic appeal, and unique projectile ability: the Influx Waver. This sword is a potent choice for players navigating the challenges of mid-hardmode. If you’re ready to slice through your enemies with a sword that’s both stylish and deadly, look no further than the Influx Waver. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about acquiring, utilizing, and mastering this fantastic weapon.
Understanding the Blade: The Influx Waver Unveiled
The Influx Waver is a melee weapon that presents a sleek and futuristic design. Its blade shimmers with an ethereal blue glow, hinting at the power contained within. But the Influx Waver is more than just a pretty weapon; it’s a deadly force on the battlefield. Its core stats contribute to its effectiveness: The sword deals a respectable amount of damage, making it effective against a wide range of enemies encountered in its tier. The critical strike chance provides the opportunity for increased burst damage, crucial for taking down tougher opponents quickly. Furthermore, the Influx Waver boasts a relatively fast use time, allowing for a steady stream of attacks.
However, the Influx Waver’s true strength lies in its unique special ability: the emission of Influx Bolts. These projectiles are released with each swing of the sword, automatically targeting nearby enemies. The Influx Bolts deal a significant portion of the sword’s base damage, effectively doubling your offensive capabilities. These bolts will seek out enemies, which means you can hit foes that you aren’t directly targeting with the main blade. This is extremely helpful when dealing with crowds. The bolts travel quickly and can pierce through multiple enemies, making it an excellent tool for crowd control. The combination of the sword’s physical attack and the Influx Bolts makes it a formidable weapon against single targets and hordes of monsters alike. The Influx Waver is categorized as a melee weapon, benefitting from melee damage bonuses and equipment.
The Path to Acquisition: Obtaining the Influx Waver
Before you can wield the Influx Waver, you must first venture into the post-Plantera stage of the game. This means you’ve already defeated one of Terraria’s most challenging bosses and unlocked access to new areas and resources. The Influx Waver isn’t found; it’s crafted.
Crafting the Influx Waver requires a specific set of ingredients, each obtained from different sources. First, you’ll need Ectoplasm. This material is dropped by enemies in the Dungeon after Plantera has been defeated. Stocking up on Ectoplasm often involves repeated trips to the Dungeon, facing off against a variety of ghostly foes.
Next, you’ll require Shroomite Bars. These bars are crafted using Glowing Mushrooms and Chlorophyte Ore at an Autohammer, an item sold by the Truffle NPC, who only resides in a surface Glowing Mushroom biome. You’ll need to create a Glowing Mushroom biome to get the Truffle to move in. Mining Chlorophyte Ore and converting it into Shroomite Bars is a time-consuming process, but essential for crafting the Influx Waver.
Finally, you will need Fragments of Light and Fragments of Night. These fragments are obtained by defeating enemies in the Hallow and Corruption/Crimson biomes respectively. These areas can be dangerous and require adequate preparation, but the fragments are crucial for completing the recipe.
Once you have gathered all the necessary ingredients, you’ll need to head to a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil to craft the Influx Waver. These anvils are crafted using Mythril or Orichalcum bars, which are created from the respective ores found in hardmode. With the anvil in place, you can finally combine the Ectoplasm, Shroomite Bars, and Fragments of Light and Night to forge the Influx Waver.
Mastering the Art of Wielding: Combat Applications and Strategies
The Influx Waver excels in many combat scenarios, but understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to maximizing its potential. The sword’s projectile attack allows you to engage enemies from a safer distance, making it particularly effective against ranged attackers or flying creatures. The Influx Bolts also home in on enemies, allowing you to hit enemies behind obstacles.
When wielding the Influx Waver, it’s important to focus on a balanced approach. Using the sword’s main swing while continuously moving ensures you are constantly dealing damage while evading enemy attacks. The projectiles will automatically target nearby enemies, so it is helpful to focus your movement and make sure every projectile is hitting a foe.
Choosing the right armor and accessories can significantly enhance the Influx Waver’s performance. Titanium Armor and Hallowed Armor sets can provide a good balance of offense and defense. These sets offer valuable stat boosts and set bonuses that complement the Influx Waver’s playstyle.
Accessories can further enhance the Influx Waver’s capabilities. The Warrior Emblem is a must-have, increasing melee damage output. The Mechanical Glove boosts both melee damage and attack speed. Finally, the Celestial Stone or Celestial Shell provides a variety of stat boosts, making you a more effective fighter.
Contenders for the Throne: Comparing the Influx Waver
The Influx Waver is not the only powerful sword available in the post-Plantera stage of Terraria. Several other notable weapons compete for the player’s attention, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Comparing the Influx Waver to these alternatives can help you make an informed decision about which weapon best suits your playstyle.
The Terra Blade is a classic choice, known for its high damage and long-range projectile. While the Terra Blade boasts impressive damage, the Influx Waver’s homing projectiles offer superior crowd control and target acquisition. The Terra Blade can outdamage the Influx Waver in some situations, but the Influx Waver is more versatile.
The Chlorophyte Claymore is another option, offering high damage and a wide attack range. However, the Chlorophyte Claymore lacks the Influx Waver’s homing projectiles, making it less effective against fast-moving or evasive enemies. The Chlorophyte Claymore also suffers when fighting smaller, airborne enemies.
The Seedler is a unique weapon that fires bouncing seeds, dealing damage to enemies multiple times. The Seedler can be effective in enclosed spaces, but its projectiles are less reliable in open areas. The Influx Waver’s homing projectiles offer more consistent damage output in a variety of environments.
Unlocking Maximum Potential: Tips and Tricks
To truly master the Influx Waver, consider a few tips and tricks to unlock its full potential. Reforging the sword to the “Legendary” modifier will maximize its damage, speed, and size, making it an even more formidable weapon. Experimenting with different reforges can also be helpful, but Legendary is the best.
When facing specific bosses or events, tailor your strategy to take advantage of the Influx Waver’s strengths. The Influx Bolts can be particularly effective against bosses with multiple targets or adds, such as the Golem or the Twins. Using the projectiles to hit multiple targets can be very effective when fighting a boss with accompanying enemies.
The Influx Waver also synergizes well with other weapons and equipment. Combining it with a ranged weapon for long-distance engagements or a defensive shield for added protection can create a well-rounded loadout. You could also use a summon weapon to add extra DPS.
When taking on bosses, try creating an arena to make the fights easier. A flat arena with several rows of platforms can make the fights much easier by giving you more movement options.
Versatility Across Difficulties: Influx Waver in Various Modes
The Influx Waver’s effectiveness varies depending on the game mode you’re playing. In Normal Mode, it’s a powerful and reliable weapon that can carry you through much of the mid-hardmode content. The damage output is high enough to make most encounters manageable.
In Expert Mode, the increased enemy health and damage require a more strategic approach. Utilizing the Influx Waver’s homing projectiles to their fullest extent and optimizing your gear and accessories becomes crucial for survival. Expert mode bosses can be difficult, so preparation is key.
Master Mode presents an even greater challenge, demanding precise execution and optimized builds. The Influx Waver remains a viable option, but its effectiveness is more dependent on your skill and strategy.
Journey Mode allows you to research and duplicate the Influx Waver, making it easier to experiment with different builds and strategies. Duplicating the sword also makes it easier to experiment with reforges.
Conclusion: A Sword Worthy of Legend
The Influx Waver is a powerful and versatile sword that holds a significant place in Terraria’s mid-hardmode arsenal. Its balanced stats, homing projectiles, and aesthetic appeal make it a favorite among players. It certainly boasts a fair few strengths, but it has its drawbacks as well.
The Influx Waver stands as a testament to the creativity and depth of Terraria’s weapon design. If you’re looking for a reliable and effective weapon to conquer the challenges of Terraria, the Influx Waver is undoubtedly a worthy choice.
Now, it’s your turn! Have you wielded the Influx Waver in your Terraria adventures? What are your favorite strategies or tips for maximizing its potential? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
