Best Early & Mid-Game Progression Guide
Learn the best weapon and armor recipes using accessible ores like Diamond and Eye Ore. Progress fast without waiting for endgame materials.
Why This Guide
This walkthrough targets players who lack endgame ores like Demonite or Volcanic Rock. You will craft competitive gear using realistic materials from World 1 and early World 2.
- Goal: Craft strong armor/weapons early and mid-game.
- Focus: High multipliers (Diamond/Sapphire) + key traits (Eye Ore).
- Skip: Hoarding rare ores—use accessible ones to stay ahead.
- Mindset: Perfect forging timing > waiting for rarities.
Core Crafting Concept
Ore Multipliers
- Every ore has a multiplier; higher = better base stats.
- Diamond has a 2x multiplier—top pick for early armor.
- Always scan inventory for your highest multipliers.
Traits Matter
- Traits add passives like damage or crit.
- Prioritize accessible trait ores for mid-game.
- Eye Ore is the strongest easy trait pick.
Best Early-Game Ores
Diamond & Sapphire
High multipliers from Basalt Cores/Veins. No traits, but excellent raw stats. Ideal for armor crafting.
Quartz (Support)
Easy to pair with Diamond to boost total crafting quality. Also from Basalt Cores/Veins.
Early Armor Recommendation
Heavy Armor (Diamond-based): Highest base defense; more ores used = better stats. Diamond + Quartz is a strong early combo.
Perfect the forging timing mini-game—quality drops heavily on bad timing. Diamond + Quartz with accurate hits easily reaches 30+ defense early.
Best Early-Game Weapons
Katana (Top Pick)
Best overall early weapon type. Scales well with multipliers. A Diamond Katana hits hard even without traits.
Chaos Straight Sword
1 in 16 chance while forging a straight sword. Much stronger than the common version. Higher multipliers boost its damage ceiling.
Mid-Game Shift: Traits First
As you reach World 2, mix traits with multipliers. Eye Ore becomes the backbone of your builds.
- Eye Ore: +15% Weapon Damage; armor: -10% HP, +15% damage.
- Rivalite (optional): +20% Critical Chance for weapons.
- Pairing: Eye Ore + Diamond/Sapphire = high base + trait scaling.
Mid-Game Weapon Combos
- Eye Ore + Diamond/Sapphire: High base damage + +15% weapon damage. Ideal for Katanas and Chaos Straight Swords.
- Eye Ore + Rivalite (if available): Adds +20% crit chance, stacking with Eye Ore damage for strong DPS.
- Enhance after crafting: Pushes base stats up and unlocks rune slots later.
Mid-Game Armor Approach
- Use Eye Ore on armor when possible (accept -10% HP tradeoff).
- Combine with high multipliers (Diamond/Sapphire) for defense.
- Prioritize quality—perfect hits during forging.
- Enhance immediately; example: chestplate 71 → 74 defense after enhance.
Enhancing & Runes
Enhancing
Boosts base stats and is required to unlock rune slots. Essential for scaling mid-game gear.
Runes
Add powerful passives that keep mid-game gear competitive. Slot them as soon as they unlock.
What to Avoid & What to Do
- ❌ Don’t wait for Volcanic Rock or Obsidian to start crafting.
- ❌ Don’t hoard ores endlessly—upgrade with what you can farm.
- ✅ Prioritize high multipliers + Eye Ore traits.
- ✅ Focus on forging accuracy and immediate enhancements.
- ✅ Use runes once slots are open to stay competitive.
Final Recommendations
- Craft Diamond/Sapphire Heavy Armor for strong defense.
- Use Katanas or Chaos Straight Swords as main weapons.
- Mix Eye Ore with high multipliers for traits + base damage.
- Enhance gear immediately and slot runes ASAP.
- Progress gradually—best gear is the one you can craft now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best early game armor?
Diamond Heavy Armor. Diamond’s 2x multiplier plus Quartz support gives excellent defense early.
What is the best early game weapon?
Katana is the best overall early pick. Chaos Straight Sword is great if you hit the 1/16 roll.
What is Eye Ore used for?
It adds +15% weapon damage (or -10% HP/+15% damage on armor). It’s the strongest accessible trait for mid-game players.
Should I wait for endgame ores?
No. Use Diamond/Sapphire with Eye Ore, forge accurately, enhance, and add runes. Progressing with accessible materials is fastest.