A sandbox classic Terraria features some of the most demanding and time-consuming achievements on Steam, combining brutal RNG, extreme long-term grinds, and high-skill combat challenges.
This Terraria achievements guide focuses on the hardest achievements to complete – not simply the rarest ones.
Hardest Terraria Achievements Ranked
Terraria was released in 2011 and quickly stole players’ hearts with its RPG elements and epic boss fights. Achievement hunting is particularly popular thanks to the game’s diverse challenges.
Before diving into the list, it’s important to explain that difficulty of achievements is not based on rarity alone, but on four key factors: time investment, RNG enemies dependence, mechanical challenge, and progression requirements.
Grind-heavy Achievements
I’m smelting! – this achievement requires players to smelt 10,000 metal bars using any available ore. Because most bars in Terraria are crafted from multiple pieces of ore – with rarer metals demanding even higher amounts – the grind quickly becomes overwhelming.
This achievement is best tackled passively throughout an entire playthrough, starting in pre-Hardmode and continuing into post-Hardmode.
Supreme Helper Minion – it requires players to complete 200 Angler quests for the Angler NPC. In quest player has to travel to a specific biome, locate a suitable body of water, and fish until the requested quest fish is caught. However, finding the correct fish can take an unpredictable amount of time, all while dealing with hostile enemies and the limitation of one quest per in-game day.
It is best treated as a long-term, passive achievement started early and finished late in the game.
Infinity 1 Sword – to unlock it, players must craft the Zenith sword by combining a long list of swords obtained across the entire game, including boss drops, event rewards, and rare world spawns. Completing this process requires defeating nearly every major boss and participating in late-game events.
Best attempted in the post-Moon Lord endgame, once all required bosses and events are fully unlocked.
RNG-based Achievements
Deceiver Of Fools – one of Terraria’s most dangerous early-game encounters. It is unlocked by killing a Nymph, a rare enemy that disguises itself as a harmless Lost Girl deep in the cavern layer. The challenge comes from both the Nymph’s extremely low spawn rate and her unexpectedly high damage output.
Best attemped mid pre-Hardmode, once players have reliable weapons, mobility, and survivability for cavern exploration.
Wizard In Training – it is unlocked by defeating Tim, a powerful caster that spawns deep in the cavern layer, often near lava pools. While Tim himself is not particularly difficult for a well-equipped player, the real challenge lies in his extremely low spawn rate and unpredictable appearance.
Best attempted mid pre-Hardmode, once players have strong enough gear to safely explore the cavern layer.
Skill-intensive Challenges
Mecha Mayhem – it represents one of Terraria’s most intense combat challenges, requiring players to defeat all three mechanical bosses in a single night. Mecha Mayhem pits The Twins, Skeletron Prime, and The Destroyer against the player simultaneously, creating a chaotic fight that heavily punishes poor positioning, lack of preparation, or weak damage output.
Best attempted Late Hardmode or post-Plantera.
Champion of Terraria – this achievement marks the culmination of Terraria progression and requires defeating the Moon Lord, the game’s final boss. It tests a player’s mastery of movement, dodging, and sustained damage during one of the most demanding fights in the game.
Best attemped in Endgame (post-Lunatic Cultist).
Luck vs. Skill vs. Grind
Difficult Terraria achievements test players in different ways. Some of them are defined by patience and repetition, rather than mechanical skills. These include grind-heavy and RNG-based goals such as completing Angler quests, farming rare spawns, or combining a number of swords. Progress on these achievements is often slow, unpredictable, and best handled passively.
In contrast, skill-focused achievements demand mastery of combat mechanics, proper preparation, and well-designed arenas. Boss-related challenges, especially in post-Hardmode, test a player’s ability to manage movement, dodging, buffs, and equipment under pressure. By understanding these differences, players can prioritize achievements that align with their preferred playstyle.
Achievement Hunting in Terraria
Terraria’s achievements remain relevant years after release because they push players to fully engage with the game’s sandbox RPG systems. From fishing and world events to rare enemy encounters, achievements encourage exploration of mechanics many players would otherwise ignore, extending the game’s long-term appeal.
Conclusion
The hardest Terraria achievements are built for long-term dedication, not quick completion. Treat them as endgame goals, progress naturally alongside normal gameplay, and avoid burnout by working toward multiple achievements at once. Which achievement challenged you the most?