How to Get the Magic Missile in Terraria — Dungeon Guide
How to Get the Magic Missile in Terraria — Dungeon Guide
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
The Magic Missile is found in locked Gold Chests in the Dungeon — the same chest pool as the Muramasa and Cobalt Shield. Open them with Golden Keys dropped by Dungeon enemies at ~1% each. The Magic Missile fires a controllable projectile — hold attack to guide it, release to detonate. It is one of the best pre-Hardmode magic weapons available.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Source | Locked Gold Chests in the Dungeon interior |
| Key Required | Golden Key — drops from any Dungeon enemy at ~1% chance |
| Effect | Fires a controllable magic bolt — hold attack to steer it, release to explode |
| Damage | ~23 magic damage — controllable flight makes it very effective on moving targets |
| Special Trait | Pierces through terrain — guide it around corners and into enclosed spaces |
| Pre-HM Ranking | One of the best pre-HM magic weapons alongside Demon Scythe and Water Bolt |
How to Get the Magic Missile in Terraria — Step by Step
Defeat Skeletron for safe Dungeon access
The Magic Missile is inside the Dungeon, which has Dungeon Guardians that instakill players until Skeletron is defeated. Fight Skeletron at the Dungeon entrance at night. After defeating him, the full Dungeon is safe to explore without Guardian interference.
💀 Defeat Skeletron at Dungeon entrance at night — then the full Dungeon is safeFarm Golden Keys from Dungeon enemies
Golden Keys drop from any Dungeon enemy at approximately 1% chance — Skeletons, Angry Bones, Skeleton Archers, Cursed Skulls, etc. Kill everything you encounter while exploring. Expect 5-20 kills per key on average. A Battle Potion + Water Candle speeds up key collection significantly.
🗝️ Golden Keys: ~1% from any Dungeon enemy — Battle Potion doubles spawn ratesExplore the Dungeon systematically for locked chests
Locked Gold Chests have a padlock visible on their icon. Open every locked chest you find — the Magic Missile competes for slots with Muramasa, Cobalt Shield, Handgun, and other Dungeon chest items. You may need to open 3-8 locked chests before finding the Magic Missile. Use Spelunker Potions to highlight chests in the dark.
🔦 Spelunker Potion highlights all locked chests — explore all Dungeon branchesOpen locked chests with Golden Keys
With a Golden Key in inventory, interact with any locked Gold Chest. The key is consumed automatically. The Magic Missile has a roughly equal chance alongside other Dungeon chest items — each chest contains one of the possible items. Open all accessible locked chests in the Dungeon.
🔓 Interact + Golden Key in inventory = auto-consumed; chest opens with random Dungeon itemLearn the Magic Missile control mechanic
Equip the Magic Missile and fire it by holding the attack button — a glowing bolt launches and you steer it with your cursor while holding. The bolt follows your cursor direction. Release the attack button to detonate it wherever it currently is, dealing AoE damage. This makes it excellent at hitting moving targets and enemies around corners.
🎯 Hold attack to steer, release to detonate — steer into groups of enemies for AoEUse Magic Missile effectively through pre-HM bosses
The Magic Missile’s controllable flight makes it excellent against bosses: steer it into the Eye of Cthulhu during Phase 2 (when it dashes), guide it around the Brain of Cthulhu, or navigate it through the Eater of Worlds’ segments. Its damage-per-mana is solid and the controllable mechanic compensates for lower base damage.
👁️ Guide bolt into Eye of Cthulhu during Phase 2 dashes — the steering gives big advantagesPro Tips
The Magic Missile’s unique steering mechanic makes it significantly stronger than its base damage suggests. A skilled player can consistently land every cast against mobile bosses.
The Magic Missile can bounce off surfaces in some configurations, making it useful in tight cave areas where you need to navigate projectiles around corners.
Other Dungeon chest items found alongside the Magic Missile are equally valuable: Cobalt Shield (knockback immunity), Handgun (best pre-HM ranged weapon), and Muramasa (Night’s Edge ingredient). Open all chests regardless.
After finding the Magic Missile, continue farming the Dungeon for Muramasa (Night’s Edge ingredient) and Cobalt Shield (Ankh Shield ingredient) — both require Golden Keys for locked chests.
In Hardmode, the Magic Missile is quickly outclassed but remains a fun weapon to use due to its unique steering mechanic. It gets replaced by the Crystal Storm, Demon Scythe, or Water Bolt tier weapons.
The Magic Missile is a unique pre-Hardmode magic weapon whose controllable projectile mechanic sets it apart from all other weapons at its stage. The Dungeon chest farming process — defeating Skeletron, collecting Golden Keys, opening locked chests — also yields the other essential Dungeon items (Muramasa, Cobalt Shield, Handgun) simultaneously, making a thorough Dungeon exploration session extremely rewarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the Magic Missile in Terraria?
The Magic Missile is found in locked Gold Chests inside the Dungeon. Open them with Golden Keys, which drop from any Dungeon enemy at ~1% chance. Defeat Skeletron first for safe Dungeon access.
How does the Magic Missile work in Terraria?
Hold the attack button to fire and steer a glowing magic bolt toward your cursor. Release the attack button to detonate it on the spot, dealing area damage. The bolt follows your cursor direction while you hold the button.
Is the Magic Missile good in Terraria?
Yes for pre-Hardmode magic — its controllable flight makes it uniquely effective against mobile targets. The steering mechanic lets you consistently hit bosses during their movement patterns. It is one of the best pre-HM magic weapons alongside the Demon Scythe and Water Bolt.
What else is in locked Dungeon chests in Terraria?
Locked Gold Chests in the Dungeon can contain: Magic Missile, Muramasa, Cobalt Shield, Handgun, Shadow Key, Aqua Scepter, Blue Moon Flail, and others. Each chest contains one item chosen from this pool.