Dungeon Boss: Skeletron

Learn how to defeat Skeletron in Terraria. This guide covers Skeletron's stats, weaknesses, phases, and effective strategies for both normal and expert modes.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Skeletron Head: HP 4400/8800, Damage 32/70, Defense 10/10 (0 while spinning, 60/50 with hands alive in Expert).
• Skeletron Hands: HP 600/1560, Damage 20/44, Defense 14/14.
• Daytime Penalty: Damage increases to 1000, Defense to 9999. Must be killed at night.
• Expert Mode Hands: Each hand adds 25 defense to the head.

Phases:

1. Skeletron employs sweeping attacks and head contact damage.
2. He slashes for 13.3 seconds, then spins his head for 6.6 seconds, with each rotation lasting 20 seconds.
3. Destroying the head wins the fight. Destroying hands is optional but makes the fight easier.
4. Expert Mode Hand Destruction: When a hand is destroyed or at 75% HP, it fires a homing cursed skull every 1.3 seconds. This frequency doubles to 0.6 seconds when both hands are defeated. Hands also inflict Slow and Bleeding debuffs.

Strategy:

• Build an arena with ample room for dodging wide attacks.
• Consider placing sunflowers, campfires, and heart lanterns for buffs.
• Honey crevices can provide extra healing.
• Ensure you have at least 300 HP before the fight.
• Abuse the arena's platforms for movement and evasion.
• Focus on destroying the head to win. Destroying the hands can simplify the fight, especially in normal mode.
• In expert mode, be prepared for the increased defense from hands and the barrage of cursed skulls after damaging or destroying them.
• Manage the Slow and Bleeding debuffs inflicted by the hands in expert mode.

Drops:

• Normal Mode: Coins (5g), Lesser Healing Potions (5-15, 100%), Skeletron Mask (14.29%), Skeletron Hand (12.24%), Book of Skulls (10.5%), Skeletron Trophy (10%), Chippy's Couch (14.29%).
• Expert Mode: Coins (12g 50s), Bone Glove (100%).
• Master Mode: Possessed Skull (25%), Skeletron Relic (100%).

Notes:

• Skeletron naturally spawns when approaching the Old Man NPC at the Dungeon at night and asking him to lift the curse. This kills the Old Man and can only happen once per night.
• To summon Skeletron after the first defeat, obtain the Clothier Voodoo Doll by killing Angry Bones and Dark Casters in the Dungeon, then kill the Clothier NPC while equipping the doll. This can only be done once per night.
• The Book of Skulls is a strong magic weapon for pre-hardmode and early hardmode.