Terraria has stood the test of time, much like Minecraft, with a dedicated community that keeps it alive through creativity, mods, and sheer love for the game. Among the countless mods available, the Calamity Mod stands out as a behemoth of content, expanding Terraria with new bosses, biomes, gear, and an extra layer of challenge that keeps even veteran players on their toes.
If you’re diving into Calamity for the first time and want to specialize in the Mage class, things can get overwhelming fast. Unlike vanilla Terraria, where magic progression is more straightforward, Calamity shakes things up with new spells, accessories, and mechanics that require careful planning.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best mage loadouts for each stage of the game, ensuring you’re always equipped with the best gear possible. Plus, I’ll sprinkle in some handy tips to help you survive the chaos!
Calamity Mage Guide (2.0.4.003+)
Before we dive into specific gear recommendations, let’s briefly go over how progression works in Calamity Mod. Terraria is all about preparing for and defeating bosses. In between each major boss fight, you’ll need to gather resources, upgrade your weapons, and optimize your accessories to stay ahead of the game’s increasing difficulty. Unlike melee or ranged classes, magic users need to be mindful of mana management, reforge priorities, and crowd control, as fights tend to get bullet-hell levels of chaotic, especially in the late game.
With that in mind, here are the best Mage gear sets for different progression stages in Calamity 2.0.4.003+ to help you win every boss fight!
Pre-Boss
Mana potions give you a debuff called mana sickness when used which decreases your magic damage, so only use them if necessary.
- Permanents Buffs: Life Crystal (15), Vital Crystal, Mana Crystal (9), Arcane Crystal
- Current Healing: Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: King Slime, Desert Scourge, Eye of Cthulhu, Craublon, Evil Boss 1
Armor:
- Jungle Armor
- Mana Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Frost Bolt
- Wulfrum Prosthesis
- Diamond Staff or Ruby Staff
- Icicle Staff
Accessories:
- Duneraider Boots
- Sandstorm In A Bottle or Fledgling Wings
- Nature’s Gift
- Band of Starpower or Sharktooth Necklace
- Rover Drive or Luxor’s Gift
Pre-Evil Boss 2
Only use Meteor Armor if you’re using the Space Gun. As for the magic class, the best reforge for weapons is “Mythical” while “Menacing” and “Warding” are best for accessories.
- Permanents Buffs: Mushroom Plasma Root
- Current Healing: Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: The Perforators or The Hive Mind, Queen Bee
Armor:
- Meteor Armor or Jungle Armor
- Magic Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Flare Bolt or Demon Scythe
- Space Gun
- Gray Zapinator or Sparkling Empress
- Hellwing Staff or Sky Glaze
Accessories:
- Terraspark Boots
- Sandstorm In A Balloon or Fledgling Wings
- Shield of Cthulhu
- Magnet Flower or Arcane Flower
- Brain of Confusion or Worm Scarf
Pre-Skeletron
Only use Hive Pack if you’re using the Bee Gun.
- Permanents Buffs: N/A
- Current Healing: Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Skeletron, Deerclops, The Slime God
Armor:
- Aerospec Armor or Jungle Armor
- Magic Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Blood Bath or Shaderain Staff
- Flare Bolt or Tradewinds
- Gray Zapinator or Pulse Pistol
- Bee Gun
Accessories:
- Terraspark Boots
- Skyline Wings or Bundle of Horseshoe Ballons
- Shield of Cthulhu
- Magnet Flower or Arcane Flower
- Stinger Necklace or Hive Pack
Pre-Hardmode
Remember to finish any builds or projects before entering hardmode to prevent hardmode enemies from bothering you. At the start of Hardmode, fishing for crates can give you an early boost by providing Hardmode ores before you even break an altar.
- Permanents Buffs: Electrolyte Gel Pack
- Current Healing: Restoration Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Wall of Flesh, Queen Slime, Cryogen
Armor:
- Statigel Armor
- Magic Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Night’s Ray
- Black Anurian
- Eldritch Tome or Abyssal Tome
- Abyss Shocker
Accessories:
- Terraspark Boots
- Skyline Wings or Bundle of Horseshoe Ballons
- Counter Scarf
- Magnet Flower or Arcane Flower
- Mana Polarizer
Pre-Mech Bosses
If you want, use the “Lunic Eye” as a support weapon (Valid up until Pre-Providence). Each mech boss defeated is a big progression jump in calamity. Some gear you can use for your second mech boss is Mythril or Orichalcum Armor with the Belching Saxophone or SHPC. While you can use Daedalus Armor with the Shadecrystal Barrage for your final mech boss.
- Permanents Buffs: Demon Heart, Life Fruit (20), Aegis Fruit, Comet Shard
- Current Healing: Greater Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: The Twins, Aquatic Scourge, The Destroyer, Brimstone Elemental, Skeletron Prime
Armor:
- Palladium Armor or Cobalt Armor
- Magic Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Crystal Ball
- Super Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Frigidflash Bolt or Poseidon
- Crystal Storm or Clothier’s Wrath
- Icicle Trident or Crystal Vile Shard
- Golden Shower
Accessories:
- Terraspark Boots
- Fairy Wings or Soul of Cryogen
- Counter Scarf
- Magnet Flower or Arcane Flower
- Permafrost’s Concoction
- Grand Gelatin or Amalgamated Brain
Pre-Plantera
Remember to start placing power cell factories down ahead of time so you can easily summon draedon later in the game instead of waiting.
- Permanents Buffs: Blood Orange
- Current Healing: Greater Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Calamitas Clone, Plantera, Anahita & The Leviathan, Astrum Aureus
Armor:
- Chlorophyte Armor or Daedalus Armor
- Magic Power
- Mana Regeneration
- Crystal Ball
- Super Mana Potion
Weapons:
- SHPC or Cryophobia
- Valkyrie Ray or Brimrose Staff
- Seething Discharge or Death Valley Duster
- Golden Shower
Accessories:
- Angel Treads
- Bat Wings or MOAB
- Evasion Scarf or Ornate Shield
- Magnet Flower or Arcane Flower
- Permafrost’s Concoction
- Celestial Emblem
Pre-Golem
Only use the Spectre Wings if you are using Spectre Armor.
- Permanents Buffs: Starlight Fuel Cell
- Current Healing: Greater Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Golem, Duke Fishron, The Plaguebringer Goliath, Empress of Light, Ravager
Armor:
- Brimflame Armor or Spectre Armour
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Super Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Tears of Heaven or Primordial Earth
- Photosynthesis or Atlantis
- Astralachnea Staff or Hadal Urn
- Everglade Spray
Accessories:
- Angel Treads
- Spectre Wings or Butterfly Wings
- Asgard’s Valor
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Celestial Emblem or The Community
Pre-Lunar Events
Only use Hadal Mantal if you’re using Hydrothermic Armor, and Spectre Wings if you are using Spectre Armour
- Permanents Buffs: Miracle Fruit, Infernal Blood
- Current Healing: Greater Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Lunatic Cultist, Astrum Deus, Celestial Pillars
Armor:
- Hydrothermic Armor or Spectre Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Super Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Infernal Rift or Vesuvius
- Razorblade Typhoon or Forbidden Sun
- Gatling Laser or Wingman
- Plague Staff or Betsy’s Wrath
Accessories:
- Angel Treads
- Hadal Mantle or Spectre Wings
- Asgard’s Valor
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Sigil of Calamitas
- Chaos Stone or The Community
Pre-Moon Lord
Only use Deific Amulet if you’re using a mount.
- Permanents Buffs: Ethereal Core
- Current Healing: Super Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Moon Lord, Profaned Guardians, Dragonfolly
Armor:
- Hydrothermic Armor or Spectre Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Super Mana Potion
Weapons:
- The Swarmer or Lazhar
- Nebula Arcanum or Nebula Blaze
- Vesuvius or Infernal Rift
- Star Shower
Accessories:
- Angel Treads or Deific Amulet
- Hadal Mantle or Spectre Wings
- Asgard’s Valor
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Sigil of Calamitas
- The Absorber
Pre-Providence
If you wish, use the “Eye of Magnus” as a support weapon (Valid for the rest of the game). Only use Nebula Mantle if you’re using Nebula Armor.
- Permanents Buffs: Celestial Onion, Red Lightning Container
- Current Healing: Super Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Providence, Storm Weaver, Ceaseless Void, Signus
Armor:
- Nebula Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Elemental Ray or Augur of the Elements
- Chronomancer’s Scythe or Last Prism
- Mad Alchemist’s Cocktail Glove or Nuclear Fury
- Asteroid Staff or Ultra Liquidator
Accessories:
- Celestial Tracers or Nebula Mantle
- Sigil of Calamitas
- Asgard’s Valor or Statis Ninja Belt
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Chaos Stone
- The Absorber
- The Community
Pre-Polterghast
If you are having troubles with the Polterghast, try hooking some heart statues to a timer in the dungeon to be healed during the boss fight.
- Permanents Buffs: Elderberry
- Current Healing: Supreme Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Polterghast, Old Duke
Armor:
- Pristmatic Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Biofusillade or Purge Guzzler
- Magnetic Meltdown or Divine Retribution
- Thunderstorm or Aether’s Whisper
- Viscera or Teslastaff
Accessories:
- Celestial Tracers or Elysian Wings
- Sigil of Calamitas
- Elysian Aegis
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Chaos Stone
- The Absorber
- The Community
Pre-Devourer of Gods
Using the Elysian Aegis, you are able to tank head collision damage if you dash at the right time.
- Permanents Buffs: Ectoheart, Phantom Heart
- Current Healing: Supreme Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Devourer of Gods
Armor:
- Bloodflare or Pristmatic Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Dark Spark
- Fate’s Reveal or Ghastly Visage
- Phantasmal Fury or Venusian Trident
- Shadowbolt Staff
Accessories:
- Celestial Tracers or Elysian Wings
- Reaper Tooth Necklace
- Elysian Aegis
- Arcane Flower or Permafrost’s Concoction
- Affliction or The Community
- The Absorber
- Sigil of Calamitas
Pre-Yharon
When using the Ethereal Talisman, remember to set it to visible to automatically use mana potions.
- Permanents Buffs: N/A
- Current Healing: Omega Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Yharon
Armor:
- Silva Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Light God’s Brilliance or Event Horizon
- Primordial Ancient or Recitation of the Beast
- Tesla Cannon or Omicron
- Deathhail Staff or Nebulous Cataclysm
Accessories:
- Elysian Tracers or Silva Wings
- Affliction or The Community
- Asgardian Aegis or Statis’ Void Sash
- Ethereal Talisman
- Reaper Tooth Necklace
- The Sponge
- Chalice of the Blood God
Pre-Draedon/SCAL
If you beat the Exo Mechs first, you can use “Subsuming Vortex” or “Vivid Clarity” for SCAL.
- Permanents Buffs: Dragonfruit
- Current Healing: Omega Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: The Exo Mechs, Supreme Calamitas
Armor:
- Auric Tesla Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Yharim’s Crystal
- Aetherflux Cannon
- Void Vortex
- Helium Flash
Accessories:
- Seraph Tracers or Drew’s Wings
- Radiance
- Asgardian Aegis or Statis’ Void Sash
- Ethereal Talisman
- Yharim’s Gift
- The Sponge
- Rampart of Deities
Endgame
Usually, enchantments are not recommended. However, “Bloodthirsty” should work for close range weapons and “Resentful” for longer ranged weapons. Remember to upgrade the “Shattered Community” level mechanic to make it most effective.
- Permanents Buffs: N/A
- Current Healing: Omega Healing Potion
- Bosses To Beat: Boss Rush
Armor:
- Demonshade Armor
- Aureus Cell
- Crystal Ball
- Supreme Mana Potion
Weapons:
- Fabstaff or The Dance of Light
- Subsuming Vortex or Vivid Clarity
- Eternity or Apotheosis
- Gruesome Eminence or Rancor
Accessories:
- Seraph Tracers or Drew’s Wings
- Shattered Community
- Asgardian Aegis or Statis’ Void Sash
- Ethereal Talisman
- Yharim’s Gift
- The Sponge or Rampart of Deities
- Draedon’s Heart
Additional Late-Game Tips
- Exo Mechs should be beaten before Supreme Calamitas. Draedon’s Heart accessory makes a huge difference, allowing you to heal 360 HP when using Adrenaline and preventing your Adrenaline bar from resetting when hit.
- Using “The Wand” on Supreme Calamitas can help you reach 30K DPS if micromanaged well.
- The “Gamer Chair” (Mechanical Cart) is surprisingly useful for dodging bullet-hell phases in late-game boss fights.
- Micromanaging debuffs on Exo Mechs can increase your DPS, but the effort required may not be worth the minor boost.
Wrap-Up
Playing as a Mage in the Calamity Mod is an absolute power trip, but it requires careful planning and execution. Whether you’re freezing enemies with Icicle Staff early on or obliterating bosses with Yharim’s Crystal in the endgame, there’s always a new challenge around the corner.
I hope this guide helps streamline your mage progression and gives you an edge against Calamity’s toughest foes. Keep in mind that these loadouts are just recommendations—you can always tweak them based on your playstyle. At the end of the day, the best loadout is the one that works for you.
