Endgame Reforging Guide: Best Prefixes for Weapons & Accessories
Stop wasting gold — learn exactly which reforges to aim for on every item, including 1.4.5 summoner changes
Reforging Overview
Reforging at the Goblin Tinkerer is the single biggest gold sink in endgame Terraria. Each attempt costs 1/3 of the item's base value, and landing your target prefix takes roughly 20 tries on average. This guide covers optimal prefixes for every class, the new 1.4.5 summoner overhaul, and how to cut costs by up to 40% with Goblin happiness mechanics.
Reforge Economics & Discounts
Before you burn through your platinum, set up the Goblin Tinkerer for maximum discounts. The difference between a happy and unhappy Goblin can save you 30-40% on every single reforge.
Best Weapon Prefixes by Class
Each weapon class has a single best-in-slot prefix. Here's the breakdown — if you only remember one thing per class, remember the prefix name.
Melee
The undisputed king. Every stat matters for melee, and Legendary maxes them all. No exceptions.
Ranged
The full package for guns and bows. Velocity bonus extends projectile range — great on S.D.M.G. and Phantasm.
Magic
Mana reduction stacks with Mana Flower and potions for sustain. Best for every magic weapon with knockback.
Summoner
Replaces Ruthless as BiS. Armor pen and tag damage are massive for bossing — new 1.4.5 exclusive stats.
Summoner (1.4.4 and earlier): Ruthless (+18% damage, -10% knockback) was the go-to because minion staves could only roll damage and knockback modifiers. The knockback penalty barely mattered since most minions had negligible knockback anyway.
In 1.4.5, summoner weapons gained 5 new prefixes with armor penetration and tag damage. Here's the full comparison:
Special Weapon Exceptions
Some weapons break the standard prefix rules. These exceptions are easy to miss, and reforging them wrong wastes gold fast.
Zenith is a melee weapon despite its projectile behavior. Standard melee prefix pool applies — Legendary is the target.
Yoyos can't get Legendary because they lack the size modifier. Godly (+15% damage, +5% crit, +15% knockback) is the best available prefix.
Speed modifier is wasted (beam ticks at a fixed rate), but Mythical still gives the best combo of damage, crit, and mana reduction.
Can't roll Mythical because they have 0 base knockback. Demonic (+15% damage, +5% crit) is the best they can get.
Standard ranged prefix. Damage modifier applies to the coin value — Unreal makes Platinum Coins do even more damage.
Accessory Modifiers by Class
Three main choices for accessories — but the best one depends on your class and game mode.
The most consistent DPS boost. With 6 accessories, that's 24% extra damage. Best default for melee, ranged, and general builds.
Mathematically equivalent to Menacing at 50% crit chance, and better above that. Optimal for weapons with high base crit or classes stacking crit buffs.
Provides 24-28 extra defense with 6-7 accessories. In Master Mode, extra defense is a lifesaver. In Classic, the damage from Menacing usually wins.
Here's how each class should approach accessory reforges:
Melee
Menacing on everything. Melee already has the highest natural defense from armor, so you don't need Warding. The +24% damage from 6 Menacing accessories is a bigger survivability boost (kill faster = take fewer hits).
Ranged
Menacing or Lucky depending on your weapon. If you're running Vortex armor (set bonus gives crit), Lucky edges ahead. Otherwise Menacing is more consistent.
Magic
Menacing is the safe pick. Lucky works if you're stacking crit with Arcana builds, but the difference is marginal. Warding is viable on 1-2 accessories if you struggle with survivability.
Summoner
Menacing is the clear winner. Summoner has the lowest natural defense, but Warding doesn't help enough — your whip hits and minion damage both scale off the +4% damage. In Master Mode, consider 1-2 Warding accessories for the shield slots.
Accessory Reforge Priority
Not all accessories deserve equal reforge investment. Focus your gold on the gear you'll keep all game.
Permanent loadout accessories. You'll use these in every fight — reforging them first gives the biggest return on investment.
Class-specific or situational slots. Reforge these after your S-tier accessories are done.
Money Farming for Reforges
Reforging a full loadout costs 15-30 platinum without discounts. Here's how to farm that money fast.
Lucky Coin Farm
Equip the Lucky Coin (Pirate Invasion drop) + Slime Staff, stand in a Lava + Crab Engine trap. Every hit spawns coins. The fastest passive money farm in the game.
Pumpkin Moon / Frost Moon
Reaching Wave 15+ with an endgame arena drops Coin Guns, Horseman's Blades, and other high-value items. Sell the duplicates. Also a good source of the Coin Gun itself.
1.4.5 Version Changes
Patch 1.4.5 brought the biggest changes to reforging since the game launched. If you haven't played since 1.4.4, read this.
Summoner prefix overhaul: Summoner weapons now have 5 exclusive prefixes (Fabled, Staunch, Gilded, Fearsome, Legendary) that grant armor penetration and tag damage — stats that didn't exist on prefixes before.
Fabled is the new BiS: +15% damage, +10 armor penetration, +3 tag damage. Ruthless (+18% raw damage) loses to Fabled because armor pen provides more effective DPS against any enemy with 10+ defense — which is every boss.
Mythical removed from summoner pool: In 1.4.5, summoner staves can no longer roll Mythical. If you had a Mythical Terraprisma from 1.4.4, it keeps the modifier but you can't reforge back to it.
Reforge protection (1.4.5 QoL): You can now lock your current prefix before reforging. If the new roll is worse, you keep the locked prefix. This costs double the base reforge price but eliminates the worst-case scenario of downgrading a near-perfect weapon.
Money-Saving Tips
Tips to save money and avoid common reforging mistakes:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best prefix for melee weapons in Terraria?
Legendary is the best melee prefix: +15% damage, +10% speed, +5% crit, +10% size, +15% knockback. It boosts every stat that matters for melee. The one exception is yoyos — they can't get Legendary, so aim for Godly instead.
Is Menacing or Lucky better for accessories?
Both give +4% per accessory. Menacing (+4% damage) is more consistent and works on every build. Lucky (+4% crit) pulls ahead when your crit chance is already above 50% or you're using Vortex armor. Most players go full Menacing for simplicity.
What is the best summoner prefix in 1.4.5?
Fabled is the new best-in-slot summoner prefix in 1.4.5, giving +15% damage, +10 armor penetration, and +3 tag damage. It replaces Ruthless, which was BiS in 1.4.4. The armor pen alone gives more effective DPS than Ruthless's raw +18% damage against any boss with 10+ defense.
How much does reforging cost at the Goblin Tinkerer?
Base cost is the item's sell value / 3. With Goblin happiness (Underground + Mechanic neighbor) and the Discount Card, you cut costs to about 67% of the base — saving roughly 33% per reforge. Budget 1-3 platinum per item to land a specific prefix.
What prefix should I put on yoyos?
Godly (+15% damage, +5% crit, +15% knockback) is the best yoyo prefix. Yoyos can't roll Legendary because they lack the size modifier that melee weapons normally use. The Terrarian with Godly is the strongest yoyo setup.
How do I get the Goblin Tinkerer discount?
Place the Goblin Tinkerer in the Underground biome with the Mechanic as his neighbor — this makes him happy and lowers prices to 83% of base. Stack the Discount Card (Pirate Invasion drop) for another 20% off. Combined, reforges cost about 67% of normal.
Should I reforge weapons or accessories first?
Accessories first. They're cheaper to reforge, and each +4% damage/crit modifier applies to ALL your damage. Reforging 6 accessories to Menacing gives +24% damage — that's more impactful per gold than perfecting a single weapon.
Which accessories should I prioritize reforging?
S-tier priority: Celestial Shell, Terraspark Boots, Ankh Shield, and your class emblem. These stay in your loadout permanently. A-tier: Fire Gauntlet, Sniper Scope, and other class accessories. Skip reforging situational swaps until your core loadout is done.
What changed about reforging in Terraria 1.4.5?
Three big changes: (1) Summoner weapons got 5 new exclusive prefixes with armor pen and tag damage — Fabled is the new BiS. (2) Mythical was removed from the summoner prefix pool. (3) Reforge protection lets you lock your current prefix for double cost, preventing downgrades.
What is the best prefix for the Last Prism?
Mythical. The speed modifier is wasted since the Last Prism's beam ticks at a fixed rate, but Mythical still gives the best combination of +15% damage, +5% crit, and -10% mana cost. The mana reduction is especially valuable for sustaining the beam.
How do I farm money fast for reforging?
Two top methods: (1) Lucky Coin + Slime Staff AFK farm in a Lava trap — generates 10+ platinum per 30 minutes. (2) Pumpkin Moon / Frost Moon farming — each run drops 5-15 platinum in sellable loot at Wave 15+.