Pirate Invasion Guide (Part 1): Event Analysis, Drops & Loadout
Master the Pirate Invasion Event — Part 1
Event Overview
The Pirate Invasion is one of the most valuable invasion events in Hardmode. Here's a quick overview of the key stats:
The Pirate Invasion is the only source for the Coin Gun and Lucky Coin — together they form the best money-farming combo in the game. Prepare your gear and tackle this event early.
Trigger Conditions
The Pirate Invasion can occur randomly after meeting certain conditions, or be manually summoned using a Pirate Map:
Enter Hardmode
Must have defeated the Wall of Flesh and entered Hardmode
At Least One Altar Destroyed
Use the Pwnhammer to destroy at least one Demon/Crimson Altar
Random Trigger or Use Pirate Map
Killing enemies near the Ocean has a chance to drop a Pirate Map, which summons the invasion immediately when used
During the invasion, enemies will continuously spawn until you defeat enough pirates. Prepare defensive structures near your base!
Pirate Enemies
The Pirate Invasion spawns various enemies, including melee pirates, ranged pirates, and boss-tier enemies like the Pirate Captain and Flying Dutchman:
Pirate Deckhand
Pirate Corsair
Pirate Deadeye
Pirate Crossbower
Pirate Captain
Flying Dutchman
Pirate Parrot
Drop Rewards
Defeating Pirate Invasion enemies yields valuable drops, with the Coin Gun and Lucky Coin being the most sought-after rewards:
Coin Gun
Unique ranged weapon that uses coins as ammunition
Drop Rate: 0.05% (1/2000)
Lucky Coin
Enemies drop extra coins when killed, best money farming accessory
Drop Rate: 0.25% (1/400)
Discount Card
Reduces all NPC shop prices by 20%
Drop Rate: 0.25% (1/400)
Pirate Staff
Summon weapon that spawns a pirate to fight for you
Drop Rate: 0.1% (1/1000)
Cutlass
Fast-swinging melee cutlass weapon
Drop Rate: 0.5% (1/200)
Pirate Map
Consumable item used to manually trigger Pirate Invasion
Drop Rate: 1% (1/100)
Drop Rate Analysis
| Item | Normal Mode | Expert Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Coin Gun | 0.0125% | 0.025% |
| Lucky Coin | 0.025% | 0.05% |
| Discount Card | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Pirate Staff | 1% | 2% |
| Cutlass | 2.5% | 5% |
Farming Strategy
Build an Ocean farm to collect Pirate Maps efficiently. Each invasion lets you kill ~120-150 pirates. Expert Mode doubles drop rates — highly recommended for farming rare items.
Pre-Battle Checklist
Before challenging the Pirate Invasion, make sure you've completed the following preparations. Check off items as you go:
Recommended Loadout
Choose the right loadout based on your progression. Here are three recommended setups for different gear levels:
Melee
Ranged
Melee
Ranged
Mage
Ranged Speed
Summoner AFK
Pirate NPC
After successfully repelling a Pirate Invasion, the Pirate NPC has a chance to move into your world. He sells unique items including the Cannon and fashionable sailor outfits.
Pirate
Sells
Cannon
25 Gold
Cannonball
15 Copper
Bunny Cannon
40 Gold
Parrot Cracker
37.5 Gold
Sailor Outfit
5 Gold (per piece)