If you’ve spent any time grinding through Terraria’s hardmode content, you’ve probably come across recipes for iconic weapons like the Terra Blade that require a rare, hard-to-find material. A lot of players hit a wall when they start searching for this drop, and end up wasting hours on ineffective farms that never yield results. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place to learn how to get broken hero sword in Terraria without the unnecessary frustration. I’ve spent dozens of playthroughs testing different farm methods for this item, and I’m breaking down everything you need to know to get your first one fast.
Pre-Requisites You Need Before Starting Your Farm
Before you even think about waiting around for an eclipse, there are a few boxes you have to tick first. Skip these, and you’ll spend hours farming for nothing, trust me. I made this exact mistake on my first ever hardmode playthrough, so I’m saving you the headache.
First, Hardmode activation is non-negotiable for this farm. You have to defeat the Wall of Flesh in the underworld first to switch your world over to hardmode. No exceptions, the Broken Hero Sword doesn’t exist in pre-hardmode loot pools at all.
Next, You must defeat all three mechanical bosses (The Destroyer, The Twins, Skeletron Prime) first. A lot of players assume beating one mechanical boss is enough to trigger the right eclipse spawns, but that’s not true. Mothron, the only enemy that drops the Broken Hero Sword, won’t spawn in eclipses until all three mechanical bosses are dead. Once you beat all three, you’ll start seeing Mothron spawns in every eclipse that hits your world.
You don’t need to beat Plantera to start farming, but it’s worth noting that Plantera’s defeat doubles the chance of an eclipse spawning naturally each morning. If you’re not in a rush, waiting until after you beat Plantera can cut down on wait time for natural eclipses significantly.
How to Get Broken Hero Sword in Terraria: 2 Reliable Farming Methods
Once you’ve ticked all the pre-requisite boxes, you’re ready to start farming. There are two main methods to get your Broken Hero Sword, and both work depending on how much time and resources you have to spend. First, let’s go over the gear you should have on hand no matter which method you pick:
- A high-damage melee or ranged weapon (we recommend the Night's Edge or Megashark for quick Mothron takedowns)
- At least 400 maximum health and full hardmode armor (Adamantite or Titanium is ideal for survivability)
- Battle Potion and Water Candle to boost enemy spawn rates during the eclipse
- A flat, open arena with no obstructions to spot Mothron as soon as it spawns
- Buff potions for damage, defense, and movement speed to cut farm time down significantly
The first method is natural eclipse farming. Every in-game morning when the sun rises, there’s a 5% chance an eclipse will trigger automatically. That number jumps to 10% after you beat Plantera, as I mentioned earlier. All you have to do for this method is wait for an eclipse to trigger, then stay on the surface for the full duration of the day to farm Mothron spawns.
Mothron only spawns during the day portion of an eclipse, so don't waste time farming once night falls. Mothron has a 25% drop chance for the Broken Hero Sword every time you kill it, so you can usually get 1 to 3 per eclipse if you’re killing every Mothron that spawns. This method is completely free, but it can take a while if you get unlucky with eclipse spawns.
The second method is forced eclipse farming using a Solar Tablet. If you’ve already accessed the Jungle Temple, you can find Solar Tablets in chests inside the temple, or craft them using Solar Tablet Fragments dropped by enemies inside the temple. The Solar Tablet can be used at any time during the day to trigger an instant eclipse. This method is way faster if you have access to plenty of Solar Tablets, as you don’t have to wait around for natural spawns. I usually use this method if I need multiple Broken Hero Swords for multiple weapon crafts.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Your Farm
Even if you follow the method steps perfectly, there are a few common mistakes that can make your farm take way longer than it needs to. I’ve made all of these at some point, so I know how frustrating they are.
First, Never farm for Mothron below the surface layer, as it will never spawn underground. A lot of players hide out in underground bases during eclipses to avoid taking damage from other enemies, but that means you’ll never see a Mothron spawn. You have to be on the surface, within 120 blocks of the world’s top layer, for Mothron to spawn in your area.
Another common mistake is wasting time killing other eclipse enemies when a Mothron is spawned. The game has a limit on how many enemies can be active in your area at one time. If you’re killing every zombie and eye monster that spawns, you’re taking up spawn slots that could be used for more Mothrons. Don't kill other eclipse enemies unnecessarily if you spot a Mothron, focus all damage on it first. You can clear out other enemies only if no Mothrons are active.
It’s also a mistake to skip the Battle Potion and Water Candle. These two items boost your spawn rate by 50% each, which almost doubles the number of Mothrons that spawn per eclipse. I’ve tested farms with and without these buffs, and farms with the buffs yield twice as many Broken Hero Swords per eclipse on average.
What to Do With Your Broken Hero Sword Once You Get It
Once you finally get your first Broken Hero Sword, you might be wondering what the best use for it is. It’s a rare drop, so you don’t want to waste it on a craft you don’t actually need.
The most popular use for the Broken Hero Sword is to craft the Terra Blade, one of the strongest melee weapons in the game before you beat the Moon Lord. To make the Terra Blade, you need two Broken Hero Swords: one to combine with the Night’s Edge to make the True Night’s Edge, and another to combine with the Excalibur to make the True Excalibur. You can then combine those two true swords to make the Terra Blade. The Terra Blade, crafted with two upgraded swords using Broken Hero Swords, is one of the strongest pre-Moon Lord melee weapons in the game. It fires a high-damage projectile that bounces off walls, making it perfect for almost every hardmode boss fight.
If you’re playing a summoner or ranged build, you might not need the Terra Blade, but the Broken Hero Sword still has useful crafts for you. You can use it to upgrade the Horseman’s Blade, a powerful melee weapon that drops from the Pumpkin Moon event, or use it in the crafting path for the Zenith, the strongest weapon in the entire game. Even if you don’t play melee, it’s worth farming at least one Broken Hero Sword to use for your Zenith craft later on.
If you get extra Broken Hero Swords, you can also sell them for 8 gold each to make a bit of extra cash, but I’d recommend hanging onto them unless you’re really strapped for coins. You never know when you might need an extra one for a new weapon craft or a friend you’re playing co-op with.
Farming for rare drops in Terraria can feel frustrating if you don’t know what you’re doing, but it doesn’t have to be a slog. If you tick all the pre-requisite boxes, use the right gear, and avoid the common mistakes I outlined, you’ll be able to get your Broken Hero Sword in no time. I’ve used these exact methods on every one of my recent playthroughs, and I rarely have to farm more than two eclipses to get all the Broken Hero Swords I need. Now that you know how to get broken hero sword in Terraria, you can jump back into your world and start working toward that Terra Blade or Zenith you’ve been wanting.