The Summoner class in the Calamity Mod has evolved into a powerful and flexible archetype. With access to whips, high-damage minions, and massive utility from accessories and sentries, the class shines when built around smart positioning and damage amplification.
This guide walks you through Summoner class progression from Pre-Hardmode to Endgame — helping you choose the best armor sets, minions, sentries, and accessories at each stage with important contextual strategies to guide your playstyle.
Pre-Hardmode Progression
Before facing your first boss, your minion options are limited and your defense is low. Your main goal should be mobility, survivability, and squeezing out summon boosts wherever possible.
Pre-Boss Setup
Start by mixing armor pieces and grabbing early summon tools:
- Armor:
- Wulfrum Armor – +10% summon damage, a minion slot, and slight mobility.
- Flinx Fur Coat – Great if mixed with Tungsten Helmet and Gold Leggings for defense.
- Minions:
- Squirrel Staff (starting gear)
- Slime Staff (rare drop but helpful)
- Accessories:
- Hermes Boots – Speed is survival.
- Wulfrum Battery – Boost summon output.
- Spirit Glyph – Passive damage booster.
- Double Jump item (e.g., Cloud in a Bottle) – Helps you dodge early bosses.
Strategy Tip: Focus on movement and early summons. Pair minions with a whip if available to improve targeting.
Post-Desert Scourge
Once you beat the Desert Scourge, better armor opens up and minion control becomes more impactful.
- Upgrade Armor: Victide Armor
- Bonus: Sea Snail minion, great submerged bonuses.
- Whip Synergy: Start experimenting with whips for tag damage.
Post-Evil Bosses (Eater/Brain)
Summoner builds start to branch out with real offensive flexibility.
- Armor Choices:
- Obsidian Armor – Unlocks powerful whip range and speed bonuses (+30%/+15%).
- Aerospec Armor – Trades some damage for survivability and a Valkyrie summon.
- Weapons:
- Belladonna Spirit Staff
- Frost Blossom Staff
- Strategy Tip: Tag with whips, dodge with mobility, and watch your summons tear down targets.
Read More: Calamity Mage Guide: Best Weapons, Armor & Accessories
Post-Queen Bee
Bee Armor gives a major leap in minion slots (+2) and summon damage.
- Armor: Bee Armor (+2 minion slots, decent summon bonus)
- Loadout Note: Combine with Shark Tooth Necklace for armor penetration. Accessories like Frostspark Boots improve mobility.
Post-Slime God
After beating Slime God, your damage scaling increases dramatically.
- Best Armor: Statigel Armor – Boosts summon damage and mobility
- New Minions: Herring Staff, Slime Puppet Staff
- Build Tip: Start scaling into hybrid play. Use dash mechanics (Shield of Cthulhu) with minion kiting.
Hardmode Progression
Once you unlock Hardmode, Summoner gear becomes more specialized. Here’s where whip mechanics and sentries start becoming essential.
Pre-Mech Bosses
Hardmode enemies hit harder, so survivability matters.
- Armor: Spider Armor (+3 minion slots, great summon boost)
- Minions/Sentries: Black Hawk Remote, Queen Spider Staff
- Accessories: Frozen Wings, Summoner Emblem, Eye of the Storm
Post-Mech Bosses
Upgrade Options:
- Daedalus Armor: Balanced offense and mobility, Daedalus Crystal passive is strong.
- Forbidden Armor (Circlet/Mask): Grants synergy with magic hybrid builds.
Minions/Sentries: Look for new biome-specific summons (e.g., Orthocera Shell, Queen Spider Staff).
Pre-Plantera
Minions scale harder here — and whip bonuses become a core mechanic.
- Armor: Tiki Armor – +4 minion slots and whip range
- Gameplay Tip: Arena movement becomes crucial. Use platforms and vertical mobility gear.
Post-Plantera to Moon Lord
With powerful equipment now unlocked, summoners can focus on maximizing DPS and controlling boss arenas.
Post-Leviathan
- Armor: Fathom Swarmer Armor – Massive bonuses when submerged. Consider for specific bosses.
- Sentry Combo: Use sentries to trap and control movement-heavy enemies.
Post-Pumpkin Moon
- Armor: Spooky Armor – Huge +58% summon damage and +4 minion slots
- Playstyle: Fully dedicated summoner builds shine. Tag targets with whips and dodge aggressively.
Post-Golem
- Armor Options:
- Hydrothermic Armor – +53% summon damage
- Valhalla/Shinobi Infiltrator/Dark Artist – Sentry-focused hybrid sets
- Boss Tip: Perfect time to practice dodging patterns. Use teleporters and solid blocks for control.
Post-Moon Lord and Beyond
Here, the Summoner becomes one of the strongest classes in Calamity. With minions scaling into the hundreds of DPS, careful gear selection is crucial.
Post-Moon Lord
- Best Armor: Stardust Armor (+5 minion, +1 sentry, +30% whip range)
- Loadout Tip: Combine with Statis’ Blessing/Curse and Star-Tainted Generator.
Post-Providence/Polterghast
You’ll begin dealing with cosmic-level bosses, and you need top-tier builds.
- Armor Choices:
- Tarragon Armor – Balanced HP regen, DR, and damage.
- Bloodflare Armor – High summon damage and mobility.
Post-Yharon
Top Gear:
- Silva Armor: +5 minions, +99% summon damage
- Auric Tesla Armor: +6 minions, +120% summon damage — best pre-Exo Mech gear
- Accessories: Nucleogenesis, Rampart of Deities, Celestial Tracers, Angelic Alliance
Endgame (Exo Mechs / Supreme Calamitas)
Best-in-Slot:
- Armor: Demonshade Armor – +10 minion slots, +145% summon damage, +200 HP/mana
- Recommended Loadout:
- Minions: Endogenesis, Temporal Umbrella
- Accessories: Nucleogenesis, Nebulous Core, Asgardian Aegis
Pro Tips for Summoner Min-Maxing
Reforging:
- Weapons: Ruthless (maximize raw summon damage)
- Accessories: Menacing (damage) or Warding (defense)
Whip Combos:
- Use multiple whips with stacking effects. Example: Snapthorn + Dark Harvest
Buff Up:
- Use Bewitching Table + Summoning Potion for +2 minion slots
- Other buffs: Flask of Ichor (debuffs), Wrath/Rage Potions
Mobility is Survival:
- Summoners are squishy. Always max out wings, boots, and shields for dodging
Final Thoughts
The Calamity Summoner is both challenging and rewarding. It requires planning around minion synergy, timing whip strikes, and mastering mobility. With gear scaling that reaches insane heights, the class is one of the most powerful when optimized correctly.
