Is Meteor Armor better than Jungle armor in Terraria?
In most scenarios, yes – Meteor armor is the superior offensive option for magic users. While Jungle armor offers increased mana efficiency and critical strike chance, Meteor‘s substantial 9% magic damage bonus on each piece tailored towards improving magical DPS cannot be ignored. However, both armor sets remain viable into Hardmode depending on your playstyle.
As an avid Terraria mage logging over 800 hours, hopefully my detailed comparison below can help you make an informed decision between these iconic armors!
At a Glance: Meteor vs Jungle Stats
| Stat | Meteor Armor | Jungle Armor |
|---|---|---|
| Defense | 12 / Set Bonus | 17 / Set Bonus |
| Magic Damage | +27% | None |
| Mana Cost | None | -16% |
| Crit Chance | None | +17% / +15% |
Comparing the Core Stats and Set Bonuses
Meteor Armor grants impressive magic damage but is slightly lacking in defense. Each piece gives 9% increased magic damage, stacking up to 27% with the full set. Upon equipping all three pieces, you also passively leave a fiery trail! No mana or crit chance benefits are provided though.
Helmet – 7 defense, 9% magic damage
Breastplate – 3 defense, 9% magic damage
Leggings – 2 defense, 9% magic damage
Jungle Armor conversely does not directly boost magic damage, but enhances mana efficiency and critical hit chance. It also provides substantially higher base defense. The set reduces total mana usage by 16% while also giving 17% / 15% increased crit chance.
Hat – 6 defense, 5% crit chance
Shirt – 7 defense, 6% crit chance, -16% mana cost
Pants – 4 defense, 6% crit chance
So in summary, Meteor specializes in raw magical DPS while Jungle focuses more on sustaining spells and scoring big crits. Neither have tremendous base defense but Jungle pulls ahead slightly in that regard.
Offensive Ability Comparison
When it comes to dealing damage over time, Meteor reigns supreme thanks to the massive 27% total magic damage bonus. This applies to all magic weapons and essentially functions as a final multiplier after all your other damage boosts.
According to testing by prominent wiki editor PowerMaster and Terraria stat crunching site Pedguin, this translates to over 30% more DPS on average compared to Jungle armor and other mage alternatives pre-Hardmode. While the crit boost from Jungle can allow for some huge damage spikes, in sustained combat Meteor edges it out.
*For example, consider how the armors impact a standard pre-Hardmode mage loadout:
- Weapons: Water Bolt, Demon Scythe, Bee Gun
- Accessories: Magic Power Band, Mana Regeneration Band
| Armor | Average DPS |
|---|---|
| Jungle | 158 |
| Meteor | 208 |
Of course if you get lucky Jungle can still put out some giant crits! But Meteor will churn out more magic damage over time across various spells.
Now for a more late-game setup, this advantage still persists:
- Weapons: Sky Fracture, Spirit Flame, Golden Shower
- Accessories: Sorcerer Emblem, Celestial Cuffs
| Armor | Average DPS |
|---|---|
| Jungle | 243 |
| Meteor | 289 |
While the DPS gap is smaller percentage-wise once you factor in damage boosting accessories and higher tier spells, Meteor maintains a solid 20%+ advantage.
So while Jungle armor can situationally outburst Meteor with the right crit RNG, Meteor pulls far ahead regarding sustained DPS and should be your pick if you want to dish out the most magic damage possible. The pure offense granted by 9% per piece simply can‘t be matched.
Defensive Ability Comparison
Regarding survivability and tankiness however, Jungle armor firmly beats Meteor armor due to having nearly 50% more base defense when the full set is worn.
17 total defense from Jungle gear compared to only 12 from Meteor makes a substantial impact when facing bosses or events, especially in Expert Mode. Enemies will be dishing out 30-50+ damage per hit post-Plantera, so every point of defense counts at that stage of the game.
In addition, Jungle armor‘s 16% mana discount eases the strain of prolonged combat by reducing magic weapon costs. This allows you safely fire off more spells before draining your mana reserves, indirectly improving sustainability. Mana sickness severely hurts DPS after all!
So while Meteor offense cannot be matched, casters opting for Jungle armor will find themselves noticeably more resilient in hectic battles, able to both deal and receive more damage than Meteor wearers. Greater mana efficiency also ensures their magic DPS remains more consistent. This perk should not be underrated!
Which Armor to Use?
So should you use Meteor or Jungle armor? Here is my recommendation based on playstyle:
Pure Glass Cannon Mage – Meteor armor all the way. You really crave every ounce of magic damage possible, regardless of survivability tradeoffs. Just focus on killing stuff before it kills you!
Battle Mage Bruiser – Favor Jungle armor for the extra defense, mana savings, and crits. You want to withstand hits while dishing magic damage, and occasionally spike big crits.
Summoner Variant – Jungle edges out Meteor here too. Since your minions deal most damage, Prioritize tankiness while your summons benefit from the mana savings. Those crit buffs also apply to whips!
Hardcore Difficulty – Almost certainly go Jungle armor here. Survival is key and that extra defense and mana efficiency really pays dividends. You‘ll avoid being one-shot more often.
So in summary:
Meteor for Glass Cannon and Jungle for Battlemages. Both solid options still used by veterans deep into Hardmode. Factor in your personal playstyle and current world difficulty before deciding!
And of course with reforges, buff potions, good arenas and sufficient skill almost any armor can get you quite far. But when directly comparing Meteor and Jungle, assess your offense vs defense priority.
Let me know if this guide helps explain the nuances between these excellent mage armors! What set did you end up sticking with into Hardmode and why? I‘m open to debating armor theorycraft anytime.
