To celebrate the start of the 2025 Pokemon World Championships, The Pokemon Company is giving away another special freebie in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games.

For a limited time, players can claim a free Farigiraf based on the one used by Luca Ceribelli, winner of last year’s Masters Division. This Farigiraf has the same stats and nature as Luca’s, as well as the same moveset.

To receive the Pokemon, you must fire up your copy of Scarlet or Violet on either Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 and follow these steps:

1. Press X to open the menu
2. Select Poke Portal
3. Select Mystery Gift, then choose Get with Password
4. Enter the code W0RLDSARM0RTA1L
5. Download the gift and save your game

The Farigiraf code will only be valid until August 23, so you have until then to claim the free Pokemon.

The 2025 Pokemon World Championships are underway until August 17, with dedicated competitions for the main Pokemon video game series as well as the Pokemon TCG, Pokemon Unite, and Pokemon Go. Other in-game freebies will be distributed throughout the weekend. You can see the full list on the official Pokemon website.

Farigiraf isn’t the only free Pokemon that Scarlet and Violet players can claim right now. As part of the ongoing Treasures of Ruin event, you can receive a shiny Wo-Chien via Mystery Gift until September 30. The other shiny Treasures of Ruin will be distributed in the coming weeks.

When thousands of works were deindexed from Itch just a few weeks ago, livelihoods hung in the balance.

Itch hosted the works of developers, artists, writers, and zinesters. It was (and is) home to taboo pornography, garden-variety smut, video game memoirs, and game jam detritus. Over the last five years, it has perhaps become best known for hosting massive charity bundles, supporting causes like Black Lives Matter, Ukraine war relief, and Palestinian liberation. Those bundles were lined with small projects from hobbyist creators alongside big hits from professional developers. When payment processors forced Itch to de-index thousands of games following a pressure campaign from a right-wing anti-porn group, they threatened all of these avenues of artistic expression and financial income.

Nathalie Lawhead, a developer and artist who has hosted their work on Itch for years, is one of the creators who could be affected by the large-scale push for increased censorship. Their game, Everything is Going to Be Okay, is part of the permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. But despite its acceptance into a major hub of mainstream arts culture, their work has struggled to find a home in the world of video games.

“The work I host on Itch is all the work that I had struggled in the past to get on mainstream storefronts… I can’t count the number of times that my work has been rejected because of reasons like ’simulated error’ (glitch art), or because it features a visual style a storefront deems inappropriate, or because it is built a certain way that’s not standard enough for these storefronts,” Lawhead said over email.

Lawhead’s work is not, strictly speaking, “gamey.” They have described Everything is Going to Be Okay as a zine, and their upcoming game Blue Suburbia as an interactive poem. Lawhead’s words and their work reflect a broader truth about Itch: that it has acted as a bastion for the weird and off-center from its inception.

An image from Lawhead’s Everything is Going to Be Okay

For Lawhead and many other developers, the mass de-indexing represents a threat to that weirdness, whether their works are NSFW or not. In our conversation, Lawhead emphasized, “We are losing our ability to create work like this, slowly.”

Other developers worry about the effect these bans will have on their thought process.

“I almost included a sex scene in my game Spring Gothic, but if I had put a sex scene in there, it would have been delisted,” visual novel developer and critic Kastel said on a phone call. “I don’t want to think like that. That’s self-censorship.”

For Howling Angel Games founder Olivia Nenmyx, their freedom to approach sensitive topics was hard-won.

“I had a lot of religious or psychological guilt around abnormal kink,” they said over Zoom. “It took a lot of therapy and encouragement to start writing porn.”

It’s that experience that makes them determined to fight for the right of expression, but also frightened of what this precedent could mean.

“I know first-hand how strong the pressure to fall-in-line can be. I see a lot of people shying away from or not expressing themselves in ways that are controversial,” Nenmyx said.

In kind, Kastel sees a danger in trying to police more taboo work.

“The executives, they don’t really care if works are SFW or NSFW. Those are terms that creators and players decide,” she said. “In the end, the payment processors are deciding everything and they have their own paradigms.”

An image from Kastel’s Spring Gothic

In addition to these concerns, the de-indexing has caused a lot of confusion and misinformation. Press and players cited Consume Me and Mouthwashing as examples of affected games, but Itch had actually de-indexed both games before receiving pressure from payment processors, for unrelated reasons. The mess has caused some developers to criticize Itch fiercely, claiming the storefront should have done more, both to protect developers and warn them about what was happening.

Lawhead, however, believes that Itch deserves some benefit of the doubt.

“They don’t have the resources that a place like Steam does,” Lawhead said. “They are about as indie as I am. It’s not hard to knock something like that off its feet and make it impossible for it to get back up… The only way to fight this is to understand that we are all in this together, and that includes Itch.io too.”

But the question remains: How and where should independent artists share their work? As “someone that’s already tried every possible alternative” and “that’s been very vocal about alternatives out there,” Lawhead admits they are skeptical there are real substitutes for Itch. Indeed, in the weeks since this policy changed the landscape of Itch, no obvious new options have emerged–although the dust is still settling and it is unclear what will remain in the aftermath or if Itch’s policies will change. But the threat payment processors pose to marginal work is bigger than Itch or even Steam. True alternatives may be hard to find.

Some developers are already planning to divest. While Nenmyx wants to maintain a relationship with Itch, they are actively looking for alternatives and have added a storefront to their studio’s website.

“I will continue to host free demos on Itch to try and get people onto my site, but I don’t think I’m going to host paid content on Itch in the future,” they said. “That’s not set in stone though.”

Kastel believes that trust will be slow to return, if it comes back at all.

“Even if Itch survives, people are going to be concerned that their games will be pulled off,” Katel said. “The optimal way is probably, make a jam on Itch, but also upload a mirror copy somewhere else, like the Internet Archive.”

But while individuals scramble for potential solutions, the stakes of the broader fight remain high. For Lawhead, the fate of Itch could set a precedent that would affect our online lives in every way.

“Given the bigger context of how corporations and monopolies have funneled everyone into these heavily-controlled walled gardens that now occupy our daily online lives, or even the way us developers can distribute software… I don’t think there’s any coming back from this.”

It’s hard not to see what they mean, as the UK threatens the country’s access to Wikipedia or as Steam removes games like Vile: Exhumed. But Lawhead is not giving up.

“We need Itch.io to live,” they said. “We need our own precedent.”

With certain parties targeting payment processors as a way to control what kinds of games are allowed to be sold, paying for games on services like Steam is a little bit weird right now. In fact, if you’ve tried to pay for something on Steam using PayPal recently, you might’ve noticed that the option isn’t available. This is apparently isolated to certain countries, and now Valve has offered an explanation.

“In early July 2025, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam,” Valve wrote on its Purchasing Issues support page, as reported by RockPaper Shotgun. “This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD.”

“We hope to offer PayPal as an option for these currencies in the future but the timeline is uncertain,” the page continues. “We are also evaluating adding additional payment methods on Steam for the customers affected by this. In the meantime, please use one of our other current payment methods during checkout. If you can’t use any of the available options, you can consider using a Steam Wallet code to add funds to your account.”

Valve further confirmed to RPS that this is “regarding content on Steam related to what we’ve previously commented on surrounding Mastercard.”

“One of PayPal’s acquiring banks decided to stop processing any Steam transactions, which cut off PayPal on Steam for a number of currencies,” Valve explained via a spokesperson.

In other words, unless you’re paying with euros, pounds, dollars (US, Australia, Canada), or Japanese Yen, you can’t make Steam purchases using PayPal for the time being.

Amazon is offering a steep discount on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Collector’s Edition Soundtrack. Fans can get the nine-disc, 344-track box set for $114. That’s still expensive for a collection of CDs in 2025, but the Collector’s Edition version of the soundtrack originally sold for $194 at Amazon last year. The list price has since dropped to $158 on Amazon, but it’s a huge price regardless. The Collector’s Edition includes a Master Sword USB drive loaded with additional 5.1 surround sound tracks. The only downside with this deal is that Amazon currently estimates a one- to two-month wait for delivery. In any case, you won’t be charged until your order ships.

If dropping over $100 on a box of CDs doesn’t feel right, the standard edition is also on sale for a substantial discount. You can pair it with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Original Soundtrack for $38.71.

If you want a much larger Master Sword to display in your game room, Bandai Namco’s Proplica Master Sword is in stock at Amazon for $186 (was $200). Yes, it’s pricey, but it measures 42 inches and looks really cool. It also happens to have sound effects and rumble. The Master Sword replica can be displayed on the included stand with or without its decorative sheath.

For a comparison on the scope of Tears of the Kingdom’s soundtrack, the Breath of the Wild Original Soundtrack has 211 songs on its five-disc soundtrack and clocks in at 6 hours and 21 minutes total. Parts of some songs are reused and/or modified in the sequel, but much like the “familiar” version of Hyrule you explore, Tears of the Kingdom’s soundtrack feels fresh and distinctly its own. And considering the sequel adds sprawling areas above and below Hyrule to explore, it’s not surprising Tears of the Kingdom’s soundtrack is roughly five hours longer.

More The Legend of Zelda Original Soundtracks

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Original Soundtrack

A bunch of Zelda games have received physical soundtrack releases over the years, including Skyward Sword, Link’s Awakening, The Wind Waker, and several other all-time greats. The soundtrack for Link’s Awakening is pretty darn cool, because it includes two discs for the original Game Boy version and two discs for the Nintendo Switch remake. The disc art is fantastic, and the pair of jewel cases are packaged in a stylish green display box.

Like Tears of the Kingdom, the other Zelda soundtracks have a mixture of English and Japanese on the covers, booklets, and other inserts. CDs (Compact Discs) aren’t region-locked, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to listen to the music. Some fans may need to purchase a CD player, though.

We made a list of other Zelda soundtracks you can find on Amazon right now. We also included the excellent Zelda 30th Anniversary Concert CD and a couple of orchestral performances of Zelda music on vinyl.

The Legend of Zelda Soundtracks on CD

• Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Collector’s Edition Soundtrack — $114
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Soundtrack — $78
• Zelda: Breath of the Wild Soundtrack — $38.71
• Zelda: Link’s Awakening Soundtrack — $35
• Zelda Twilight Princess Soundtrack — $43
• Zelda: Skyward Sword Soundtrack — $36.86
• Zelda: The Wind Waker Soundtrack — $42
• Zelda: Majora’s Mask Soundtrack — $38
• Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Soundtrack — $53.80
• Zelda: 30th Anniversary Concert — $27.61

The Legend of Zelda Music on Vinyl

• Slovak National Symphony Orchestra – Hero of Time — $48 ($60) | Preorder
• London Music Works – The Legend of Zelda Music (Vinyl) — $59

Some of the soundtracks in the lists above are shipped and sold by Amazon (or Amazon Japan), while others are sold by third-parties and fulfilled by Amazon. Keep in mind that game soundtracks, for the most part, lack consistent MSRPs, so prices tend to move around quite a bit. Amazon’s “list price” for the Tears of the Kingdom soundtrack has changed multiple times over the past year.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Skyward Sword Original Soundtracks

More Nintendo Soundtracks

It’s also worth noting that Nintendo Switch Online members can listen to many Zelda tunes and other music from Nintendo’s first-party game catalog on the Nintendo Music app on iOS or Android. But if you love CDs and Nintendo, check out the Super Mario and Pokemon physical edition soundtracks below.

Super Mario Music on CD

Super Mario fans can pick up the soundtrack for Super Mario Odyssey as well as the nostalgic 30th Anniversary CD.

• Super Mario Bros Music: 30th Anniversary — $27.66
• Super Mario Odyssey Soundtrack — $37.89

Pokemon Game Soundtracks

Many Pokemon original soundtracks are available on CD, including Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the latest mainline games, Scarlet & Violet.

• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Soundtrack — $33
• Pokemon Legends: Arceus Soundtrack — $29.77
• Pokemon Sword & Shield Soundtrack — $27.47
• Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee Soundtrack — $33
• Pokemon Sun & Moon Soundtrack — $27
• Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Soundtrack — $30
• Pokemon X & Y Soundtrack — $25.89
• Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 Soundtrack — $27
• Pokemon Red & Green Soundtrack — $31

With the arrival of new endgame content in a Monster Hunter Wilds update earlier this week, a pesky crashing bug also snuck into the game. But Capcom has stated that the issue has now been addressed with a hotfix. The patch notes also point to a couple of other problems getting rectified with version 1.021.01.00.

The crashing bug could be triggered by fainting or utilizing fast-travel to get back to camp. Capcom quickly became aware of the problem after releasing the major update for the action-RPG on August 12. That patch actually saw the company move up endgame content–such as tempered versions of monsters like Rey Dau in nine-star quests–from the still-planned Title Update 3 in September.

This new hotfix also ensures that the Wide-Range skill works as promised while playing online. In addition, the patch helps gunlancer players, since the weapon’s “Focus Strike would sometimes not chain into the finishing attack.” This should work properly now.

Monster Hunter Wilds has struggled sales-wise lately, with concurrent player numbers on Steam dipping lower than Monster Hunter World at one point in June. For more, check out GameSpot’s Monster Hunter Wilds review.

The full patch notes are below:

Bug Fixes and Balance Adjustments

• Fixed an issue where, under certain conditions, the game could crash when a player returns to camp after fainting or via fast travel.
• Fixed an issue where the Wide-Range skill effect on Appraised Talismans was not correctly applied to other players during online play.
• Fixed an issue where the gunlance’s Focus Strike would sometimes not chain into the finishing attack.

With the official gameplay reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 scheduled for Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 19, Call of Duty-related teases have begun to surface all across the internet. Even other Call of Duty games aren’t immune, as a short vignette has begun playing on screens in Warzone matches–and it features a face that should be familiar to Black Ops fans.

The official Call of Duty social media accounts have uploaded the clip, which will randomly begin playing on video screen around the Warzone map. The short video features Raul Menendez, a recurring villain in the Call of Duty world, speaking directly to the player when he appears, and when the clip ends, a Secret Challenge called “Watch Menendez’s Threats” is earned.

“My name is Raul Menendez. As you can see, I am still alive and well,” Menendez says in the teaser. “2025 was just the beginning. A necessary first step. Once again, you shall know fear.” 2025 is a reference to Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, in which the campaign was set in the year 2025.

Black Ops 7 was officially revealed as the final announcement of the Xbox Showcase in June. A recent report claims that the final mission of the Black Ops 7 campaign will be a 32-player multiplayer in an “extraction-based” experience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will launch later this year for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has said he believes Microsoft is at a “fork in the road” and is questioning whether the company will keep releasing consoles.

Speaking to GI.biz, Layden said there will certainly be more console generations to come, but Microsoft may not be part of that story. “Watching what Xbox has been doing recently, I do get Dreamcast flashbacks,” he said, referencing how Sega got out of the console business after the Dreamcast and became a software company.

“I think Sega realized they just were better off being a software house. I think Microsoft is in that same sort of fork in the road. And I don’t think their hardware offering is persuasive enough to make up the ground they’ve lost,” he said.

If Microsoft were to get out of the console-making business, that would indeed be big news–and it would be unexpected given Microsoft just recently signed a multi-year deal with AMD for future hardware. Microsoft and AMD will work together to “co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including our next-generation Xbox consoles. In your living room and in your hands,” Xbox president Sarah Bond said.

Bond has said in the past that next-gen Xbox hardware will focus on “delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation.” It remains to be seen what that means, however, as some are theorizing that a new Xbox console could be more akin to a gaming PC. Microsoft is also branching out into the handheld space with its partnership with Asus for the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally devices.

Layden said he hopes to see some kind of standardization for consoles in the future, and it’s his belief that going this way could help the total market for console gaming grow.

“Can’t we look at the game console business kind of like Blu-ray, or cassette, or compact disc, or any other medium where the industry decided we’ll compete on content, but let’s standardize on format?” he said. “And then let’s take that format and license it out to everybody who wants to support it. That’s what stops the penetration rate of console gaming, I think.”

For what it’s worth, Sony is said to be working on a new PlayStation console. And while Nintendo just recently released the Switch 2, the company is not likely to give up dedicated hardware anytime soon.

For now, there is no indication that Microsoft will stop making consoles, but the company has changed its playbook somewhat in recent times. The company is now bringing many of its games to rival platforms, like PS5 and Switch, in a bid to generate more revenue. And the plan is seemingly working, as some of the best-selling PlayStation games are made by Xbox.

After adding two-player expeditions in the last Elden Ring Nightreign update, From Software’s latest patch is adding some balance adjustments to the powerful abilities that come with the legendary sword known as Storm Ruler.

Going forward, it won’t take as long to charge the storm effect and the animation speed of the blade will be faster. Overall, the performance of Storm Ruler will be increased, even when the attack power isn’t charged with the storm. However, those upgrades come with a tweak that removes the bug that allowed players to use Storm Ruler without burning through FP.

The update also includes a number of other bug fixes, including one that addresses slowdown for other players when using too many Sorceries and Incantations. Performance issues appear to have been the main problems addressed in the patch, but there were others as well, including a bug that prevented some attacks of the Everdark Sovereign Caligo, Miasma of Night from hitting other players.

There was also one bug fix that specific to PlayStation 5, where both the user interface and the heads-up display might disappear for players. That bug might be followed by the game crashing altogether if players attempted to continue playing.

What’s coming next for Nightreign after this patch? A recent datamine suggests that a ranked mode may be debuting on Nightreign in the future. Last month, Bandai Namco and From Software announced that Nightreign has shipped 5 million copies since its debut at the end of May.

The original Elden Ring is getting a Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, which will include the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. There’s also a live-action Elden Ring movie in development from A24 with Alex Garland slated to direct.

The complete patch notes for Elden Ring Nightreign version 1.02.1 are included below.

Balance Adjustments

• Increased the performance of the skill “Storm Ruler”
• Reduced the time to charge the storm effect
• Increased the speed of the blade unleashed by the attack
• Increased the attack power when not charged with the storm

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where, under certain conditions, using dropped items would prevent any actions other than moving and camera operation.
• Fixed a bug where effects triggered by successful guards would not activate for certain guard actions.
• Fixed a bug where target lock would immediately be released on eggs or insects parasitizing the player character when Duchess’s Ultimate Art “Finale” effect is active.
• Fixed a bug where some attacks by Everdark Sovereign “Maris, Fathom of Night” would cause stagger damage when negated with the Executor’s Skill.
• Fixed a bug where, under certain conditions, the relic effect “[Executor] While Character Skill is active, unlocking use of cursed sword restores HP” would not activate.
• Fixed a bug where the skill “Storm Ruler” could be used without consuming FP by specific steps.
• Fixed a bug where the damage dealt to enemies by the passive effect “Frostbite Produces a Mist of Frost” was higher than intended.
• Fixed a bug where using a Flask would not heal the player’s own HP when equipped with relics that have the effect “Flask Also Heals Allies”.
• Note: We have identified a bug where healing is not distributed or the amount of healing distributed changes for allies who have acquired the passive effect “Gradual Restoration by Flask.” This will be fixed in a future update.
• Fixed a bug where the displayed effect value of “Extended Spell Duration” differed from the actual effect value.
• Fixed a bug where the color of effects generated by certain Passive Effects was different than intended.
• Fixed a bug where some attacks of the Everdark Sovereign, “Caligo, Miasma of Night,” would not hit playable characters.
• Fixed a bug where the framerate would drop during battles with Everdark Sovereigns “Caligo, Miasma of Night” and “Maris, Fathom of Night” under certain conditions.
• Fixed a bug where the number of displayed relics did not match the actual number shown when sorting by “Order by Size” or “Order by Color” in the Relic Rites menu.
• Fixed a bug where certain relics could not be equipped when using specific filter functions in the Relic Rites menu.
• Fixed a bug where, under certain conditions, audio may not play correctly.
• Fixed a bug where continuous use of Sorceries and Incantations would degrade game performance for other players.
• Fixed a bug where activating certain passive effects or continuous use of Sorceries and Incantations could impact network stability.
• Corrected some texts in Brazilian Portuguese.

Only for PS5 Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where the UI, including the HUD, would disappear and the game might unexpectedly terminate if play were continued.

Unlike many other multiplayer first-person shooters on the market, the Battlefield franchise hasn’t always been keen to allow players to check their stats through the game’s menus. That philosophy hasn’t changed with Battlefield 6, as the multiplayer beta offers no way to check your account stats in-game. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t view your stats using an alternative method.

Fortunately for the community, EA has revealed a completely safe and official way to check all of your pertinent player stats in the Battlefield 6 beta.

How to view player stats in Battlefield 6

At the time of writing, you can only check your stats from the first weekend of the open beta in Battlefield 6. This should be expanded to include the second weekend after it concludes and eventually the full game when it releases in October. EA hasn’t officially confirmed whether the stat-checking method will be a part of the full launch, but there’s no reason to expect it won’t be available.

Below, you can see how to check your stats from the beta in Battlefield 6:

• Navigate to the Battlefield 6 player stats page on EA’s website
• Type in your EA ID into the text box in the middle of the screen. Your EA ID is whatever your display name is when playing Battlefield 6
• Hit the magnifying glass icon when you’ve typed in your name, and you’ll see all of your stats appear on the screen

The main player stats screen for Battlefield 6

The stats available from the beta in Battlefield 6 include your player kill/death ratio, shot accuracy, matches played, total XP, assists, total kills, and revives. You can also see your most played class and game mode across the beta.

At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find a downloadable image that showcases all of your most important stats. You can then save the image or post it to social media using the hashtag #BF6Stats.

Hopefully, these player stats will eventually be expanded to include the full game stats for every player in Battlefield 6. It would also be nice to see more stats showcased, such as overall damage, vehicle kills, score-per-minute, and objective stats like flag captures or time spent capturing an objective.

Some Terraria players charge into battle swinging broadswords, others rain arrows from afar, and then some prefer to watch the world burn from a safe distance. If your idea of fun involves turning mana into spectacular destruction, Terraria’s magic weapons are your bread and butter. From humble sparks to kaleidoscopic death rays, these staves of sorcery are the ultimate tools for mages looking to leave a scorching impression.

Magic wands in Terraria are more than just damage sticks. The best ones combine range, style, and special effects that can turn tricky boss fights into theatrical light shows. Our picks cover every stage of the game, from your first foray into the forests to the celestial gauntlet at the very end. Whether you’re into precise spellwork or screen-filling chaos, here’s what you should have in your arsenal.

Pre-Hardmode

Terraria’s Wand of Sparking in action

Wand of Sparking

• Damage: 14
• Mana cost: 2
• Knockback: 0
• Critical chance: 14%
• Speed: 26 (Average)

If you’re fresh out of character creation and still rocking copper tools, the Wand of Sparking is your first taste of arcane power. It’s not subtle, shooting tiny flames with modest damage, but it’s notably accessible. You can find it in surface chests or wooden crates from fishing, meaning there’s a decent chance you’ll be clearing out caves and singeing zombies before you’ve even built a proper house.

It has the lowest mana cost in the game at just two per shot, letting you spam fire bolts without worrying too much about blue star supplies. Equip early mana-boosting accessories like the Magic Cuffs for a touch more staying power, and it’ll carry you comfortably until stronger dungeon loot appears.

Magic Missile floats towards its target

Magic Missile

• Damage: 35
• Mana cost: 14
• Knockback: 7.5
• Critical chance: 4%
• Speed: 22 (Fast)

Looted from Dungeon chests after defeating Skeletron, the Magic Missile feels like an upgrade in both power and control. You guide its projectile with your cursor until you release it or it hits an obstacle, letting you strike around corners or through gaps. The explosion on impact is perfect for clearing out enemies huddled behind cover.

The only catch is the moderate mana cost, but by the time you find one, you should have a healthy pool to work with. Pair it with the Jungle Armour set for early magic bonuses, and you’ll have a spell that can comfortably handle most pre-Hardmode bosses.

Demon Scythe shoots Demon Sickles at a Herpling

Demon Scythe

• Damage: 35
• Mana cost:14
• Knockback: 5
• Critical chance: 4%
• Speed: 20 (Very fast)

Dropped by Demons in the Underworld, the Demon Scythe is a deceptively strong choice for players with good aim. It summons scythe projectiles that deal very high damage and can pierce multiple enemies at once. The initial slow travel speed makes it less ideal for fast-moving targets, but it’s a blessing against the flailing limbs of Terraria bosses like Skeletron and Wall of Flesh.

Farming this means braving the lava-filled Underworld, so bring Obsidian Skin Potions and a ranged backup weapon in case those Demons get too close. At this point, you’ll be ready to transition to Hardmode, as the Demon Scythe is one of the few early magic weapons that keeps pace with the rising stakes, including faster enemies with higher health pools.

Hardmode

Crystal Storm ricochets off Temple walls

Crystal Storm

• Damage: 32
• Mana cost: 5
• Knockback: 5
• Critical chance: 4%
• Speed: 7 (Extremely fast)

Crafted from 20 Crystal Shards, 15 Souls of Light, and a Spell Tome using a Bookcase, the Crystal Storm turns you into a walking bullet hell machine. Its rapid-fire projectiles ricochet off walls, chewing through enemies in tight arenas, which is particularly ideal for crowd control in events and invasions.

The low individual mana cost is deceptive, as each shot rapidly drains your reserves. You’ll need the best Terraria accessories for magic in early Hardmode and potions to sustain fire for long stretches. Pair it with the Mana Flower or Celestial Cuffs, and you’ll fend off the Pirate Invasion like few other weapons can at this stage of the game.

Betsy’s Wrath rains down in threes

Betsy’s Wrath

• Damage: 100
• Mana cost: 14
• Knockback: 7
• Critical chance: 4%
• Speed: 20 (Very fast)

Dropped by Betsy in the Old One’s Army event, which only occurs after you’ve defeated the Golem, Betsy’s Wrath is a versatile magic weapon. Firing a trio of fireballs, the magic weapon not only covers a wider area than most alternatives, but it also inflicts the Betsy’s Curse debuff, which substantially reduces your enemy’s defence.

As you navigate the third act, Betsy’s Wrath is a perfect choice for boss fights and multiplayer scenarios, boosting overall team damage. Its fast firing rate and good range make it a flexible all-rounder in Hardmode. Just make sure you have the space, as low ceilings hinder the weapon’s effectiveness.

Converged Last Prism fires a singular beam

Last Prism

• Damage: 100
• Mana cost: 12
• Knockback: 0.25
• Critical chance: 4%
• Speed: 10 (Very fast)

Dropped by the Moon Lord, the Last Prism is Terraria’s ultimate magic weapon, firing a rainbow beam that converges into pure, boss-melting energy. It’s absurdly mana-hungry, draining reserves in seconds, but with Nebula Armour, Celestial Cuffs, and Mana Regeneration Potions, you can keep it firing long enough to erase even the game’s toughest foes.

For sustained output, tap-fire to conserve mana between bursts; for sheer spectacle, hold it down and watch the world disappear in light. Nothing else comes close to its mix of style and raw, unstoppable power, giving you the victory lap you truly deserve.

Abracadabra

Magic wands offer a unique flavour of combat compared to other Terraria weapon types, trading brute force for precision, style, and sometimes outright spectacle. Whether you’re igniting slimes in the forest, painting laser trails across the sky, or collapsing bosses under a prism of doom, there’s a spell to match your mood and progression.

Keep your mana high, your gear in top form, and your spellbook stocked because when the next boss arrives, you’ll want more than just firepower. You’ll want a little magic.