Guide:The Plaguebringer Goliath strategies

Type	Boss
Environment	Jungle
AI Type	The Plaguebringer Goliath AI
Damage	100 / 180 / 226 / 234 (Contact); 80 / 136 / 160 / 180 (Plague Stinger); 100 / 180 / 216 / 234 (Plague Missile); 120 / 192 / 220 / 240 (Plague Nuke Barrage)
Max Life	88,750 / 142,000 / 170,400
Defense	40 / 40-60
DR	30%
KB Resist	100%
Inflicts debuff	Plague 100% chance
Debuff duration	4 seconds (Contact); 4 seconds (Plague Stinger explosions); 3 seconds (Plague Missiles); 120 seconds (Plague Nukes)
Debuff tooltip	Rotting from the inside
Immune to
Vulnerable to:
Resistant to:
Coins	25

This is a Guide page.
This means the page will walk you through a specific task, strategy, or enemy/boss fight.
This guide was last updated for version 1.5.0.004.

The Plaguebringer Goliath is a boss that is fought after defeating Golem. The Plaguebringer Goliath can be summoned on the surface or in the underground jungle using an Abombination.

Terrain Preparation[]

When making an arena, a large box is preferred over a long track-like arena, as both horizontal and vertical mobility will be very helpful. Typically, you can reuse a Plantera arena for this effect. It is recommended to space out your platforms by at least 30 blocks, as vertical mobility is very important when dodging PBG's dashes, and too many horizontal platforms will easily lead to getting caught by her dashes on your way down. Note that while tedious to set up, platforms hammered into stairs will allow you to fall straight through them by holding the down key while falling, allowing for a faster fall which can be invaluable in this fight.

Gearing Up[]

Armor[]

Hydrothermic armor is an all around great option for all classes because of its various buffs to many things vanilla armors don't cover, such as max life and the set bonuses.
- It also reduces damage taken from the Plague debuff.
For melee players, Beetle armor can be utilized for more damage reduction, although Calamity nerfs the reduction of the beetles from 45% to 30%.
- See the vanilla changes for more details.
For rangers, Plague Reaper armor is a good alternative due to the set bonus attack, which can easily shred the Plaguebringer Goliath when used well.
- Shroomite armor can also be used in tandem with the Hoverboard if the player prefers the slightly increased defense.
For mage players, Spectre armor can be utilized in synchrony with Spectre Wings for high damage and lifesteal.
- Mages may choose to instead use Brimflame armor because of its very powerful set bonus and damage boosts. However, it has decreased survivability compared to Spectre armor.
For summoners, Fathom Swarmer armor or Spooky armor are also good options.
- Valhalla Knight armor is another good option for summoners due to its huge defense and life regen boosts.
For rogue players, the best armor obtainable at this stage is the Umbraphile armor.

Accessories[]

Movement[]

Because of the large amount of damage The Plaguebringer Goliath does, it is important to prioritize good movement accessories in order to have an easier time dodging her attacks.

Most wings should work for this fight, as you will only need flight to dodge PBG's charges by flying up, however extended flight is not necessary for this fight. One may utilize the Hadal Mantle's set bonus with Hydrothermic armor for the 5% increased damage.
- Wings with high vertical speed should be prioritized for the aforementioned charges.
- The MOAB can also be used for this fight because the quick jumping can be very helpful to dodge projectiles and PBG's charges, however it may not be easy to utilize properly.
Items such as the Frog Leg, Grand Gelatin, and Aero Stone can also be used for much easier escape of PBG's horizontal dashes with their jump boost.
Angel Treads are useful due to the horizontal speed and flight time they grant.
- Note that reforging many accessories to Quick will allow the player to run at the same speed as Angel Treads, saving an accessory slot. However, the player will lose out on the Angel Treads' flight time boost.
The Asgard's Valor will be very helpful for dodging PBG's charges. It can also be used to avoid contact damage by dashing into the boss, as doing so gives immunity frames.
- The Tabi and its upgrades can be used for a much longer dash. Master Ninja Gear grants a a guaranteed dodge every 90 seconds as well as the ability to dash, which can prove useful.

Defensive[]

The Alchemical Flask can be used for all classes due to the reduced damage from the Plague Debuff.
The Honey Dew and its upgrades grant 25% less damage from bee-related sources, meaning that all of PBG's attacks other than her rockets will deal significantly reduced damage.
The Celestial Jewel grants life regen and defense when under a damaging debuff, which allows extra survivability in this fight, as well as making the Plague debuff less noticeable.

Offensive[]

The Void of Extinction is a great option for increasing DPS, with its 15% increase to all damage, and other effects.
The Community can also be utilized for good stat increases all around.
The Celestial Shell, Fire Gauntlet, and Bloody Worm Scarf should be utilized by melee players.
The Artemis Emblem and Sniper Scope provide more damage for rangers.
The Sigil of Calamitas and Mana Flower with Super Mana Potions will be helpful for mages, both for damage and mana conservation.
- Note that using the quick mana button or Mana Regeneration Potions can remove the need for a Mana Flower, saving an accessory slot.
The Star-Tainted Generator and the Statis' Blessing are the primary accessories summoners should prioritize.
The Vampiric Talisman and Abyssal Mirror can be used by rogues for lifesteal, a source of stealth for stealth strikes, and more damage all-around.

Weapons[]

Melee[]

The Soul Harvester's lingering projectiles do great damage against the Goliath, as well as easily dispatch the minions it summons.
The Tyrant Yharim's Ultisword can be useful during the fight due to its projectiles.
The Aegis Blade is an extremely strong weapon that can make quick work of the boss.
- Note that this is a Legendary Challenge item and can be very difficult to obtain.

Ranged[]

The P90 or Helstorm coupled with Hyperius Bullets or Acid Rounds can make short work of both the boss and her summons.
The Continental Greatbow alongside Holy Arrows can deal consistently good damage throughout the fight.
The Snowman Cannon's homing can be very useful during the fight.
The Lead Wizard can deal very high damage at the cost of being hard to aim.
- Note that this is a challenge item and can be difficult to obtain.
The Sea's Searing can perform quite well despite being from a lower tier.
- Note that this is a legendary challenge item and can be very difficult to obtain.
The Blossom Flux deals high DPS, especially with armor penetration effects.
- Note that this is a legendary challenge item and can be very difficult to obtain.

Magic[]

The Forbidden Sun is the preferred choice for mages at this point in progression.
The Everglade Spray can be used as a secondary weapon and a way to spread Ichor.
The Atlantis is an extremely strong weapon for this fight, although it requires predicting PBG's dash trajectory as well as staying close to the boss.

Summon[]

The Resurrection Butterfly is a very powerful summon weapon for PBG due to both its high damage and homing.
The Xeno Staff can be very useful against the boss due to it never missing and its extremely agile movement.
The Wither Blossoms Staff is very good for its homing capabilities as well as the plague seekers its projectiles spawn on death.
The Hive Pod summons a sentry that can be utilized for some extra DPS.

Rogue[]

Plaguenades are a very useful weapon against both The Plaguebringer Goliath and her servants due to the bees it spawns and its high DPS.
Fantasy Talismans can be utilised because of their high DPS and homing projectiles, making them perfect for the boss as it makes many sudden turns.
The Brackish Flask can be utilised against the servants due to its AOE.
The Stellar Knife is very useful against the boss as it homes and can deal massive amounts of damage.
The Epidemic Shredder is very useful due to its spawns and piercing capabilities.
Due to the boss's large hitbox and the fight's focus on vertical mobility, the Heavenfallen Stardisk can be highly effective when the boss is fought in an underground arena, especially when paired with the Vampiric Talisman to aid survivability.

The Fight[]

The Plaguebringer Goliath initially spawns off screen. She will always begin the fight in her stinger phase to prevent cheap hits.

Phase 1[]

In Phase 1, The Plaguebringer Goliath has 3 attacks that she can cycle through. She will level herself with the player and perform three charges in quick succession, fly above the player while firing a series of powerful plague stingers and plague rockets at the player, or spawn Plague Chargers that vary in size. It is recommended to destroy these summons as quickly as possible as they can become a nuisance when there are too many of them. Either falling or flying upwards combined with dashing can be a a very effective way of dealing with her charges and a Rod of Discord can help when the player is cornered. Below 50% health, she will stop spawning Plague Chargers and instead spawn destructible homing plague missiles.

In Expert Mode[]

Along with spawning Plague Chargers, The Plaguebringer Goliath will also spawn Plague Mines which will chase the player and begin to slow down after a period of time, but they are indestructible until they fully stop. Some of her stingers will now home in on the player.

Phase 2[]

At 50% The Plaguebringer Goliath will transform into her 2nd phase, signified by the status message "PLAGUE NUKE BARRAGE ARMED, PREPARING FOR LAUNCH!!!". She will retain all attacks from Phase 1. She can also dash across the screen above the player and launch an arc of green missiles in the general direction of the player that will explode upon contact with tiles. The attack can be difficult to dodge, but flying up and down when she performs this attacks can be a reliable way to deal with it. Another strategy is to travel through the gaps between each missile; these gaps will become larger the further the projectiles travel.

In Revengeance Mode[]

At 80% The Plaguebringer Goliath will begin to perform diagonal charges in the place of horizontal ones. These can catch unprepared players by surprise, so make sure to watch where she is positioning herself before dashing and react accordingly. In addition, the Missiles she fires travel faster along with being more numerous.

In Death Mode[]

Her charges are performed faster and Missiles will now travel at faster speeds.

In Malice Mode[]

The Plaguebringer Goliath will charge 5 times instead of 3, and her Plague Nuke Barrage will have more missiles and will fire 5 waves instead of 3. She also will always be able to shoot Plague Homing missiles, and summons more minions at a faster rate. All of her projectiles are affected by Malice Mode's general 25% projectile speed increase.

General Tips[]

Using the Golden Gun and Golden Shower/Everglade Spray is recommended for this fight as The Plaguebringer Goliath is vulnerable to Ichor.
The Rod of Discord can be invaluable when the player is in danger or in a bad position due to its instant teleportation.
The Slimy Saddle can be used to fall faster, aiding in dodging The Plaguebringer Goliath's dashes.