Starlight

Empress of Light rapier and rapid crystalline thrusts

Starlight is a melee weapon dropped by the Empress of Light with a 25% drop chance. When swung, it does not throw an external projectile; instead, it generates a continuous barrage of short-range piercing crystalline thrusts directly ahead of the player. It delivers 80 base melee damage at an extreme use time of 18 with 14% base critical strike chance.

Point-blank single-target DPS and melee speed synergy

Despite lacking extended range, Starlight achieves some of the highest point-blank single-target damage in Hardmode. It excels against segmented worm bosses, stationary targets, and the Golem body segments, melting through health bars with relentless multi-hit strikes. Wearing Beetle Scale Mail alongside Mechanical Glove and Fire Gauntlet stacks melee damage and allows players to shred through health pools within seconds. The best modifier is Legendary.

Trivia

• Delivers multiple piercing strikes per swing within a tight forward cone in front of the player.
• Has no external projectile, focusing all damage into rapid close-quarters thrusts.