Terraria 1.4.5.7 Chlorophyte Saber vs Claymore: Which Reworked Weapon Is Better?

on

Last Updated: August 23, 2026

Terraria 1.4.5.7 completely changed the identity of two familiar Chlorophyte weapons.

The Chlorophyte Saber is no longer a conventional shortsword that occasionally fires a spore projectile. It is now a fast stabbing weapon with autoswing, melee-speed-based range scaling, and the new Spored debuff.

The Chlorophyte Claymore has also been rebuilt from the ground up. Its old Chlorophyte Orb is gone, replaced by a powerful slam, explosion, and Spore Cloud effects.

Terraria 1.4.5.7 weapon comparison featuring the Chlorophyte Saber single-target thrusts and the Chlorophyte Claymore area-damage slam

So which one should you craft?

The Saber is the better choice for aggressive single-target melee combat and benefits especially well from melee-speed investment. The Claymore is the better choice when you want heavier attacks and area damage from its slam and Spore Clouds.

Here's how the two reworked weapons compare in Terraria 1.4.5.7.

Chlorophyte Saber vs Claymore: Quick Verdict

The two weapons now serve very different purposes.

CategoryChlorophyte SaberChlorophyte Claymore
Base damage8095
Use time3026
Knockback56
Critical chance4%4%
Main attackRapid thrustsHeavy sword attack
Special effectSporedSpore Clouds + slam
AutoswingYesYes
Melee-speed range scalingYesNo
Single targetExcellentVery good
Area damageGoodExcellent
Best useAggressive meleeCrowd control
Crafting cost12 Chlorophyte Bars12 Chlorophyte Bars

The Saber has lower listed damage, but its attack behavior is much more complicated than the tooltip suggests. Each attack animation contains five separate thrusts, and those thrusts can hit without interfering with one another.

The Claymore instead focuses on its heavier attack and secondary area effects.

In short:

  • Pick Saber for fast, close-range single-target damage.
  • Pick Claymore for area damage and crowd control.
  • Use the Saber if you're specifically building around melee speed.
  • Use the Claymore if you prefer heavier attacks and letting its secondary effects cover an area.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Saber: What Changed in 1.4.5.7?

The Chlorophyte Saber received one of the biggest melee reworks in the update.

Before 1.4.5.7, the Saber was essentially a conventional melee weapon with a special Chlorophyte spore projectile. That entire identity has been replaced.

In 1.4.5.7, the Saber:

  • Was converted into a stabbing weapon
  • Gained autoswing
  • Increased its damage from 57 to 80
  • Gained the Spored debuff
  • Gained melee-speed-based stabbing range
  • Lost its old spore projectile

The new attack is visually and mechanically much closer to weapons such as the Gladius and Starlight. This makes the Saber feel much more like a dedicated close-range melee weapon rather than a sword with a secondary projectile.

Why the rework matters: The most important change isn't actually the jump from 57 to 80 damage. It's the combination of: five thrusts + Spored + autoswing + melee-speed range scaling. That gives the Saber a completely different build identity.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Saber Stats and Recipe

The current 1.4.5.7 Saber has:

  • 80 melee damage
  • 30 use time
  • 5 average knockback
  • 4% critical strike chance
  • 100% Spored application chance
  • 5-second Spored duration
  • Approximately 7-tile maximum range
  • Legendary as its best modifier

It is a post-mechanical-boss Hardmode weapon.

Chlorophyte Saber recipe: You need 12 Chlorophyte Bars at a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil. That's the same basic Chlorophyte Bar cost as the Claymore. This means the real decision isn't about which weapon is cheaper. They're equally accessible from a crafting-material perspective. The choice comes down to playstyle.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

How Spored Works

Spored is the Saber's new signature mechanic.

Every Saber thrust can apply Spored to an enemy. The current 1.4.5.7 implementation gives Spored: 100% application chance, 5-second duration, and 90 damage per second against enemies. Players affected by the debuff instead take 15 damage per second. Enemies also receive a distinctive green spore visual effect while affected.

Why Spored makes the Saber stronger than its tooltip suggests: The Saber has 80 listed weapon damage, but the debuff adds a separate source of damage over time. That means you shouldn't judge the weapon simply by comparing: Saber: 80 damage vs Claymore: 95 damage. That comparison misses one of the Saber's biggest advantages. Once Spored is active, the target continues taking damage while you're attacking or repositioning.

Spored isn't universal: There are also enemies that are immune to Spored. The immunity list includes several bosses, enemies, pillars and special entities, including The Destroyer, Lunatic Cultist, Martian Saucer, Solar Pillar, Vortex Pillar and Stardust Pillar. So Spored is extremely useful, but it shouldn't be treated as guaranteed bonus damage against every enemy in the game.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Why Melee Speed Is Important for the Chlorophyte Saber

This is arguably the most interesting part of the Saber rework.

The Saber has a maximum range of roughly 7 tiles, although its wide stabbing range means damage starts falling off at around 5.5 tiles. More importantly, melee-speed bonuses increase the Saber's stabbing range.

That gives melee-speed builds an unusual advantage. Instead of thinking about attack speed purely as "I attack faster," you can also think about it as "I can reach enemies from farther away."

What does not increase its range? The wiki's current mechanics specifically distinguish melee-speed bonuses from several other size-related effects. The Saber's range is not increased by: Generic size modifiers, Attack-speed modifiers that aren't melee-speed bonuses, or Titan Glove and its upgrades. Melee speed is the important stat for increasing the stabbing range. This makes the Saber particularly attractive if your existing melee setup already emphasizes attack speed.

If you want to see how the Saber fits into the wider 1.4.5.7 melee overhaul, check out our [Terraria 1.4.5.7 Melee Rework: Best Weapons, Changes & Builds] guide for the other major weapon changes and build options.

The Saber Has Five Thrusts Per Attack: There's another mechanic that isn't obvious from the item's tooltip. Internally, the Saber has a 6-tick use time and 30-tick use animation. That results in five thrusts during a single attack animation. Each thrust also has its own local immunity behavior, allowing the attacks to connect without simply blocking each other. The result is a weapon that can potentially hit a target repeatedly during its attack sequence. This is why its 30-use-time tooltip doesn't tell the entire story.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Claymore: What Changed in 1.4.5.7?

The Chlorophyte Claymore received an equally dramatic rework, but in a completely different direction.

Its old Chlorophyte Orb projectile was removed. The new Claymore instead focuses on: A powerful melee swing, Ground slam behavior, An explosion, Spore Clouds, and Additional Spore Cloud attacks emitted during swings.

The official 1.4.5.7 notes describe the slam as creating an explosion that releases Spore Clouds dealing 75% of the original swing's damage, with a short cooldown. Swings can also emit Spore Clouds. This turns the Claymore into much more of an area-control weapon.

Old Claymore vs 1.4.5.7 Claymore: Before: Sword swing + Occasional Chlorophyte Orb + Infinite-piercing projectile. After: Heavy melee attack + Ground slam + Explosion + Spore Clouds + Area damage. The update therefore didn't simply buff the Claymore. It gave the weapon an entirely new purpose.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Claymore Stats and Recipe

The Claymore currently has:

  • 95 melee damage
  • 26 use time
  • 6 average knockback
  • 4% critical strike chance
  • 8 projectile velocity
  • Legendary as its best modifier

It is also a post-mechanical-boss Hardmode weapon.

Chlorophyte Claymore recipe: The recipe requires 12 Chlorophyte Bars at a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil. So, once again, both weapons have the same Chlorophyte investment.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

How the Claymore's Slam and Spore Clouds Work

The Claymore's most important difference is that its damage isn't limited to the sword itself.

The 1.4.5.7 projectile data identifies separate Claymore effects for the blade, blade slam and Chlorophyte Spore Cloud. This is important because early launch coverage sometimes described the rework in slightly different ways as players were testing the new version.

The final implementation is best understood as: sword attack → slam/explosion → Spore Clouds rather than the old sword + Chlorophyte Orb setup.

Why this is good against groups: A normal sword has to connect directly with an enemy. The reworked Claymore can create additional damaging areas around the attack. That makes it particularly attractive when you're fighting: Groups of enemies, Enemies approaching from multiple directions, Enemies clustered together, Targets near the ground, and Encounters where area denial is valuable. The Claymore is therefore less dependent on maintaining perfect contact with a single target.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Saber vs Claymore: Damage and DPS

This is where the comparison gets interesting.

Don't compare only the base damage: The Claymore has the higher listed damage: 95 vs 80. But the Saber attacks through a sequence of five thrusts, while also applying Spored. The Claymore adds damage through its slam and Spore Clouds. Therefore, neither weapon's tooltip damage is enough to determine the real winner.

Saber's damage profile: The Saber is strongest when: You're consistently hitting one target, You can keep attacking at close range, Spored can affect the target, Your build has useful melee-speed bonuses, and You can take advantage of its repeated thrusts. Its damage is concentrated around your target.

Claymore's damage profile: The Claymore is strongest when: Multiple enemies are nearby, Targets are grouped together, The slam and Spore Clouds can connect, You need additional area coverage, and You don't want to rely entirely on direct sword contact.

The practical winner depends on the encounter: For a controlled single-target fight, the Saber has a compelling advantage because of its repeated thrusts and Spored. For groups, the Claymore's secondary effects give it a more natural advantage. Don't treat 80 vs 95 as a DPS comparison. The reworks deliberately give the weapons different combat identities.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Which Weapon Is Better for Bosses?

Chlorophyte Saber for mobile single targets: The Saber is the weapon I'd favor when fighting a boss that: Stays within melee range, Can be consistently stabbed, Isn't immune to Spored, and Rewards sustained single-target pressure. Its melee-speed range scaling is particularly useful against bosses where standing directly inside the hitbox isn't practical.

Chlorophyte Claymore for bosses with adds: The Claymore becomes more attractive when the fight contains: Multiple enemies, Summoned minions, Crowds, Ground-based targets, and Situations where secondary area damage can hit multiple targets.

Important exception: Spored immunity: Don't automatically choose the Saber for every boss because of Spored. Several major enemies are immune to the debuff, including The Destroyer and multiple pillar-related enemies. In those encounters, the Saber loses one of its biggest advantages.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Which Weapon Is Better for Crowds?

Claymore wins here.

The entire 1.4.5.7 design of the Claymore makes it more naturally suited to crowd control. Its slam and Spore Cloud effects can extend your damage beyond the exact point where the sword connects. That makes it useful for: Events, Underground exploration, Enemy groups, Tight arenas, and Enemies approaching from multiple directions.

The Saber can still handle groups, especially because of its repeated attacks, but its strongest identity is sustained close-range single-target pressure.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Best Builds for Each Weapon

Best Chlorophyte Saber Build: The Saber benefits from a build that emphasizes melee speed. Prioritize: Melee-speed bonuses, Melee damage, Critical chance, Defensive accessories that let you stay close, and Movement options that help maintain contact. The important point is that melee speed has a second benefit here: It can increase the Saber's stabbing range. That makes melee-speed investment more interesting than it would be for a generic sword. Best modifier: The Saber's best modifier is Legendary.

Best Chlorophyte Claymore Build: For the Claymore, prioritize a more conventional melee setup. Focus on: Melee damage, Critical chance, Defensive bonuses, Mobility, and Accessories that let you stay in effective range. The goal is to maximize opportunities for the sword attack, slam and Spore Cloud effects to connect. The Claymore's best modifier is also Legendary.

How the Magic Yoyo and Melee Guides Fit Into the New Meta

The 1.4.5.7 melee changes are broader than just these two Chlorophyte weapons.

If you’re exploring more of the 1.4.5.7 melee changes, you can also check out our Terraria 1.4.5.7 Yoyo Changes guide and Magic String Guide for more ways to build and customize your melee setup.

The important distinction is that the Saber and Claymore are direct melee reworks, while the yoyo changes create a different subclass identity.

That gives players several viable directions rather than one universally superior melee weapon.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Chlorophyte Saber vs Claymore: Which One Should You Craft?

There's no need to declare one weapon universally better.

Choose Chlorophyte Saber if you want: Fast stabbing attacks, Strong single-target pressure, Spored damage over time, Autoswing, Melee-speed-based range scaling, and a more aggressive melee playstyle.

Choose Chlorophyte Claymore if you want: Higher listed base damage, Heavy melee attacks, Ground slam attacks, Explosions, Spore Clouds, and better natural area coverage.

My pick:

  • For bosses and sustained single-target melee: Chlorophyte Saber.
  • For exploration, events and enemy groups: Chlorophyte Claymore.

If you already have a melee-speed-focused setup, the Saber becomes especially interesting because its range scales with melee speed. If you prefer straightforward heavy attacks and area damage, the Claymore is the better fit. And because both weapons require exactly 12 Chlorophyte Bars at a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil, you don't have to choose based on crafting cost.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

FAQ

Is the Chlorophyte Saber good in Terraria 1.4.5.7?
Yes. The Saber received a major rework, gaining autoswing, five sequential thrusts, increased damage, Spored and melee-speed-based range scaling.

How much damage does the Chlorophyte Saber do?
The Saber has 80 base melee damage in 1.4.5.7. Each individual thrust deals 70% of that value, or 56 base damage, before other modifiers.

How much damage does Spored do?
Spored causes enemies to take 90 damage per second for 5 seconds. It is applied by the Saber with a 100% chance when the attack connects.

Does melee speed increase Chlorophyte Saber range?
Yes. Melee-speed bonuses increase the Saber's stabbing range. This is one of the weapon's most important new mechanics in 1.4.5.7.

How many thrusts does the Chlorophyte Saber make?
Each attack animation produces five thrusts. The Saber has an internal 6-tick use time and 30-tick animation, allowing the thrusts to occur sequentially.

How do you craft the Chlorophyte Saber?
Craft it with 12 Chlorophyte Bars at a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil.

How much damage does the Chlorophyte Claymore do?
The Claymore has 95 base melee damage, a 26 use time, 6 average knockback and 4% critical chance.

How do you craft the Chlorophyte Claymore?
You need 12 Chlorophyte Bars at a Mythril Anvil or Orichalcum Anvil.

Is Chlorophyte Saber better than Chlorophyte Claymore?
Neither is universally better. The Saber is better suited to aggressive single-target combat, while the Claymore is stronger for area damage and crowd control.

Which Chlorophyte weapon should I make first?
For a melee-speed-focused character, start with the Chlorophyte Saber. For players who prioritize area damage and heavier attacks, choose the Chlorophyte Claymore.

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Final Verdict

Terraria 1.4.5.7 turned the Chlorophyte Saber and Claymore into two genuinely different weapons rather than minor variations of the same progression tier.

The Saber is the precision option: repeated thrusts, Spored, autoswing and melee-speed-scaling range.

The Claymore is the area-damage option: heavy attacks, slam effects, explosions and Spore Clouds.

That distinction is what makes the rework worth revisiting—and why your choice should depend more on how you play melee than on the weapons' 80-versus-95 damage numbers.

  • Best overall for single-target melee: 🗡️ Chlorophyte Saber
  • Best for crowds and AoE: 🍃 Chlorophyte Claymore
  • Best for melee-speed builds: 🗡️ Chlorophyte Saber
  • Best for area control: 🍃 Chlorophyte Claymore

⬆ Back to Table of Contents

Comments

Post a Comment