Boomstick vs Handgun
The verdict
With crit factored in, Handgun puts out 108.2 DPS against 21.8 for Boomstick — about 395% more damage per second. Base hits are Boomstick 14 vs Handgun 26, so the gap comes as much from attack speed and crit as from raw damage.
Handgun swings faster at a 15-tick use time versus 40, so it lands on-hit debuffs like ichor, procs set bonuses, and reapplies knockback more often — an edge the flat DPS figure understates.
For crowd control, Boomstick hits with more knockback (5.75 vs 3), keeping enemies at range while you reposition.
Both are Ranged weapons, so the same armor set and class accessories buff either one — you can swap between them without rebuilding your loadout.
Stat-by-stat
computed| Stat | Boomstick | Handgun |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 14 | 26 |
| Use time | 40 ticks | 15 ticks |
| Crit chance | 4% | 4% |
| Knockback | 5.75 | 3 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 |
| Mana cost | 0 | 0 |
| Shoot speed | 5.35 | 10 |
| Sells for | 40 | — |
When to use which
open DPS calculator →- You want higher raw damage per hit (26 vs 14).
- You prefer faster use time (15 ticks vs 40).
- Pure DPS matters most — Handgun wins by 86.3 DPS.
Frequently asked
Which deals more DPS: Boomstick or Handgun? +
Boomstick averages 21.8 DPS with crit. Handgun averages 108.2 DPS with crit. Handgun is ahead by 86.3 DPS.
Is Boomstick or Handgun faster to use? +
Handgun has the shorter 15-tick use time, so it attacks faster than Boomstick at 40 ticks.
Do Boomstick and Handgun use the same class build? +
Yes — both are Ranged weapons and share the same armor and accessory bonuses.
Are Boomstick and Handgun from the same progression tier? +
Yes — both belong to the pre-hardmode tier.