Handgun vs Hellfire Arrow
The verdict
With crit factored in, Handgun puts out 108.2 DPS against 0.0 for Hellfire Arrow. Base hits are Handgun 26 vs Hellfire Arrow 13, so the gap comes as much from attack speed and crit as from raw damage.
For crowd control, Hellfire Arrow hits with more knockback (8 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 | Handgun | Hellfire Arrow |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 26 | 13 |
| Use time | 15 ticks | 0 ticks |
| Crit chance | 4% | 4% |
| Knockback | 3 | 8 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 |
| Mana cost | 0 | 0 |
| Shoot speed | 10 | 6.5 |
| Sells for | — | 20 |
When to use which
open DPS calculator →- You want higher raw damage per hit (26 vs 13).
- Pure DPS matters most — Handgun wins by 108 DPS.
Frequently asked
Which deals more DPS: Handgun or Hellfire Arrow? +
Handgun averages 108.2 DPS with crit. Hellfire Arrow averages 0.0 DPS with crit. Handgun is ahead by 108.2 DPS.
Is Handgun or Hellfire Arrow faster to use? +
Both share the same 15-tick use time, so neither is faster to swing.
Do Handgun and Hellfire Arrow use the same class build? +
Yes — both are Ranged weapons and share the same armor and accessory bonuses.
Are Handgun and Hellfire Arrow from the same progression tier? +
Yes — both belong to the pre-hardmode tier.