According to the Angler page on the official wiki, this NPC can be found sleeping in the sand of an Ocean biome. Are there any other specific requirements to find him, i.e. hard mode or the like? I searched both ocean biomes in my world, and I didn't run into this new character. Is encountering him, like most other things in this game, simply random?
Terraria – Does the Angler NPC have spawn requirements
terraria
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During the daytime of 15 minutes, only 1 NPC can spawn every 2 minutes, the NPC must not exist yet and the necessary conditions (separate houses, …) must be met. If multiple NPCs are eligible, then only the first eligible will spawn. It is checked in the following order:
- Guide: No conditions.
- Merchant: House, players have more than 50 silver together (in their inventory).
- Nurse: House, used a crystal heart.
- Arms Dealer: House, carry a gun in your inventory.
- Dryad: House, must have killed a boss.
- Demolitionist: House, Merchant, explosive material in inventory.
- Clothier: House, Skeletron killed.
Exceptions to the single NPC rule, which spawn before the order given above:
- Second Merchant: House, at least 3 players having more than 10 gold together.
- Second Nurse: House, at least 3 players having 20 hearts (i.e., 400 combined health or more).
- Third Merchant: House, at least 5 players having more than 5 platinum together.
There is no order in which they spawn over time. But they can't spawn together, thus first in order…
The Terraria NPC houses only really care about the minimum requirements. You can go much grander if you'd like, for instance.
My Merchant actually lives in my dining room.
Three stories, two doors -- as long as it meets the minimum requirements, they'll move in. They ain't picky, either.
Best Answer
Hardmode is not required. His appearance is random, and (as of 5/12/2014) there is a bug where if the beach part of the ocean biome is too small, he can appear out on the water's surface instead.
No additional prerequisites have been found. You do not even need an open house slot before he'll appear; mine appeared when all my housing was full.