Welcome to the Depths 🌌
You’ve woken up in a glowing cave surrounded by darkness, strange noises, and the pulsing Core, welcome to Core Keeper. Part survival sim, part dungeon crawler, and part builder, it’s a game about exploring the unknown and shaping it into something livable.
Whether you’re tunnelling solo or starting a co-op world on a ChipHead-hosted server, these beginner tips will help you survive your first few hours and build the foundation for long-term adventure.
1. Light Is Life 🔦
Darkness isn’t just spooky, it’s dangerous. Your first mission: make light.
- Craft Torches using wood and slime
- Place them along tunnels and around your spawn point
- Always keep extras in your inventory
Pro Tip: Drop a torch every few tiles as you explore. It’s the easiest way to mark safe paths back home.
2. Gather the Essentials 🪓
Start by digging and collecting basic materials around your spawn zone. You’ll need:
- Wood: Chop glowing roots
- Dirt and Clay: Dig with your starting pickaxe
- Copper Ore: Your first metal, used for tools
Once you’ve gathered enough, craft a Workbench, it’s the heart of early progression.
3. Build a Safe Base 🏠
Establish a small camp before exploring too far.
- Craft Wood Walls and Doors to secure your base
- Place Chests for storage and Campfires for light
- Keep a few Cooking Pots ready once you find food
Your base will evolve into a workshop, farm, and staging area for boss fights but it starts with one safe room.
Bonus Tip: Build near the Core (the glowing structure at spawn). It’s central, safe, and can be reactivated later for major progression.
4. Keep an Eye on Hunger 🍞
You’ll notice your stomach icon dropping as you work, hunger affects stamina and speed.
- Eat berries and mushrooms early
- Cook food for better buffs and health recovery
- Combine ingredients at a Cooking Pot to create meals with extra effects
Pro Tip: Mixing random foods often yields better bonuses than eating raw ingredients, experiment early and take notes.
5. Upgrade Your Gear ⚒️
Basic tools don’t last long. Smelt copper and move up the tech chain:
- Copper Tools – better durability
- Tin Tools – faster mining
- Iron and Scarlet Tools – late-game power
Each tier unlocks new crafting stations and lets you dig through tougher terrain.
6. Explore, But Don’t Rush 🗺️
The underground is huge and deadly. Early enemies like slimes are manageable, but deeper zones get tough fast.
- Craft Armor before venturing out
- Always carry Food, Torches, and Bridges for gaps
- Place Markers (torches or paths) to find your way back
Bonus Tip: If you find shiny walls or strange ground textures, you’re near valuable ores, mark the area for later mining.
7. Start Farming Early 🌾
Food runs out fast, so a small farm will keep you alive indefinitely.
- Use a Hoe to till soil
- Plant Seeds (found in chests or dropped by slimes)
- Use Watering Cans regularly for growth
- Craft a Lantern to free up your torch hand
Soon, you’ll have a renewable supply of food, essential for long sessions underground.
8. Play Together for Efficiency 🤝
Core Keeper shines in co-op mode. Divide roles to cover more ground:
- One player mines
- One explores and fights
- One farms and crafts gear
Shared bases thrive when everyone contributes and on ChipHead-hosted servers, your world stays stable even when the host logs off.
Pro Tip: Use chests labelled by material type (ore, seeds, food). Organisation saves time and sanity later.
9. Prepare for Bosses 💀
The underground is ruled by massive creatures called Guardians. They’re intimidating but essential for progression.
- Gear up with iron tools and cooked food
- Set respawn points near your arena
- Bring spare torches, bridges, and ranged weapons
Defeating bosses unlocks new items and activates Core upgrades, opening up deeper biomes.
Final Thoughts 🔦
Core Keeper is a game of patience, discovery, and gradual mastery. Take it slow, light your path, and build your underground haven one tunnel at a time.
With ChipHead hosting, your world stays synced and stable for every miner, farmer, and fighter on your team. Explore deeper, build smarter, and keep that Core glowing bright. ⚡⛏️
