Biomes

Biomes are a fundamental gameplay feature of Core Keeper. Each biome represents a different area of the underground, possessing unique materials, bosses, and lore.

When the world is generated, all biomes are naturally generated along with it. The location of each biome may change depending on the world seed. A trench marks the border of each biome and must be crossed to enter a new one.

Biomes[]

The Undergrounds[]

The Undergrounds is the first region the player will encounter upon entering a world. It houses the Core, where the player initially spawns. This biome signifies its shallow depth through the presence of dirt, turf, and sand. Ancient structures, such as gates and pillars, may also be found here. As the player moves away from The Core, it will become apparent that this area is home to the Orange and Red Slime Enemies, causing some parts of the biome to be covered in Orange Ground Slime. The Slime sub-biome that contains Glurch the Abominous Mass may be found at a certain point in a random direction from The Core.

Major Blocks: Dirt Block, Ground Slime, Sand Block, Turf Block, Copper Ore

Enemies: Shrooman, Shrooman Brute, Orange Slime, Red Slime, Glurch the Abominous Mass

The Clay Caves[]

The Clay Caves are one of the two biomes directly outside of the Undergrounds. These caves are notably inhospitable due to the constantly spawning Larva Enemies from the Chrysalis ground tile. Fiber and Tin Ore are common here, making way for Crafting advancement. This is one of the first areas in Core Keeper to introduce Ore Deposits, requiring a Drill to excavate. Around the edge of the biome is where Larva Hive sub-biomes will generate, one of which will contain the Hive Mother.

Spawns on the opposite side of the map from The Forgotten Ruins.

Major Blocks: Clay Block, Larva Hive Block, Chrysalis, Hive Spike Traps, Ground Acid Slime, Tin Ore, Sand Block

Enemies: Caveling Skirmisher, Caveling Spearman, cocoon, Larva, Big Larva, Crawler Larva, The Hive Mother, Clay Burrower

The Forgotten Ruins[]

The Forgotten Ruins are the other biome orbiting just outside of the Undergrounds. A Mining power of 110 or higher is required to damage the iconic Stone Block walls of the ruins. The Caveling inhabitants are especially dangerous, and caution must be exercised while exploring their lost cities. Somewhere in this biome lies Malugaz the Corrupted's throne room, and giant Mazes that can contain a Clear Gemstone.

Spawns on the opposite side of the map from The Clay Caves.

Major Blocks: Stone Block, Sand Block, Iron Ore.

Enemies: Caveling, Caveling Shaman, Caveling Brute, Malugaz the Corrupted.

Cattle: Strolly Poly

Azeos' Wilderness[]

Azeos' Wilderness is a grassy overworld-type biome which contains 3 bosses: Azeos the Sky Titan, Ivy the Poisonous Mass,and Druidra the Wild Titan. Reaching this biome requires multiple things, the first step is killing all three of the previous bosses, then talk to the Core, which will give you the ability to take down the Great Wall. After that you will be able to find it by going in the right direction, talk to the Core in the spawn area and it will have a line of dialogue saying: "The flourishing wilderness where Azeos resides is in the <direction>" (North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, or Northwest).

Major Blocks: Grass Block, Lush Moss, Lush Tree, Tall Grass, Bush, Scarlet Ore.

Enemies: Caveling Gardener, Snare Plant, Caveling Hunter, Poison Slime, Mold Tentacle, Infected Caveling, Azeos the Sky Titan, Ivy the Poisonous Mass, Druidra the Wild Titan, Floracada.

Cattle: Dodo

The Sunken Sea[]

The Sunken Sea is the fifth area of the game, after Azeos' Wilderness. This biome represents an underground ocean where the player can meet Omoroth the Sea Titan, Morpha the Aquatic Mass, Crydra the Ice Titan, Atlantean Worm, and randomly generated dungeon-type structures, called Forlorn Metropolis. Forlorn Metropolis are considered as a sub-biome of the Sunken Sea. Crafting boats is heavily encouraged to progress here. You can access The Sunken Sea by activating the three Statues around The Core, which gives you the ability to take down the Great Wall blocking the way. To know which direction the biome is in, talk to the Core in the spawn area and it will have a line of dialogue saying: "The sunken sea in which Omoroth resides can be found to the <direction> from here" (North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, or Northwest).

Major Blocks: Beach Block, Ground Slippery Slime, Kelp Tree, Tall Land Kelp, Land Kelp, Octarine Ore.

Enemies: Tentacle, Blue Slime, Bubble Crab, Core Sentry, Caveling Scholar, Omoroth the Sea Titan, Morpha the Aquatic Mass, Crydra the Ice Titan, Atlantean Worm.

Cattle: Kelple

The Desert of Beginnings[]

The Desert of Beginnings is the last area the player is required to visit to complete the main story. It is a desert-themed biome, where the player can find 5 bosses: Ra-Akar the Sand Titan, Igneous the Molten Mass, Pyrdra the Fire Titan, Core Commander, and Nimruza, Queen of the Burrowed Sands. The desert also contains two randomly generated types of sub-biomes, Molten Quarry and Oasis, and many unique scenes. Accessing this biome will enable the player to craft Go-Karts. The player can access The Desert of Beginnings by activating the three Statues around The Core, which gives the ability to take down the Great Wall blocking the way. To know which direction the biome is in, talk to the Core in the spawn area and it will have a line of dialogue saying: "The desert of beginnings in which Ra-Akar resides can be found to the <direction> from here." (North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, or Northwest).

Major Blocks: Desert Block, Plume Tree, Valley Moss, Small Desert Rock, Temple Pillar, Desert Rock, Galaxite Ore.

Enemies: Caveling Assassin, Caveling Mummy, Bomb Scarab, Ra-Akar the Sand Titan, Lava Slime, Lava Butterfly, Igneous the Molten Mass, Pyrdra the Fire Titan, Core Commander, Gold Scarab, Cicada Nymph, Nimruza, Queen of the Burrowed Sands.

Cattle: Strolly Poly, Dodo, Drohmble

The Shimmering Frontier[]

The Shimmering Frontier was initially introduced in the 0.7.0 update as a sub-biome. After 1.0, it became a full-fledged biome that the player can find in every direction beyond Azeos' Wilderness, The Sunken Sea, and The Desert of Beginnings. The biome is crystal-themed, with a blue crystal floor and walls. In this biome, the player can find Solarite Ore, several weapons and two types crops: Lunacorn and Sunrice. No bosses can be fought here; however, the player can challenge an Alien arena, which is necessary to unlock the optional Atlantean Worm boss fight.

Major Blocks: Crystal Block, Crystal Crust, Alien Tech Floor, Alien Tech Wall, Sun Crystal, Radiation Crystal, Solarite Ore, Gleam Wood, Crystal Grass, Tall Crystal Grass.

Enemies: Orbital turret, Mimite, Nilipede, Crystal Snail.

The Passage[]

The Passage, the currently last biome in the game, consists of fossil blocks and can be found at the edge of the world. The player can access The Passage by activating the three Statues around The Core and by going past Azeos' Wilderness, The Sunken Sea, or The Desert of Beginnings. Urschleim can be found circling the entire biome along a set path. Throughout the biome are small Scenes containing Rift Statues.

Major Blocks: Fossil Block, Sulfur Tree, Tall Barnacle Grass, Barnacle Grass, Pandorium Crystal, Purple Feather Tree, Small Purple Feather Tree, Cyan Feather Tree, Small Cyan Feather Tree.

Enemies: Colossal Amoeba, Sulfur Worm, Urschleim.

Sub-biomes[]

The Meadow[]

The Meadow is a sub-biome consisting of Meadow Blocks. The player can often find the meadow in The Undergrounds and in the Azeos' Wilderness. It is a place where the player can find common cattle, such as the Moolin or Bambuck. Additionally, it is the only biome without hostile enemies. It was introduced in the Paws and Claws update (10/5/23).

Major Blocks: Meadow Block, Meadow Tree, Meadow Bush, Tall Meadow Grass.

Cattle: Moolin, Bambuck.

The Larva Hive[]

The Larva Hive is the Clay Caves' sub-biome, it's where the player can find the Hive Mother (a boss previously required but made optional with the 1.0 release). This area contains enemies like Hive Larva, Big Hive Larva, or Acid Larva, and special rooms with chest full of unique loot can generate. The ground can be covered in acid, that damage the player if stayed on it for too long, and spike traps, that can be collected and reused. These traps damages the player and the enemies. This area is surrounded with Larva Hive Block walls, that need a minimum of 280 mining damage to be collected. (approximately)

Major Blocks: Larva Hive Block, Ground Acid Slime, Hive Spike Trap.

Enemies: Larva, Big Larva, Hive Larva, Big Hive Larva, Acid Larva, Cocoon, Larva Hive Egg (Spawn in battle with the Hive Mother), The Hive Mother.

The Mold Dungeon[]

The mold dungeon is found in the Azeos' Wilderness. Within this biome the player will gain an "infection" debuff as soon as they step on the Mold Block ground. This debuff progressively slows the player down more and more, while walking on mold. As this debuff can stack up to ten times, using a ranged weapon to kill Infected Cavelings and Mold Tentacles is one of the safer ways to get through. The dungeon also often contains one or more chests in a room guarded by enemies. In the chests the player can find Mold Vein Necklaces, and from the enemies a mold ring can be acquired. Having both equipped gets rid of the infection debuff, thus making it easy for the player to go through and dodge attacks in time.

Major Blocks: Mold Block, Mold Pillar, Mold Well.

Enemies: Infected Caveling, Mold Tentacle.

Forlorn Metropolis[]

The Forlorn Metropolis is a stone labyrinth that spawns in the Sunken Sea biome. The player will be unable to mine through the metropolis' walls without sufficient mining damage and will have to traverse through hallways and rooms to explore this biome. Often, there will be holes in the ground which pose another obstacle for the player. The Caveling Scholars inhabit this biome, as well as Core Sentries. Both of these enemies will perform ranged attacks, while the cavelings will also be able to heal each other and the sentries.

Major Blocks: Metropolis Block, Crystal Lamp, Planter Box, Blue Glass Pedestal, Stone tile "Gemstone", Stone tile "Cavelings", Stone tile "Scholar", Vending Machine, Broken Vending Machine, Caveling Pillar, Urban Moss, Stone Shelf, Large Stone Shelf.

Enemies: Caveling Scholar, Core Sentry

The Molten Quarry[]

The Molten Quarry is a sub-biome located in the Desert of Beginnings. The player will be unable to mine through the Lava Rock Block walls without sufficient mining damage, but several openings can be found around it. The Molten Quarry generates randomly in the desert, and has two variations containing major scenes: the Ancient Forge, and Igneous the Molten Mass. This area is full of smoldering chests, in which the player will find unique items like the full miner suit, the Flame Ring, and the Black Ring and Necklace.

Major Blocks: Lava Rock Block, Coal Pit, Lava Rock, Metal Grate.

Enemies: Lava Slime, Lava Butterfly, Igneous the Molten Mass.

The Oasis[]

The Oasis is a sub-biome located in the Desert of Beginnings. It has 3 regular variants and a special dungeon variant, where Nimruza, Queen of the Burrowed Sands can be found. The regular variants have no naturally spawning enemies and only contain a few Drohmbles and a house scene. The dungeon variant is home to unique enemies (Gold Scarab, Cicada Nymph) and the aforementioned boss fight. The Oasis is the earliest possible way to obtain biome gems (from Cultist Chests).

Major Blocks: Oasis Block, Gilded Aloe

Enemies: Gold Scarab, Cicada Nymph, Nimruza, Queen of the Burrowed Sands

Cattle: Drohmble

History[]

1.1.0.1: added Oasis
1.0.0.1: added The Passage

0.7.0.0-2cab: added The Shimmering Frontier
0.6.0.0-62a8: added The Meadow
0.5.0.0-9b96: added The Desert of Beginnings and The Molten Quarry
0.4.0-3f9c: added The Sunken Sea and The Forlorn Metropolis
0.3.0-297a: added Azeos' Wilderness and The Mold Dungeon