Core Keeperhas ten starting backgrounds, each with a unique skill allocation andequipment. You’re free to take whatever profession you like, but some are much better than others.
If you want to tackle the caves with your best foot forward, here’s every starting background inCore Keeperfrom worst to best.
Your starting background isn’t too impactful in the grand scheme of things. The bonuses are only important during the early game, and every character can be shaped into an effective generalist.
Decisively Normal, And That’s Okay
Skills and Equipment
Description
The Nomad kicks off our list as it’s the only background whereyou start with nothing. You have zero boosted skills, food items, or equipment.
It sounds bleak, butCore Keepergives you enough wood around the starting area to fashion the basics.
Playing as the Nomad isfine as long as you know what you’re signing up for. The background is viable, but the lack of stats and gear places the Nomad at the bottom of the pile.
Core Keeperhas been going from strength to strength since its 1.0 release, breaking someimpressive player milestones. Backgrounds weren’t always a part of the game and aren’t essential if you don’t want the bonuses.
That Pickaxe Won’t Stay Sharp For Long
Mining Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Mining tree.
Copper Pickaxe
Increased Mining Damage
Food Rations x3
+12 Food and temporary health regeneration.
The Miner background sounds good on paper, but it’sone of the weaker professionsin practice.
The Copper Pickaxe is a decent item, but sadly,it doesn’t last very longand will quickly break from use. You can craft Wooden Pickaxes without a workbench, and they are fine during the early game.
By the time you need a Copper Pickaxe specifically, you will already have a steady supply in your base.
Another issue with the Miner is the starting points, as you will quickly amass 3 Mining Skill points through regular gameplay.
We’re all mining experts inCore Keeper, so you may safely give this background a miss.
A Solid Choice For A Brawler
Melee Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Melee combat tree.
Copper Sword
Common Melee weapon.
Melee combat is pretty rough during the early game without decent armor to soften enemy attacks. The Fighter background slightly alleviates this, and the Copper Sword isperfect for slashing Slimesand lone Cavelings.
The issue with the background is Copper Swords are easy to make. Besides the Melee Skill Points, you could make a Copper Sword within 10 minutes of starting, which is the selling point of the class.
The Fighter isn’t a dreadful background, but itdoesn’t bring anything special to the tableeither.
Effective In The Early Game
Magic Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Magic tree.
Simple Staff
Magical ranged weapon.
The Mage starts with a Simple Staff, which is superb as it can’t be crafted. Magic damage is decent, althoughmana management can be a problemearly on.
If you’re interested in a magic build, the Mage is the perfect background, as there’s no telling when you will get a Staff otherwise.
I prefer bows for ranged damage, as they have infinite ammo without a meter to manage. That said,magic damage is absolutely viable, with plenty of items and equipment to buff your damage.
Let Your Minions Do The Hard Work
Summoning Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Summoning tree.
Tome of the Dark
Summons bat minions which attack nearby enemies.
Minions feel a little inconsistent later on but are decent during the early game with minimal investment. The Warlock starts with the Tome of the Dark, whichsummons bats to fight for you.
TheTome of the Dark can’t be crafted, so having it in your starting inventory is a real treat. You have plenty of options for a minion/pet-centric build inCore Keeper, and the Warlock background enables the playstyle from day one.
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The Only One Smart Enough To Bring A Flashlight
Running Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Running tree.
Small Lantern
The player character emits a dull glow at all times.
If you want to boost your early-game activities, you can’t go wrong with the Explorer background. The Explorer begins withone of the best starter itemsin the game.
The Small Lantern imbues your character with a dull glow, so you cansee yourself even in pitch black.
Lanterns never run out and can’t usually be crafted until you have a Furnace, Ore, and Copper Workbench.
4Fisherman
An Underrated Profession
Fishing Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Fishing tree.
Tin Fishing Rod
Can catch fish and materials in any body of water.
Fishing is my go-to profession in any game that has it, and it’s superb inCore Keeper. TheTin Fishing Rod has unlimited durability, and you can create meals with powerful buffs by adding your finest catches to the Cooking Pot.
Fishing, in general, is extremely usefulinCore Keeper, with applications you never thought of. For example, you’re able to use the Green Blisterhead fish in any recipe to give you Acid Immunity.
you’re able to use that buff to make one particular early boss ridiculously easy to beat, and it only scratches the surface of what you can make with fish.
Cooked Food Is King
Cooking Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Cooking tree.
Cooking Pot
Essential item used for combining two ingredients into a cooked meal.
Mushrooms x8
Ingredients which can be eaten raw or cooked.
Cooking is a big deal inCore Keeper, as you canearn powerful buffs and bonusesfrom hearty meals. The Chef is the perfect background to get a headstart on meal prep.
It’s viable solo, andyour friends will love youfor it in co-op. You can evenset up a dedicated serverif you can’t always get on together.
You can craft a Cooking Pot pretty early on, even without the Chef background. Regardless, you can put those 8 Mushrooms to good use and ensure you never have to explore on an empty stomach.
Core Keeperoffers a ridiculous amount of food combinations, andthe best recipesmay just save your life.
It Pays To Have Green Fingers
Gardening Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Gardening tree.
Copper Hoe
Used to till soil so crops can be planted.
Watering Can
Used to water crops.
The Chef background is superb, but what good are cooking skills without a steady supply of ingredients?
The Gardener starts with all the necessary tools tostart a garden immediately. On your travels, you will find Seeds all over the place and can quickly turn those into crops for your meals.
Many new players neglect food and farming inCore Keeper, but they areessential for beating bossesregardless of how deep into the game you are.
you may even use food to buff yourself against a certainboss from another popular titlein the genre.
Great For The First Boss And Beyond
Ranged Combat Skill Points x3
Pre-allocated Skill points in Ranged Combat tree.
Common ranged weapon.
The Ranger is a solid background with arguablythe best starter weaponin the game. Ranged combat is advisable when you start, as you don’t have armor, and it really hurts when you get hit.
You can avoid all of those issues by engaging from afar, and you can’t usually get a Wood Bow until you have a supply of Copper Bars for a Copper Anvil.
The ranged playstyle isviable throughout the entire game, and you can get a head start on that path with the Ranger.
