How to find and beat the first three bosses in Core Keeper

The first task any new Core Keeper player should complete is defeating the three starter bosses. The issue is that the game doesn’t tell you how to do it. With this in mind, here’s how to find the first three bosses in Core Keeper and how to beat them.

How to beat all three starter bosses in Core Keeper

Boss battles require preparation in Core Keeper and often serve as a gear check. While you can tackle the bosses in any order, starting with Glurch is better.

Glurch spawns closest to the Core and offers an easy battle when you understand the mechanics. With this in mind, let’s start there and work through the bosses in the ideal order.

While you can happily tackle each boss solo, Core Keeper is a solid co-op game if you want to battle with a friend.

Glurch the Abominable Mass

Glurch should be your first boss, as the encounter is the most straightforward and has the lowest prerequisites.

How to find Glurch, the Abominable Mass

First, let’s focus on finding the boss. Glurch always spawns fairly close to the Core. The problem is that the boss’s lair could be in any direction.

Fortunately, Glurch likes to jump on the spot, and your screen periodically shakes as you get close. I recommend digging a short tunnel North, South, East, and West and watching for tremors to track Glurch down. You shouldn’t need to go much further than 20 tiles in any direction to see the screen shake.

How to beat Glurch, the Abominable Mass

Once you find the lair, don’t engage, as there are a few ways to make the battle much more manageable. I recommend using a ranged weapon. Glurch will always try to crush you, and you’ll have more time to react.

Remember, ranged weapons, like Bows, have infinite ammo in Core Keeper, so they are easy to use. Alternatively, a Simple Staff works if you prefer the magic route.

Food is essential for any battle. I’d go with a Hearty Pepper Wrap (Heart Berry + Bomb Pepper), as it gives a movement speed boost and more HP.

With all that preparation out of the way, you’re ready for battle.

Glurch only has one attack and will relentlessly jump at you until only one of you is left standing.

Running in a wide circle is a simple but effective strategy if you have a ranged weapon. The arena floor is coated in slime, slowing you down, which is why the Pepper Wrap is so strong during this encounter.

Keep your distance, pelt Glurch with projectiles, and try not to get trapped.

Glurch doesn’t have a ton of HP; just beware that if you run too far away, he will abandon the chase and restore his health.

Once Glurch is defeated, he drops a unique chest full of goodies and a Glurch Eye you can use on his statue by the Core.

Ghorm the Devourer

Ghorm is a unique encounter in Core Keeper, as you don’t even need to land a hit to beat it.

The boss’s predictable patterns mean you can always find it without a Scanner. Here’s how the fight works:

How to find Ghorm the Devourer

If you keep digging in any direction, you’ll eventually run into a large chasm. This ravine is carved out by Ghorm, who runs in a circle around the Core.

Once you find the chasm, wait a while, and Ghorm is guaranteed to appear.

How to beat Ghorm the Devourer

Ghorm seems insurmountable if you try and beat it with conventional weapons. You’ll be crushed before you even know what happened. Fortunately, there’s a great strategy you can use.

Wait for Ghorm to run past, then place rows of Spike Traps in its path. Spike Traps are cheap (1 Tin Bar), although you need many of them.

250 Spike Traps should be plenty, and I recommend bringing some Grenades if you have them, just in case.

If all goes well, Ghorm will quickly destroy himself on the Traps, and you won’t need to battle him directly.

It’s better to have too many traps than too few. If Ghorm survives your ambush, it will continue the circuit but will have full health on its next lap.

Like Glurch, Ghorm will drop a unique Ghorm’s Horn item you can use to power his statue by the Core.

Malugaz The Corrupted

Malugaz was an optional boss during Core Keeper’s Early Access period but is now a mandatory encounter.

The map opens up when you knock out Malugaz, but he’s easily the most demanding encounter so far. Let’s start with an easy way to find his lair:

How to find Malugaz The Corrupted

Head to Glurch Statue by the Core and interact with it. You can buy a Malugaz the Corrupted Scanner for 5 Ancient Gemstones and 5 Mechanical Parts.

The price is worth it, as you’ve got so much ground to cover otherwise. Activate the Scanner, and the precise location of Malugaz’s arena will appear on the map.

You will also need 3 Crystal Skull Shards. Enemies in the Forgotten Ruins biome where Magulaz resides infrequently drop these items.

Once you have them, combine them in your inventory to make the Skull of the Corrupted Shaman.

How to beat Malugaz The Corrupted

When you find Malugaz’s arena, I strongly recommend you clear it of obstructions, like pillars and boxes. You will need to move a lot during the battle, so the more space, the better.

It pays to be fast against Malugaz, so Hearty Pepper Wraps are a fantastic food choice. Sorry, melee players, but you’ll struggle in this battle without a ranged weapon.

Malugaz has two phases, and while you can use melee in the first, you won’t want to use it in the second. A decent Bow or Staff is the way to go.

Place the Skull of the Corrupted Shaman on the tile in the center of the arena to spawn the boss.

Malugaz likes to litter the ground in flames, which are a real pain to avoid. Try to watch where you’re running as you deal damage. There’s not much to say about this phase, but if you can survive relatively unscathed, you’re doing well.

Once you’ve beaten Malugaz’s first phase, he removes his coat and relentlessly chases you. His punches do a ton of damage, and the lingering flames are overwhelming.

You can remove the flames with a Watering Can, but it’s impractical if you’re being chased. The best strategy is to keep a safe distance, shoot from afar, and gulp down Hearty Pepper Wraps when the buffs expire.

If you’re really struggling, you can place a bed by the arena. If you die, you respawn, and the boss regains health. With a bed nearby, you can sometimes return to the battle before this happens, but it’s a messy strategy.

Don’t get disheartened if Malugaz beats you on your first attempt. The boss is a brutal gear check, so wear your best armor. Pets can also help and are well worth hatching with an Incubator.