Valheim How to Get Black Cores (& What They’re For)

*March 13th, 2023: Updated for the Xbox Launch to include more relevant information as well as links to related guides.

To assemble late-game structures like the Black Forge, Galdr Table, or Eitr Refinery in Valheim, adventurers will need an arcane object of ancient power known as the Black Core. Since this item is not metallic in nature, it can be teleported within a fast-travel Portal. However, procuring this mysterious core is not an easy task, as it can only be found within the perilous Mistlands biome. As its name implies, the Mistlands Biome is covered with a lingering mist thick enough to reduce visibility. Therefore, players are encouraged to have a Wisplight accompany them before venturing into this biome.

To get Black Cores in Valheim, players must travel into the Mistlands in search of Dungeons called Infested Mines, added in Valheim’s Mistlands Biome & Update. These mines feature some of the toughest enemies in the current game patch. Seekers, Seeker Soldiers, Seeker Broods, and Ticks lurk in the Dungeon’s slimy, mossy halls, lying in wait to pounce on unsuspecting adventurers. The Seeker Soldiers, in particular, possess over a thousand points in HP and can deal 100 points of damage in its basic form. Taking these monstrosities down will require equipment with high defense or choice positioning with ranged weaponry like the Staff of Embers, which requires Surtling Cores.

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Where To Find Black Cores in Valheim

According to Valheim content creator Jade PG, Infested Mines are recognizable by their long stairwell entrances with a greenish, yellow ooze seeping from the entryway. Once inside, the halls might seem somewhat tranquil, but once players venture deeper into the Valheim Dungeon, they will be ambushed and assaulted by the hive of Seekers, the giant insectoids that patrol the mine’s chambers. Because of the sheer number that can attack an adventurer simultaneously, players are highly encouraged to have a shield or a means of crowd control, such as the Staggering Effect of the Himmin Afl Polearm’s Lightning. After clearing out the enemies, players can search for Black Cores in Valheim.

Black Cores in the Infested Mines will typically spawn atop tall poles and shine with a purple glow in Valheim. These poles will spawn in the main corridors, but they can also appear in hidden chambers indicated by a stone door with bluish runes. The Valheim Wiki states that every mine in the Mistlands will have at least two Black Cores, with six being the average maximum number.

Uses For Black Core In Valheim

Once players have collected several cores in Valheim, they can craft the following recipes below:

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Source: YouTube/Jade PG | Valheim Wiki