All Core Keeper Backgrounds

I don’t really know what would possess someone to abandon their entire life and become an underground explorer. Personally, I like central air conditioning and unbroken legs too much to even consider it. But I guess the call to adventure rings out to all sorts, and sometimes the strangest folks are the ones who answer it. If you’re one of those brave weirdos in Core Keeper, you should think long and hard about what your life has provided to you previously, as it may prove unexpectedly helpful in the deep dark. Here are all of the Backgrounds in Core Keeper, as well as the best Background.

Core Keeper has seven possible Backgrounds for your player character to choose from while you’re creating them. Your Background won’t put any kind of penalties on you, nor will it affect how the game unfolds (unless the devs decide to change that after the early access period, of course). They’re just there to provide a few assorted benefits to you should you want them, and if you’re playing through this game for the first time, then yeah, you probably want them.

All Core Keeper Backgrounds

The seven Backgrounds for Core Keeper player characters are as follows:

• Nomad
• Explorer
• Miner
• Fighter
• Chef
• Gardener
• Fisherman

Nomad

• No starting perks or tools

A basic character with no additional perks or free tools. It doesn’t matter who they were before they came to these dark caverns, all that matters is what they do here and now. As Nomad doesn’t provide any kind of bonuses, it’s a Background based saved for more experienced players who don’t need an extra leg up.

Explorer

• +3 Running Skill
• +1 Small Lantern
• +3 Food Rations

An experienced traveler and spelunker who knows how important unimpaired movement is to an expedition. The Explorer starts with a free lantern to light the way and a boosted ability to run through (or away) from things.

Miner

• +3 Mining Skill
• +1 Copper Pickaxe
• +3 Food Rations

When you’re living and working in a cave system, it probably helps to have someone on deck who has half an idea of how earth and stone function. The Miner starts with a free pickaxe to help you get started on the mining process, as well as a boosted ability to break down stone and clear the way.

Fighter

• +3 Melee Skill
• +1 Copper Sword
• +3 Food Rations

In an underground world full of all kinds of unspeakable beasties, you definitely want someone with either the skills to protect themselves and others or at least the lack of self-preservation to try. The Fighter starts with a simple copper sword, skipping over the need to fight bare-handed, as well as an improved ability to fight at close range.

Chef

• +3 Cooking Skill
• +1 Cooking Pot
• +8 Mushrooms

Hearty men and women on a dangerous expedition need the basic food groups to keep themselves healthy and alert, which means a good mess cook is an absolute necessity. The Chef starts with a free pot for cooking stuff, which beats eating your ingredients raw, as well as improved skill in preparing dishes. Additionally, in lieu of regular rations, the Chef gets 8 edible mushrooms to cook with.

Gardener

• +3 Gardening Skill
• +1 Copper Hoe
• +1 Watering Can

Without the grace of sunshine, you need to have someone with a working knowledge of plants if you want to wrestle edible vegetation out of the dirt. The Gardener starts with a hoe and watering can, both necessary to start a rudimentary farm, as well as improved skill in growing and harvesting.

Fisherman

• +3 Fishing Skill
• +1 Wood Fishing Rod
• +3 Food Rations

As caves aren’t exactly lousy with hamburgers, you’ll need to secure an alternate source of protein, which is where the Fisherman comes in. The Fisherman starts with a free rod for catching basic fish, as well as improved proficiency for reeling them in.

What’s the Best Background in Core Keeper?

Out of all of these Backgrounds and their bonuses, the best choice, at least from a practical perspective, would probably be the Gardener, since you get free tools and an improved ability to grow renewable food. You would normally need to wait until you’ve harvested copper before you could make a hoe, so being able to skip that and get right to farming can do a lot for your early survivability. 

For other related content and guides, check out our website’s Core Keeper section!