Quick Links

  • What Are Core Fragments?
  • Core Fragments For Quests
  • Spawn Locations For Core Fragments
  • Core Fragments On Garden Planets

There are several different types of ore in Starbound; some more readily available than others. In this guide, we are going to look at Core Fragments. These little orange fragments are needed early in the game and be difficult to obtain at first. Fortunately, we are going to go over what they are, as well as two different ways to find them.

What Are Core Fragments?

core fragment highlighted in player inventory

Core Fragments are a type of ore found deep within a planet. These little fragments aren't the most useful in their natural state; they are only needed for one quest.

In addition to being used for this quest, you can craft Core Fragments into Volatile Powder. This material is mainly used to craft bombs and flares. You will need four volatile powder to craft one bomb, and one volatile powder to craft two flares.

Bombs are a great way to fight enemies, as well as quickly carve out a solid area. Throughout your adventures, you will definitely need to keep some bombs handy.

Volatile Powder is also needed to upgrade your Industrial Furnace into an Atomic Furnace.

Core Fragments For Quests

player interacting with gate console for core fragments
via Majorkill/YouTube

As mentioned above, you will need to gather Core Fragments for a quest.

One of the first quests you will receive is Getting Started. After landing on the starting planet and exploring, you will come across a gate that requires 20 Core Fragments. Interacting with the gate console will trigger this quest.

After you get the 20 Core Fragments, you will be transported to the Outpost. Once there, you will be prompted to find and speak to Esther. She will be on the far right side of the area. Make your way to her to receive your reward.

There are a few different ways to get your first core fragments, so we are going to go over them next.

Spawn Locations For Core Fragments

player standing near core fragments underground

As the name suggested, Core Fragments can be found near the core of planets.

This ore can be found on any planet, regardless of difficulty level and biome, with the exception of moons and barren planets. Barren planets contain nothing. There are no ores or biomes and they pose no threat to you.

To find the fragments naturally, you will need to mine down on a planet until you start to see lava.

Once the area around you looks similar to the picture above, you will be near Core Fragments. They will generate in areas throughout the ground, typically in clusters. To mine the fragments, just aim your Matter Manipulator and left-click. If the Core Fragments are buried within the background, right-click with your Matter Manipulator.

Core Fragments On Garden Planets

navigation screen for starbound with lush planet highlighted

Core Fragments can also be found within mines on Garden planets.

Garden planets can be found around Gentle Stars, and have a low threat level. The planet you initially begin on will be a Garden planet, but you can travel to others as well.

From your navigation panel, these planets will be described as 'Lush'. On your map, they will appear similar to Earth, with a mix of green and blue.

These planets contain mines that extend deep underground. Within the mines, there are chests that contain Core Fragments. If you are looking for a quick way to find Core Fragments, then exploring a few different mineshafts is a good idea.

In addition, exploring mines is a great way to get 20 fragments for the Getting Started quest. It can be dangerous to explore deep into the planet, so visiting Garden planets is a safe alternative.

That's all there is to know about Core Fragments! They aren't used in crafting too often, but it can be difficult to obtain the first 20 fragments after starting a game.

Next: Terraria: Things You Should Do During Your First Hour