Core Keeper Pet Tier List (2024)

Core Keeper has tons of pets available for players to take on, with each offering different talents and stats to help in different situations. Here in our Core Keeper pet tier list, we'll cover each pet, their talents, stats, how to get them, and where they rank in overall effectiveness.

Core Keeper Pet Tier List: Ranking the Best Pets

It’s important to mention that the following Core Keeper Pet Tier List ranks each pet according to various factors, such as talents and overall usability. However, this list doesn’t intend to dictate a player’s preference when choosing their preferred pets. At the end of the day, picking the best furry (or slimy) friend fo you may be your only goal - but for those looking to get the most in-game advantage, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

11. Jr. Orange Slime

Defeating Glurch the Abominous Mass, one of the early-game bosses may drop a Cracked Oozy Egg. The Jr. Orange Slime pet appears from this egg after placing it in an Egg Incubator. Many players, especially Core Keeper beginners, might get this creature as their first pet. Although it lacks firepower and combat strength, the Jr. Orange Slime can be a good pet for newbies, thanks to its ability to reduce enemies’ movement speed. How to Get: Hatched from a Cracked Oozy Egg acquired from defeating Glurch the Abominous Mass.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 30 to 100, depending on the state
• Effects: Reduces the target's movement speed by 11.7% for 4 seconds and +8% damage against bosses

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Hungry Fang: Deal up to +30% more damage based on the target's remaining health
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Sticky Toy: Reduces the target's movement speed by 14% for 4 sec
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

10. Jr. Purple Slime

The Jr. Purple Slime shares the same damage output as its orange sibling. However, it has a slight advantage over the Jr. Orange Slime with its ability to poison enemies on hit. Additionally, hit enemies have their healing abilities heavily reduced, which can prevent them from surrounding and overpowering you. How to Get: Hatched from a Cracked Oozy Poison Egg acquired from defeating Ivy the Poisonous Mass.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 30 to 100, depending on the state
• Effects: +12% chance to apply poison on hit, reduces enemy healing received by 75%, and +15% damage against bosses

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Bite Wound Infection: +15% chance to apply poison on hit, reduces enemy healing received by 75%
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Hungry Fang: Deal up to +30% more damage based on the target's remaining health
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

9. Jr. Blue Slime

The Slippery debuff is arguably one of the most annoying effects in Core Keeper. Thankfully, enemies can be hit with this debuff, and the Jr. Blue Slime pet can handle this job for you. Once hit, you can watch as enemies struggle to maintain their balance as they unwillingly move around the battlefield, leading to missed attacks. How to Get: Hatched from a Cracked Oozy Slippery Egg acquired from defeating Morpha the Aquatic Mass.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 30 to 100, depending on the state
• Effects: +13% chance on hit to apply slippery movement and +15% damage against bosses.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Hungry Fang: Deal up to +30% more damage based on the target's remaining health
• Icky Tongue: +15% chance on hit to apply slippery movement
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

8. Jr. Lava Slime

The Jr. Lava Slime pet can be your partner while exploring Core Keeper’s massive map. Combine this pet’s ability to shine through the darkness with your lantern to ensure enemies don’t gang up on you, especially when you least expect it. How to Get: Hatched from a Cracked Oozy Lava Egg acquired from defeating Igneous the Molten Mass.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 30 to 100, depending on the state
• Effects: +2 glow and +15% damage against bosses.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Burning Anger: +40 burn damage applied on hit
• Hungry Fang: Deal up to +30% more damage based on the target's remaining health
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Spirit Animal: +2 glow
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

7. Snugglygrade

A Snugglygrade is the spellcaster’s best friend. It’s a large tardigrade that helps spellcasters by granting mana when hitting enemies. Additionally, investing in its Energy Tap talent can increase the chances of generating mana per hit, allowing players to conserve mana-replenishing food items while using magic weapons. How to Get: Hatched from a Cracked Squishy Egg acquired from opening Cultist Chests at the Hydra Cult Temple or by defeating the Colossal Amoeba at the Passage.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 60
• Effects: +15% chance to gain mana on hit.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Energy Tap: +10% chance to gain mana on hit
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Off-Leash: +7% chance on hit to deal triple the amount of damage
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

6. Embertail

The Embertail pet not only helps you see better in the dark, but it also shoots flaming projectiles to harm enemies with burn damage. It has a versatile set of talents, including Burning Anger and Flaming Treat, to optimize this creature’s burn damage output. How to Get: Purchase the Cracked Curious Egg from the Bearded Merchant for 375 Ancient Coins.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 9 to 551
• Move Speed: 50
• Effects: +2 glow and +16 burn damage applied on hit.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Burning Anger: +40 burn damage applied on hit
• Flaming Treat: +15% chance on hit to consume target's burning effect and deal the total burning damage immediately
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% range attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical range damage
• Spirit Animal: +2 glow

5. Pheromoth

Despite its fairly menacing appearance, the Pheromoth isn’t meant for direct combat. Instead, this Core Keeper pet enhances your capabilities by providing various buffs, such as enhancing ranged damage and dodge chances, which is ideal for Ranger builds. Nonetheless, the Pheromoth has other talents that can benefit other builds in Core Keeper, including melee and summon builds. How to Get: Hatch from a Cracked Fuzzy Egg, which may appear after opening a Large Ancient Crate or Large Mold Vessel.

Stats

• Melee Damage: N/A
• Move Speed: 50
• Effects: Buffs owner with +9.3% physical range damage and +5% dodge chance.

Talents

• Crane Style: Buffs owner with +10% critical hit damage
• Divebombing: Buffs owner with +3% melee attack speed
• Flock Together: Buffs owner with +3% range attack speed
• Plume Power: Buffs owner with +3% physical melee damage
• Plume Projectile: Buffs owner with +3% physical range damage
• Spirit of the Hawk: Buffs owner with +3% critical hit chance
• Triple Trouble: Buffs owner with +2% chance on hit to deal triple the amount of damage
• Winged Escape: Buffs owner with Snare and stun durations reduced by +10%

4. Fanhare

Fanhares are rodent-like creatures in Core Keeper, complete with their large, feathery ears. In combat, the Fanhare attacks enemies with poisonous projectiles, increasing a player’s DPS. Its ranged attacks also mean that this particular Core Keeper pet can be a great companion for a character with a ranged build. How to Get: Hatch from a Cracked Nimble Egg, which can be acquired by opening a Pedestal at the Sea Camp Island or by destroying Flower Vessels and Large Flower Vessels.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 9 to 551
• Move Speed: 50
• Effects: +12% chance to apply poison on hit, reduces enemy healing received by 75%, and +1 target(s) pierced by projectiles.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Bite Wound Infection: +15% chance to apply poison on hit, reduces enemy healing received by 75%
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Hypersonic Claw: +1 target(s) pierced by projectiles
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% range attack speed
• Off-Leash: +7% chance on hit to deal triple the amount of damage
• Puffing Up: +10% physical range damage

3. Owlux

Like the Pheromoth, the Owlux doesn’t directly help in combat. However, it can buff the player with various advantageous effects, such as improving damage and movement speed. Additionally, investing in its talents, like Triple Trouble and Spirit of the Hawk, increases your chances to deal explosive damage on hit enemies, even bosses. How to Get: Hatch from a Cracked Lively Egg, which can be acquired by opening a Nature Egg Hut, Ancient Crate, Large Ancient Crate, Large Overgrown Wooden Crate, Large Wooden Crate, Overgrown Wooden Crate, or Wooden Crate.

Stats

• Melee Damage: N/A
• Move Speed: 50
• Effects: Buffs owner with +7.6% movement speed and +6.5% damage.

Talents

• Avian Run: Buffs owner with +5% movement speed
• Crane Style: Buffs owner with +10% critical hit damage
• Divebombing: Buffs owner with +3% melee attack speed
• Flock Together: Buffs owner with +3% range attack speed
• Plume Power: Buffs owner with +3% physical melee damage
• Plume Projectile: Buffs owner with +3% physical range damage
• Spirit of the Hawk: Buffs owner with +3% critical hit chance
• Triple Trouble: Buffs owner with +2% chance on hit to deal triple the amount of damage

Note: Learn more about this pet in our Core Keeper Owlux Pet Guide.

2. Prince Slime

Bask in royalty with the Prince Slime as your pet in Core Keeper. This blue slime seems to have a deep hatred for bosses, as it massively increases your damage output against them while this pet is on the field. Additionally, many of the Prince Slime’s talents grant significant enhancements, such as Breaking Skin, which boosts critical hit damage by 30%. How to Get: Hatch from a Cracked Oozy Royal Egg, which is a guaranteed drop after defeating the King Slime boss.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 30 to 100, depending on the state
• Effects: +30% damage against bosses.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Hungry Fang: Deal up to +30% more damage based on the targets remaining health
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Leap Attack: +30% melee attack speed
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage
• Zoomies: +30% movement speed

1. Subterrier

Dogs are loyal friends who can protect you from enemies, and that thought remains true in Core Keeper with the Subterrier. After hatching it from a Loyal Egg, this furry, four-legged friend can smack the living daylights out of enemies, stunning them. Additionally, the Subterrier has many valuable talents, including the Predator’s Mark, which massively increases your damage output against stunned enemies. Thanks to its advantages, the Subterrier is arguably one of the best if not the best pet in the game, putting it at the very top of our Core Keeper pet tier list. How to Get: Hatch from a Cracked Loyal Egg, which can be acquired from opening a Pedestal at the Meadow Oasis or by excavating from a Beach, Desert, or Grass digging spot.

Stats

• Melee Damage: 11 to 633
• Move Speed: 50
• Effects: +10% chance to stun targets on melee hit and +8% critical hit chance.

Talents

• Asserting Dominance: +15% damage against bosses
• Breaking Skin: +30% critical hit damage
• Intimidating Presence: +100% longer stun durations
• Laser Pointer Play: +10% critical hit chance
• Off-Leash: +7% chance on hit to deal triple the amount of damage
• Paralyzing Fangs: +10% chance to stun targets on melee hit
• Predator's Mark: +50% damage against stunned targets
• Puffing Up: +10% physical melee damage

How to Hatch Pets in Core Keeper

First, find the non-cracked versions of each pet's egg. Then, place the egg in an Egg Incubator, which you can craft using an 8x Copper Bar and an 8x Glass Piece at the Copper Workbench. Remember, the Egg Incubator must have power for it to function. Then, wait 30 real-time minutes for the egg to crack. Once it cracks, collect the egg from the Incubator. Hold the cracked egg and press the “Use” button to hatch the pet.