The Corruption Core is a modded, post-Mechs, corruption-themed boss. Its appearance is that of a Shadow Orb with green cracks, surrounded by a purple, translucent ring. Most of the time it is additionally orbited by 3-4 Orbitals, which also resemble Shadow Orbs.
The Corruption Core is highly aggressive and deceivingly tanky, so most players will find it more difficult to fight than other bosses of its progression tier. Hence, most players should wait until post-Plantera or even post-Golem to challenge the Core.
Fighting the Core is entirely optional, but its unique weapons and gear drops may prove powerful assets, especially if acquired early on.


*Displayed in Classic/Expert/Master format*

Core: 55/92/138
Corrupt Orbital: 45/76/114
Cursed Orbital: 50/84/126

Shade Wisp: 50/83/125
Night Bomb: 60/104/156
Cursed Fire: 44/76/114
Shadow Blast: 74/128/192

Core: 24000/31988/39780
Corrupt Orbital: 9000/13500/17211
Corrupt Orbital Total (x3): 27000/40500/51633
Cursed Orbital: 7250/10875/13864
Cursed Orbital Total (x4): 29000/43500/55456

Total: 80000/115988/146869
Shade Wisp: 120/360/540

Core: 8
Corrupt Orbital: 16
Cursed Orbital: 12
Shade Wisp: 2

One of four weapons (100%):
Core O’ Punishment (25%)
Cursed Carbine (25%)
Defiled Needle (25%)
Orbital Staff (25%)

Shade Splinter (Accessory) (20%) (25% in Expert)

Shadow Shard (4-6) (100%)

Corruption Core Mask (14.29%)
Corruption Core Trophy (10%)
Greater Health Potion (5-15) (100%)

Treasure Bag (Corruption Core) (100%) (Expert-Only)
Shadow Ring (100%) (Expert-Only)

Core Relic (100%) (Master-Only)
Corruption Core (Pet) (25%) (Master-Only)

Coins: 20 Gold (50 in Expert)

The Corruption Core is summoned by killing a Suspicious Looking Orb, which occasionally spawns in the Underground Corruption after defeating all three Mechanical Bosses. Alternatively, both Suspicious Looking Orbs and the Corruption Core itself drop Shadow Shards, which may be combined with the Mech Souls to craft a Charged Orb which can be used in the Corruption/Underground Corruption, or anywhere at night to manually summon the boss.

When it spawns, the Corruption Core will create 3 Corrupt Orbital minions which spin around it. Similarly to the Brain of Cthulhu, the Core is immune to damage while its minions are alive. When its Orbitals are killed, the Core becomes vulnerable to damage and more aggressive.

When dropped to 5/9s life (10000/13000/16575), the Core will summon 4 Cursed Orbital minions and revert to its invulnerable behavior. Additionally, it will move about 25%/10% faster.

If its target leaves the Underground Corruption, it will enrage. While enraged, the Core moves 10% faster, both it and its Orbitals gain +50% defense, and the Orbitals orbit 10% farther out.

The Core has many attacks, and uses a different set depending on whether or not its has Orbitals. Its Orbitals will also participate in (Or be the sole source of) the Core’ attacks, meaning they generally become easier to dodge as Orbitals are killed. As it attacks, the Core gives near-constant chase to its target, though the speed at which it chases the player is often dependent on what attack it is currently using.

The Core will cycle through its attacks in a semi-fixed order. It will always use Cursed Flames in between its other, special attacks. When choosing a special attack (All attacks except Cursed Flames), it will alternate between choosing from these two pools; Shade Wisps or Night Bombs, and Shadow Blasts or Cursed Storm (For example, the Core’s first special attack will always be Shade Wisps or Night Bombs).

Cursed Flames: Fires Cursed Flames projectiles much like Spazmatism’s in a straight line towards the player while giving chase. Orbitals may randomly fire off smaller Cursed Flames as well. The attack lasts 5 seconds, which is reduced to 3.5 seconds when below 5/9s life (10000/13000/16575).

Shade Wisps: Slows down a little as its Orbitals move a little closer to it. After a short delay - each Orbital launches an inaccurate series of 3 Shade Wisps. Shade Wisps aggressively home in on the player, and count as NPCs, meaning they can be destroyed by attacking them.

Night Bombs: Slows to a stop briefly, during which each Orbital moves closer to the Core and shoots a large spread of 3 Night Bombs. Night Bombs slowly drift for a short time before rapidly accelerating and, afterwards, exploding. While accelerating, Night Bombs also home in on the player.

Shadow Blasts: Chases after the player more quickly and aggressively for a few seconds. At the end of this period, the Core unleashes a large, powerful Shadow Blast centered on itself. The Orbitals will spread out during this attack, and produce their own, smaller Shadow Blasts.

Cursed Storm: Slows to a stop before unleashing a massive circle of 24 Cursed Flames projectiles. One Cursed Flame in the volley is guaranteed to be aimed at the target. The Orbitals will spread out some and - following the Core’s attack - fire their own volleys of 12 Cursed Flames each, which have random orientations.

In this state, the Core no longer has Orbitals to contribute to its attacks, since they must be killed beforehand to make the Core vulnerable. To make up for this, the Core is generally faster moving and more aggressive. Like before, The Core will use Cursed Flames in between its special attacks. Outside of Expert mode, it only has two special attacks, which are guaranteed to be alternated between.

Cursed Flames: Identical to before, except the Core moves and shoots faster, in addition to firing at a higher velocity. Lasts half a second shorter than it does in the Invulnerable State.

Dash: Briefly pauses its movement before charging towards the player, causing a series of 5 Shadow Blasts in its wake.

Bomb Chase: Has a 50% chance to replace the Dash attack in Expert mode or higher. Chases after the player more quickly for a few seconds, during which the Core repeatedly drops Night Bombs.

Cursed Storm V2: Similar to the normal Cursed Storm, but instead of 24 Cursed Flames, only 16 are fired. Shortly after shooting the Cursed Flames, the Core unleashes a circle of 8 Shade Wisps.

Cursed Barrage: Has a 50% chance to replace Cursed Storm V2 in Expert mode or higher. Behaves similarly to as though it were using Cursed Flames, but moves slightly more aggressively and fires faster and with a spread. Additionally, there is a 1/3 chance for each Cursed Flame to have a Shade Wisp to be fired alongside it.

The Core moves about 40% faster, and can now use the Blast Chase and Cursed Barrage attacks in its Vulnerable State. In addition, all of its projectiles can now go through tiles, and the following changes are made to attacks;

Cursed Flames: Projectiles have 20% increased velocity, and the Core fires with a slight spread.

Shade Wisps: Shade Wisps have a higher than average HP boost from Expert mode (x3 instead of x2) and have more aggressive homing.

Night Bombs: Projectiles have more aggressive homing and move slightly faster, but explode sooner. Explosions now deal 20% extra damage than normal.

Shadow Blasts: Blasts are about 25% larger.

Cursed Storm & Cursed Storm V2: The Core fires 6 more Cursed Flames than before.

Dash: Gains predictiveness, accounting for player velocity when calculating dash direction

The Core exclusively summons Corrupt Orbitals, of which it summons much more. 4 are spawned at the start of the fight, at 66% HP 5 are summoned, and at 33% HP 6 are summoned. Corrupt Orbital HP is halved (After FTW contribution) to accommodate for the increased amount of Orbitals. HP totals are vastly increased overall, and are as follows:

Orbital (x1): 6750/8604/11472
Core: 31988/39780/53040
Orbital wave 1 (x4): 27000/34416/45888
Orbital wave 2 (x5): 33750/43020/57360
Orbital wave 3 (x6): 40500/51624/68832
Total: 133238/168840/225120

Additionally, both the Core and Orbitals are 20% smaller, and Orbitals orbit 25% closer to the Core to accommodate.