Core Keeper may be a cozy survival crafting game at heart, but don’t let its chill pixel-art charm fool you—there’s plenty of action waiting beneath the surface. One of the game’s standout features is its lineup of boss fights: unique, challenging encounters that offer both structured progression and excitement as you explore deeper underground.
Among the first major foes you’ll face in Core Keeper is Glurch the Abominous Mass—a massive, bouncing blob of goo that’s equal parts intimidating and strangely captivating. As one of the early-game bosses, Glurch is designed to test your combat readiness and push you to upgrade your gear and tactics.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to take down Glurch—whether you’re playing in Normal Mode or Hard Mode. From how to find it and prepare for the fight, to kiting patterns and tips that’ll keep you from getting flattened, we’ve got you covered.
How to find Glurch the Abominous Mass in Core Keeper
Tracking down Glurch is the easiest part of the fight—assuming you’ve got a good pickaxe and a little patience.
To begin, make sure you’ve got at least a Reinforced Copper Pickaxe or something equivalent for efficient digging. Then, head out from The Core—that big glowing structure at the center of the world—and dig in straight lines about 65 tiles in the north, south, east, and west directions.
In most cases, this method is enough to stumble across Glurch’s slimy stomping grounds.
As you dig, watch for the screen to start shaking—that’s the sign that Glurch is nearby. But if you’ve tunneled out in all four directions and still haven’t found the beast, try connecting the ends of those tunnels to form a large ring around The Core. This circular path should catch the boss if it’s slightly off-center.
Just keep your eyes peeled—and your tools ready. Glurch isn’t exactly shy, but it does like to sit just out of reach.
Gearing Up for the Giant Slime Showdown
Before you challenge Glurch, it’s crucial to come prepared—with the right gear, the fight becomes far more manageable.
Ranged weapons are your best friend here. They let you keep your distance, maintain solid DPS, and stay mobile. A Wood Bow crafted from the Copper Workbench and reinforced at the Salvage and Repair Station is a reliable option. If you’ve found a Wood Crossbow, even better—it hits harder when reinforced and can make quick work of Glurch’s health bar.
Other early-game ranged options like a reinforced Simple Staff or any ranged weapon you’ve looted will work too.
For armor, the Rain Armor Set (Rain Coat + Rubber Boots) is a game-changer. It provides a 50% resistance to slime-based slow effects when equipped together, which is massive given that Glurch’s arena is absolutely covered in the stuff. Pair the set with any helmet of your choice, reinforce everything, and you’ll have a great balance of mobility, defense, and survivability.
You may hear suggestions to use a Hoe to clear the slime patches before and during the fight, but honestly—in my opinion—it’s not worth the effort. Glurch spreads more slime with every slam, and you’ll just waste time you could be spending attacking.
Another highly recommended piece of gear is the Swift Feather. This off-hand item grants a small dodge bonus and, more importantly, a quick dash ability (activated using Space Bar by default). It’s perfect for avoiding Glurch’s jumps and gives you more time to focus on landing attacks without sacrificing mobility or DPS.
And of course—if you haven’t done so already—don’t forget to craft a:
- Small Lantern for hands-free lighting.
- Small Backpack for bonus inventory space and a minor health boost.
With the right setup, you’ll be ready to take on Glurch.
Best Foods to Cook Before Fighting Glurch
Boss fights in Core Keeper aren’t just about gear—they’re also about what’s on the menu. The right food can boost your mobility, survivability, and DPS, making the difference between victory and becoming slime paste. Here are some of the best early-game recipes to bring into the Glurch fight:
Hearty Pepper Wrap
Made with: Bomb Pepper + Heart Berry
One of the best and most accessible foods for early bossing. It provides:
- A movement speed boost,
- A max health bonus,
- Health regeneration, and
- A decent food value overall.
A solid all-rounder that’ll keep you quick and healthy during the fight.
Mushy Pepper Wrap
Made with: Mushroom + Bomb Pepper
A great alternative to the Hearty Pepper Wrap if you’re short on Heart Berries. This wrap skips the max health bonus but offers:
- Higher health regeneration, and
- The same movement speed boost.
Great for sustained healing, especially if you want to play it on the safer side.
Glimmering Pepper Wrap
Made with: Gem Crab + Bomb Pepper
In my opinion, this one takes the cake—if you can manage to get the ingredients. It offers:
- A solid armor bonus,
- Movement speed,
- Health regen, and
- Good food value.
The catch? Gem Crab is rare. You can only get it by fishing in water tiles, and its drop rate is lower than more common fish like Cave Guppies or Rock Jaws. If you manage to reel one in, this wrap is well worth the effort.
Spicy Tulip Salad
Made with: Glow Tulip + Bomb Pepper
Perfect for magic users. This light but handy dish grants:
- Movement speed,
- Mana regeneration, and
- A soft glow in the dark—great for visibility in the slime-filled arena.
While its food value is lower, it’s a top pick for ranged magic builds.
Glowing Berry Pudding
Made with: Glow Tulip + Heart Berry
A slightly heartier alternative to the Spicy Tulip Salad. It trades movement speed for:
- A max health bonus,
- Health regen, and
- Higher food value.
Still provides a glow, and is a great defensive option if you’re expecting to take a few hits.
Fighting Glurch the Abominous Mass
This fight demonstration is done on Hard Mode, so if you’re playing on Normal Mode, expect a shorter and slightly easier encounter than what’s shown in the video.
For accessibility’s sake, I’ll be using a bow in this demo—it’s easy to craft, available early on, and a solid choice for anyone regardless of build or background.
- Be sure to place torches around the arena to light up the terrain—good visibility can help you avoid running into walls, slime, or other obstacles mid-fight.
- While only a few stray slimes might spawn during the fight itself, it’s still a good idea to clear out any nearby enemies around Glurch’s arena beforehand. Stray mobs can get in the way of your attacks or soak up hits meant for the boss. Just be careful not to wander too close to Glurch—it’ll aggro and kick off the fight if you enter its range.
- Glurch has one main attack: a giant leap toward the nearest player. It’s slow and predictable, but it hits hard if you’re not paying attention.
- Start the fight with the Wood Bow’s secondary attack ‘Strong Shot’—which fires an arrow that deals twice the damage of a normal shot.
- The best strategy I’ve found is to attack while kiting in a circular pattern around the arena. This helps you avoid the jump while keeping up consistent damage.
- If Glurch’s leap hits a structure or a wall, it will destroy it. If it lands on water or an empty tile, the impact will replace it with dirt, altering the terrain as the fight goes on.
- At 30% health, Glurch enters phase two, becoming enraged. Its speed increases, and it starts moving and attacking much faster, making it a little tougher to dodge.
- This is where the Swift Feather really shines—its dash ability lets you stay one step ahead, even during Glurch’s more frantic final phase.
After the Fight: Loot, Merchants, and What’s Next
Congratulations on defeating Glurch the Abominous Mass—your first big milestone in Core Keeper! This fight marks the start of your boss-hunting journey, and the rewards are well worth the effort.
After the fight, you’ll be rewarded with a bunch of loot. You’re guaranteed to receive:
- Glurch Chest – Contains loot from the boss. Can also serve as a functional storage chest with a cool, slimy design.
- Glurch Eye – An important progression item.
- Slime Oil Idol – Used to invite a special NPC to your base.
Once the dust settles, you’ll notice a bearded NPC wielding a pickaxe has appeared where Glurch is defeated. Don’t worry—its not hostile. This friendly fellow is actually a merchant who sells useful items and buys your valuables for Ancient Coins, the game’s main currency. Hang on to that Slime Oil Idol you picked up earlier—you’ll need it to invite him back to your base. If you’re not sure how that works, be sure to check out our Habitable Room Guide for more details.
As for the Glurch Eye, take it back to The Core and look for the stone blob statue behind it. Drag the eye into the empty slot that matches its shape, and the statue will activate. This unlocks three new crafting options: the Ghorm the Devourer Scanner, the Malugaz the Corrupted Scanner, and the Slime Sword. As the name suggests, these scanners will help you locate the next bosses on your list, pushing your adventure forward and giving you new challenges to tackle.
Glurch might be your first boss, but there’s a whole underground world still waiting. With your new loot, a merchant ally, and a clearer path ahead, this will set the stage for your next adventures in Core Keeper.
Planning to take on Ghorm the Devourer next? Check out our full guide which covers everything you need to prepare for the fight.
