Core Keeper: How to Recruit NPCs

In Core Keeper, NPCs are shopkeepers who sell items, making it far easier for you to expand your base and upgrade your equipment. But how do you attract NPCs to your base in the first place? And how do you recruit NPCs so they stay as shopkeepers to sell you things?

NPCs are late-game content for Core Keeper that are each unlocked by killing a different world boss and unlocking the NPC spawn item. There are currently three NPCs: The Bearded Merchant, the Caveling Merchant, and Spirit Merchant. 

Related: How to get Scarlet Ore in Core Keeper

The first step to recruiting them is to build them a room. A room must be between 2x2 and 8x8 area with a Wood Door and a Bed. Next, place the spawn item for the NPC in the room and leave the area. The NPCs will only spawn if you are at least 30 tiles away from the area.

Each NPC has a different spawn item: The Bearded Merchant is unlocked by finding Slime Oil and placing that in a room. Slime Oil is dropped by Glurch the Abominous.

The Caveling Merchant’s spawn item is the Mysterious Idol. This is dropped by Ghorm the Devourer. 

Finally, the Spirit Merchant’s spawn item is the Ancient Hologram Pod. That item is crafted in The Hive Mother’s Effigy, which you need to kill the Hive Mother to access.

Overall, since they require bosses to be killed, you’ll most likely not be able to unlock NPCs until later in your game. But once you do, you’ll have easy access to a wealth of items in-game.

For more Core Keeper guides, check out How to get a Fishing Rod and how Fishing works in Core Keeper on Pro Game Guides..