Your Guide to Pristine Core in Silksong: How to Find and Use the Rare Crafting Consumables

What to know

• Pristine Cores are consumable items found in Act 2 of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
• When broken down, they yield 220 shell shards usable for crafting.
• Pristine Core is obtained in a couple of ways - via the Twelfth Architect’s death after buying all their equipment, or dropped by Cogwork Clapper enemies.
• Some users suggest there is one more Pristine Core in Act 3, tied to a secret boss fight above a certain room. But these remain unconfirmed.

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, crafting and resource collection are central to progression. The Pristine Core is one of the more valuable consumables you’ll run across. It’s especially important because its shell shards can be used for high-tier crafting, making every Core you find or earn meaningful. Below is what is known about it, how to get it, and how best to use it.

How to get Pristine Core in silksong

Pristine Core is somewhat rare and are found mainly in Act 2 of the game. Key ways to acquire them include:

• After purchasing all equipment from the Twelfth Architect in the Underworks, if the player leaves the room and rests at a bench, the Twelfth Architect dies, leaving a Pristine Core on their corpse.

• Defeating one of the two Cogwork Clappers in the Cogwork Core area can also yield a Pristine Core.

The item is tied to the cogwork-themed enemies and areas, making it a valuable raritie for players exploring the mechanical sections of Silksong.

Breaking down and using the Pristine Core

While players may wonder if there are other unique uses for Pristine Cores, the consensus is that their primary function is crafting. Breaking a Pristine Core yields 220 shell shards, which is a significant amount compared to other similar items. Players may hold onto them for crafting high-level upgrades or items that require shell shards.

Best strategy for using Pristine Cores

• Since each yields 220 shell shards, consider saving them for crafting rare/expensive items or upgrades that require large amounts of shell shards.
• If you find a Cogwork Clapper and can defeat it without too much risk, it’s often more reliable than waiting for the Twelfth Architect trigger.
• If resources are tight, compare what you need more: shards (from Cores) or other materials. The rarity of Pristine Cores means using them for high-priority crafting is optimal.

Is there a second Pristine Core?

It’s possible that a second Pristine Core exists in Act 3 (or is in the game somewhere that hasn’t been officially confirmed), based on player reports. But there’s no solid, verified source yet confirming its location or existence.

Some players believe it may drop from a secret boss in Act 3, but which boss or where remains unclear. The “above the room” description is vague.

Thus, currently, the only known Pristine Cores are located in Act 2, and Act 3 does not appear to have any new or second Pristine Core to collect.