PrimalCore Mod 1.12.2, Wiki

PrimalCore is a survival-focused mod that makes the early game significantly more challenging and immersive. It replaces the traditional 'punching trees' progression with a more realistic system involving flint knapping, tool-based wood harvesting, and primitive fire-starting. Beyond the early game, the mod expands the world with new ores, monsters, and a complete overhaul of the Nether, adding unique flora, fauna, and mineral wealth. Every feature is designed to make the environment a more active participant in the player's survival journey.

The mod fundamentally changes how players interact with the world during their first few days. Vanilla shortcuts are removed in favor of multi-step processes.

Wood Harvesting

In PrimalCore, punching logs with a bare hand will inflict damage on the player and will not drop the log block. To obtain wood, players must first craft a Flint Hatchet or Flint Axe. Early logs can be broken into Wood Chips or Sticks if harvested without the proper tool.

Flint Knapping

Flint is the cornerstone of early survival. Instead of crafting tools directly from flint, players must 'knap' it:

1. Obtain Flint (from gravel or world-gen).
2. Right-click the flint against a hard surface, such as Stone or Obsidian.
3. This produces Flaked Flint and Flaked Flint Points, which are used in tool recipes.

Fire Starting

Torches and fire are no longer easily accessible. Players must use primitive tools to generate heat:

• Fire Bow: A low-tier tool that uses friction to start fires. It has a high failure rate and consumes sticks.
• Fire Sticks: A slightly more reliable version of the fire bow.
• Torches: Vanilla torches are replaced with versions that can burn out or require relighting with a Fire Bow.

PrimalCore introduces several new animals and monsters, each with unique behaviors and drops essential for survival.

Steppe Wolf

These wolves are much more dangerous than vanilla wolves. they spawn in plains and forest biomes and will actively hunt the player and other livestock. Their fat is a vital resource for early-game lighting and bait.

Nether Sheep

Found wandering the wastes of the Nether, these sheep have adapted to the heat. Their wool can be sheared and used to craft fire-resistant clothing, allowing for safer exploration of lava-filled environments.

Tools in PrimalCore are categorized by material tiers, each requiring specific processing methods.

Tool Tiers

• Flint: The basic starting tier. Requires flaked flint and plant cordage.
• Bone: Crafted from Flaked Bone, obtained by hitting bones against stone. Slightly more durable than flint.
• Obsidian: High durability but slow mining speed. Requires Obsidian Shards.
• Ironwood: A magical wood tier that performs similarly to iron. Obtained from Ironwood trees.
• Opal/Quartz: Specialized tiers found in the Nether or deep underground.

Specialized Tools

• Work Blade: Used in the Worktable for processing hides and plant fibers.
• Hand Saw: Required to turn logs into planks and slabs without wasting material.
• Gallagher: A heavy hammer used for crushing ores and stones into chunks and dust.

The mod adds several functional blocks that replace or augment vanilla crafting stations.

The Worktable

The Worktable is the early-game replacement for the Crafting Table. It features a 3x3 grid but often requires a specific tool (like a Work Blade or Saw) to be placed in a dedicated tool slot to complete recipes.

Processing Machines

• Drying Rack: Used to dry raw hides into leather and meat into jerky. It requires exposure to air and time.
• Kiln: A multi-block structure used for firing clay, mud bricks, and pottery. It must be fueled from below.
• Hibachi: A primitive stove used for cooking food and providing low-level heat for processing.
• Charcoal Pit: A large-scale method for producing charcoal. Wood logs are covered with dirt or ash and ignited, slowly carbonizing over several days.

Storage

• Crates: Sturdier than chests and retain their inventory when broken, allowing players to transport large amounts of items.
• Barrels: Used for storing liquids or fermenting certain materials.

PrimalCore adds significant variety to the overworld and the Nether.

Overworld Resources

• Ironwood Trees: Rare trees with dark bark and blue leaves. The wood is as strong as metal.
• Cinnabar Ore: Drops Cinnabar, which can be processed into Mercury or used as a Redstone substitute.
• Magnetite & Limonite: Alternative sources of iron found in specific rock strata.
• Mud & Adobe: Found in swamps and riverbeds, used for early-game construction and machine building.

The Expanded Nether

The Nether is significantly more lucrative but dangerous. PrimalCore adds Nether-specific variants of almost every vanilla ore:

• Nether Gold & Iron: Found in abundance but guarded by environmental hazards.
• Nether Coal, Diamond, and Lapis: Allow for full resource loops within the Nether dimension.
• Void Pits: Dangerous natural formations that drop into the void; often surrounded by rare 'Ancient Stone' structures.

Many items in PrimalCore require multi-stage processing rather than simple crafting table recipes.

Leather Tanning

1. Raw Hide: Dropped by animals.
2. Salted Hide: Combine Raw Hide with Salt in the Worktable.
3. Dried Hide: Place Salted Hide on a Drying Rack.
4. Tanned Leather: Process Dried Hide with Tannin (obtained from bark) in a Barrel.

Plant Fibers

Breaking tall grass drops Plant Fibers. These must be crafted into Plant Cordage or Twine before they can be used to bind flint tool heads to sticks.

Smelting and Ash

The Sarira is a specialized smelter used to reduce bones into Bone Ash, which is a critical component in advanced fertilizers and high-tier alloy smelting.