Core Keeper • Cooking tier list

Best Magic Damage Food

Looking for the best magic damage food in Core Keeper? Discover the absolute best S-Tier recipe combos to maximize your magic damage and crit chance buffs. Updated for the 1.2 Void & Voltage update!

Target: magic_damage, crit_chance Updated: 2026-02-28

Quick summary

  • S Tier: The absolute best stats for this specific goal.
  • A Tier: Great alternatives that are easier to farm early-game.
  • Rule of Thumb: Buffs of the same type do not stack.
  • Golden Rule: Always use at least 1 Golden crop for endgame meals to guarantee a +25% stat boost.

Tier list

How cooking buffs overwrite each other

Core Keeper's cooking system takes the highest value of a stat. For example, if you cook a Bomb Pepper (+21% Speed) with a Spicy Tulip (+21% Speed), your resulting meal will only give +21% Speed, not 42%.

Furthermore, eating a new meal overwrites existing buffs of the same type. If you have a 5-minute speed buff active and eat another speed food, the timer simply resets. Only mix ingredients with different buff types for maximum efficiency.

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Golden vegetable strategy

Once you setup your 1.2 Robot Farms, you will have plenty of Golden Crops. Add 1 golden veg to guarantee a Rare outcome (giving a massive +25% to all stats). Add 2 golden veg for an extra +15% multiplier (total +40%).

Tip: Always use gold veg on the S-tier dishes listed above for endgame bosses like the Core Commander.

Related cooking guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do food buffs stack in Core Keeper?
A: No. Buffs of the same type overwrite each other. The last meal eaten takes priority.
Q: How does cooking choose buffs from two ingredients?
A: Cooked food takes the highest value per buff type across both ingredients. If both provide the same stat, only the stronger value applies.
Q: Are Golden Vegetables worth using?
A: Yes. One golden vegetable guarantees Rare (+25% stats). Two golden vegetables add an additional +15% multiplier (total +40%).
Q: Can I reliably get Epic food?
A: Not reliably. Epic is typically tied to bonus dishes via the Master Chef talent. Most cooking outputs are Uncommon/Rare.