- Vault Core is a dragonkin energy source found on pedestals inside dragonkin vaults across Ashenfall.
- Primary uses: crafting lodestones (teleport anchors) and masterworks like the abyssal whip and dragonblight shield.
- Respawn rate: cores reappear on their plinths every three in-game days, so supply is renewable.
- Stack limit: 25 per stack (raised from 10 in patch 0.8.0, June 17, 2025).
- Weight: a hefty 50.0, so plan inventory space before a vault run.
What Is a Vault Core?
A Vault Core is a basic item classified as a dragonkin energy source, found only within dragonkin vaults. Each core sits on a pedestal deep inside the vault, guarded by the vault's servitor defenses. In lore terms, the core is a heart of alchemically modified rune essence, layered with complex enchantments and veins of anima that let it absorb ambient magical energy from Ashenfall itself — the same power that drives the vault guardian servitors.
Because Vault Cores respawn on their plinths every three in-game days, you can farm them repeatedly. There is no hard cap on how many you can collect over time — only on how many fit in a single stack (25).
Item Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Basic Item (dragonkin energy source) |
| Source | Pedestals inside dragonkin vaults |
| Weight | 50.0 |
| Stack limit | 25 (raised from 10 in patch 0.8.0) |
| Respawn | Every 3 in-game days |
| Rarity as salvage | ~5.26/100 (1–2 from Misc. Salvage) |
Where to Find Vault Cores
Vault Cores spawn exclusively on pedestals (plinths) inside dragonkin vaults. These vaults are the ancient arcane strongholds of the dragonkin scattered across Ashenfall — a region whose surfeit of magical power made it the perfect testing ground for dragonkin energy technology.
Pedestals in Vaults
- Primary source of Vault Cores
- Found on plinths inside dragonkin vaults
- Respawn every 3 in-game days
Vault Guardians
- Servitors powered by the cores themselves
- Protect the vault interior
- Prepare for combat before looting
Misc. Salvage
- Secondary source, 1–2 cores
- Roughly 5.26/100 rarity
- Unreliable compared to pedestal farming
Each Vault Core weighs 50.0 — one of the heaviest crafting materials you will haul. With a stack limit of 25, a full stack is enormous in weight terms. Bank frequently or use a nearby lodestone to shuttle cores home.
Vault Core Farming Route: Step-by-Step
Follow this loop to collect Vault Cores efficiently without overloading your inventory.
Prepare Your Gear
Bring solid combat equipment for the vault guardian servitors, plus food and escape options. Clear inventory space — cores weigh 50.0 each.
Enter the Dragonkin Vault
Locate a dragonkin vault in Ashenfall and fight or sneak past the guardian servitors toward the interior pedestals.
Loot the Pedestals
Take the Vault Cores from their plinths. Grab Vault Shards too — several core recipes also need 8 Vault Shards.
Teleport Home and Bank
Use a placed lodestone to teleport out and bank your haul. Cores stack to 25, so consolidate stacks where possible.
Wait 3 In-Game Days and Repeat
The plinths restock after three in-game days. Rotate between multiple vaults to keep the cores flowing without dead time.
If you know the locations of two or more dragonkin vaults, alternate between them. By the time you finish looting the second vault, the first is often close to restocking.
Crafting Recipes Using Vault Cores
Vault Cores are components in several high-value recipes, most notably lodestones — placeable teleport anchors you can travel to from any other lodestone you have placed on the map. They also appear in masterwork recipes such as the abyssal whip and dragonblight shield.
Confirmed Recipes
| Product | Facility | Skill | XP | Key Materials (incl. Vault Core) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Dragon Shield | Blacksmith's Bench | Artisan | 100 | 12 Blightwood, 4 Wild Anima, 4 Hard Leather, 4 Opal, 8 Vault Shard, 1 Vault Core |
| Armour Bench | Build Menu | Construction | 12 | 6 Bronze Bar, 20 Ash Logs, 8 Coarse Thread, 1 Vault Core |
| Lodestone | Crafting | — | — | Requires Vault Core as the core teleport component |
| Masterworks (abyssal whip, dragonblight shield) | Masterwork stations | — | — | Vault Core listed as a required component |
Prioritize your first few Vault Cores for lodestones. A network of placed lodestones dramatically cuts travel time across Ashenfall — which in turn makes every future Vault Core farming run faster.
Material Shopping List (Anti-Dragon Shield)
| Material | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blightwood | 12 | Harvested from blighted trees |
| Wild Anima | 4 | Collected from magical sources |
| Hard Leather | 4 | Processed hide |
| Opal | 4 | Gem material |
| Vault Shard | 8 | Dropped/found in dragonkin vaults |
| Vault Core | 1 | Pedestals in dragonkin vaults |
Vault Run Checklist
Before Every Vault Run:
- Clear inventory space (each core weighs 50.0)
- Bring combat gear for guardian servitors
- Pack food and a teleport escape option
- Note which vaults were looted and when (3-day respawn)
- Collect Vault Shards alongside cores for shield recipes
- Bank cores and place spare lodestones
Lore: Dragonkin Energy Technology
The Journal entry for the Vault Core describes it as a marvel of dragonkin science with revolutionary potential: a power source that thrives off the ambient anima of its region. Ashenfall, with its surfeit of magical power, was the ideal place for such technology — and the dragonkin applied it to all of their arcane machinery, from vault servitors to the vaults' deeper functions.
Patch 0.8.0 (June 17, 2025) raised the Vault Core stack limit from 10 to 25 and cleaned up the Journal entry's grammar — a quiet but meaningful quality-of-life buff for farmers hauling cores home.
FAQ
Q: Do Vault Cores respawn in Dragonwilds?
Yes. Vault Cores respawn on their pedestals inside dragonkin vaults every three in-game days, so their quantity is not limited and you can farm them repeatedly.
Q: What is the Vault Core stack limit?
The stack limit is 25, increased from 10 in patch 0.8.0 on June 17, 2025. Each core still weighs 50.0, so manage your carry capacity carefully.
Q: What are Vault Cores used for?
Their primary use is crafting lodestones, which act as teleport destinations you can travel to from any other placed lodestone. They are also components in masterworks such as the abyssal whip and dragonblight shield, plus recipes like the Anti-Dragon Shield and Armour Bench.
Q: Can I get Vault Cores without entering a vault?
There is a small chance (roughly 5.26 in 100) of receiving 1–2 Vault Cores from Misc. Salvage, but this is far less reliable than looting the pedestals inside dragonkin vaults directly.