Quick Answer
Memory Cores are the newer workshop-crafted upgrade layer that sits next to normal Memories. If you are new to Memories, read the How Memories Work guide first, then return here when you have unused Memories to spend and want a direct power bump on your carry.
What Memory Cores Do
Memory Cores are equippable items that grant a special effect. Unlike regular Memories, they are made in the workshop and can be equipped by every vocation, with each character carrying up to two cores at once.
Crafting
Workshop, using Memory Points and Gold
Material
Memory Points from exchanging unused Memories
Equip limit
Up to 2 per character, all vocations
Rank up
Combine 3 same-rank cores for a chance at the next rank
A-rank bonus
A-rank cores and above get a second effect slot
How to Craft Memory Cores
Open the workshop and choose the Memory Core craft option. Each core costs Memory Points and Gold, and you can craft several at once. If you are just starting, craft a few cheap cores to learn the menu and to complete the crafting-related missions that reward gems and gold for generating and combining cores.
Confirm the live cost and available rank on the craft screen before spending a large stock of points and gold.
How to Get Memory Points
Memory Points come from the Memory Pt Exchange on the Memory screen, where you convert owned Memories into points.
- Exchange low-rarity or duplicate Memories you are not using first.
- Keep Memories that still fit a build you play, even if they are not your top pick.
- Do not exchange a Memory you may want later just to craft one core; unused pieces are the safe source.
Memory and Gold for the exchange and craft both accumulate from normal quest clears, so the easiest long-term loop is to run stages you already farm for other reasons and convert the spare drops.
How to Rank Up Memory Cores
Cores have ranks, and higher ranks carry stronger effect values. To raise a core:
- Collect three cores of the same rank.
- Combine them in the craft or combine screen for a chance to make one core of the next rank.
- Repeat with whatever cores you end up with, using the auto-combine option when available to merge the low-rank spares quickly.
Because A-rank cores and above hold two effect slots, the practical goal is to combine toward A-rank and higher rather than stop at the first usable core.
Which Memory Core Effects to Prioritize
Pick effects by what your carry actually does. A damage effect that matches your weapon or attribute usually beats a general effect, and a family or system damage effect earns its slot against bosses.
| Effect | Best for | When to skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon attribute damage | Your main weapon’s attribute matches the effect | Your weapon changes often |
| Attribute damage | A broad magic or physical carry | You already have a matching weapon-specific core |
| Family or system damage | Boss-heavy fights you repeat | Your target is spread across families |
| Ailment resistance | Fights that punish with freeze, paralysis, or similar | Your team avoids those status effects |
| Attribute resistance | Enemy-heavy attribute attacks | Your clears are already safe |
When Memory Cores Are Worth the Cost
Spend spare Memories, not core Memories
Convert unused and duplicate pieces first. Keep the Memories your current build still uses.
Chase A-rank for the second slot
Two effect slots make the core much more flexible, so aim your combining at A-rank and above.
Match the effect to the fight
Damage effects that line up with your weapon or the boss's family give the clearest return per core.
Stop Lines
| Stop when | Why |
|---|---|
| Your carry still needs weapon, Memory, or vocation upgrades | Core crafting should not drain gold from core upgrades |
| You are converting Memories you still use | Keep working pieces; only spare drops should fund cores |
| You cannot reach A-rank without heavy spend | A single low-rank core may not beat a better-used resource |
| The live craft or combine screen changes | Confirm current costs and rank behavior before a big spend |
Related Pages
| Page | Use it for |
|---|---|
| How Memories Work | Slot color, rank-up timing, and early Memory rules |
| Memory Farming Locations | Choosing which Memory stages deserve repeat stamina |
| Best Memories Tier List | Current Memory ranking and upgrade priority |
| Best Daily Resource Route | A daily loop that leaves spare Memories to convert |
| Exchange Shop Guide | Spending gold and points without draining upgrades |
FAQ
What is a Memory Core in DRAGON QUEST Smash/Grow?
A Memory Core is a workshop-crafted equippable item that grants a special effect such as damage up, family or system damage, ailment resistance, or attribute resistance. Each character can equip up to two cores, and the cores work for every vocation.
How do I get Memory Points?
Exchange unused Memories for Memory Points from the Memory screen using the Memory Pt Exchange option. Low-rarity or duplicate Memories you do not use are the usual first choice.
How do I raise a Memory Core's rank?
Combine three cores of the same rank for a chance to make one core of the next rank. A-rank cores and above carry two special effect slots instead of one, which is why chasing A-rank and higher is usually the goal.
Which Memory Core effect is best?
Prioritize effects that match your carry: weapon attribute damage or attribute damage when they line up with your main weapon, family or system damage against bosses, and ailment resistance when a fight punishes you with status effects.