Core

The core of a weapon or shield is the rigid material that forms the center of a weapon or the back of a shield, which is covered in foam padding. The core provides weight and prevents the weapon from flexing or a shield from tacoing.

The most common core materials are fiberglass rods (for weapons) and plywood (for shields). For a complete list, see Category:Core Materials. Weapons other than arrows cannot have metal cores, though shields can and metal can be used as a counterweight.

The only exposed core allowed on a weapon is the handle (with the exception of arrows and bows). You should not be able to feel the core through the striking surface padding on a full-force swing, nor through the pommel. The extent to which core can be felt through the incidental padding on a weapon and still pass will depend on the weapon, the force required to feel the core, and the weapon checker. If the core can be easily felt with very little pressure, however, it will fail.