Core

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A core (コア) is a red, spherical organ possessed by all Angels and Evangelions, which serves as the primary power source. In Angels and some Evas, the core contains an S² Engine, as well. The core is (typically) the only vital point of Angels and Evas; unless it is sufficiently damaged, these entities can receive inordinate amounts of damage without truly dying. In those Evas that do not possess an S² Engine, the core still serves as the primary power organ, but it is only capable of supplying limited power without an S² Engine.

A core is very hard and somewhat resistant to damage, though a solid strike from a Progressive Knife is enough to destroy one. Physically, cores are actually fairly brittle, however. If the core becomes damaged, shards may chip off until it fractures, so it seems to behave like a crystalline material.

The core appears to serve uniformly as a container for the soul of the Angel or Eva.

In humanoids such as Adam, the Evas, and Sachiel -- and even Zeruel and Israfel -- the core lies exposed in the solar plexus region. (Lilith, on the other hand, has no exposed core. Being outside of Adam's "family," she may not possess one at all.) The organ is positioned variously in other Angels. Examples:

• Shamshel: "Throat" region, exposed
• Ramiel: Centralized location, internal (never seen)
• Gaghiel: Back of mouth, visible with jaws open
• Sahaquiel: Center of "eye", exposed
• Arael: Between "brachial" wings, free-floating

Eva-01's core.

Leliel's unusual nature results in what appears to be a flat (rather than spherical) glowing core within three-dimensional space. Ireul presents another odd case in being a collection of many microscopic entities: Is there one "shared" core, or does each individual possess its own? The nature of the cores possessed by the amorphous Bardiel and Armisael is also unknown.

For Yui and Kyoko's Contact Experiments and Eva piloting, the ventral end of the Entry Plug is inserted into the core. According to preparations made prior to Yui's Contact Experiment, a cylindrical cavity is excavated to permit the accommodation of the plug (21'). Eva cores also seem to generate their own supply of LCL (20, 23', 26').

Eva-01 uniquely possesses two to four small core-like structures that are situated around her main core. Since it is implied that NERV can alter or even manufacture cores (or some form of) the smaller cores might be artificial inserts, for purposes unknown. One suggestion is that the small cores around the main core serve as a complementary purpose, or as a backup to the main core.

At Second Impact, a black circle or ellipse appears in Adam's solar plexus region, apparently smaller in size than the core itself (OP, 12). Possibly related, a dark circle (sphere?) manifests within Eva-01's core shortly before she fuses with the Spear of Longinus (26').

Rebuild of Evangelion

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In Rebuild of Evangelion, the entry plug is actually depicted being inserted into the core in imagery. Within the Rebuild continuity, the core is identified as the origin of an Eva's A.T. Field, as the display graph in the Sachiel battle identifies the A.T. Field as originating from the core and Entry Plug of Eva-01. Evangelion 2.0 shows the encased core of Eva-02 and the exposed core of Eva-01. In Evangelion 3.0, the Mark.09 is described as a "full-body core" and entire regions of earth have started to "turn to core". The definition of a core in this continuity remains to be seen post-3.0.

Eva-02's core in Evangelion 2.0.

Notes

• While the characters consistently refer to the core as "koa" ("core"), the term koukyuu (光球) is sometimes observed in print. Koukyuu means "photosphere" ("a sphere of light or radiance") and is apparently in reference to the core's luminescent properties.