Could giant impacts cripple core dynamos of small terrestrial planets?

► The large impacts affected mantle dynamics and the core dynamo of Mars, Mercury, and the Moon. ► Impact heating is determined using Watters et al. (2009) Foundering model. ► The impacts that created the largest basins on the planets triggered vigorous mantle convection. ► The impacts crippled the core dynamos of the planets for about 17, 4.5 and 4.6 Myr, respectively.