Sandwich panels with multi-layered core have attractive performance due to the excellent designability and tailorable mechanical properties. In present study, the dynamic responses of the sandwich panels with multi-layered corrugated core were investigated experimentally under underwater impulsive loads. In order to exploit the potential for performance improvement, some attempts have been made by designing core configuration from several aspects including stack orientation, layer number, core gradation and core topology. Experimental results indicate that the core in the cross-stacked would deteriorate back face deflection. The core with three layers performed best in constraint back face deflection because of the well balance between energy absorption and residual flexural stiffness. The core gradation in wall thickness would reduce back face deflection, while the one in corrugation angle would increase back face deflection. The core topology designed into reentrant trapezoidal corrugation behaved effectively in inhabiting back face deformation due to the periodic progressive collapse mechanism of core webs.