Another Crab’s Treasure is one of2024’s best Souls-likes, but is also a title that isn’t afraid to venture off the path of the typical FromSoftware game either.
One way we see this is in the implementation of adaptations, powerful moves obtained by Kril, The Hermit Crab, on his quest to recover his lost shell.
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Each adaptation Kril can learn uses up his precious Umami charges he also splits between his shell abilities, so choosing the right adaptations to utilize during the journey is extra important. As resources get scarce, Kril needs every tool in his arsenal to stay alive.
So, which adaptation skills are best to focus on as you and Kril explore and conquer everything under the sea? Let’s dive in!
8Snail Sanctum
Plenty Of Shells In The Sea
Umami Charge Cost
Obtained By
Defeating Petroch, The False Moon
Typically acquired last of all eight adaptations in the game, Snail Sanctum is a bit underwhelming for Kril’s final learned move, which he gains after defeating one of thebest bosses in the game, Petroch.
It’s a power to be used when particularly desperate that summons a shiny conch shell for Kril’s armor when he finds himself concerningly naked and afraid.
Havingthe best shells in Another Crab’s Treasureis important, but not at the expense of wasting an entire adaptation slot and precious Umami on being able to summon one.
Simply put, shells arewaytoo common in Another Crab’s Treasure to warrant an adaptation power dedicated to spawning Kril a new one.
Even if the available shells in the area aren’t amazing choices, there are still plenty around to give Kril some defense in a pinch, and every other adaptation in the book should be more useful in progressing through the game.
7Royal Wave
Queen Of Clubbing
2 Charges At Levels 1 and 2
1 Charge At Level 3
Defeating Magista, Tyrant Of Slacktide
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Royal Wave is the first adaptation Kril picks up after he bests the ball-and-chain-wielding Magista, Tyrant Of Slacktide, once she falls victim to The Gunk. When triggered, Royal Wave flings a giant spirit claw in front of Kril to damage anything standing in his way.
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It’s not abadmove and its range and damage increase as Kril levels up the adaptation with Grovekeeper Topoda.Still, it feels a bit more like a glorified shell ability than a powerful adaptation move in comparison to some of the others here.
6Urchin Toss
Nautical Halo Plasma Grenade
Self-Inflicting Damage Repeatedly Against The Urchin In New Carcinia, Lower Crust
The adaptation most likely to be missed on a first play-through, Urchin Toss is acquired in hilarious fashion. Step one is finding a very depressed sea urchin named Erich in the Lower Crust of New Carcinia that’s hanging out on a side street of town.
After telling Kril no one can ever get close to him, you’re able to choose to attempt to prove him wrong by throwing Kril repeatedly into his spiky exterior. After inflicting enough damage (and possibly dying), Erich will bestow Urchin Toss upon Kril as a last-ditch effort for some peace and quiet.
Urchin Toss acts as a sticky grenade that does solid enough damage. Before upgrading it with Topoda, however, it’s largely inaccurate and a bit unwieldy. This improves with the Level 2 upgrade, pulling enemies towards the grenade, but holds this adaptation back in the meantime.
5Eelectrocute
Shock And Awe
Defeating Voltai, The Accumulator
Obtained after putting the unique-weapon-bearing electric eel, Voltai, out of her misery, Eelectrocute is a multi-use tool of its own.
In fact, you can’t even leave the boss room without learning you need to use Eelectrocute to shock a robot-crab into opening up your exit path.
These robot-crabs are seen throughout the rest of the game, and this adaptation can be used on all of those as well to access some optional areas with some good loot.
As an exploration aid, Eelectrocute is great. But as an offensive weapon, the spirit eel it summons to shock your enemies isn’t as over-powered as some of the other adaptations on the list.
4Bubble Bullet
Say Hello To My Crabby Friend
Defeating The Ceviche Sisters
Bubble Bullet has a lot of bang for its buck. It’s learned after Kril kills off the easiest duo-boss in Souls-like history, the Ceviche Sisters.
Even though the Ceviche Sisters don’t do much with this adaptation themselves, Kril can put Bubble Bullet to great use. At Level 1, it’s the longest-range weapon in the game and acts as a pistol that Kril can use to pick-off enemies from afar.
Leveling up this adaptation makes it even more deadly. Level 2 introduces a larger bullet that can capsize enemies for massive damage, and Level 3 turns the bubble gun into a rapid-fire rifle.
Sure, Bubble Bullet doesn’t hold a candle to the handgun (one ofthe best weapons of 2024) a player can toggle on in the assist menu, but it’s the best-ranged alternative for those wanting to play the game with the hardest difficulty options switched on.
3Bobbit Trap
This Trapper Is A Keeper
A Shiny Yellow Item In The Sandworm Camp, Western Portion Of The Sands Between
Taking the bronze for best adaptation is Bobbit Trap. Technically discoverable as soon as Kril gains access to The Sands Between, Bobbit Trap is his reward for successfully surviving a terrifying settlement of sandworms waiting to rip him underground.
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As the name would imply, Bobbit Trap holds enemies in place when they step inside of it, giving Kril the opportunity to absolutely unload on them. Subsequent upgrades allow the trap itself to do damage to enemies and for Kril’s attacks to inflict more damage, too, when attacking a trapped foe.
The kicker here is that Bobbit Trap can even snare bosses, making it wildly useful in taking down the toughest enemies in the game.
2Tactical Tentacle
Mimic Causes Tears
Defeating The Consortium
With similar vibes to Mimic Tear, thebest spirit ash in Elden Ring, Tactical Tentacle is a ghostly appendage dangling above Kril that attacks enemies at the same time Kril swings his fork for some hefty bonus damage.
Level 3 of this adaptation is insane, as it bestows even more damage upon the tentacle and also heals Kril as each successful blow is landed. This mix of powerful offense and healing ability is a combo that no other adaptation can bring to the table.
Tactical Tentacle also synergizes wonderfully with other adaptations. Woe to any opponent that Kril ensnares with Bobbit Trap and then unloads on with Tactical Tentacle. Easy mode.
1Mantis Punch
Say Your Prayers
Defeating Grovekeeper Topoda
The hardest adaptation to earn, Mantis Punch is unlocked by defeating one of thehardest bosses in Another Crab’s Treasure, Grovekeeper Topoda. It’s well worth the struggle for many reasons, as Mantis Punch is definitely the best adaptation in the game.
After besting Topoda, he’ll bestow this power upon you, as well as allow you to spend spare Umami crystals to upgrade any other adaptations in your arsenal.
Mantis Punch on its own is a powerhouse move, allowing Kril to absolutely wallop his foes with a brutal strike to the face. Its perks as it’s leveled up are great too, including giving Kril invincibility from on-coming attacks as he winds Mantis Punch up.
Most important, however, is the fact that Mantis Punch is used to smash open the giant silver cubes you might have seen peppered throughout the map.
Destroying these cubes leads to hidden paths, areas, and items galore that are otherwise completely unobtainable, making Mantis Punch’s use crucial to surviving in the deep.
Another Crab’s Treasure
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