Crustacean

* Information
* Pros and Cons
* Notable Builds
* Gallery

## Crustaceans

The Crustacean build has been around since the Cambrian, making it one of the most time-tested builds in the meta today.

## Overview

Crustaceans are one of the most formidable arthropods in the game, ranking at C tier. Many of the Crustaceans do have a unique weapon set-up, as their claws can be used to inflict crush or slash damage, being the most effective against both soft-bodied and armored targets.

On defense, they possess sturdy armor particularly resistant to bite attacks which are usually used by fishes. While their base movement speed is mediocre at best, crustaceans' bursts of speed are impressive. Their stealth isn't great, but they're so versatile with their movement on the ground that they can compensate by hiding in small crevices/objects or burrowing into the sand. Their feeding is also adaptable, and they can battle against larger prey and gain lots of XP by doing so. They can sustain themselves just fine by scavenging scraps safely near cover.

Some Crustaceans have unlocked the trait "Negligible senescence" which means they have no limit to a total game time for a playthrough, assuming they don't die in combat . They aren't overpowered by any stretch of the imagination. While they've got great defense because of their armor, some crustaceans are vulnerable while leveling up because they need to shed their shell/remove their shell and replace it which means they have low base HP that stands out as a weakness. Their abysmal intelligence means that brainier builds can outsmart crustaceans regularly and that traps are more effective on them which wastes their longevity. Their wisdom gain is extremely low which means that noobs and veterans fall into the same traps.

### All Rounder

The jack of all trades play-style where the crabs and lobsters are. Versatile, Reliable and Simple. Pretty much what has been said in the main paragraph on the top.

### Support

Support playstyle is playing a fully committed support role, gaining XP by curing the debuff fish accumulate through hunting and feeding. Recommended for Healer play-style.

### **Minimaxed**

There are two minimaxed crustaceans builds that people usually go for, The Pistol Shrimp and The Mantis Shrimp.

Mantis shrimp can either have a maximum slash or a maximum crush type damage, depending on which weapon they opt for. For its size, no attack is more powerful and it can pose a serious threat to players much larger and traditionally more powerful than itself.

Pistol shrimp goes a completely different route, going for absurdly strong sonic ranged attacks for projectile assaults. While the mantis shrimp is minimaxed for DPS, the pistol shrimp is a hybrid between DPS and Support. While all of its equipment is DPS-based, it supplements its defense by using Sea Anemones for cover and defending the anemone from parasites.

## Recommended Prey

If you want to farm for some XP without using much stamina and strength, you can scavenge for scraps and feed off dead creatures. You can search for Algae to feed on, but if you want to gain more XP while improving your attack and defense strategy, try hunting down fish, mollusks, squids, starfish, snails, and even other crustaceans. Being omnivorous is also a great way to gain XP points.

## Main Characteristics

### Pros

* High Defense
* Good Default Mobility
* Access to Claws
* Molting causes limb regeneration
* Amphibious
* Long Potential Life Span

### Cons

* Terrible Intelligence
* Low Health
* Low Skill Ceiling
* Molting and After Molt leaves player vulnerable
* Lack of Jaws

## Groups

The following groups are the most important ones in the vast faction that is Crustaceans.

### Branchiopoda (Brine Shrimp, Trilops)

#### Pros

* Amazing Stealth compared to the other factions
* Good Speed
* Reproduces quickly
* Access to [Dry Egg] ability

#### Cons

* Terrible Health, Intelligence, Power and Defense
* Most of the playerbase is stuck in the Micro Weight Class
* Most of the builds can only handle Freshwater
* A Majority of these build are bodied by the majority of the playerbase.

### Remipedia

#### Pros

* Worldwide Build
* Can Access the Abyss
* Access to Venom and Fangs
* One build is named after a fictional reptile that raided the Japan Server

#### Cons

* Terrible Intelligence
* Lack of Eyes
* Primitive Body Plan
* Large Hit Box

### Maxillopoda (Barnacles and Copepods)

#### Pros

* Access to Amazing Defense
* High Stealth
* Can become Parasitic

#### Cons

* If you choose High Defense you have to be a Parasite and you lose all Mobility
* Terrible Health, Intelligence, and Power
* Also constantly bodied by the playerbase.

### Stomatopods (Mantis Shrimp)

#### Pros

* Highest Power stat of all the builds
* Can choose between Bash or Slash attacks
* Good Mobility, and Defense
* Access to the Digging Skill Tree
* Great Perception for a Crustacean

#### Cons

* Bad Health
* Large Hit Box
* Promotes Camping

### Isopoda

#### Pros

* Amazing Defense
* Can inhabit the Abyss and Land server.
* Can Digest Rotting Nutrients
* Can be Parasitic

#### Cons

* Terrible Mobility
* Usually bodied in all servers(except for the Abyss)

### Astacidea (Lobster)

#### Pros

* Great Power and Defense
* Good Bursts of Speed
* Access to Claws
* Access to Tail
* Access to the Dig Skill Tree

#### Cons

* Terrible Default Mobility and Intelligence
* Large Hit Box

### Caridea (Shrimp)

#### Pros

* Great Mobility
* Good Power
* Decent Defense
* Access to the Digging Skill Tree
* Access to Claws
* Access to Tail
* Can form Partnerships
* Can play Support
* Access to the Abyss

### Brachyura and Anomura(Crabs and False Crabs)

#### Pros

* Good Mobility, Defense, and Power
* Great
* Access to Claws
* Can form Partnerships
* Access to the Abyss
* Access to the Dig Skill Tree
* Can inhabit the Land, and Arboreal Zone

## Notable Builds

* Mantis Shrimp - (A) The strongest of all the crustaceans, Can either shatter defenses or spear fish.
* Japanese Spider Crab - (A) The largest crab currently known. Sneaks its way into A tier by being large in a server where large builds are rare.
* Pistol Shrimp - (B) The only shrimp that uses projectile attacks, each bubble shot are super hot, one-shoting similar sized buids, but those nothing to larger builds.
* Arrow Crab - (B) Quite large for a reef crustacean, a territorial crab known for its long range for a crab, and it abuses it.
* Banded Coral Shrimp - (B) A reef build that can choose either a Support class or it can go Territorial and chase off other builds. It also has long claws.
* Pom Pom Crab - (B) A small reef crab that partner-ups with small Anemone, it uses them as boxing clubs to defend itself from hungry fish.
* Box Crab - (B) A crab that has wide flat claws that cover its face and makes it round. Makes grabs harder to land.
* Yeti-Crab - (C) A filter feeding crab that lives close to hydro-thermal vents. Has no predators.
* Slipper Lobster - (C) A tank type crustacean, opted for defense and power at the cost of its claws.
* Mangrove Tree Crab - (C) The few Arboreal crabs. Feeds off the leaves of trees.
* Decorator Crab - (C) Famous for attaching debris and coral on its body by small hooks.
* Lobster - (C) One of the most famous crustaceans, strong claws and thick armor. But it has a large hit box.
* Copepod - (C) Stealth based crustacean which is hard too detect, but can be easily one shot by most builds.
* Basic Crab - (C) Jack of all traits, relies mostly on its shell for defense.
* Spanner Crab - (C) A crab that spent points into the digging skill tree as it lives in the bottom of the open ocean.
* Spiny Lobster - (D) A large lobster like build covered in small spines, lacks claws like other true lobsters, but can make a loud noise.
* Fiddler Crab - (D) A small land crab with a large claw, used for fighting rivals.
* Harlequin Shrimp - (D) A reef shrimp that hunts down starfish.
* Hermit Crab - (F) The weaker cousin of the Coconut Crab. Unlike most crabs, it has as a weak back. Depends on shells for protection.
* Clam Shrimp - (F) The crustaceans' knockoff of the clams. And does it even worse.
* Skeleton Shrimp - (F) A mirco crustacean that instead of fast speed, goes for clingy legs. The free exp of the reef.
* Coconut Crab - (WIP) The largest of the land crabs. Famous for having a great match-up with dogs and cats. Only bad match up is with humans.
* Ghost Crab - (WIP) The fastest of the crabs. If danger spotted, it will dart to its burrow.
* Christmas Island Crab - (TBA) One of the most famous land crabs. The mass spawning stains the water red.
* Remipedes - (TBA) The only crustacean that can use venom, they are quite primitive for a crustacean.
* Giant Isopod - (TBA) The scavenger of the Abyssal server. Larger than the other isopods.

## Gallery

Crab eating algaeA crab holding a knife, one of the human's many tools. The crab lacks the intelligence to use it effectively.A crab eating a fish.
## All Lower Classifications

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NOTE THAT THIS TABLE IS PROBABLY NOT THE MOST ACCURATE

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