The world of "Everything is Crab" presents players with a fascinating and intricate system of character progression centered around Darwin’s evolutionary path. With a staggering 121 distinct Evolutions to discover and activate, each bestowing unique buffs and altering gameplay dynamics, understanding this system is crucial for mastering the game. These Evolutions act as powerful modifiers, fundamentally changing how Darwin interacts with the game’s environments and challenges during each run. While the full scope of every Evolution remains a mystery until unlocked, this comprehensive guide aims to demystify the process, offering a detailed breakdown of available abilities, their effects, and how to acquire them.
The development of "Everything is Crab" has consistently focused on providing players with deep customization options. The introduction of the Evolution system represents a significant pillar of this design philosophy, allowing for emergent gameplay and a high degree of replayability. Each Evolution not only provides a statistical advantage or a new active ability but also contributes to Darwin’s thematic development, reflecting a journey of adaptation and survival in a dynamic world. The sheer number of available Evolutions suggests a commitment by the developers to foster diverse playstyles and strategic experimentation.
This guide is a work in progress, reflecting the evolving nature of the game itself. As new updates and content are released, this compilation will be updated to include any newly discovered Evolutions and their associated mechanics. The goal is to serve as an authoritative resource for players navigating the complex web of Darwin’s potential transformations.
Unveiling Darwin’s Evolutionary Arsenal: A Detailed Catalog
The current build of "Everything is Crab" boasts a vast array of Evolutions, categorized by their rarity, each offering a unique suite of benefits. These modifiers are not merely cosmetic; they fundamentally shape Darwin’s capabilities, influencing combat effectiveness, survival rates, and interaction with the game world. Understanding the nuances of each Evolution is key to optimizing Darwin’s build for specific challenges and playstyles.
The table below provides an exhaustive list of every Evolution currently available, detailing their in-game effects, applicable Affinities, upgrade levels, and type. It is important to note that the rarity of an Evolution can fluctuate as players progress through higher upgrade levels, meaning an Evolution initially categorized as ‘Common’ might exhibit characteristics or benefits more akin to rarer forms at its peak.
Common Evolutions: The Foundational Adaptations
The ‘Common’ rarity tier represents the foundational building blocks of Darwin’s evolutionary journey. These Evolutions are typically the first encountered by players and provide essential boosts to core attributes and basic functionalities. While less flashy than their rarer counterparts, these adaptations are critical for early-game survival and for establishing a solid base for more complex builds.
- Agile: Enhances Darwin’s evasive capabilities by increasing Dodge and reducing the penalty associated with attacking. This Evolution falls under the ‘Trickster’ Affinity, suggesting a playstyle focused on evasion and calculated maneuvers. With 5 upgrade levels, Agile can significantly improve Darwin’s survivability in fast-paced encounters.
- Antlers: A high-risk, high-reward Evolution that inflicts self-damage but delivers potent Physical damage. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity indicates a focus on raw offensive power and a more aggressive approach. It can be upgraded up to 5 levels, amplifying its devastating impact.
- Beak: This Evolution focuses on resource acquisition and ranged combat. It boosts Feeding Speed and allows Darwin to deal Ability Damage from a distance. With dual Affinities in ‘Prey’ and ‘Trickster,’ it supports both survival and tactical engagement. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Carapace: A defensive cornerstone, Carapace significantly increases Damage Resistance and grants Plating, offering a robust protective layer. Its ‘Imposing’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities suggest a resilient creature capable of weathering attacks while still benefiting from its environment. It can be upgraded to 3 levels.
- Chonky: Directly impacts Darwin’s physical presence and offensive output. It raises Size and Physical damage, aligning with the ‘Imposing’ Affinity. This 3-level Evolution is ideal for players who prefer a brute-force approach.
- Claws: A staple for close-quarters combat, Claws deliver rapid Physical Damage. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity points towards an aggressive, predatory playstyle. With 5 upgrade levels, Claws can become a formidable offensive tool.
- Cortex: This Evolution boosts Darwin’s mental faculties, increasing ‘Ability’ power. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity suggests a focus on intelligent, ability-driven combat. It offers 5 upgrade levels.
- Dexterous: A highly versatile Evolution that reduces cooldowns and raises ‘Ability’ power. Its dual ‘Predator’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities make it suitable for a variety of strategic builds. It boasts 5 upgrade levels.
- Elusive: Focuses on stealth and evasion, reducing Darwin’s size and increasing Dodge. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity suggests a creature that thrives by remaining undetected. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Fur: Provides enhanced survivability against environmental hazards, increasing Damage Resistance and Cold Adaptation. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity means it’s a straightforward defensive buff, available for 3 upgrade levels.
- Jaws: A powerful offensive Evolution that deals Physical Damage, with an added bonus against stunned enemies. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity emphasizes its role in hunting and subduing prey. It can be upgraded to 5 levels.
- More Eyes: Enhances situational awareness by increasing Dodge and Senses. Its ‘Gregarious’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities suggest a creature that benefits from communal awareness and keen observation. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- More Mass: A direct increase to Darwin’s physical prowess, raising Max HP, Physical damage, and Size. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity aligns with a more substantial and powerful form. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Muscular Tissue: A straightforward offensive boost, increasing Physical damage. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity reinforces its role in aggressive predation. It offers 5 upgrade levels.
- Pincer: Deals Ability Damage and falls under the ‘Carcinisation’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities, hinting at a specialized, perhaps tactical, offensive approach. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Plated: Primarily focused on defense, Plated increases ‘Plating,’ a key defensive stat. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity suggests a hardened, resilient form. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Reach: Extends Darwin’s offensive capabilities by increasing the range of attacks. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity implies a strategic advantage through distance. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Regenerative Tissue: Enhances Darwin’s survivability through increased regeneration. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity suggests a robust, self-sustaining organism. It offers 5 upgrade levels.
- Saliva: A dual-purpose Evolution that boosts Feeding Speed and regeneration. Its ‘Predator’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities indicate its utility in both consuming resources and recovering from damage. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Scales: Similar to Fur, Scales provide defensive buffs, increasing Damage Resistance and Heat Adaptation. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity makes it a direct defensive enhancement, available for 3 upgrade levels.
- Slide: A movement-focused Evolution that allows for a long-distance dash, useful for both evasion and repositioning. Its ‘Prey’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities suggest a tactical mobility tool. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Spit: A ranged attack that deals low Ability Damage. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity points towards its utility as a harassing or opportunistic offensive option. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Stomach: Directly impacts resource management by raising Feeding Speed. Its ‘Imposing’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities highlight its importance for sustained survival and growth. It offers 5 upgrade levels.
- Tail: Enhances Darwin’s utility by increasing ‘Ability’ and ‘Social’ stats. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity suggests its role in inter-species interactions or team-based benefits. It has 5 upgrade levels.
Rare Evolutions: Emerging Specialized Abilities
The ‘Rare’ tier introduces more specialized and potent abilities, often requiring specific playstyles or offering significant advantages in niche situations. These Evolutions begin to define Darwin’s unique strengths and can dramatically alter the flow of a run.
- Antennae: Enhances Darwin’s sensory and social capabilities, increasing Senses and Social stats. Its ‘Carcinisation’ and ‘Gregarious’ Affinities suggest a creature that excels in complex environments and social dynamics. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Body Slam: A powerful close-range attack that deals Physical Damage, with damage scaling based on Max HP. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity emphasizes its impactful, heavy-hitting nature. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Carnivore: A dietary specialization that increases progress gained from eating meat while reducing the ‘Prey’ Affinity. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity strongly defines its predatory focus. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Cheek Pouch: A unique utility Evolution that allows for food storage, enabling passive feeding. Its ‘Gregarious’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities suggest a clever and resourceful adaptation. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Constriction: An ‘Ultimate’ ability that temporarily stuns nearby enemies and deals Physical Damage over time. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity points towards its tactical application in crowd control. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Detachable Tail: A defensive maneuver that leaves a decoy trail when Darwin is damaged, aiding in evasion. Its ‘Prey’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities highlight its escape and misdirection capabilities. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Exoskeleton: A defensive Evolution that boosts Damage Resistance and Social stats. Its ‘Carcinisation’ and ‘Gregarious’ Affinities suggest a hardened creature with social integration. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Forager: Enhances food acquisition by increasing the frequency of food drops turning into Health Food and raising Poison Resistance. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity aligns with survival and resourcefulness. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Fungoid: A unique passive ability that generates Mushrooms around Darwin, potentially offering various effects depending on gameplay mechanics. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity suggests a connection to organic growth and environment manipulation. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Herbivore: A dietary specialization that raises Vegetation Progress and reduces ‘Predator’ Affinity. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity emphasizes its plant-based diet. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Horns: Delivers a potent Physical Damage Headbutt that bypasses Plating. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity signifies a direct and forceful offensive capability. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Leap: A movement-focused ability allowing Darwin to jump over obstacles and enemies, avoiding all damage during the leap. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity suggests an agile and evasive hunter. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Leech: Deals short-range attacks that inflict Ability Damage and drain HP. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity points to its lifestealing and tactical offensive potential. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Nomadic: Rewards exploration by granting progress upon discovering Points of Interest. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity encourages venturing into the unknown. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Omnivore: A balanced dietary Evolution that raises overall Food Progress. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity indicates a generalist approach to sustenance. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Pack: Boosts attack power based on the number of charmed animals, emphasizing a symbiotic or controlling playstyle. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity is central to its functionality. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Piscivore: Specifically increases Fish Food Progress, catering to a piscivorous diet. Its ‘NA’ Affinity highlights its dietary specialization. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Poisonous Saliva: A passive buff that applies poison to the Beak, Jaws, and Spit attacks. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity emphasizes its debilitating effects. It has 1 upgrade level, suggesting a potent, singular activation.
- Poisonous Spores: Inflicts Poison on nearby enemies upon being hit, a defensive or area-of-effect offensive ability. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity indicates its disruptive nature. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Prehensile Tail: Increases Feeding Distance, allowing for safer resource acquisition. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity suggests a tool for opportunistic feeding. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Revenge: Temporarily boosts Physical and Ability damage when Darwin takes damage. Its ‘Imposing’ and ‘Predator’ Affinities indicate a retaliatory, aggressive response to being harmed. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Scavenger: Grants extra progress from food belonging to enemies not killed by Darwin, promoting opportunistic feeding and potentially benefiting from group hunts. Its ‘Gregarious’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities highlight its scavenging nature. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Shell: Directly increases Damage Resistance, providing a significant defensive boost. Its ‘Carcinisation’ and ‘Imposing’ Affinities suggest a hardened, protected form. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Smol: A unique Evolution that increases Speed while reducing Size and the ‘Imposing’ Affinity. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity suggests a focus on agility and evasion over brute strength. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Spines: Reflects a percentage of incoming damage upon contact, a passive defensive and offensive deterrent. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity indicates a formidable, unapproachable presence. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Sprint: A straightforward movement enhancement that raises Speed. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity suggests its use in pursuit or rapid repositioning. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Spur: A passive offensive ability that automatically triggers low Physical Damage after a basic attack. Its ‘Predator’ Affinity implies a persistent offensive pressure. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Stoner: Performs a powerful ranged attack using Stone Ammo, dealing significant damage. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity suggests a tactical, projectile-based offensive. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Subcutaneous Fat: Enhances environmental adaptation by raising Cold and Heat Adaptation and increasing Max HP. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity indicates a robust and resilient form. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Synapse: Reduces all cooldowns, allowing for more frequent use of abilities. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity highlights its utility in maximizing ability uptime. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Tail Wag: A social ability that attempts to charm nearby animals every five seconds, fostering a passive or supportive playstyle. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity is central to its function. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Toe Beans: A social attack with a chance to charm nearby animals, blending offense with crowd control. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity emphasizes its social manipulation capabilities. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Turtle Down: Grants a temporary shield, providing a brief but crucial defensive window. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity suggests a defensive posture. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Whining: An attempt to charm nearby animals after taking damage, a reactive social ability. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity highlights its use in defusing aggression or creating opportunities. It has 3 upgrade levels.
Epic Evolutions: Transformative Powers and Strategic Depth
The ‘Epic’ tier signifies major evolutionary leaps, introducing abilities that can fundamentally alter Darwin’s role in gameplay and open up entirely new strategic avenues. These Evolutions often come with trade-offs, demanding careful consideration of their impact on Darwin’s overall build.
- Courting: An ‘Ultimate’ ability that charms the nearest enemy, providing a powerful crowd-control or tactical advantage. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity suggests its use in manipulating the environment or enemy behavior. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Diurnal: A conditional buff that increases all damage dealt during the day while reducing damage dealt at night. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity indicates a straightforward environmental adaptation. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Hollow Bones: Increases Speed at the cost of reduced Damage Resistance. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity emphasizes a shift towards agility over resilience. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Impervious: A defensive boon that splits incoming damage in half, with one half taken immediately and the other after a second, also raising Max HP. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity suggests a form capable of absorbing and mitigating damage. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- More Legs: A straightforward increase to Speed, enhancing Darwin’s mobility. Its ‘Carcinisation’ Affinity suggests a physical adaptation for faster movement. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Nocturnal: A conditional buff that increases damage dealt during the night and raises Senses, complementing Diurnal. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity points to a clear diurnal/nocturnal cycle strategy. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Outlier: A unique passive that grants a random Legendary Evolution and increases the chance of encountering Legendary-only Evolutions. This acts as a gateway to the highest tier of evolutionary power. It has 1 upgrade level.
- Overwhelm: Deals additional damage based on active Plating, synergizing with defensive builds that focus on ‘Plating’. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity suggests a powerful offensive output derived from a hardened form. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Pistol Pincer: An ‘Ultimate’ ability that deals massive damage based on the higher Physical/Ability Damage value and pushes the target. Its ‘Carcinisation’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities suggest a precise, impactful offensive maneuver. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Sharpen: An ‘Ultimate’ ability that raises the damage of attacks based on ‘Predator’ Affinity levels, rewarding aggressive, predatory playstyles. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Slow Metabolism: Reduces Speed but also reduces the progress requirement to evolve, offering a trade-off between mobility and evolutionary speed. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity suggests a focus on sustained development. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Stinger: Deals Physical Damage and applies Poison that deals Ability Damage over five seconds, a potent offensive combination. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity highlights its debilitating effects. It has 5 upgrade levels.
- Vegan: A dietary specialization that raises Vegetation Progress but prohibits meat and fish, while reducing ‘Predator’ Affinity. Its ‘N/A’ Affinity indicates a strict vegetarian lifestyle. It has 3 upgrade levels.
Legendary and Branching Evolutions: The Pinnacle of Adaptation
The ‘Legendary’ and ‘Branching’ tiers represent the apex of evolutionary potential in "Everything is Crab." These Evolutions offer unparalleled benefits, often impacting multiple aspects of Darwin’s capabilities or unlocking entirely new evolutionary pathways.
- Alpha: A powerful passive that raises ‘Gregarious’ Affinity and boosts Max HP, Size, and Social stats. Its ‘Gregarious’ and ‘Imposing’ Affinities signify a dominant and influential entity. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Arms: Enhances key offensive and utility stats, raising Ability, Physical, and Feeding distance. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity suggests a versatile and manipulative adaptation. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Legs: A straightforward but significant boost to Speed, with ‘Predator’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities indicating its utility in both hunting and evasion. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Pollinator: Enhances environmental interaction by raising the Vegetation Rate when finding Points of Interest and granting random bonuses after discovering four. Its ‘Gregarious’ Affinity suggests a beneficial, perhaps symbiotic, role in the ecosystem. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Robust: A passive that scales Max HP with Size, creating a powerful synergy between physical presence and survivability. Its ‘Imposing’ Affinity is central to its function. It has 1 upgrade level.
- Ruminant: Grants progress based on ‘Prey’ Affinity, suggesting a unique method of resource assimilation and development. Its ‘Prey’ Affinity is key to its progression. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Shifty: A movement-focused Evolution where negative size modifiers increase Dodge, encouraging a strategy of miniaturization for enhanced evasion. Its ‘Prey’ and ‘Trickster’ Affinities highlight its evasive and unpredictable nature. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Slithery: Enhances Darwin’s environmental adaptability by raising Terrain Adaptation and Speed. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity suggests a fluid and adaptable movement style. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Tentacles: Boosts Speed and Ability, and crucially, unlocks arm-based Evolutions at Level 3. Its ‘Trickster’ Affinity indicates its potential for developing complex appendages and abilities. It has 3 upgrade levels.
- Wings: Enhances environmental adaptability by raising Terrain Adaptation and Speed, similar to Slithery but with ‘Predator’ and ‘Prey’ Affinities, suggesting a more active and versatile form of movement. It has 3 upgrade levels.
The Mechanics of Evolution: Acquiring and Advancing Darwin’s Potential
The process of acquiring Evolutions in "Everything is Crab" is intrinsically linked to Darwin’s survival and growth. Each time Darwin consumes food, he gains experience, leading to level-ups at predetermined intervals. Upon reaching a new level, players are presented with a choice of three different Evolutions. The first time an Evolution is encountered and selected, it becomes permanently unlocked in Darwin’s repertoire.
Certain Evolutions may have specific prerequisite conditions that must be met before they can be discovered or chosen. Once an Evolution is unlocked, players have the opportunity to upgrade it during subsequent runs. Unlocked Evolutions have a higher probability of appearing as available choices when Darwin levels up, allowing players to invest in and enhance their chosen adaptations. This system ensures that players are rewarded for exploration and experimentation, gradually building a unique and powerful Darwin tailored to their playstyle.
The game’s developers have also implemented a system of "Genetics," which provide pre-run boosts to Darwin’s stats and capabilities. These Genetics are distinct from Evolutions and represent a more foundational layer of customization, chosen before a run begins. Mastering both the Evolution system and the Genetics system is paramount for achieving optimal performance and uncovering the full depth of "Everything is Crab’s" gameplay mechanics. The interplay between these two systems creates a rich tapestry of strategic possibilities, encouraging players to continually adapt and refine their approach to the game’s ever-evolving challenges.