Several Genetics are tied to full-run clears at specific Pressure levels, making them straightforward progression gates.
Openers & Splicing
Everything is Crab Genetics Guide: All 21 Unlocks, Effects, and Splicing
Genetics are run-start modifiers chosen before a run begins. They shape your opening character, change how stable the early route feels, and often decide whether a build gets time to mature.
As progression opens up, the game also unlocks Splicing, the official system for combining two Genetics into a more specialized starting setup.
What Genetics Are
Genetics are not mid-run pickups. They are pre-run starting traits that define your opener, influence your tolerance for early pressure, and change what kind of route feels safe or risky before the run has even started.
How Genetics Unlock
The 21 public Genetics do not all come from the same kind of milestone. Some unlock through Pressure clears, some through specific boss or combat tasks, and others through run-shape achievements such as staying small, avoiding damage, or stacking rerolls over time. Use the overview below to scan the whole set first, then drop into the detailed entries when you need the exact effect text and unlock requirement.
Other entries ask for specific kills, no-damage clears, size thresholds, or single-hit damage milestones.
Not every unlock must happen in one run. Discovery, Alpha kills, and reroll milestones can build across multiple attempts.
How Splicing Works
The game uses the official term Splicing. This page covers what the system is and when it opens, but not a full pairing catalog, because the current focus is still the 21 primary Genetics.
When Splicing Unlocks
Splicing becomes available after reaching the first boss in a regular run. Challenge runs do not count toward this unlock state.
What Splicing Changes
Once Splicing is available, Genetics stop being only a single-trait opener choice. The system lets you splice two Genetics together to create a more specialized starting character, which makes opener planning and pair testing more important than simply chasing unlock count.
All 21 Genetics At a Glance
This index is the fastest way to scan the current 21 Genetics. Each card shows the icon, the name, and the core effect so you can jump straight to the detail you need.
Standard
+10 HP
Pioneer
Increase the amount of Points Of Interest by 50%
Spawn of Chaos
Starting stats are randomised!
Patient
Gain the ability of skipping evolutions. When an evolution is skipped this way, gain increased rarity chance for every evolution in the next level. Can stack if skipped multiple times
Expert
Specialisations are triggered one level earlier
Minimalist
+15% to all Damage and Progress for each empty attack, dash and ultimate slot. Start without a dash equipped
Bullseye
Your Physical and Ability attacks always use the highest of either of these values
Precocious
The first level up will be a Branching Evolution. The first boss drops no Boss Fruit
Vegan
Start with the Vegan evolution
Independent
Every 12th level up is a Branching Evolution. Bosses do not drop boss fruits anymore
Simple
-2 Evolution choices +100 starting Mutagen Points
Pacifist
Deal -50% damage Requires 33% less Progress to evolve
Challenger
Deal 30% Increased damage to Alphas 30% increased Alpha appearance
Chosen
Your 3rd level up will offer 3 legendary evolutions
Grandiose
Evolution rarity improves based on your Size (bigger size means rarer evolutions, with no penalty for smaller sizes)
Picky
Rerolls cost 1 less
Envoy Of Chaos
Your starting affinity values are random
Stubborn
One of the Evolution and Points of Interest choices will grant a random amount of Mutagen Points
Underdog
-25% Damage, -25% HP, -25% Progress. After the second boss, these penalties become bonuses instead
Opportunistic
Gain double stats from Charmed allies and Points of Interest choices
Highborn
-50% modifier to Physical and Ability, +50% to your Nearby area Nearby enemies take 50% increased damage
All 21 Genetics Unlock Conditions
Use this section as the unlock-focused layer. The cards below keep the full 21-entry set visible while shifting the emphasis from effect text to the exact condition each Genetics asks you to clear.
Unlock Condition
Standard
Unlocked by default.
Unlock Condition
Pioneer
Discover any seven Points of Interest. Discoveries across multiple runs also count.
Unlock Condition
Spawn of Chaos
Beat the game on Pressure 5.
Unlock Condition
Patient
Deal 100 or more damage with a single hit. This is usually an advanced-run milestone.
Unlock Condition
Expert
Select five different Specializations.
Unlock Condition
Minimalist
Reach 50% size or smaller.
Unlock Condition
Bullseye
Use a stone to kill any regular boss. Only one qualifying kill is required.
Unlock Condition
Precocious
Defeat the game on the highest Pressure.
Unlock Condition
Vegan
Complete a run without doing any damage. One accidental hit cancels the requirement immediately.
Unlock Condition
Independent
Unlock any seven branching Evolutions.
Unlock Condition
Simple
Beat the game on Pressure 10.
Unlock Condition
Pacifist
Complete a run at any Pressure.
Unlock Condition
Challenger
Defeat 50 Alphas. Progress can be accumulated across multiple runs.
Unlock Condition
Chosen
Win a run at any Pressure.
Unlock Condition
Grandiose
Reach size 160% or higher.
Unlock Condition
Picky
Reroll 100 times across one or multiple runs.
Unlock Condition
Envoy Of Chaos
Pick Spawn of Chaos Genetics and then win at Pressure 10.
Unlock Condition
Stubborn
Beat the game at Pressure 15.
Unlock Condition
Underdog
Win Pressure 10 or higher while staying at level 30 or lower.
Unlock Condition
Opportunistic
Kill Crabtaur by making it crash into any obstacle.
Unlock Condition
Highborn
Do 2000 or more damage in a single run.
Quick Unlock Reference Table
Use this version when you only need a fast side-by-side comparison of name, effect, and unlock requirement.
| Icon | Name | Effect | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| | Standard | +10 HP | Unlocked by default. |
| | Pioneer | Increase the amount of Points Of Interest by 50% | Discover any seven Points of Interest. Discoveries across multiple runs also count. |
| | Spawn of Chaos | Starting stats are randomised! | Beat the game on Pressure 5. |
| | Patient | Gain the ability of skipping evolutions. When an evolution is skipped this way, gain increased rarity chance for every evolution in the next level. Can stack if skipped multiple times | Deal 100 or more damage with a single hit. This is usually an advanced-run milestone. |
| | Expert | Specialisations are triggered one level earlier | Select five different Specializations. |
| | Minimalist | +15% to all Damage and Progress for each empty attack, dash and ultimate slot. Start without a dash equipped | Reach 50% size or smaller. |
| | Bullseye | Your Physical and Ability attacks always use the highest of either of these values | Use a stone to kill any regular boss. Only one qualifying kill is required. |
| | Precocious | The first level up will be a Branching Evolution. The first boss drops no Boss Fruit | Defeat the game on the highest Pressure. |
| | Vegan | Start with the Vegan evolution | Complete a run without doing any damage. One accidental hit cancels the requirement immediately. |
| | Independent | Every 12th level up is a Branching Evolution. Bosses do not drop boss fruits anymore | Unlock any seven branching Evolutions. |
| | Simple | -2 Evolution choices +100 starting Mutagen Points | Beat the game on Pressure 10. |
| | Pacifist | Deal -50% damage Requires 33% less Progress to evolve | Complete a run at any Pressure. |
| | Challenger | Deal 30% Increased damage to Alphas 30% increased Alpha appearance | Defeat 50 Alphas. Progress can be accumulated across multiple runs. |
| | Chosen | Your 3rd level up will offer 3 legendary evolutions | Win a run at any Pressure. |
| | Grandiose | Evolution rarity improves based on your Size (bigger size means rarer evolutions, with no penalty for smaller sizes) | Reach size 160% or higher. |
| | Picky | Rerolls cost 1 less | Reroll 100 times across one or multiple runs. |
| | Envoy Of Chaos | Your starting affinity values are random | Pick Spawn of Chaos Genetics and then win at Pressure 10. |
| | Stubborn | One of the Evolution and Points of Interest choices will grant a random amount of Mutagen Points | Beat the game at Pressure 15. |
| | Underdog | -25% Damage, -25% HP, -25% Progress. After the second boss, these penalties become bonuses instead | Win Pressure 10 or higher while staying at level 30 or lower. |
| | Opportunistic | Gain double stats from Charmed allies and Points of Interest choices | Kill Crabtaur by making it crash into any obstacle. |
| | Highborn | -50% modifier to Physical and Ability, +50% to your Nearby area Nearby enemies take 50% increased damage | Do 2000 or more damage in a single run. |
Genetics FAQ
Short answers for the most common Genetics and Splicing questions.
What are Genetics in Everything is Crab?
Genetics are pre-run starting modifiers. You pick them before the run begins, and they shape your early stability, route identity, and first progression decisions.
How do you unlock more Genetics?
Most Genetics unlock through progression milestones such as Pressure clears, milestone kills, no-damage conditions, or cumulative tasks spread across multiple runs.
What is Splicing?
Splicing is the game’s official term for combining two Genetics into one more specialized starting setup. It expands Genetics from single opener picks into pair-based planning.
Does Splicing unlock in challenge runs?
No. Splicing is tied to reaching the first boss in a regular run, with challenges explicitly excluded.
Are all Genetics available from the start?
No. Only Standard begins unlocked by default. The rest are tied to progression or challenge-style milestones.
Are there more Genetics than the main list on this page?
Yes. Lycanthrope, Random, and a helper entry called Stubborn Bonus also appear in the broader game materials, but they are not part of this page’s main 21-entry reference set.