Another Crab's Treasure: How To Beat The Consortium (Optional Boss Fight)

The Consortium is an optional boss in Another Crab's Treasure, and fighting this gaggle of sea creatures trapped in a crab pot isn't everyone's idea of a good time; however, if you are into crustacean-powered combat, this extra boss is a great way to earn more microplastics and umami crystals. While the fight is a bit more complicated than the combat showcased in the gameplay preview in 2022, this boss fight is unique that players will not soon forget.

The Consortium can be found in the second half of the game after the player has begun the quest to find the four pieces of the treasure map in New Carcinia. This boss is a crab pot full of an amalgam of different deep-sea critters ranging from an octopus to a huge crab claw. Despite its size, this boss' many legs make it an agile foe that will take some strategy and skill to beat.

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Where To Find The Consortium In Another Crab's Treasure

The Consortium Boss' Location

Because this is an optional boss in Another Crab's Treasure, the Consortium is also a bit out of the way. When you reach Flotsam Vale after fighting Roland, you'll find a Moon Shell checkpoint, which acts like Gotham Knight's Belfry and Dark Souls' bonfire. Instead of heading north, towards the next map piece, look left towards the electrified tower.

Along the cliffside, you'll see a shortcut fishing pole with its hook raised; this is where the Consortium is, but you can't get here from the Flotsam Vale. Instead, head back out into the Sands Between.

You'll need to head back into the Expired Grove to the hammer crab right before the Village Gates, where you fought Heikea, Intimidation Crab. To the north of the hammer crab is a purple Umami cube that can be broken with the Adaptation "Mantis Punch." Punch the cube to break it, then use the high ground on the path it reveals to make your way south across the milk container pathway.

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Once you reach the platform overlooking the cliffside with the fishing pole to the east, hop down next to the fishing pole and drop the shortcut. This way, when you die at the claws and tentacles of the Consortium and need to find a new shell or level Kril up, you will be able to zip right back up instead of having to take the tedious path back.

Follow this path until you reach a loading screen and enter Flotsam Vale from the other side, entering the Consortium's arena.

How To Defeat The Consortium

Tips & Tricks

Now that you've finally arrived, you will need to face this arena's challenge head-on. You will notice two fishhooks hanging in the air here; note those; you'll need them later. Also, notice the Gunk covering a lot of the floor here.

If you remember Magista's boss fight, you'll know how annoying this hazard can be. Use the fishhooks and your jump/dash to avoid the Gunk during the fight, as you'll be taking plenty of damage from other sources, and you don't need to take poison damage on top of it. The Consortium, an over-full crab pot, rises from the Gunk as you enter its aggro range. This foe has a few annoying attacks, so knowing each is integral to beating it.

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The Consortium is also a gimmick, boss; rather than just being able to damage it by whaling on it with your fork or hitting it with your Shell Spell, you will need to take out the knots holding the Consortium together. This is one of the few gimmick bosses in Another Crab's Treasure, but it's still tough. Here are its attacks and their triggers:

Attack Description Slam This attack is simple; when you get close to the underside of the Consortium, it will slam itself into the ground, trying to smash you. Roll When on the side or top of the Consortium, it will do a barrel roll trying to get you off. Charge When climbing the side of the Consortium, it will charge into the sides of the arena, trying to smash you. Tentacle Smack When on top of or on the ground near the Consortium, it will swing at you with its large tentacle. Gun When on top of, on the ground near, or on the ground far from the Consortium, it will charge its revolver and shoot a large, explosive shot at you.

The Consortium has several attacks, but they're all obvious, making them easier to dodge. The trickiest attack to dodge is the gun, but you can dodge its projectile by waiting until the shot has been fired and then dodging perpendicularly to the bullet's path. You'll see it most often while you're on top of the creature(s?), but keep an eye out for it on the ground.

The actual strategy for beating the Consortium is simple; break all the ropes tying the cage together, and the boss will die. You can do them in whichever order you prefer, though breaking the ones on top is simpler than the ones on the bottom. These knots have quite a bit of health, so make sure your Shell Spell and fork are ready to do some burst damage before you get thrown off or slammed down on.

To get on top of the Consortium, use the hooks to launch yourself into the air, like the grappling hook in Salt and Sacrifice, and then drop to the boss's top. This is when Kril is most vulnerable; as you drop, you might see the Consortium charging up a shot, which you'll have to block with your shell. Once you get up there, burst down as many knots as possible before it throws you off, then rinse and repeat until all four on top are broken.

For the knots on the bottom, the most you'll need to worry about is the downward slam and tentacle slam. Break all four knots on the Consortium's bottom side using the same burst-style damage as the top knots. You shouldn't see the gun come into play here, but it's not impossible.

Once you've broken the last knot, the cage holding the Consortium together will fall apart, and you'll have won the battle! This boss is one of the more interesting ones in Another Crab's Treasure, but there is still plenty more to discover in this underwater adventure.