Every soulslike needs a good first boss. They need to be difficult, help familiarize and test you against the game’s mechanics, and give you a taste of what’s to come in the rest of the game.Another Crab’s Treasurefollows this trend with Nephro, a lance-wielding Lobster in service of the Duchess.

You won’t be getting into the castle as a naked crab, and if you want a shell to cover yourself, you’ll have to get past Nephro. This big blue lobster is tough and packs a punch, but if you watch his moves and make use of your newfound shell, you’ll have Nephro sleeping with the fishes.

Map of the Shallows area focusing on a zone with a greyed out image of Nephro on it in Another Crab’s Treasure.

How To Find Nephro

Nephroisn’t available at firstif you’re exploring regularly – you’ll need totry and enter the Duchess' castle, and get turned away.

After the conversation with the guards, head to thearea to the right of Slacktide Castle, past some crabs and fish enemies until youreach a fallen vending machine.

Kril jumping away from Nephro’s Claw Swipe attack during battle in Another Crab’s Treasure.

The bossbattle won’t startuntil a few moments after yougrab your first shell, so take the time to getrid of any obstacles in the arena.

Press theglowing yellow button, and it’ll spit outseveral empty soda canswhich serve as your first shell.Pick any oneof them up, and you’llget a cutscene with Nephrothat’ll lead to a fight with him.

How To Beat Nephro

Nephro is thefirst story boss fightin the game, and he’s suitably tough,sporting several movesthat have a prettylarge attack radius.

Attack Description

Lance Sweep

Uses his lanceto sweep the area near him in awide cone.

Uses his freeclaw to swipe down at his side.

Back Kick

Charges up for a momentthen uses his back legs to kick back.

Front Stomp

Rears up and stomps the area directly in front of him.

Ground Drag

Circles aroundthen runs forward,grabs Kril upin his claw, anddrags him across the sand. This attackcan’t be blocked.

You candodge into most of Nephro’s attacksto avoid damage andclose the distance, but this fight isprimarily about utilizing your shellto block the majority of his attacks.

Keep close to the vending machineif possible, as this will let youquickly swap shellswhen they’re one or two hits from being broken andprevent the recoil from one being broken.

Use your shellto block hisLance Sweep,Back Kick, and theClaw Swipe, thendodge to the sidefor his Front Stomp, so you can get some extra damage in. For hisLance Charge, you’ll want tododge to either sideas well, thenrun up to him and get a few hitsin.

Overall, Nephro’sback side is the best spot to attack, as his Lance Sweep has a lower chance of hitting you from here, butwatch for his Back Kick, as itcauses significant knockbackand he likes touse a LanceSweep after.

Nephro’s Front Stompalso causes Kril to bebriefly stunned, and he’ll also frequently use another attack right after.

OnceNephro hits half health, he willstart using his Ground Dragattack, which you canonly dodge away from. If it hits you, it’ll do around50 to 75 percent of your health, depending on your stat investment.

Thisattack has a few seconds of windup, so use this time tododge to either side and run around to his backside, so you can get a few hits in.

Keep up the same tacticswhile avoiding hisoccasional use of the Ground Drag, and you’ll defeat Nephro,receive 750 Microplastics as a reward, and you’ll be able tofind Shells and get unto the Duchess' castle.