How to Add the Imitation Crab Expansion to You've Got Crabs

By Exploding Kittens | Party card games, puzzles, greeting cards ... | Published: 2026-11-01

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to add the Imitation Crab expansion to You've Got Crabs, from setup and card handling to teaching new players the rules without confusion.

Quick answer

To add the Imitation Crab expansion to You've Got Crabs, shuffle its cards into the base deck before dealing, then play as usual—the expansion simply gives your team an advantage when you look like a crab while doing it.

What the expansion changes—and what it doesn't

The Imitation Crab expansion is a small add-on that creates an advantage for your team, with the twist that you have to look like a crab while doing it. It does not replace the base game's rules or add a separate mode; you still play You've Got Crabs the same way, just with extra cards in the deck.

Because the expansion is designed to slot into the existing game, there is no separate rulebook needed. The main decision is when to introduce it: use it after players know the base game, so the crab imitation doesn't distract from learning the core rules.

When to skip the expansion

If you are teaching You've Got Crabs to a completely new group, leave the Imitation Crab cards out for the first round. The base game already asks players to manage hidden information and team signals; adding a physical imitation requirement on top can slow down learning and make the first game feel chaotic.

Also skip it if your table is playing in a setting where standing up and posing like a crab would be disruptive—the expansion's advantage is tied to that physical action, so it works best in a relaxed party setting.

How to add the Imitation Crab expansion step by step

Set aside the base game: Open your copy of You've Got Crabs and remove the Imitation Crab expansion cards from their packaging. Keep the base deck separate until you have read the expansion's card faces. Check that every expansion card is accounted for before mixing—missing cards can unbalance the advantage the expansion is meant to create.
Shuffle the expansion into the base deck: Shuffle the Imitation Crab cards thoroughly with the entire base game deck. Do not deal them as a separate pile or leave them on the side; they are meant to be part of the main deck. A quick riffle shuffle twice is enough; over-shuffling wastes time and can bend the cards.
Deal and play as normal: Deal the combined deck according to the base game's setup rules. During play, follow the normal You've Got Crabs rules; the expansion's advantage applies when a card tells you to look like a crab. Remind players that the crab pose is part of the card's effect, not an optional joke—skipping it removes the advantage.
Demonstrate the crab look: Before the first round, show new players what 'looking like a crab' means at your table—usually hands raised like claws. Agree on a simple pose so no one feels awkward or overdoes it. Keep the pose brief and seated if space is tight; the goal is a quick laugh, not a performance.
Reset between rounds: After each round, gather all cards—base and expansion—and reshuffle together. Do not separate the expansion cards out mid-session unless you plan to remove the expansion entirely. If you want to play without the expansion later, count the Imitation Crab cards back out before shuffling to avoid confusion.

Product facts

You've Got Crabs: Imitation Crab Expansion: The expansion is designed to create an advantage for your team, and you have to look like a crab while doing it. Plan for a physical, silly moment during play—clear space around the table so players can pose without knocking over cards.
You've Got Crabs: Imitation Crab Expansion