Shellcracker

Shellcracker (カニパンチ), or Shellcraker, is a crab-type Badnik created by Dr. Eggman. It makes its first appearance at Metropolis Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Shellcracker looks similar to Crabmeat, although, the two enemies have very different attack patterns.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Shellcrakers make their first appearance in Metropolis Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In the game, they can found at walking slowly back and forth, while also blocking the narrow path to the High-speed elevator, near the edge of the lava pit or bottomless pit. They can attack by extending out their spiked claws to punch nearby opponents with considerable force. The player is able to destroy these Badniks by jumping on them above or behind, but they have to be very precise when attacking; their large claws often block their hitboxes from the front.

Sonic Pocket Adventure
Shellcrakers make another appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure at the last full zone, Gigantic Angel Zone. As the zone resembles of Metropolis Zone, it had same Badniks (including Shellcraker) and they behave the same way as in Metropolis Zone on similar places.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Now known as Shellcrackers, these Badniks make an appearance at Mad Gear Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Despite having upgraded design, Shellcrackers behave like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Shellcracker's claw attack is also now easier to predict, as it raises its left claw before thrusting its right one.

Sonic 4 Website Info

 * Hailing originally from Metropolis Zone, Shellcracker has returned to make Sonic lose as many rings as possible, if not finish him off entirely. Watch out as this Badnik's main weapon is a quick-moving claw that packs a serious punch!

Physical Appearance
Shellcracker as a Badnik is based on red fiddler crab, due to having one larger claw. Shellcraker has red and white main body, which has two yellow eyes. Shellcraker has two pairs of legs, enabling to move slowly sideways. Shellcracker also has two different, red claws. The left claw is tremendous and having three spikes above it while right one is just small. Also, the left claw is connected to its main body with four orbs.

Its design in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has some few changes, as the Shellcracker has blue feet joints and its claws are yellow at the lower side and grey inside.

Abilities
As Shellcracker's right claw is large, extendable and spiky, it thrusts this claw at Sonic or Tails to punch them when they come into its range. This Badnik is quite deadly; it can easily injure the player when they least expect it, and its placements in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are rather unavoidable. The best way to defeat this Badnik is to jump above it and Spin Attack into its unprotected side which has smaller claw and lacks the defense.

Sonic the Comic
Shellcraker hasn't made any appearances during the original run of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic, but it has been featured in Sonic the Summer Special's Sonic's World, as it is listed along with other Badniks.

Archie Comics
Shellcrackers make a minor appearance in one panel of Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comic's Sonic the Hedgehog #229, where they try to stop Sonic the Hedgehog to get deeper through Metropolis Zone. In this Genesis arc, Shellcrackers got their appearance from Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

Shellcrackers reappear in one panel of Sonic the Hedgehog #255. In this issue, these Badniks are part of the forces dispatched to prevent Sonic, Tails and Bunnie's escape from Metropolis Zone. Their large spiked claws are used to break down doors when necessary.

Trivia

 * In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Shellcraker can sometimes, for an odd reason, disappear from certain places where they should be in Metropolis Zone. This can also happen to the Slicer.
 * Especially with regards to having one large claw, Shellcraker Badniks appear to be based on fiddler crabs.
 * Like Slicers, the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 website points out their annoyance because of their placement and attack pattern in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.