Owlboy Vellie Caves First Boss Guide — Armor Break
Beat the Vellie Caves first boss in Owlboy: break the mask with a Geddy smash, then shoot the weak point—plus flying phase tips and v1.0 notes.
FAQ
What is the Vellie Caves first boss called?
Why does Geddy do no damage at the start?
Does a spin attack work instead of a smash?
What changes in phase two?
Did the 2026 anniversary update change this fight?
What do I do with the mask after winning?
Where do I go after this boss?
The first boss in Vellie Caves stops a lot of new players because Geddy’s shots look like they work while they actually do nothing. Every credible walkthrough agrees on the fix: break the mask or armor first, then shoot. Nobody in the primary sources gives this creature a canonical boss name—only fan labels like Relic Crab (Fandom, explicitly unofficial).
Who Is the Vellie Caves First Boss?
| Detail | Verified info |
|---|---|
| Official boss name | Not stated in GameFAQs (2025) or NoobFeed (2018) |
| Community name | “Relic Crab” (unofficial, Fandom boss list) |
| Related enemy entry | “Masked Tortoise” listed under Vellie Cave enemies (Fandom)—not confirmed as the boss title |
| Arena | End of Vellie Caves dungeon, before the Ancient Owl Relic |
Treat Relic Crab as a search nickname, not lore text.
Why Doesn’t Geddy Damage the Boss at First?
While the mask / armor stays on, Geddy’s blaster only produces hit flashes on the shell. GameFAQs’ Switch wording: with Geddy carried, use the smash/spin into the boss input (Y on Switch) to knock the armor off. NoobFeed describes the same beat as a spin attack on the helmet.
Once the shell breaks:
- Phase 1 (ground) — Stay grounded; mash Geddy’s fire into the exposed body. GameFAQs calls this phase straightforward if you react quickly when Geddy gets knocked off.
- Phase 2 (air) — The boss flies, fires shots you dodge, and can knock Geddy off Otus. Pick him up immediately—no gunner = no damage.
Vellie Caves first boss armor break demonstration
What Is the Safest Way to Win?
Before the room: You should already know how to carry Geddy, aim, and roll/dash from the cave tutorials (beginner guide · controls).
During the fight:
- Break armor first every time it resets—do not waste time shooting the shell.
- Hold Geddy tight in phase two; reposition with rolls instead of wild flying that drops him.
- Pick fruit in the dungeon if you took damage—phase two punishes low health panic.
If Geddy keeps falling off
Fly short hops instead of long loops. In v1.0 you can toggle Drop Gunner On Dodge off if accidental drops trigger when you roll (see anniversary update guide).
Optional auto-aim helps you focus on movement during the flying phase without manual stick aiming.
What Happens After You Win?
GameFAQs’ flow:
- Pick up the mask/armor and throw it through rocks to open the next path.
- Activate the Ancient Owl Relic teleporter (story gadget for recalling gunners).
- Return to Vellie for the pirate raid arc—see full walkthrough for what comes next.
More Help
- Full walkthrough chapter list
- Buccanary coins in Vellie Caves
- Next major boss elsewhere: Solus (finale) · Pirate ship / Dirk
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