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Mandibuzz is a vulture-like Pokémon, particularly resembling a turkey vulture. It has a bare, pink head and neck, along with a notched black beak and red eyes. There are black eyelashes or eyeliner-like markings above its eyes. A long brown tuft with a bone in the middle extends from the back of its head. It has a tan ruff at the base of its neck, and shaggy darker brown wings with gray tips. Mandibuzz also has shaggy brown tail feathers. It has decorated itself with bones — a jaw with sharp teeth — to form a skirt. Its pink feet have black talons. Mandibuzz lives in nests made from the bones it finds. Weakened prey is dragged back to this nest after Mandibuzz swoops down on it from the sky. Mandibuzz is a female only species with no true male counterpart.
Mandibuzz, the Bone Vulture Pokémon. Mandibuzz swoops down from the sky to attack its prey using its sharp, powerful claws and beak.
In the manga
Mandibuzz in Pokémon RéBURST
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
A Mandibuzz was used by one of the Seven Sages to fend off several Trainers that were trying to rescue the captured Gym Leaders.
In the Pokémon RéBURST manga
Miruto has a Mandibuzz that she attempted to use to fly to the top of Mt. Serables. Before she can, Ryouga stops her due to flying on the mountain being dangerous. Another Mandibuzz appears as a Burst form of Lukov.
Despite Special Attack being its lowest stat, Mandibuzz awards Special Attack EVs when defeated.
Mandibuzz and Vullaby can be seen as counterparts to Braviary and Rufflet. Mandibuzz and Braviary share a base stat total of 510, evolve from their pre-evolutions starting at level 54, and are both part Flying. Mandibuzz and Vullaby are exclusive to Black and Black 2 while Braviary and Rufflet are to White and White 2. Whereas Mandibuzz and Vullaby can only be female, Braviary and Rufflet can only be male.
Origin
Mandibuzz is based on an Old World vulture, most closely resembling a lappet-faced vulture with the prominent ruff of a white-rumped vulture. Its design also bears resemblance to stereotypical "savages" or barbarians. The row of teeth around its waist resembles an apron.
According to interviews with Ken Sugimori in Nintendo Dream, Vullaby and Mandibuzz were added late into the development of Black and White. When Mandibuzz was originally created by James Turner, it was unrelated to Braviary, but it was later decided to use its design as a counterpart to Braviary.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.