Cubone is a small, bipedal Pokémon with a golden brown hide that covers most of its body, including both dorsal spikes. Its belly is a very light brown. Two small claws, one on each hand, serve as its thumbs, and one large nail on each foot make up its toes. On its head, Cubone wears the skull of its dead mother as a helmet. Because of this, much of its actual face has never been seen, except for its triangular, black eyes and a small area surrounding them. The skull has two rounded horns on the top of its head and a tooth-like point on the lower sides. Under the skull, Cubone has a brown snout. The small Cubone survives only through the immense skill it possesses in wielding the bone it carries as a weapon. The bone allows it to learn Bone Club and Bonemerang, two moves exclusive to Cubone and its evolution Marowak.
It is called the Lonely Pokémon because of its tendency to keep to itself and avoid social situations, as it was apparently traumatized by the death of its mother. Cubone will often weep at night in mourning of its mother. When Cubone cries, the skull that it wears on its head vibrates and emits "a plaintive and mournful sound." On the night of a full moon, the cries are said to be especially terrible. Cubone seems to recognize its mother in the moon, and so it howls with a particular sadness. It lives in rocky areas, usually on mountains or in caves. It also once inhabited the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town where deceased Pokémon were buried and mourned. Mandibuzz is a natural predator of Cubone.
In the main series
Major appearances
Cubone debuted in The School of Hard Knocks, under the ownership of Giselle. She used Cubone in a battle against Ash, where it battled Pikachu but lost.
A Cubone was among the four Pokémon that were causing trouble for Pikachu and his friends at the Pokémon Theme Park during Pikachu's Vacation.
A Cubone appeared in Pichu Bros. in Party Panic, where it was helping Meowth prepare his party. It played the drums in Meowth's band and would get easily sad and gloomy whenever Meowth yelled it, but it was also easily consolable.
A Cubone appeared in PK15. It was the leader of the haunted house where various Pokémon were living. It led them in attempts to scare visitors out of the house.
A Cubone appeared in Battling With a Clean Slate!, under the ownership of Alvin. It was used in a Gym battle against Clembot and managed to defeat Magneton and Heliolisk.
Minor appearances
A Cubone appeared in Hypno's Naptime, where it was seen in HopHopHop Town's Pokémon Center.
A Cubone appeared in Pokémon Fashion Flash as one of the Pokémon seen on Scissor Street.
A Cubone appeared in A Chansey Operation as an injured Pokémon.
A Cubone appeared in Princess vs. Princess, where it was competing in the Queen of the Princess Festival contest.
A Cubone appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
Multiple Cubone appeared in The Power of One.
A wild Cubone appeared in Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
A Cubone appeared in a flashback in Ignorance is Blissey, under the ownership of the Pokémon Nurse School.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Wired for Battle! as an image that came up in Shingo's laptop.
A Cubone appeared in Pikachu & Pichu as a resident of Big Town.
A Cubone appeared in The Heartbreak of Brock as one of the Pokémon living at Temacu's father's lab.
A Cubone appeared in Doin' What Comes Natu-rally as one of the Pokémon participating in a street festival.
A Cubone appeared in Bulbasaur's flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
A Cubone was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainers' School in Gonna Rule The School!.
A Cubone appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
A Cubone appeared in Showdown at Linoone during a fantasy, where Max explained that a Thick Club they found can enhance the strength of Cubone and Marowak.
A Cubone appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Coordinator's Cubone appeared in Harley Rides Again.
A Cubone appeared in Dawn's Early Night!, under the ownership of a Coordinator. It was used along with a Marowak for the Double Performance required during the Hearthome Contest.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in a flashback in Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!. It was going to battle Narissa alongside a Marowak, only to run off when her Ditto transformed into Zapdos.
A Cubone made brief cameo appearances in Giratina and the Sky Warrior and Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
A Cubone appeared in A Jolting Switcheroo!.
Two Trainers' Cubone appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A Cubone appeared in Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, where it was among the Pokémon playing in Lillie's garden.
Two Cubone appeared in I Choose You!. One of them was among the Pokémon taking shelter from the rain in a cave alongside Entei.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Alola, Kanto!.
A Cubone appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where it was among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
Four Trainers' Cubone appeared in SM090, where they joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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PK01
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Cubone
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Dexter
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A Ground-type Pokémon, Cubone. Cubone has earned its classification as the Lonely Pokémon from its usual attitude of caring only for itself.
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In Pokémon Origins
A Cubone appeared in File 2: Cubone in the Pokémon House in Lavender Town. It is the child of the ghostly Marowak, who died while defending it from Team Rocket.