Cubone is a small, bipedal, dinosaur-like Pokémon with a light brown hide that covers most of its body, except for its cream-colored belly. Two small claws, one on each hand, serve as its thumbs, and one large nail on each foot make up its toes. It has two small spikes on its back and a short tail. 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 and its evolution are also the only Pokémon capable of using the Thick Club item.
It is called the Lonely Pokémon because of its tendency to keep to itself and avoid social situations, due to the trauma caused 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 full moon, and so it howls with a particular sadness. Its cries attract Mandibuzz, a natural predator. It is said a Cubone will evolve into a Marowak once it comes terms with its mother's death. The dreams Cubone have make it cry, but crying makes it stronger. Cubone 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.
Main series
Major appearances
In A Snow Day for Searching!, Goh helped a Cubone retrieve its stolen bone before catching it.
Other
Cubone debuted in The School of Hard Knocks, under the ownership of Giselle. It was used in a battle against Ash and his Pikachu, but lost.
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Cubone was part of a group of troublemakers causing trouble for Pikachu and his friends until they came to a truce.
In Pichu Bros. in Party Panic, a Cubone helped Meowth prepare his party and played the drums in his band. Cubone would get easily sad and gloomy whenever Meowth yelled it, but it was also easily consolable.
In PK15, a Cubone was the leader of a group of Pokémon who took up residence in a haunted house. They would attempt to scare visitors out of the house.
In Battling With a Clean Slate!, Alvin used a Cubone in a Gym battle against Clembot and managed to defeat Magneton and Heliolisk.
Minor appearances
In Hypno's Naptime, a Cubone was seen in HopHopHop Town's Pokémon Center.
In Pokémon Fashion Flash, a Cubone was on Scissor Street.
In A Chansey Operation a Cubone was injured and had to be treated at the human hospital.
In Princess vs. Princess, a Cubone competed in the Queen of the Princess Festival.
A Cubone appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
In The Power of One, multiple Cubone sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
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.
In Wired for Battle!, a Trainer's Cubone came up as an image in Shingo's laptop.
In Pikachu & Pichu, a Cubone was living in Big Town.
In The Heartbreak of Brock, a Cubone was living at Temacu's father's lab.
In Doin' What Comes Natu-rally, a Cubone participated in a street festival.
A Cubone appeared in Bulbasaur's flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
In Gonna Rule The School!, the Pokémon Trainers' School lent a Cubone to the school's underage students for use in lessons.
A Cubone appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
In Showdown at Linoone, a fantasy explaining the function of a Thick Club featured a Cubone.
A Cubone appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Coordinator's Cubone appeared in Harley Rides Again.
In Dawn's Early Night!, a Coordinator's Cubone was used along with a Marowak for the Double Performance required during the Hearthome Contest.
In a flashback in Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!, a Trainer's Cubone was going to battle Narissa alongside a Marowak, but they retreated 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!.
In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, a Cubone was playing in Lillie's garden.
Two Cubone appeared in I Choose You!. One of them took shelter from the rain in a cave with Pokémon including Entei.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Alola, Kanto!.
A Cubone appeared in The Power of Us.
In I Choose Paradise!, a Cubone was at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
In Securing the Future!, four Trainers' Cubone joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in The Dealer of Destruction!.
A Cubone appeared in Enter Pikachu!.
A Trainer's Cubone appeared in Take My Thief! Please!.
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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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| JN015
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Cubone
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Cubone, the Lonely Pokémon. A Ground type. Cubone wears a skull as a helmet, concealing its face as it sheds tears for its long-lost mother. It cries loudly to express its loneliness. It also always carries a long, thick bone.
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Pokémon Origins
In File 2: Cubone, a Cubone was in the Pokémon House in Lavender Town. It is the child of the ghostly Marowak, who died while defending it from Team Rocket.
A Ripple in Time
A Cubone appeared in A Ripple in Time, under the ownership of Arsham. It was used in a battle against Ash and his Pikachu.
Pocket Monsters DP
A Cubone appeared in PMDP16.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Bonee
Cubone made a cameo in Onix is On!, under the ownership of a Trainer at the Pewter Gym. It battled Red's Bulbasaur.
A Cubone appeared as a silhouette when Green talks about Mew in The Jynx Jinx.
Multiple Cubone were under the control of Team Rocket Grunts in Piloswine Whine. They attack Gold and Silver but are easily defeated.
Crystal owns a Cubone nicknamed Bonee, which first appeared in Slugging It Out With Slugma. It notably has a star-shaped crack in his skull. Cubone's main role in the team is to take out targets from afar using his bone-based attacks. In Lively Larvitar, the origin of Crystal's Cubone is revealed: it, along with Crystal's Natu, Hitmonchan, and Parasect, were wild Pokémon living in Mt. Mortar and had fought with a local Arcanine that had gone berserk from a severe eye injury. Bonee had used several bone clubs for Crystal to use as arm casts.
A Cubone appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
A Cubone appeared in Weavile Wobbles But It Won't Fall Down, under the ownership of a Youngster at the Safari Zone.
A Cubone appeared in a fantasy in Ray of Light!! Through the Crack in the Sky!.
Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
Ken owns a Cubone, as seen in GDZ16.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
A Cubone appeared in Fierce Competition at the Pokémon Baseball Tournament!, where it was one of the Pokémon that took part in a baseball match. It was seen with Green during the game.
A Cubone appeared in Clefairy's Christmas Present?!.
Giovanni has a Cubone, which was used in his Gym battle against Red in Get The Last Badge!!.
Red caught a Cubone prior to Red VS Green?!.
A Cubone appeared in Pikachu's Birthday Party.
A Cubone appeared in Demanding Tests at the Pokémon School!.
Pokémon Zensho
A Cubone appeared in PZ05.
Thick Club (2%)
For other sprites and images, please see Cubone images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
