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Cubone

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Cubone
Cubone
National Pokédex
Exeggutor - Cubone (#104) - Marowak
Johto Pokédex
Rapidash - Cubone (#203) - Marowak
Japanese nameKarakara
Evolves fromNone
Evolves intoMarowak
GenerationFirst
SpeciesLonely Pokémon
TypeGround
Height1 ft 4 in (0.4 m)
Weight14.3 pounds (6.5 kg)
AbilityLightning Rod / Rock Head

Cubone (カラカラ, Karakara in original Japanese language versions) is one of Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon franchise. The name Cubone is a combination of the words cub and bone, in reference to its young age and relation to bones, both as weapons and armor. The "Cu-" may also be derived from cute, as Cubone is rather referred to as cute and lonely. It may even be derived from cueball, a term used for a bald person, which in turn, comes from the game of pool. Its Japanese name is most likely a pun on 空 kara (emptiness), 殻 kara (shell), and/or からから karakara (dried-up). In the English translation, it was originally going to be called Orphon, a corruption of "Orphan".

Biological characteristics

Cubone's appearance is a bit ambiguous, mainly because of the bone helmet it constantly wears, which obscures its facial features. It may resemble a Charmander since it looks very similar to one except for the skull helmet and sans tail flame. Its body is a light brown color with a lighter colored belly. Cubone is covered in short brown fur. It has a short tail and is often seen holding a long bone in its hand.

Cubone's appearance may have been based on the Pachycephalosaurs, a group of thick-skulled dinosaurs. Other Pokémon based on the Pachycephalosaur are Cranidos and Rampard of the fourth generation.

Cubone has an unfortunate life cycle. Shortly after birth, its mother inevitably dies. The reason for this is unknown, although it could be due to the Cubone's or Marowak's anatomy presenting inherent complications to the labor process. The death rate may be reduced if an egg is laid, instead of live birth.

Cubone grows up alone, lacking a mother it will never see again. After its mother's cadaver is decomposed enough, Cubone takes her skull bone and wears it over its head as a sort of helmet. It never removes the helmet again, so that its true face remains unknown to the world. This may be an effort on Cubone's part to feel its mother closer to it, but it seems to have little success.

In later life, Cubone constantly pines for its mother, often having bouts of depression, sorrow and loneliness. It is said to cry at the full moon because it sees a likeness of its mother in it. A Cubone's crying voice echoes around the skull helmet and comes out as a plaintive and mournful echo.

However Cubone's life is tragic and they are always missing their dead mothers, Cubones changes their behavior in battles. They turns like little but brave warriors in battle. They fight for their mother's honor, thinking that if they lose, their mother's respect will be ruined. It is possible Cubone thinks that its mother's helmet (if it is from its mother) and its bone club (if it is from its mother too) have some of the power, courage or some other kind of virtue from her, like if were a magical amulet besides a shield.

Cubone uses long bones as weapons, in the form of crude clubs. It can also wield one as a boomerang. The exact source of the bones it uses is unclear. They may either come from its mother's corpse, the remains of its prey (if it is a carnivore) or from the mythical "Marowak cemetery" from which Marowaks get their bones. When it evolves, the bone helmet seemingly fuses into its face. However, it could be that its head just conforms to the shape of its "helmet", which may break when it is finished growing. This may be due to a need to "look just like their mothers", which may explain why nearly all "helmets" look the same.

Cubone are described as short-furred mammals, with a gentle temperament.

In the video games

In Pokémon Red, Blue, FireRed and LeafGreen, Cubone can be found in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower, a cemetery for Pokémon. In these game's storyline, a Cubone's mother (a Marowak) is murdered by Team Rocket agents and its spirit haunts the Tower, which may be why Cubone is the only non-Ghost-type Pokémon inhabiting it. In FireRed and LeafGreen, Cubone is additionally found in Sevault Canyon, while in Pokémon Yellow it is additionally found in the Safari Zone. In Pokémon Gold and Silver, Cubone is found in the Rock Tunnel anytime except night. In Pokémon Crystal it is also available as a prize in the Goldenrod City Game Corner.

Contrary to the Pokédex entries, a female Cubone or Marowak breeding in the games will not die after laying an egg. While fortunate, this creates the paradox of where Cubone's helmet actually comes from in the games. (Unless Pokémon give live births in the wild).

Most of Cubone's stats are about average, but it has excellent defense (possibly thanks to its bony helmet).

Cubone has a number of attacks that are unique to its evolutionary chain, all related to its deft handling of bones: "Bone Club", "Bonemerang", and "Bone Rush". It also learns a number of other powerful physical attacks relatively early. When catching Pokémon, Cubone is useful thanks to its False Swipe skill, which can cause damage to a Pokémon but will never make it faint, weakening it optimally for capture. An attachable item known as the Thick Club can be found with a wild Cubone, which is extremely useful when training Cubone or Marowak, as it doubles their attack power. Cubone can also learn "Skull Bash" as an egg move if it is bred with a Squirtle, Wartortle, or Blastoise that knows "Skull Bash" (these Pokémon are all part of the 'Monster' Egg Group which is also Cubone's and Marowak's Egg Group). "Skull Bash" goes along nicely with Cubone and Marowak's other bone related moves.

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and later versions, Cubone can come with one of two abilities, "Lightningrod" and "Rock Head". The "Lightningrod" ability draws all electric-type attacks (to which Cubone is immune) to Cubone and away from it partner in Two-on-Two Battles. The "Rock Head" ability prevents recoil damage from techniques like "Double-Edge" (one of the moves Cubone learns by leveling-up).

Wild Cubone are not found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap. However, in the River Course, a Vileplume and its purple smog obscures a giant tree in the shape of a Cubone, and the smog will only disappear when the Poke Flute is played. This is one of six Pokémon Signs that must be photographed to gain access to the seventh course.

Cubone is one of the sixteen starter Pokémon in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games.

In the anime

Cubone has been prominently featured in three instances. One was in episode #9 (The School of Hard Knocks), where a Cubone belonging to star student Gizelle lost to Ash's Pikachu. Pikachu sought victory over the Cubone by spinning its skeleton helmet backwards, blocking its view, attacking Cubone physically, and letting Cubone's own Bonemerang smack its user, overcoming a type disadvantage in the battle. The episode is well known for showing that Pokémon battles can be won and lost on abilities and tactics, as opposed to just matching up types. This type of battling has never been seen in the games, but has been halfheartedly emulated in the home-console incarnations.

Another was in episode #45 (A Chancey Operation), where Ash and friends had to treat an injured Cubone. Both Cubones were very sensitive, prone to crying fits.

The third appearance was in the Pikachu's Vacation feature, where a Cubone was a part of the Pokémon posse that rivalled the Pokémon of the protagonists. This Cubone seemed unaffected by the struggles of the other Pokémon.

References

Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
  • Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
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