
Is Cubone Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Cubone with AbilityRock Head ignores recoil from Take Down and Double-Edge. AbilityLightning Rod draws Electric attacks in double battles but barely matters in FRLG's story. Marowak at 28 is a solid Ground-type for Surge, Blaine, and Giovanni. The Defense keeps it alive through the mid-game.
Cubone has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.
Misty's team hits Cubone's weaknesses hard.
Cubone has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Erika's team hits Cubone's weaknesses hard.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Marowak has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Marowak has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Marowak has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Marowak trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Catch Cubone on Pokémon Tower (walking, Lv 15-17, rare).
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig120100%10
- After Erika
- TM35FireFlamethrower90100%15
- TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
- LV 37NormalThrash120100%10
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- LV 45NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
- After Giovanni
- TM26GroundEarthquake150100%10
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Cubone should hit Level 28 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig120100%10
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM35FireFlamethrower90100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- LV 46NormalThrash120100%10
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast11085%5
- After Giovanni
- TM26GroundEarthquake150100%10
- LV 61NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Cubone in FireRed & LeafGreen
Cubone has 12 walking encounters in both versions, split between Pokemon Tower mid-game and Sevault Canyon in the Sevii Islands. Rare or uncommon at every spot.
Wild Cubone may be holding when caught:
2 locations to catch Cubone
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Where To Catch Cubone in FRLG
Cubone is your first catch on the way to Cubone. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 15-52 across 20 total spots in the chain.
Step 2Catch or Evolve into MarowakVictory Road - 1FLv.44-46CaveRate 5%Victory Road - 3FLv.44-46CaveRate 5%Sevault CanyonLv.52GrassRate 10%Victory Road - 2FLv.46-48CaveRate 5%or evolve from Cubone (Step 1)
Cubone Weakness
Cubone is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Cubone's physical bulk (base 95 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ice |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Cubone Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Cubone
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x83-99% Ice Beam 2x67-79% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x134-158%KO Ice Beam 2x104-124%KO | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x89-107%KO Ice Beam 2x68-82% | ||
Ivysaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x100-119%KO Ice Beam 2x66-79% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x157-185%KO Ice Beam 2x105-123%KO | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Wartortle builds →Surf 2x106-126%KO Ice Beam 2x71-84% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x100-119%KO Ice Beam 2x66-79% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x157-185%KO Ice Beam 2x105-123%KO | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Lapras builds →Surf 2x130-153%KO Ice Beam 2x130-153%KO | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Wartortle builds →Surf 2x106-126%KO Ice Beam 2x71-84% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x120-142%KO Ice Beam 2x64-76% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x155-183%KO Ice Beam 2x103-122%KO | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Lapras builds →Surf 2x127-150%KO Ice Beam 2x127-150%KO | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Articuno builds →Ice Beam 2x142-168%KO Water Pulse 2x61-72% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x126-149%KO Ice Beam 2x66-78% | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Articuno builds →Ice Beam 2x143-168%KO Water Pulse 2x60-71% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x125-147%KO Ice Beam 2x66-78% | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Suicune builds →Surf 2x137-161%KO Ice Beam 2x91-108%KO | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Pineco's Explosion hits Cubone for 49-57%. Voltorb deals 36-42% with Explosion.
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSitrus Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Snubbull builds →Earthquake31-37% Thief13-15% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Pineco builds →Explosion49-57% Rapid Spin10-12% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySoundproof ItemSilkscarf NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Voltorb builds →Explosion36-42% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Koffing builds →Explosion110-129%KO Sludge Bomb20-23% Shadow Ball36-42% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityArenatrap ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cubone View Diglett builds →Earthquake28-33% | ||
Cubone Evolutions
Cubone is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Marowak. Check the evolution method below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 105 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Cubone easily with 49 breeding partners from the Monster egg group. Pass egg moves like Ancient Power, Belly Drum, Perish Song and 4 more to offspring.
FRLG Cubone Best Moveset
Ground typing with AbilityRock Head removing recoil. Held ItemThick Club doubles Attack for the evolution line. Marowak is where that item transforms the moveset entirely.
Best Build
Cubone best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Bonemerang
- Swords Dance
- Focus Punch
- Ancient Power
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding opens up real options for Cubone. Ancient Power and Belly Drum come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Earthquake and Dig and coverage across 8 types.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. When it becomes lonesome, it is said to cry loudly.
Because it never removes its skull helmet, no one has ever seen this POKéMON’s real face.
Cubone FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
Cubone can be caught in the wild at Pokemon Tower and Sevault Canyon in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Cubone appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Cubone have the longest track record of availability in the series.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves