This is At the Buzzer’s list of the top 25 Pokemon of all-time. We’re in the serious business zone now, counting down one by one until we reach the very best. For more information, click here or check out the Related Links down at the bottom of the post. Don’t forget to vote on how we did in the poll below!
Today’s Pokemon always wears the skull of its deceased mother on its head and never shows its face. It cries mournfully in the moonlight. It pines for the mother it will never see again. Seeing a likeness of its mother in the full moon, it cries. The stains on the skull it wears are from its tears.
15) Cubone (3 votes, 135 points)
Chris: I’ll admit, I’m a little surprised by this pick, but that’s my own bias talking. I never really liked Cubone all that much (although the picture I found of him is pretty radical).
I suppose that when you take into account Cubone’s horrific back story, some of this makes sense. After all, wouldn’t you want to care care of a Cubone after Team Rocket murdered its mother? (Also, can we talk about how hardcore that was for a kids’ game, and how out of place it seems looking back? There was an entire tower full of dead Pokemon!) Cubone just mopes around with puppy dog eyes being a sad little orphan. It’s like Bruce Wayne all over again.
If we believe the Pokedex entries (and I know, they’re patently ridiculous), EVERY SINGLE CUBONE’S MOTHER IS DEAD. That’s right — apparently, once a Marowak gives birth to its child, they just peace out. This story is more tragic than I ever imagined.
One thing that I do really like about Cubone: it has access to not one, but two unique moves — Bone Club and Bonemerang. We’ve started to see unique moves gain traction across all Pokemon, not just legendaries anymore, and that’s something I think every single evolutionary chain should have.
Shaun: No really, Chris is right — there is no more tragic Pokemon than Cubone. Look at him! Stupid sad eyes. Stupid introverted personality born of mistrust and anger. Stupid slumpy shoulders just looking for someone to love him. But no one can because his mother is dead. It’s a prerequisite to his birth.
If Chris is to be fully believed, Cubone is Batman. Which is actually pretty cool, and probably the only way I can really relate to the little guy. But CONSIDER:
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Cubone is surprisingly popular among people once I actually thought to ask. It seems like everyone outside of Chris and I hold some affinity for his stupid sad eyes.
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In every iteration of the Pokemon show (including one of only FOUR episodes of Pokemon Origins), Cubone and his stupidly sad history enjoy a starring role.
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Cubone, allegedly, was one of the four original designs shared with the public during Pokemon’s inception.
You know those movies that everyone LOVES, and can’t stop talking about what an artsy masterpiece it is, but then you watch it, and you really want to love it too, but then the end credits roll and you’re just like “I don’t get it.” That’s what it’s like for me and Cubone, and yet I can’t deny he probably deserves a spot on our list.
Definitely one of my favorites ; )