A Bone to Pick

Not to be confused with A Dry Bone to Pick.

Mission
A Bone to Pick
Location	Bask Ruins
Mission number	1
Game	Mario Tennis Aces
Mission progression ← Previous — Next → An Ancient Trial Mario Tennis Aces missions

A Bone to Pick is the first mission of the Adventure Mode in Mario Tennis Aces, taking place in Bask Ruins.

Layout

When Mario and Toad arrive at Bask Ruins, they are greeted by a Dry Bones who stops them, claiming that the ruins can only be accessed by those who can play tennis. Realizing the duo is not asking for trouble, the Dry Bones challenges Mario to a singles tennis match for entry to the Temple of Bask.

Being the first mission in the game, it serves as a tutorial for much of the game's mechanics. The Dry Bones starts by explaining how to toss and serve the ball. He then continues by teaching Mario how to return the ball, then expands on it by teaching the various tactical moves (topspin, slice, flat) and begins the match for real after that. The match is a simple one-set where Mario's best bet is to remain near the center of the court in order to counter the Dry Bones's serves.

Afterwards, the Dry Bones allows Mario and Toad to enter the Temple of Bask.

In-game text

• "Beat Dry Bones in a tennis match!"

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Note(s)	Ref.
Japanese	ホネのあるヤツ Hone no Aru Yatsu	A staunch guy (lit. "a guy with bones")		[?]
French	L'os du tennis	The bone of tennis; pun on l'as du tennis ("the ace of tennis")
German	Knochenarbeit	Hard work (lit. "bone work")		[?]
Italian	Farsi le ossa	To make one's bones (meaning "to gain experience")		[?]
Spanish (Europe)	Un hueso duro de roer	A Hard Bone to Crack (meaning "a hard nut to crack")		[?]