Dry Bones

Dry Bones is a skeleton version of a Koopa. The way to "beat" them is to Jump on their heads, causing them to fall apart. But don't think that they stay in little pieces, because they will soon reassemble themselves to their original form!

Dry Bones' first appearance is in Super Mario Bros. 3, but he can also be selected as an unlockable character in Mario Kart DS and Mario Party 7, and a starting character in Mario Superstar Baseball. He is also seen as an enemy in a few other Super Mario side-scrolling platformers.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, there are three more varieties of the original Dry Bones (which is able to revive and build reinforcements): Dull Bones (weakest and cannot revive, but able to build reinforcements), Red Bones (stronger than the dull kind, but weaker than the original dry kind and able to revive), and Dark Bones (strongest of the bones bunch and capable of reviving).

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Dry Bones appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and return to their four-legged roots. They are found in Hoohoo Mountain. Their attack is throwing their heads. If it's head twists in a circle, it's going to throw at Mario, if it's head spins around left to right, than it's Luigi's turn to jump.

Not much is known other than what is already known about this creature in Mario & Luigi.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Dry Bones reside inside Yoobâ€™s stomach. In battle, a Dry Bones will throw bones at Mario and Luigi to attack. If the Dry Bones jumps before throwing a bone, the bone will bounce over the Mario brotherâ€™s head; if Dry Bones does not jump, the bone will bounce towards Mario or Luigi and must be evaded by jumping. Additionally, if the Dry Bones gnashes its teeth, the skeletal Koopa will attack Mario before attacking Luigi. If the Dry Bones twirls its head around, the undead monster will attack Luigi before attacking Mario.

It is unknown how the Dry Bones ended up in Yoobâ€™s stomach. They may have been normal Koopas that were eaten and digested by the monstrous Yoshi. However, Yoob apparently does not like the taste of Koopas, as the monster spits out both Kylie Koopa and Kamek Koopa (but, strangely, does eat Baby Bowser). Thus the Dry Bones in Yoobâ€™s stomach may have appeared there by some other means.

Large Dry Bones statues also appear in the Gritzy Desert.

Paper Mario Stats and Tattle Information
Max HP: 8, Attack Power: 4, Defense Power: 2

This is a Dry Bones. Dry Bones are skeletal remains from Koopa Troopas. Just when you think they're beat, these guys rise back up and attack again! You're going to have to beat them all at once. Or you could use fire attacks. If they become ashes, there's no way they'll recover.

Dull Bones

 * Stats: HP: 1, Attack 2, Defense: 1
 * Locations: Hooktail Castle, Glitzville, Palace of Shadow, Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 1-9)
 * Tattle: That's a Dull Bones. Sort of a skeleton thing.  It was a Koopa Troopa... once. These creeps throw bones to attack.  Oh, and they build reinforcements, too! Attacks that can strike multiple Dull Bones at once are the most effective.
 * Tattle Number: 20
 * Tattle Log: A Koopa Troopa that became a skeleton. It throws bones to attack and builds buddies to help it fight.

Red Bones

 * Stats: HP: 5, Attack 3, Defense: 1
 * Locations: Hooktail Castle, Palace of Shadow
 * Tattle: That's a Red Bones! A little TOO red, I think. No fashion sense, y'know? Unlike your average Dull Bones, even if you pound it to 0 HP and it crumbles... It totally might revive! Like a zombie! My advice is to get rid of all the Dull Bones, then attack the Red Bones. Oh, and one more thing! Once its friends start to fall, it may create some more!
 * Tattle Number: 21
 * Tattle Log: This ugly, red Dull Bones is stronger than a normal Dull Bones. Even if its HP drops to 0, it can come back to life.

Dry Bones

 * Stats: HP: 8, Attack 5, Defense: 2
 * Locations: Palace of Shadow, Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 61-69)
 * Tattle: That's a Dry Bones. It's a former Koopa whose spirit animates its bones. Eeeeeek! That's so freaky! Max HP is 8, Attack is 5 and Defense is 0. When its HP goes down to 0, it collapses into a pile, but it'll eventually rise again. Fire and explosions will put a permanent end to it getting back up, though. A Dry Bones will sometimes build friends if it feels it's outnumbered. If you don't take them all out close together, they'll just keep coming back. Let's wipe them out all at once, and quick!  These things totally freak me out!
 * Tattle Number: 22
 * Tattle Log: A skeleton Koopa that sometimes builds friends. Even after it collapses at 0 HP, it will sometimes get back up.

Dark Bones

 * Stats: HP: 20, Attack 5, Defense: 2
 * Locations: Palace of Shadow
 * Tattle: That's a Dark Bones. It's the baddest of the Bones gang. When its HP goes down to 0, it collapses into a pile, but it'll eventually rise again. Fire and explosions will put a permanent end to it getting back up, though. Its HP is high so it's hard to take it down. Like any other Bones, it sometimes builds friends if it feels outnumbered. It's a tough enemy. You better take it and it's buddies out all at once.
 * Tattle Number: 23
 * Tattle Log: It's the baddest of the Bones bunch, so its HP are really high. When its HP get down to 0, it might rise again.