Dry Bones

Dry Bones (also known as Skeleton Koopas) are skeleton versions of Koopa Troopas. When jumped on, a Dry Bones will fall apart. However, a collapsed Dry Bones will eventually reassemble itself to its original form.

Dry Bones' first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. These skeletal enemies have appeared in many other Mario platformers, including Super Mario World. In this game, Dry Bones would throw bones at Mario and Luigi. Dry Bones was an unlockable character in Mario Kart DS and Mario Party 7, and a starting character in Mario Superstar Baseball.

Dry Bones appeared in the game Hotel Mario. In this adventure, they were known as "Skeleton Koopas". This is the only game where Dry Bones are named as such.

Three sub-species of Dry Bones appeared in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. They were the Dull Bones, the Red Bones, and the Dark Bones. Regular Dry Bones also appeared in the game. They could revive themselves and build other Dry Bones for reinforcement. These Dry Bones were weak against fire attacks. Though in New Super Mario Bros., they are immune to fire.

Dry Bones of the Past


In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Dry Bones resided inside Yoob's stomach. In battle, a Dry Bones would throw bones at Mario and Luigi to attack. If the Dry Bones jumped before throwing a bone, the bone would bounce over the Mario brothers' head; if Dry Bones did not jump, the bone would bounce towards Mario or Luigi and must be evaded by jumping. Additionally, if the Dry Bones gnashed its teeth, the skeletal Koopa would attack Mario before attacking Luigi. If the Dry Bones twirled its head around, the undead monster would attack Luigi before attacking Mario.

It is unknown how the Dry Bones ended up in Yoob'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 (but, strangely, does eat Baby Bowser). Thus the Dry Bones in Yoob's stomach may have appeared there by some other means.

Large Dry Bones statues also appeared in the Gritzy Desert.

Dry Bones of the Beanbean Kingdom
Dry Bones appeared in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. These Dry Bones were four-legged like the ones from Super Mario Bros. 3. They were found in Hoohoo Mountain and Teehee Valley. Dry Bones would attack by throwing their heads at opponents. If a Dry Bones' head twisted in a circle, it would attack Mario; if it's head spun around left to right, then Luigi would have to jump to dodge the flying head.

Paper Mario Stats and Tattle Information

 * HP: 8
 * Attack: 4
 * Defense: 2
 * Location: Bowser's Castle
 * Tattle: 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.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Stats and Tattle Information



 * HP: 8
 * Attack: 5
 * Defense: 2
 * Locations: Palace of Shadow, Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 61-69)
 * 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.
 * 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!

Mario Party Info
Partner: Boo Special Orb: Magic/Surprise

Mario Superstar Baseball biography
A bony underling of Bowser. Some mysterious power binds the skeletal bodies of Dry Bones together, but they shatter to pieces when they take damage. Of course, over time, they go right back to the way they were without ill effect. Dry Bones throws cursed balls when he pitches.