Dry Bones
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- “I'm sick of gettin' hit!”
- —Dry Bones, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Dry Bones (also known as Skeleton Koopas) are skeletal versions of Koopa Troopas. These undead turtles are infamous for falling apart after being hit by an attack, only to reassemble itself after a certain amount of time.
History
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Chronologically, Dry Bones first appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time in the Shroob invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom. In it, Dry Bones resided inside Yoob's Belly. 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 Shroob. 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. With these, you had to split up the Babies and the adults, and hit four blocks. Two of these had to be hit nearly simultaneously, and then you had to do the exact same thing with the other two. This opened a door to the Shroob Base.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Dry Bones's true debut was in Super Mario Bros. 3. They were virtually indestructible--they could be stomped on the head and turn to a pile of dust. However, they would eventually reform. The only ways to destroy them for good was with a Star and the Hammer Suit.
Super Mario World
Dry Bones was absent from Mario's games until he appeared in various castles of Super Mario World. They retained their ability to remake themselves when stomped, but this time they could be permanently defeated with the cape or star power-ups. These ones appeared very different from the Super Mario Bros. 3 ones, as they had long necks and a taller overall figure, making them look a little like a Yoshi rather than a koopa. Some of the Dry bones in this game could throw bones at the player. This was the first game that featured bone-throwing Dry Bones.
Hotel Mario
Dry Bones appeared in Hotel Mario. They were known as Skeleton Koopas in this game, and they could be demolished with fire, which is also possible as well in the Paper Mario games.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Dry Bones appear as enemies in the Sunken Ship. They have an infinite amount of HP, which means they cannot defeated by normal attacks, only magic can hurt them. One magic attack is enough to take them down. However, even when defeated, they would resurrect after a short amount of time and try to re-engage battle with Mario. To defeat them for good, Mario must take out all enemies before the Dry Bones revive. Using a magic attack that hits all enemies is a good technique for taking down a team of Dry Bones. A stronger sub-species of Dry Bones known as Vomer also appears in the Barrel Volcano.
Paper Mario
Dry Bones didn't appear again until Paper Mario. Dry Bones only appeared in Bowser's Castle in the game. They were a very powerful enemy, and could throw bones at Mario. They would regenerate if all their HP was taken, but could permanently be defeated with flames and explosions.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Dry Bones appeared in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. These Dry Bones were four-legged like the ones from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. They were found in Hoohoo Mountain, and poisonous counterparts of them appeared in 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 its head spun around left to right, then Luigi would have to jump to dodge the flying head. To attack this enemy while the it was attacking, the Mario Bros. would have to jump onto the spinning bone head. If the Mario Bros. see them before battle, they can stomp the Dry Bones' spinning head to inflict damage when the battle begins. These enemies would mostly appear in packs of Beanies. When they were defeated, the Mario Bros. would receive a Mushroom. Because these Dry Bones are larger and shaped differently than normal, it might be the un-dead body of a Troopea.
The stronger variety is often known by its Japanese name, Garon. However, they they are also refered to as Dry Bones in the English versions of the game. Garons are poisonous and have a purple tint.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
In this game, Dry Bones was a rather common enemy. It first appeared in Hooktail's Castle as a subspecies called Dull Bones. These could not regenerate themselves, and when their HP was drained, they were permanently defeated. They could also build more Dull Bones. Another subspecies of Dry Bones appeared in the castle, called Red Bones. These could regenerate themselves and build Dull Bones.
Later In the game, at the Palace of Shadows, true Dry Bones appeared. These could come back to life and build more of themselves. One last subspecies was in the Palace, the Dark Bones. This was like the Red Bones was to the Dull Bones: stronger and a builder of their weaker counterparts. Both the Red and Dark Bones were fought in a huge room full of their weaker species. You have to use your hammer to clear away the minions and get to the stronger version, initiating a fight. If the player did nothing while Dry Bones were crowding around them, he or she would get a Game Over.
Super Princess Peach
Dry Bones also appeared in Super Princess Peach. Dry Bones were most common in World 3. These could regenerate themselves and also throw bones at Princess Peach, much like in Paper Mario. A new subspecies, called the Sad Dry Bones, was also seen. These threw extremely fast bones at Peach, and were crying.
New Super Mario Bros.
Dry Bones were common in the fortresses of New Super Mario Bros. When jumped on, they would collapse and their head would detach. But no matter where the head fell to (even a lava pool or bottomless pit), it came back together every time (though if the head fell into a lava pool or bottomless pit, the head would take longer to reattach itself). Also, a giant Dry Bones (aptly named Super Dry Bones) appeared occasionally. These had to be ground-pounded to temporarily be immobilized.
Super Paper Mario
Template:Catch Card This game featured much less powerful Dry Bones. These could be smashed with a single stomp, but came back very quickly. They lived in The Underwhere and the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials in this game.
Two new subspecies- the Dark Dull Bones and the Dark Bones- appeared in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials, where all the enemies were dark counterparts of themselves. On a side note, the Dark bones from this game were not the same as the ones in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Super Mario Galaxy
Dry Bones also appears in Super Mario Galaxy. They are only in the Dusty Dune Galaxy, Bowser's Dark Matter Plant and the final level, Bowser's Galaxy Reactor. They regenerate themselves, like in previous games.
When a Dry Bones successfully attacks Mario or Luigi, it cackles like a Boo.
The only way to defeat these Dry Bones was by touching one of them with a Rainbow Star, leading them into quicksand or exploding them with a bullet bill.
Other Events
Mario Superstar Baseball was Dry Bones's spin-off debut. Dry Bones was introduced as a Technique character as a part of Bowser's team. His four colors were white (by default), red, green and blue. His strongest points were batting, pitching, and fielding. This is one of Dry Bones's only appearances as playable from the start. Dry Bones "Buddies" in the game were Koopa Troopa and Bowser. He is set to appear in the sequel Super Mario Stadium Baseball.
Later, Dry Bones was playable in Mario Kart DS as a secret character. He could be unlocked by winning the gold trophy of the Nitro Grand Prix, on 50cc. His karts were the Standard DB, the Banisher, and the Dry Bomber. His Dry Bomber is considered to be one of the fastest accelerating karts. Dry Bones returns in Mario Kart Wii.
Dry Bones first appeared as a Mario Partier in Mario Party 7, where he had to purchased in the Duty-Free Shop for a price of 1000 Cruise Mileage Points. In Mario Party 8, since he was now becoming a "natural" at the series, being a default character. In Mario Party DS, a Dry Bones appears as a non-playable character. In the story mode, it has taken over the board DK's Stone Statue, and is responsible for turning Donkey Kong into stone. He can be found in the board itself sleeping in a coffin. If a player stops on a ? Space near his coffin, Dry Bones will wake up, and shortly after shuts his coffin so hard, that the player will randomly fly all the way either to the starting spot, or right next to the Star. When the player wins the board in the story mode, a boss fight with Dry Bones itself starts in the minigame Hexoskeleton. After Dry Bones is defeated, Mario and company continue to Kamek's Library. A trophy of Beaten Dry Bones can be acquired after beating the Hexoskeleton mini-game 5 times.
Appearances in Other Media
Cartoons
Dry Bones made a few appearances in the Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. They had a main role in the episode "Do the Koopa", in which one told Bowser that Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Toadstool had sneaked into Castle Koopa and were attempting to find the Doom Dancer Music Box. Later on they encountered more Dry Bones that were crushed by blocks dropped from the ceiling by Mario. Later they were uncovered and freed by Cheatsy, Bully and Big Mouth Koopa.
Dry Bones also appear in the Super Mario World animated series, in the episodes "Send in the Clown" and "The Night Before Cave Christmas".
Comics
In the Nintendo Comics System story "It's Always Fair Weather", a talking Dry Bones appears as the pilot of Bowser's personal helicopter.
Sub-Species
Spin-off Information
Mario Party 7 Info
Partner: Boo
Special Orb: Magic/Surprise
Mario Superstar Baseball
Buddies:
- Koopa Troopa
- Bowser
Bio 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.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Statistics and Tattle Information
Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
A skeletal member of the Koopa Troopa family. Immune to fireballs, Dry Bones will fall apart when stomped upon, then reassemble moments later. They're typically found in dungeon levels in Mario games but have also been known to participate in various sports and activities such as baseball, kart racing, and soccer. They're likely boning up on the competition.
Mario Kart Wii
Dry bones also appears in Mario Kart Wii he is an unlockable charecter.
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Trivia
- While not playable in Mario Hoops 3 on 3, a picture of Dry Bones's head cameoed on the Pirate Ship court, acting as the backboard for the hoop.
Foreign Names
| Dry Bones | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Bones • Dead Bones • Dry Bones • Kāmenētā • Sphinx Zō |
| Species | Big Dry Bones • Dark Bones • Dark Dull Bones • Dry Bones • Dry Bones 5-Stack • Dull Bones • Elite Dry Bones • Paper Dry Bones • Parabones • Red Bones • Sad Dry Bones • Suppon no Karon • Vomer |
| Related items | Banisher • Dry Bones Dasher • Dry Bones Shell |
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