Cubone, the Lonely Pokémon (#104), evolves into Marowak starting at level 28. This Ground-type Pokémon from Generation I has one of the more straightforward evolution requirements in the series”simply level it up to 28, and it transforms into the bone-wielding Marowak (#105). However, if you’re playing in the Alola region, the evolution becomes more nuanced: Cubone must be leveled up at night starting at level 28 to evolve into the Fire/Ghost-type Alolan Marowak, a regional variant with completely different typing than its pre-evolution.
What makes Cubone’s evolution particularly notable for collectors and competitive players alike is the stark typing difference between the original evolution path and the Alolan variant. A standard Cubone-to-Marowak evolution keeps the Ground typing consistent, but Alolan Marowak abandons Ground entirely for Fire/Ghost. This makes Cubone the only Pokémon in the entire franchise that can evolve into a dual-type Pokémon that shares none of its original types”a piece of trivia that gives this evolutionary line a unique place in Pokémon history. This article covers everything you need to know about Cubone’s evolution, including the specific mechanics for obtaining both Marowak variants, how regional differences affect your options, what to expect in upcoming games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and what this evolutionary line means for card collectors tracking the various Marowak cards across different sets.
Table of Contents
- How Does Cubone Evolve Into Marowak?
- Understanding Alolan Marowak and Regional Evolution Mechanics
- The Unique Typing Change From Ground to Fire/Ghost
- Cubone Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Collecting Cubone and Marowak Cards Across Sets
- Marowak’s Competitive History and Card Value Implications
- Future Outlook for the Cubone Line
- Conclusion
How Does Cubone Evolve Into Marowak?
The standard evolution from Cubone to Marowak requires reaching level 28. There are no special items, friendship requirements, or trade conditions”just raw experience points. Once Cubone hits that threshold, it evolves into Marowak, gaining improved base stats across the board while maintaining its Ground typing. This simplicity made Marowak accessible to players even in the original Red and Blue games, where complex evolution methods were less common. In practical terms, training a Cubone to level 28 typically happens mid-game in most Pokémon titles.
If you catch a Cubone in Pokémon Tower in the Kanto games, for instance, it’s usually around level 22-24, meaning you’re only a handful of battles away from evolution. The evolution itself doesn’t require any specific location or held item, which distinguishes it from many other Generation I Pokémon that were later given evolution requirements tied to items or trades. One thing to note: if you’re using an Everstone, Cubone won’t evolve regardless of its level. This seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning for players who might be confused about why their level 30 Cubone hasn’t transformed yet. Additionally, if you press B during the evolution animation or have evolution cancellation enabled in certain games, you’ll need to level up again to trigger another evolution attempt.
Understanding Alolan Marowak and Regional Evolution Mechanics
The introduction of Alolan forms in Pokémon Sun and Moon changed how Cubone’s evolution works within those games. In the Alola region, Cubone still evolves at level 28, but only at night”and when it does, it becomes Alolan Marowak, a Fire/Ghost dual-type Pokémon rather than the traditional Ground-type Marowak. If you attempt to evolve Cubone during the day in Alola, nothing happens at level 28; you must wait until nighttime in-game for the evolution to trigger. This time-based mechanic creates an important consideration for players.
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have inverted day/night cycles relative to each other (Sun matches real-world time while Moon is offset by 12 hours), so knowing which version you’re playing affects when you can evolve Cubone. A player might be confused when their Cubone doesn’t evolve at 2 PM in Moon, not realizing that Moon’s internal clock shows nighttime at that hour. However, this regional evolution only applies when Cubone is in the Alola region during the games that support Alolan forms. In Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee (set in Kanto) and the original Generation I-IV games, Cubone always evolves into standard Marowak regardless of time of day. The regional variant system respects the game’s setting, not just the mechanics available in newer engines.
The Unique Typing Change From Ground to Fire/Ghost
Cubone’s evolution into Alolan Marowak represents the most dramatic typing shift in any Pokémon evolution chain. Ground-type Cubone becomes Fire/Ghost-type Alolan Marowak”two completely different types with no overlap whatsoever. No other Pokémon in the franchise undergoes this kind of total type replacement through evolution, making Cubone genuinely one-of-a-kind in this regard. From a competitive standpoint, this typing difference creates entirely different battle strategies. Standard Marowak remains weak to Water, Grass, and Ice while being immune to Electric.
Alolan Marowak, by contrast, gains immunity to Normal and Fighting (from Ghost), weakness to Water, Ground, Rock, Ghost, and Dark, but also resistance to Fire, Grass, Ice, Poison, Bug, Steel, and Fairy. The two Marowak variants function as completely different Pokémon in team building, despite sharing a pre-evolution. For collectors, this typing distinction means Cubone cards and Marowak cards span multiple type representations. A standard Marowak card might be Fighting-type in the TCG (as Ground Pokémon typically are), while Alolan Marowak cards can be Fire-type or Psychic-type (the TCG’s stand-in for Ghost). This expands the range of decks where Marowak-line cards become relevant.
Cubone Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces yet another wrinkle for Cubone trainers. In this game set in the Kalos region, Cubone cannot evolve into Alolan Marowak through normal evolution methods. The time-of-day mechanic that works in Alola-based games doesn’t apply here”if you level Cubone to 28 or beyond, you’ll get standard Marowak regardless of when you do it. Players who want Alolan Marowak in Legends: Z-A must catch it separately in Hyperspace Wild Zones. These special areas contain Pokémon that wouldn’t normally appear in the Kalos region, including regional variants from other parts of the Pokémon world.
This catch requirement means you can’t breed or raise an Alolan Marowak from scratch using a Cubone”you need to find one already in its evolved form. This represents a tradeoff for completionists. On one hand, you’re guaranteed access to Alolan Marowak without needing to transfer from other games. On the other hand, you lose the ability to customize its moveset through level-up moves it would have learned as Cubone, and you can’t control its IVs through breeding as precisely. For competitive players, this limitation might matter; for collectors simply filling a Pokédex, it’s a non-issue.
Collecting Cubone and Marowak Cards Across Sets
The Cubone evolutionary line has appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game since the Base Set era, giving collectors decades of cards to hunt. Standard Cubone and Marowak cards typically appear as Fighting-type cards, reflecting the Ground typing’s TCG classification. These range from common cards worth pocket change to rare holographic prints and promotional versions that command higher prices. Alolan Marowak’s introduction in Sun and Moon era sets added new collecting opportunities.
These cards appear as Fire-type or Psychic-type depending on which of Alolan Marowak’s dual types the card emphasizes. The Alolan variant has received GX cards, V cards, and other premium treatments that standard Marowak often hasn’t, partly due to the variant’s competitive popularity and striking visual design”the green flames are more visually distinctive than standard Marowak’s earth tones. One limitation for collectors: Cubone cards themselves don’t distinguish between “standard Cubone” and “Alolan-region Cubone” because Cubone’s design doesn’t change between regions. Only Marowak cards carry the Alolan designation. This means a single Cubone card can technically represent the pre-evolution for both variants, which simplifies collecting but might disappoint those hoping for regional Cubone artwork.
Marowak’s Competitive History and Card Value Implications
Marowak has had fluctuating competitive relevance over the years, which directly impacts card values for collectors. In the video games, Marowak’s signature held item”the Thick Club, which doubles its Attack stat”made it a powerful physical attacker in certain metagames. When Marowak performs well competitively, interest in its cards tends to rise, even for casual collectors who follow tournament results. Alolan Marowak saw particularly strong competitive play after its introduction.
Its Lightning Rod ability (which redirects Electric moves and boosts Special Attack), combined with its unique typing and access to moves like Flare Blitz and Shadow Bone, made it a doubles format staple. This competitive success translated into stronger demand for Alolan Marowak cards, especially playable versions with useful attacks or abilities. For price-conscious collectors, standard Marowak cards from older sets often represent better value. They’re more affordable than Alolan variants while still completing the evolutionary line. However, if you’re collecting for potential appreciation, Alolan Marowak’s tournament history and distinctive design might make those cards better long-term holds”though predicting card values is never guaranteed.
Future Outlook for the Cubone Line
The Cubone evolutionary line remains one of the most emotionally resonant in the franchise, thanks to its Pokédex lore about the skull Cubone wears being its deceased mother’s. This narrative hook keeps the line popular regardless of competitive viability, ensuring continued representation in new games and card sets. Expect Cubone and Marowak to appear in future releases, likely including both standard and Alolan variants where regional forms are supported.
Whether future games introduce additional Marowak variants remains speculation. The franchise has shown willingness to create new regional forms for popular Pokémon, and Marowak’s design offers flexibility for reinterpretation. For collectors, this means the Cubone line could expand beyond its current two evolution paths, creating new cards and new collecting opportunities in the years ahead.
Conclusion
Cubone evolves into Marowak at level 28 through standard leveling, or into Alolan Marowak when leveled at night in Alola-region games. The typing shift from Ground to Fire/Ghost makes this evolutionary line uniquely versatile, offering players and collectors two distinct Pokémon from a single pre-evolution. Understanding which games support which evolution methods helps trainers plan their teams and collectors identify which cards belong to which variant.
For card collectors, tracking both Marowak variants across TCG sets provides depth to what might otherwise seem like a simple evolutionary chain. Standard Marowak cards offer affordable completion options, while Alolan Marowak cards carry competitive pedigree and visual appeal that may hold value better over time. Whether you’re building a deck, completing a Pokédex, or assembling a collection, understanding Cubone’s evolution mechanics gives you the knowledge to pursue your goals effectively.
