Duskull is a Pokémon which appears to be a stylized personification of the Grim Reaper. Its body resembles a black robe with two bone-shaped patterns on its back. It has a mask that resembles a skull and a single eye that floats between its eye sockets.
Duskull can become invisible, sneaking up on their prey and going through walls. Duskull is primarily a nocturnal Pokémon and has been shown to live in thick forests and mountainous regions. Once Duskull chooses a target, it will doggedly pursue the intended victim until the break of dawn. It has been described as enjoying the crying of children, and it is said that this Pokémon will spirit away disobedient children. This is often told to children to make them behave. Duskull's diet consists of the vital energy of children. All victims of Duskull tend to suffer an intense chill after being drained of their life force.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: The same Duskull from Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness returns as a traveling Pokémon. Upon connecting with him, he will also connect the player's team with Red and Blue Rescue Team's Persian.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Duskull can pass through any wall no matter how thick it may be. Once this Pokémon chooses a target, it will doggedly pursue the intended victim until the break of dawn.
Duskull wanders lost among the deep darkness of midnight. There is an oft-told admonishment given to misbehaving children that this Pokémon will spirit away bad children who earn scoldings from their mothers.
A glare from its single scarlet eye makes even burly grown-ups freeze in utter fear. It is a nocturnal Pokémon that roams about under the cloak of darkness.
Duskull can pass through any wall no matter how thick it may be. Once this Pokémon chooses a target, it will doggedly pursue the intended victim until the break of dawn.
Duskull wanders lost among the deep darkness of midnight. There is an oft-told admonishment given to misbehaving children that this Pokémon will spirit away bad children who earn scoldings from their mothers.
I've heard that the children of Hisui all begin to behave once they've been told the story of how this Pokémon roams about before the witching hour to spirit away misbehaving children.
In Fear Factor Phony, two Duskull were living at the abandoned mining colony. They could not stand the partying Psychic-type Pokémon in the nearby town, so they created a Haunter-like illusion to scare them away.
Duskull can be seen as a parallel to Shuppet. Both are Generation IIIGhost-type Pokémon. Both evolve into their evolved forms starting at level 37. Both also have the same base stat total.
However, with the introduction of Dusknoir in Generation IV and Mega Banette in Generation VI, the similarities between the two evolutionary lines have become less notable, as Dusknoir has not received a Mega Evolution and Banette cannot evolve further.
Duskull's skeletal traits (skull mask and bone pattern on its back) and dark robe-like body may also reference certain figures associated with death, namely the Grim Reaper and modern interpretations of Charon. Furthermore, it tormenting and spiriting away misbehaved children hints at it also being based on bogeymen, such as the Japanese Namahage.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.