Runerigus (デスバーン, Desubaan) is a Ground/Ghost-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. It is the evolved form of Galarian Yamask.
Biology
Physiology
Runerigus appears to reside in a brown rune stone with a red serpent motif on it. It appears to use the head to shield off most of its face (save for its only visible pink eye, which resembles Cofagrigus'). Parts of the snake body is cut off to hide its forearms only its fingers are left exposed. It has a long ghost tail that connects to the snake's tail.
Natural abilities
Anyone who touches Runerigus's cursed body will be inflicted with horrifying memories behind the painting carved within.
Behavior
It is said that Runerigus was created when an ancient painting became cursed and came to life after absorbing the spirit of a Yamask.
Evolution
Runerigus evolves from Galarían Yamask after it has taken 49 HP of damage in battle without Fainting, then being taken to the big stone arch in Dusty Bowl while in the player's party.
Game info
Game locations
| Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Version(s) | Area(s) | Rarity |
| Sword and Shield | Evolve Galarian Yamask | None |
Pokédex entries
- Sword
A powerful curse was woven into an ancient painting. After absorbing the spirit of a Yamask, the painting began to move.
- Shield
Never touch its shadow-like body, or you'll be shown the horrific memories behind the picture carved into it.
Stats
| Runerigus's Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 339
|
Learnset
By leveling up
| Generation VIII | ||||||
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| Evo. | Shadow Claw | 
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
| 1 | Shadow Claw |
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
| 1 | Scary Face | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 1 | Astonish |
|
Physical | 30 | 100% | 15 |
| 1 | Protect |
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 1 | Haze | 
|
Status | 100% | 30 | |
| 1 | Night Shade |
|
Special | ? | 100% | 15 |
| 12 | Disable |
|
Status | — | 100% | 20 |
| 16 | Brutal Swing | 
|
Physical | 60 | 100% | 20 |
| 20 | Crafty Shield | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 24 | Hex |
|
Special | 65 | 100% | 10 |
| 28 | Mean Look |
|
Status | — | 100% | 5 |
| 32 | Slam |
|
Physical | 80 | 75% | 20 |
| 38 | Curse |
|
Status | 100% | 10 | |
| 44 | Shadow Ball |
|
Special | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| 50 | Earthquake | 
|
Physical | 100 | 100% | 10 |
| 56 | Power Split | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 56 | Guard Split |
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 62 | Destiny Bond |
|
Status | — | 100% | 5 |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
By TM
By TR
By breeding
| To see the Egg Moves that Runerigus can learn, refer to Yamask. |
|---|
By tutoring
| Generation VIII | ||||||
| Games | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| SWSH | Memento |
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
Sprites
Trivia
- Runerigus and Perrserker are the first Regional Pokémon evolutions that are separate from their Stage 1 Pokémon's evolutions: Meowth and Persian, as well as Yamask and Cofagrigus.
- Its stats are nearly identical to Cofagrigus, but their Attack stats are swapped (Runerigus excels in its physical attack, while Cofagrigus excels in its special attack).
Origin
Runerigus is based on a living rune stone from Britain and Scandinavia. More specifically, it may be based on the Swedish Ingvar runestones, strange runes that commonly carry snake-like symbols on them to commemorate important events in the Vikings history, most of which are used to resemble the death of an important person, hence the Ghost typing. Its pattern might be analogous to the mythical creature Lindworm, a snake-like dragon that hid inside of rocks and mountains (which may have also been the inspiration for Applin) or Apep, the Egyptian god of chaos, often represented with a snake-like form.
Its evolution could be a reference to Bardo Thodol, a Buddhist form of purgatory that occurs before reincarnation which is said to last 49 days, this number being represented by the amount of damage Galarian Yamask must take before passing under the bridge in Dusty Bowl. The process of going under the bridge may also symbolize dying in one form and being reincarnated in a different form once passed through.
Etymology
Runerigus comes from "rune", "sarcophagus", and "egregious" (horribly bad or evil).
Gallery
| Regional forms | |
|---|---|
Template:GenVIIInav
| Evolutionary Line | |
|---|---|
  |
