Joy Taylor | Last Updated: Jul. 20, 2026
If you have been stuck on the “Catch a Cubone” task for the Let’s GO, Meltan Special Research for months, you are not alone. Finding a wild Cubone natively depends heavily on current in-game seasons, event rotations, and Sunny or Clear weather.
Quick Answer: Top 3 Ways to Get a Cubone Right Now
- The Best Official Shortcut: Catch an Alolan Marowak in a Tier 3 raid. The game’s code officially recognizes catching an Alolan Marowak as catching a Cubone for this specific quest.
- Wild Spawns: Wait for Sunny or Clear in-game weather to boost Ground-type spawns, and use your Daily Adventure Incense while walking.
- Live Coordinates: If absolutely none are spawning locally, players often use live coordinate maps combined with a desktop location changer. However, this method requires strict Cooldown Timer management to prevent the Pokémon from fleeing immediately.
Does Trading or Evolving Count for the Meltan Task?
Many players try to bypass the long wait by asking a local friend to trade them a Cubone. Unfortunately, doing this will only waste your Stardust and your daily Special Trade allowance.
Meltan Task Checklist: What Works and What Doesn’t
- DON’T Trade: Receiving a Cubone through a trade does NOT count toward the quest. The game’s code strictly requires the “Catch” action on the post-encounter screen.
- DON’T Evolve: Evolving a Cubone into a Marowak does not trigger completion for this task.
- DON’T Hatch: Hatching a Cubone from an Egg does not count as catching one.
- DO Catch: You must physically throw a Poké Ball and catch the Pokémon (or its Alolan variant) from the wild, a raid, or a Field Research reward.
Official Methods: Weather Boosts and Spawns
If you prefer to hunt the traditional way, you need to understand how Pokémon GO’s spawn mechanics work. Cubone is a Ground-type Pokémon. Because of this, it has a significantly higher chance of appearing when your in-game weather is set to Sunny or Clear.
During seasons where Cubone is naturally in the general spawn pool, keeping an eye on the weather is your best bet. You can also activate your Daily Adventure Incense while walking in Sunny weather to force extra encounters. Additionally, keep checking specific monthly Field Research tasks obtained by spinning PokéStops, as Niantic occasionally includes Cubone as a guaranteed encounter reward.
The Ultimate Official Shortcut: Alolan Marowak Raids
If Cubone is simply not in the current seasonal spawn pool, waiting for Sunny weather won’t help. Luckily, there is a 100% official, expert game hack that Niantic coded into the game: catching an Alolan Marowak counts as catching a Cubone.
Because Alolan Marowak shares the same base Pokédex family as Cubone, defeating and catching one in a Tier 3 raid successfully triggers the completion of the Meltan task. You don’t need a special item or event. Simply check your local Gyms or use a remote raid coordination app to find an active Alolan Marowak raid. This is the absolute best, risk-free shortcut for players who are out of season and want to complete the quest today.
What If You’re Rural or Stuck Out of Season? (The Soft Ban Risk)
What happens if you live in a rural area with zero local spawns, no nearby Gyms, and no remote raid passes to spare?
Many rural players eventually turn to web scanners, local Discord servers, or Reddit communities to find live Cubone coordinates worldwide. However, there is a massive catch. If you simply spoof to those coordinates using a risky, modified mobile app, you will almost certainly trigger a soft ban.
When a soft ban occurs, any Cubone you try to catch will instantly break out of the Poké Ball and flee. Furthermore, PokéStops will become unspinnable, and you may encounter Error 12. To jump long distances successfully, players must strictly follow the Pokémon GO cooldown rules—a mandatory waiting period based on how far you are traveling virtually before you interact with the game.
Fonelora Location Changer
Realistic GPS movement simulation, flexible route control, easy no-modification setup, and support for gaming, social, privacy, and location-based testing in one platform.
How to Safely Jump to Cubone Coordinates with Fonelora Location Changer
For players who are completely stuck and need to use live coordinates, moving away from unstable, modified mobile apps is highly recommended. Fonelora Location Changer offers a guided, desktop-tethered workflow for supported iOS and Android devices that focuses heavily on Cooldown Timer management.
Instead of risking your account on a modified game client, Fonelora allows you to change location in Pokémon GO from your computer while playing the official app.
How to use Teleport Mode for Live Coordinates:
- Find live coordinates: Locate an active Cubone spawn from a reputable coordinate map or Discord scanner.
- Connect your device: Open Fonelora Location Changer on your Windows or Mac, and connect your supported iOS or Android device.
- Use Teleport Mode: Enter the Cubone coordinates into the search bar and select Teleport Mode to jump to that location.
- Respect the Cooldown Timer: Crucial Step: Before you tap on the Cubone, check Fonelora’s built-in Cooldown Timer. If you have recently caught a Pokémon or spun a stop at your real location, you must wait the suggested time before catching the Cubone to prevent it from fleeing.
- Ready to bypass the waiting game and finish your Meltan research? Download Fonelora Location Changer to Pokémon GO location changer and let the built-in Cooldown Timer help you snipe coordinates safely.
While Fonelora’s desktop tethering and Cooldown Timer provide a much more controlled environment, no tool guarantees permanent avoidance of Niantic’s risk controls. Always use virtual movement responsibly under supported conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I find Cubone coordinates for Pokémon GO?
- Players typically find live coordinates through dedicated Pokémon GO Discord servers (look specifically for channels named
#100ivor#rare-spawns), web scanners like ARSpoofing, or local community maps. Keep in mind that spawns usually despawn after 20-30 minutes, so checking lists of the best places for Pokémon GO coordinates beforehand can help you position yourself accurately.
- Why did my sniped Cubone flee immediately?
- If a Pokémon breaks out of the first ball and flees immediately, you likely violated the cooldown rules and triggered a soft ban. Always use a Cooldown Timer when teleporting to live coordinates to ensure it’s safe to catch.
- Is there a trick to complete the Meltan research faster?
- Yes. Stack your research tasks so you can complete multiple stages at once, use the Alolan Marowak raid shortcut to bypass the wild spawn wait, or carefully use a guided location changer like Fonelora to teleport to live coordinates if you are completely stuck.
- Can I hatch a Cubone for the task?
- No. Hatching does not count as catching. The Meltan special research strictly requires the “Catch” action on the encounter screen.
- Does using a Magnetic Lure attract Cubone?
- No. Magnetic Lures specifically attract Electric, Steel, and Rock-type Pokémon. Because Cubone is a Ground-type, using a regular Lure Module during Sunny or Clear weather is much more effective.
Final Thoughts: Get Past the Meltan Quest
Getting stuck on the Let’s GO, Meltan special research for months is incredibly frustrating, but you have clear options to finally bypass the waiting game and get back to exploring other Pokémon GO guides.
First, check your local Gyms for an Alolan Marowak raid, as catching one is the fastest, 100% official way to trigger the Cubone task completion. Also, remember not to waste your Stardust trading with friends, as the game will not count it toward your progress.
If you are in a rural area or playing during a season with zero Ground-type spawns, using live coordinates is often the only path forward. For a more controlled setup, consider using Fonelora Location Changer. Its desktop-tethered design and built-in Cooldown Timer make it a highly practical tool for safely teleporting to a Cubone spawn on supported iOS and Android devices without instantly triggering a soft ban.
