Tombstone

The Tombstone is an enemy in the Castlevania series. They are gravestones that rattle around violently, possessed by evil spirits of dead.
==Description==
Gravestones possessed by the grudges of the dead which attack all living things. These grave markings spring to life when someone gets near them and launch themselves in a series of hops to attack them. It is sometimes hard to tell which tombstones will come to life and which ones are merely part of the background.
While the appearance of graveyards, crypts and mausoleums are not uncommon in the Castlevania series, they usually simply appear as backdrops to add to the horror-themed atmosphere these titles attempt to convey. The first time when a grave appeared as an environmental hazard was in the arcade game Haunted Castle, where cross shaped grave markers crumble when approached (although, unlike the Falling Statues encountered in the same area, these don't seem to harm the hero if the debris are touched while crumbling, since the player character isn't able to reach them before they finish to do so) and then up to four Zombies dig out from the ground where the cross fell.
In one of the endings of Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, after being resurrected and then vanquished by the hero Simon Belmont, Dracula is given a proper Christian burial (implied to have been Simon himself who carried this task, as he is later seen praying at the grave). However, during the night, the soil and the gravestone suddenly begin to tremble, followed by Dracula's hand emerging from the grave. However, this outcome was later retconned in the next game in the chronology, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, where it was stated that Dracula indeed died by the hand of Simon in 1698 and that he was still dead fifty years later.
The prologue of Super Castlevania IV sort of gives continuity to this ending, though. In it, what appears to be the same grave can be seen in a cemetery, presumably after a long time had passed. Suddenly, the sky begins to darken and then a bolt of lightning strikes on Dracula's tombstone, crushing it apart. From the debris, a bat can be seen emerging from the gravesite and then flies away, followed by mist quickly enshrouding the graveyard (implied to be the curse which has started to fall upon the land). It must be noted that by the time Super Castlevania IV came out, the chronology of the series had not yet been revised by Koji Igarashi, and this game was somewhat considered to be a continuation of Simon's Quest; however, this title was later retconned and set to take place in a different continuity (as well as now being considered to be a retelling of the first game).
Aside from being an enemy, in rare occasions tombstones have had other uses. One such example can be seen in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, where one of the tombstones can be pushed aside to access a secret area in Stage 3'.
In the Japanese version of Castlevania: Dracula X, tombstones had a crucifix engraved on the stone, although when localized, it was replaced with a demonic face with red eyes instead.
==Enemy Data==
==Item Data==
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
Simon Belmont - Simon's Quest - 02.png|Simon Belmont visiting his ancestors' graves. Artwork from the Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin instruction booklet.
Tokuma-syoten Guide Book Cemetery.JPG|Tombstones near boss from the Akumajō Densetsu Guide Book by Tokuma Shoten.
===Screenshots===
Tombstone - Simon's Quest - 01.png|Dracula's tombstone from Simon's Quest.
Captain N - The Game Master - 08.png|Trevor Belmont's tombstone in Captain N: The Game Master.
Tombstone - Super Castlevania IV - 01.png|Dracula's tombstone from Super Castlevania IV.
Dxc 094.png|Tombstone enemy list entry from The Dracula X Chronicles version of Symphony of the Night.
Sara's Tomb.png|Sara Trantoul's gravesite in Lament of Innocence.
E1wz6QVXEAECTQL.jpg|The Super Castlevania IV graveyard with Dracula's tombstone in the Castlevania animated series.
===Sprites===
Tombstone - Harmony of Dissonance - 01.png|The tomb of who apparently was a relevant figure in Harmony of Dissonance.
Tombstone - Harmony of Dissonance - 02.png|Another important looking tomb in Harmony of Dissonance.
Tombstone - Aria of Sorrow - 01.png|Tombstone from Aria of Sorrow.
Tombstone - Portrait of Ruin - 01.png|The tomb of who apparently was a relevant figure in Portrait of Ruin.
==See also==
*Cemeteries
*Coffin
==External links==
*Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin – Bestiary by Darth Nemesis at GameFAQs
*Castlevania Realm
Category:Environmental Hazards
Category:Curse Enemies
Category:Poltergeists
Category:Dawn of Sorrow Enemies
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Enemies
Category:Dracula X Enemies
Category:Portrait of Ruin Enemies
Category:Rondo of Blood Enemies
Category:Symphony of the Night Enemies