Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the formidable bosses of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Throughout Link’s journey on Koholint Island, he encounters a series of challenging adversaries, each guarding essential instruments and secrets vital to his quest to awaken the Wind Fish. This page provides detailed strategies and insights to help you navigate these encounters and emerge victorious.
Moldorm
Location: Tail Cave
Strategy: Moldorm is a large, worm-like creature that moves erratically around the room. Its weak point is the glowing segment at the end of its tail. Strike this vulnerable spot with your sword while avoiding contact with the rest of its body, as touching Moldorm causes damage. With each successful hit, Moldorm increases its speed, making the battle progressively challenging. Be cautious of the room’s edges; falling off will require you to restart the fight.
Genie
Location: Bottle Grotto
Strategy: The Genie battle consists of two phases. In the first phase, the Genie emerges from its bottle to throw fireballs at you. Dodge these attacks using the Roc’s Feather to jump across the room. When the Genie retreats into its bottle and begins bouncing around, strike the bottle with your sword to stun it, then lift and throw it against the wall using the Power Bracelet. Repeat this process three times to shatter the bottle. In the second phase, the Genie becomes vulnerable; it will split into two and circle around you before one materializes to throw a giant fireball. Dodge the fireball and counterattack with your sword. Continue this pattern until the Genie is defeated.
Slime Eye
Location: Key Cavern
Strategy: Upon entering the room, Slime Eye will taunt you about finding it. To initiate the battle, dash into the center of the room using the Pegasus Boots to cause Slime Eye to drop from the ceiling. Initially appearing as a single entity, it will begin to split into two as you attack. When your sword strikes become ineffective, use the Pegasus Boots to dash between the two halves, fully separating them. Each half will then attempt to crush you by jumping and slamming down. Use the Roc’s Feather to jump and avoid these attacks, then strike each eye with your sword until both are defeated.
Angler Fish
Location: Angler’s Tunnel
Strategy: This underwater battle takes place in a side-scrolling environment. The Angler Fish will attempt to ram into you and cause rocks to fall from above, which can damage you upon contact. It also summons smaller fish to aid in its attack. Focus on striking the glowing antenna on its head with your sword while avoiding the falling debris and smaller fish. Continuous attacks to the antenna will lead to its defeat.
Slime Eel
Location: Catfish’s Maw
Strategy: Slime Eel resides in a room with four holes in the walls. It will extend its head from one of these holes, attempting to attack you. Observe the pupils of its eyes; if they are white, it’s a decoy. When the real Slime Eel exposes its head with black pupils, use the Hookshot to pull it out, exposing its weak point—a glowing segment near its head. Quickly strike this area with your sword while being mindful of its thrashing tail, which can cause damage. Repeat this process until Slime Eel is vanquished.
Facade
Location: Face Shrine
Strategy: Facade is a face embedded in the floor that attacks by causing floor tiles and pots to fly at you. Initially, dodge these projectiles by moving around the room. Once the debris assault subsides, place bombs near Facade’s face to inflict damage. After sustaining damage, Facade will create holes in the floor to limit your movement. Continue placing bombs near its face while carefully navigating the room to avoid falling into the holes. After several bomb explosions, Facade will be defeated.
Evil Eagle
Location: Eagle’s Tower
Strategy: The battle against Evil Eagle takes place atop the tower in a side-scrolling format. Evil Eagle will perform various attacks, including swooping down to strike, shooting feathers, and generating strong gusts of wind to push you off the platform. When it swoops low, use your sword to attack; the Hookshot can also be effective when it’s at a distance. To counter the wind gusts, equip the Shield and move toward Evil Eagle to resist being pushed off. If you fall, you’ll need to climb back up to resume the fight. After sustaining enough damage, Evil Eagle will be defeated.
Hot Head
Location: Turtle Rock
Strategy: Hot Head emerges from the lava, leaping and causing splashes that can harm you. Equip the Magic Rod and use it to attack Hot Head as it jumps out of the lava. Successfully hitting it will prevent it from diving back in. After several hits, Hot Head’s outer shell will disintegrate, revealing a vulnerable core. Continue attacking with the Magic Rod while avoiding its rapid movements and the lava splashes. Persistence will lead to Hot Head’s defeat.
The Wind Fish’s Nightmare
Location: Wind Fish’s Egg
Strategy: This final boss undergoes multiple transformations, each requiring a different strategy:
- Giant Blob: A large, bouncing mass resembling a Shadow Zol. Equip Magic Powder and sprinkle it onto the blob when it lands and remains momentarily stationary. Repeat this process three times to defeat this form.
- Agahnim’s Shadow: A dark wizard reminiscent of Agahnim from A Link to the Past. Maintain distance and observe the projectiles: Use your sword to deflect these back at Agahnim’s Shadow. Blue orbs split into multiple smaller projectiles; evade them as they cannot be deflected. After successfully reflecting four orange energy balls, this form will be defeated.
- Moldorm’s Shadow: A giant, segmented worm similar to the first dungeon’s boss. Target the glowing segment at the end of its tail while avoiding contact with its body. Each successful hit increases its speed. Remain patient and strike the tail five times to progress.
- Ganon’s Shadow A dark incarnation of Ganon wielding a trident. This form employs a sequence of attacks:
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- Summoning Blazing Bats: Continuously move to evade these fiery projectiles.
- Throwing the spinning trident: Dodge the trident as it hovers in place. With the trident away, Ganon’s Shadow becomes vulnerable. Execute a dash attack using the Pegasus Boots to inflict damage. Repeat this pattern until defeated.
- Lanmola’s Shadow: A fast-moving, worm-like creature. Equip the Magic Rod and position yourself to face Lanmola’s Shadow as it emerges. Fire the rod to hit its head before it charges. Consistent, timely attacks will quickly dispatch this form.
- DethI: The final form, featuring a singular eye and two rotating, spiked arms. Utilize the Roc’s Feather to jump over the rotating arms. When the eye opens, strike it with arrows or the Boomerang. Each successful hit accelerates the arm rotation. Maintain agility and precision to ultimately defeat DethI and conclude the battle.