Enemies

Where: Kokiri Forest, the Great Deku Tree and its meadow, and the Hyrule Castle courtyards (Big Deku Babas inside the Great Deku Tree). A plant on a stalk that lunges at you from a short range and cannot follow. Hit it as it lunges and it stiffens upright; cut it then and it drops a Deku Stick. Left alone it curls back, and a second hit kills it and leaves a Deku Nut from its bud. Withered Babas cannot curl their stems but still hurt on contact. A Deku Nut or the Slingshot stuns a Big Deku Baba before you cut it.

Where: Great Deku Tree, Dodongo’s Cavern, Jabu-Jabu’s Belly and Ganon’s Castle (dungeon scrubs); Kokiri Forest and the Sacred Forest Meadow (Mad Scrubs); hidden grottoes across Hyrule (Business Scrubs). A Mad Scrub hides in a hole and spits Deku Nuts. Raise a Deku Shield or Hylian Shield to bounce the nut back, which stuns it or defeats it. The Mirror Shield cannot reflect a Deku Nut. A Business Scrub talks once you stun it and then sells an item, such as Bombs, Deku Nuts, arrows, a potion, or a capacity upgrade. The scrubs inside the dungeons only give a hint or drop an item when beaten.

Where: Caves and dungeons such as the Bottom of the Well and Dodongo’s Cavern. Fire Keese are in Dodongo’s Cavern, the Fire Temple, the Spirit Temple, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. Ice Keese are in the Ice Cavern and Ganon’s Castle. Bats that never settle and dive whenever they see you. Any weapon kills them, and a shield blocks the dive. Lock on with Z-targeting and use the Slingshot, Boomerang or bow when they hover out of reach. A Fire Keese sets you alight on contact and burns away a Deku Shield or Deku Stick, which turns it back into an ordinary Keese. Din’s Fire turns an ordinary Keese into a Fire Keese. An Ice Keese freezes you for a few seconds.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern, the Great Deku Tree, Bottom of the Well, the Forest, Shadow and Spirit Temples, Ganon’s Castle, and the Death Mountain Trail (Skullwalltulas). A giant spider that hangs from the ceiling and drops when you pass. If it spins into you, you take damage. Its front shell deflects most attacks, so wait until it turns and exposes the soft underside, or shoot it with the Slingshot or arrows. Big Skulltulas are larger and block passages; they need several hits. Skullwalltulas crawl on walls and are easy targets for the Slingshot or Boomerang. Gold Skulltulas cling to walls in the overworld, mostly at night, and drop a token: see Gold Skulltula Locations.

Where: Red Tektites on the Death Mountain Trail; Blue Tektites on the surface of Zora’s River, Lake Hylia and in the Water Temple. A one-eyed spider that hops about unpredictably. A Slingshot seed or arrow is easier than catching it with the sword at the right moment. Blue Tektites skim across water and are immune to Din’s Fire, but the Megaton Hammer flips them over.

Where: The northern and southern corners of Hyrule Field, away from the roads, as child Link only. A huge flying plant with a propeller. In the day it sits still until you step into its area, then it uproots itself and chases you. Its weak spot is the root underneath, so stand still until it lands and cut the roots. If you attack it at night it stays put and only releases Peahat Larvae. The larvae are small and fast but die to a single hit; keep your shield up and strike back.

Where: Hyrule Field at night, as child Link. Skeletal children that rise at dusk and vanish at sunrise. Each dies to two sword hits. Hit one from the front and it loses its head and wanders blindly. They come in pairs and a replacement pops up if you take too long. After you have beaten ten, a larger Stalchild appears and pays better. They do not appear if you wear the Bunny Hood or stay on the paved roads.

Where: Lake Hylia, Zora’s River, Kokiri Forest, the moat courtyards at Hyrule Castle and Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. A purple octopus that pops out of water and spits rocks. It dives when you approach, so you cannot hit it directly. Hold up a shield to return its rock, which kills it in one hit, or shoot it with an arrow. Slingshot seeds only stun it. A much larger one, Big Octo, appears in Jabu-Jabu’s Belly as a mini-boss.

Where: Desert Colossus, Lake Hylia and Lon Lon Ranch. Black crows that swoop at your head in flocks. One hit from nearly any weapon or a seed from the Slingshot kills them. Kill ten and a larger Guay joins the flock and drops more Rupees. They are a nuisance near the Lakeside Laboratory and when you ride across the ranch.

Where: Kakariko Graveyard at night, the Forest Temple, Shadow Temple and Ganon’s Castle; a square-headed kind in Hyrule Field as adult Link. A hooded ghost with a lantern. It turns invisible when you lock on, but it reappears on a regular rhythm; attack when it is visible. Its lantern is always visible. Poes in the Graveyard climb out of their graves when you disturb the stones. Beaten Poes in the Graveyard can be caught in an empty bottle.

Where: Ten spawn points in Hyrule Field, as adult Link. A Big Poe runs away when it sees you, so ride Epona and shoot it with arrows before it escapes. Crossing a spawn point on foot often triggers an ordinary Poe instead. Bottle the soul and sell it to the Poe Collector. See Big Poes.

Where: Kakariko Graveyard, as a ghost pair (Flat and Sharp). The two ghostly brothers, Flat and Sharp, wander the Graveyard. They are not a fight; speak to them and they explain that they composed the Sun’s Song, and then they disappear.

Where: The Royal Family’s Tomb, the ruined Hyrule Castle Town Market, the Bottom of the Well, the Shadow Temple and Ganon’s Castle. A walking corpse in a wooden mask. It moans, then lets out a scream that freezes you, and it grabs and drains health. Play the Sun’s Song to freeze it, or approach from behind to avoid its gaze and strike. In a room with several, a single kill is not enough; they keep moving as a group.

Where: The Bottom of the Well, the Shadow Temple and the Spirit Temple. A mummy that behaves like a ReDead but does not walk in circles. Its gaze paralyses you, and if it bites, you must tap buttons to break free. Sun’s Song freezes it for a short while, which is your window for a few sword hits.

Where: Sacred Forest Meadow (child), the Forest Temple, the Spirit Temple and Ganon’s Castle; White Wolfos in the Ice Cavern and Gerudo Training Ground. A wolf that rises from the ground, circles you and slashes with its claws. It ducks to block your sword. Lock on and hold the shield up until it lowers its guard, or back away so its claws miss; it then spins, exposing its back, and a hit on the tail kills it at once. White Wolfos are stronger.

Where: Moblins in the Sacred Forest Meadow maze (adult); the Club Moblin blocks the path to the Forest Temple. The Moblins patrol the hedge maze and charge when they see you. Shoot them with arrows or the Hookshot, or avoid them. The Club Moblin before the Forest Temple smashes its club to send shock-waves; strike its back or use bombs and sword hits between swings.

Where: Desert Colossus sand and the Spirit Temple. A burrowing plant-like creature that spins up from the sand beside you. Raise the shield as it surfaces, then strike. Leevers cannot cross the big stones. Defeat ten and a larger one appears.

Where: Gerudo’s Fortress, inside and outside. Guards walk fixed paths and blow a whistle when they see you. A guard who catches you throws you into a cell; escape by Hookshotting the board above the exit. Once you have the Gerudo’s Membership Card they leave you alone. Avoid line of sight or stun them with arrows. See the Gerudo Fortress chapter.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern (as a mini-boss pair), the Fire Temple, Spirit Temple, Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, the Water Temple and the Gerudo Training Ground. A swordsman lizard that jumps out of range and leaps over your head to strike from behind. They fight in pairs, with one engaging you while the other waits, and swap places when one is hurt. Shield up, strike when they land and retreat to avoid a counter.

Where: The Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. A tougher lizard warrior. Block with the shield, then strike once it lets its guard down. A Deku Nut stuns it, and jump attacks from the front work well.

Where: The Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow and Spirit Temples, the Ice Cavern, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. An armoured skeleton with a sword and shield. It blocks and answers with a jump attack. Dodge the jump to hit its unprotected back, or stun it with a Deku Nut. It takes several Master Sword hits.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern, the Water Temple and the Gerudo Training Ground (Baby Dodongos also in the Spirit Temple). A dinosaur that inhales before it breathes fire. Hit the tail from behind, or drop a Bomb into its mouth while it inhales for an instant kill. Baby Dodongos blow up when beaten, so back away after your final hit.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern, the Gerudo Training Ground, the Spirit Temple and Ganon’s Castle. A statue that comes to life when you come near and hops after you. After a hit it spins and explodes. Throw a Bomb at a motionless one to destroy it from afar. Lead active Armos to cracked walls to open them.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern, the Bottom of the Well, the Shadow and Spirit Temples, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle (Giant Beamos in the Shadow and Spirit Temples). A stone sentry with a rotating eye that fires a beam. A Bomb placed at its base destroys it. The Giant Beamos is a larger version and is treated the same way.

Where: The Bottom of the Well, Forest, Shadow and Spirit Temples, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. A hand that drops from the ceiling when you stand under its shadow. Navi warns you as you enter its room. If it grabs you, it carries you to the dungeon entrance. Run out of the shadow and strike it after it lands. It regenerates quickly and is usually alone.

Where: The Bottom of the Well, the Forest, Shadow and Spirit Temples. A hand that glows green before it attacks. A single sword hit splits it into three small hands that regrow if left, and they grab your neck. Some are invisible and need the Lens of Truth. Kill the little hands quickly.

Where: The Bottom of the Well, Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, the Fire, Water, Shadow and Spirit Temples, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. A gelatinous tube that swallows you and spits you out with a shield or tunic stolen. It takes Hylian and Deku Shields and the Goron and Zora Tunics, but not the Mirror Shield. Kill it with arrows, the Hookshot or sword hits to get your item back before it digests it.

Where: The Fire Temple and the Spirit Temple, as well as the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. A slug that crawls on walls and leaves a flame. While lit, it is almost invulnerable. Hit it with the sword to put out the flame and strike again to kill it. The Megaton Hammer flips it over and douses it at once.

Where: Blue Bubbles in the Forest Temple; Red Bubbles in Death Mountain Crater, the Fire Temple and Shadow Temple; Green Bubbles in the Bottom of the Well, the Forest and Spirit Temples and Ganon’s Castle; White Bubbles in the Spirit Temple. Flying skulls wrapped in flame of the colour that names them. The flame protects them, so block with a shield or use a Deku Nut to put it out and drop the skull, then strike it while it hops about helplessly. Red Bubbles leap from lava and set you alight. A Bomb placed near a Blue Bubble draws it in.

Where: The Ice Cavern, the Gerudo Training Ground and Ganon’s Castle. An ice creature that blows freezing breath and can vanish and reappear elsewhere. Circle behind its breath, then hit it repeatedly with the sword to shatter it.

Where: Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. A drifting bubble that bursts on contact. Pop it with a sword, the Slingshot or, in the N64 version, a roll.

Where: Jabu-Jabu’s Belly (Bari also in the Master Quest Gerudo Training Ground). A Biri is a jellyfish that shocks on contact. A Bari hangs overhead and drops on you, and splits into three Biri when beaten. Use the Boomerang from range, or stun them with a Deku Nut and then slash.

Where: Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. A worm-like parasite that lives inside Jabu-Jabu. Hit it with the sword or the Boomerang.

Where: Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, the Water Temple and the Gerudo Training Ground. A ray-like creature of moist places. A sword hit or the Boomerang beats it.

Where: The Water Temple and the Gerudo Training Ground. A giant clam that lunges when you come close. Block with a shield or step back; when it opens, hit the exposed flesh with the Hookshot.

Where: The Water Temple. A spiked sea creature that rolls toward you. It has two hit points and the Hookshot stops it; then strike it. It is not found in the Spirit Temple.

Where: The Spirit Temple. A floating dog-headed creature that tracks you and breathes fire. Fire is what hurts it, so use Din’s Fire or Fire Arrows.

Where: The Spirit Temple. A small pot that flies around and rams you. Shield or sword it.

Where: The Great Deku Tree (in the boss room and from Gohma Eggs). A small spider that pounces. Two sword hits finish it.

Where: Dodongo’s Cavern, before the King Dodongo room. Two Lizalfos fight you in turn: the one in front battles you while its partner waits. Learn to retreat when they swap places and take your hits when each lands.

Where: The Bottom of the Well only (not the Shadow Temple). A pit-dwelling body with many hands that rise from the floor and grab you. Once held, mash buttons to escape. Its head extends on a long neck to bite. Stay out of the hands, wait for the head to come down, then slash it. It guards the way to the Lens of Truth.

Where: Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. A giant Octorok circling a round platform. Hit it with the Boomerang when its back is turned, which stuns it, then slash its back.

Where: The Fire Temple, in the chamber near the Megaton Hammer. A fiery dancer. When it vanishes, its core lies on the floor. Use the Hookshot on it to drag the core out, then hit the core. It reignites and dances again until it is done.

Where: The Forest Temple: Joelle, Beth, Amy and Meg. Joelle, Beth, Amy and Meg are four ghost sisters. Shoot each with arrows while it is visible. Meg, the last, splits into copies, so shoot the real one.

Where: The Spirit Temple (three times, including the Nabooru fight) and Ganon’s Castle (a pair on the way up the tower). A heavily armoured knight with a battle axe. Its swings are slow; step back, then strike when it recovers. Each time it takes enough hits, its armour falls off and it becomes faster. The first, in the child wing, guards the Silver Gauntlets chest; the second, in the adult wing, the Mirror Shield. The last in the Spirit Temple is Nabooru under Twinrova’s spell; she counterattacks immediately if hit from behind.

Where: The Water Temple, in an illusory room. A shadow of yourself that copies your moves. Do not rely on Z-targeting. Thrust or use Din’s Fire, and the Megaton Hammer or Biggoron‘s Sword also work. His health matches your Heart Containers.

Where: The Sacred Forest Meadow, at the entrance to the Forest Temple. A Moblin much taller than the rest, with a huge club and shock-waves. See the Moblin entry above.