| Enemy types | About 50 kinds of regular enemy, many in colour variants (red, blue, golden) |
|---|---|
| Mini-bosses | Madderpillar, Big Blue Chuchu and the three Darknuts of Dark Hyrule Castle |
| Bosses | 5 dungeon bosses plus Vaati in 3 forms |
| Rare enemies | 9 golden enemies (3 Octoroks, 3 Tektites, 3 Ropes), created by Kinstone fusions |
| Handy tools | Shield for projectiles, Gust Jar for masks and mushrooms, Boomerang for stuns, Bow for eyes, Flame Lantern for mummies |
Most enemies in The Minish Cap fall to the sword, but a good number need a specific item or a trick: Helmasaurs lose their masks to the Gust Jar, Gibdos burn under the Flame Lantern, Spiked Beetles flip over to a shield and the stone statues in Castor Wilds only break when you shoot their eye. The tables below group every enemy by where you meet it and say what beats it. Dungeon bosses and mini-bosses are summarised at the end and covered fully on Boss Strategies.
Table of Contents
Quick reference
| Group | Enemies | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Overworld and caves | Octorok, Tektite, Leever, Acro-Bandit, Moblin, Crow, Takkuri, Business Scrub, Beetle, Keese, Rope, Boulder | Hyrule Field, Trilby Highlands, Western Wood, Lake Hylia, Mt. Crenel, Eastern Hills, Lon Lon Ranch |
| Minish-sized | Pesto, Mulldozer, Moldworm, Puffstool, Sluggula, Spiny Beetle, Scissors Beetle, Armos | Deepwood Shrine, the Wind Ruins, Mt. Crenel, small caves |
| Dungeon | Chuchu types, Stalfos, Wizzrobe, Darknut, Gibdo, Ghini, Keaton, Helmasaur and many more | All six dungeons and the Royal Crypt |
| Mini-bosses and bosses | Madderpillar, Big Blue Chuchu, Darknuts, five dungeon bosses, Vaati | Dungeon ends |
Overworld and cave enemies
You walk into these as you cross Hyrule Field and the regions around it. Most only need a sword, but the ones that fire things at you are best handled with the Small Shield. The first stretch of the game, Ascent to Mount Crenel, is where you meet most of them.
Octorok (red and blue)
Where you meet it: Trilby Highlands, Western Wood, Lake Hylia and the ponds near Hyrule Town
How to beat it: It spits rocks in a straight line. Step aside, or hold up the Small Shield, then slash it from the side.
Tektite (red and blue)
Where you meet it: Mt. Crenel and Veil Falls
How to beat it: It hops around. Let it land before you slash, and stay out of its landing spot.
Leever
Where you meet it: Open ground in the overworld
How to beat it: It pops up from the ground under you. Keep moving and slash when it surfaces.
Acro-Bandit
Where you meet it: Lon Lon Ranch and the Eastern Hills
How to beat it: A stack of five that pops up and moves like a tower. Kill the first one before the rest rise, then finish all of them before they burrow back down.
Spear Moblin
Where you meet it: Trilby Highlands and Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: Hit it from the side while it is charging. Red Moblins on the highlands drop many Kinstone pieces.
Bow Moblin
Where you meet it: Overworld and the Palace of Winds
How to beat it: It shoots when you are in line with it. Close the gap or bounce arrows back with the shield.
Crow
Where you meet it: Trees, such as the Royal Valley graveyard
How to beat it: It dive-bombs. Sidestep the dive, then slash it a few times. A crow there steals the Graveyard Key.
Takkuri
Where you meet it: Overworld
How to beat it: A red crow that steals Rupees on contact. Hit it quickly to get your money back.
Business Scrub
Where you meet it: Caves and trees in Trilby Highlands, Mt. Crenel, Castor Wilds, Western Wood and the Minish Woods
How to beat it: It spits nuts. Hold up the Small Shield to bounce one back and stun it, then talk to it to buy items.
Beetle
Where you meet it: Under pots and in cut grass
How to beat it: It clings to you and blocks your sword. Press the button repeatedly to shake it off, then slash it.
Keese
Where you meet it: Caves and dungeons
How to beat it: A bat that flutters at you. One slash is enough.
Rope
Where you meet it: Overworld, caves and dungeons
How to beat it: It rushes in a straight line when it spots you. Sidestep it and slash.
Boulder
Where you meet it: Sides of Mt. Crenel
How to beat it: Rolls down at intervals and cannot be destroyed. Time your climb between them.
Minish-sized enemies
Some enemies only appear when Ezlo has shrunk you, so a plain bug is a danger when you are tiny. You meet them in Deepwood Shrine, around Minish Village and in the rooms you reach through Minish Portals.
Pesto (red and blue)
Where you meet it: Mt. Crenel plateau and Deepwood Shrine
How to beat it: A fly that carries mud or rocks and drops them on you. Slash it when it comes down.
Mulldozer (red and blue)
Where you meet it: Deepwood Shrine, the cave behind the Hyrule Town fountain, the Temple of Droplets and a Castor Wilds cave
How to beat it: A charging dog-like beast. Sidestep, then hit it from the side or behind. Red ones take three hits; blue ones come in groups.
Moldworm
Where you meet it: Tiny underground areas
How to beat it: A pink worm seen only at Minish size. Hit its head.
Puffstool
Where you meet it: Deepwood Shrine
How to beat it: A walking mushroom that leaves sand patches. The Gust Jar stuns it so you can slash it.
Sluggula
Where you meet it: Deepwood Shrine
How to beat it: A slow slug that sometimes drops from the ceiling. One or two slashes.
Spiny Beetle
Where you meet it: Wind Ruins
How to beat it: Hides under bushes and rocks and cannot be hurt head-on. Flip it with the shield, then slash its underside.
Scissors Beetle
Where you meet it: Elder Librari’s trial room
How to beat it: Throws blue pincers like a boomerang. Wait for the pincers to fly past, then slash it from the side or behind.
Armos
Where you meet it: Wind Ruins
How to beat it: A dormant statue that wakes when you come close. Shrink to Minish size, climb onto it and put out its flame to switch it off.
Dungeon enemies
The six dungeons and the Royal Crypt are full of enemies that pair with a specific item. The chapters cover each room: Cave of Flames, Fortress of Winds, Palace of Winds and Dark Hyrule Castle.
Chuchu (green, red, blue)
Where you meet it: Most dungeons
How to beat it: A slime. The sword is enough; blue ones are electrified, and the Boomerang stuns them.
Rock Chuchu
Where you meet it: Dungeons
How to beat it: A Chuchu in a rock helmet. One sword hit breaks the helmet.
Spiny Chuchu
Where you meet it: Cave of Flames
How to beat it: Eight swarm you in the room before the Cane of Pacci chest. Strike when the spikes pull in, or throw a bomb.
Stalfos (blue and red)
Where you meet it: Fortress of Winds, Palace of Winds, Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: A skeleton that jumps at you. Slash twice. Red ones throw bones. The Gust Jar pulls off a Stalfos’s head.
Wizzrobe (green, fire and ice)
Where you meet it: Fortress of Winds, Palace of Winds, Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: It teleports and casts spells. Slash it when it appears and avoid the blasts. In the Palace of Winds they come in waves.
Darknut (green, red, silver and black)
Where you meet it: Castor Wilds, Fortress of Winds, Palace of Winds, Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: An armoured soldier with a shield. Attack when it pauses after a big swing or from behind. Higher colours hit harder.
Gibdo
Where you meet it: Royal Crypt and several dungeons
How to beat it: A mummy that drains your hearts fast. The Flame Lantern burns its wrappings off and turns it into a Stalfos.
Ghini
Where you meet it: Palace of Winds and Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: A one-eyed ghost that drains life. In a group, only the real one stays solid when struck.
Keaton (purple and yellow)
Where you meet it: Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: A fox-faced thief that knocks items out of your wallet. Hit them as they come at you instead of chasing them.
Helmasaur
Where you meet it: Mt. Crenel and the Cave of Flames
How to beat it: Its iron mask blocks sword hits. Hit it from behind or pull the mask off with the Gust Jar first.
Rollobite
Where you meet it: Cave of Flames
How to beat it: A pillbug that curls up when hit. Carry or throw it into a hole to open a way.
Bob-omb
Where you meet it: Cave of Flames and other dungeons
How to beat it: Hit once and its fuse lights, hit again to stun it, then pick it up and throw it at a cracked wall.
Bombarossa
Where you meet it: Dungeons
How to beat it: A floating bomb that sets off its neighbours. Keep your distance.
Chaser
Where you meet it: Cave of Flames
How to beat it: Red blades that roll at you when you come near. Use alcoves and corners to let them pass.
Spark
Where you meet it: Fortress of Winds and other dungeons
How to beat it: A glowing orange enemy that crawls along walls. The Boomerang beats it.
Wisp (blue and red)
Where you meet it: Dungeons
How to beat it: A flaming skull that deals no damage but locks your sword if it latches on. The Boomerang makes it vanish.
Wallmaster and Floormaster
Where you meet it: Fortress of Winds and other dungeons
How to beat it: A hand that grabs you and drops you at the dungeon entrance. Slash it when it drops, and keep moving.
Eyegore Statue
Where you meet it: Castor Wilds and ruins
How to beat it: A one-eyed statue that is invulnerable until you shoot its eye with the Bow.
Door Mimic
Where you meet it: Dungeon doors
How to beat it: A fake door that falls on you. It cannot be killed, so avoid it or check the map.
Flying Pot
Where you meet it: Pot rooms
How to beat it: A pot that flies at you. Sidestep it or smash it with the sword.
Ball and Chain Soldier
Where you meet it: Palace of Winds and Dark Hyrule Castle
How to beat it: Strike while it pulls its chain back, or block the ball with the shield.
Cloud Piranha
Where you meet it: Cloud Tops and the Palace of Winds
How to beat it: A fanged fish in the clouds. Strike when it jumps up; it takes two hits.
Lakitu
Where you meet it: Late dungeons
How to beat it: A cloud rider that fires lightning. Stun it with the Boomerang, then slash it.
Spiked Beetle
Where you meet it: Mt. Crenel, Cave of Flames and Palace of Winds
How to beat it: Invulnerable to the sword from the front. Flip it with the shield to expose its underside.
Like Like and Rupee Like
Where you meet it: Cave of Flames and other dungeons
How to beat it: A Rupee Like looks like a Rupee and a Like Like swallows you. Mash the button to escape, then slash it.
Trap and Spiketrap
Where you meet it: Dungeons
How to beat it: A razor-sharp block that cannot be destroyed. Learn its pattern and cross after it passes.
Moldorm
Where you meet it: Dark Hyrule Castle (small ones)
How to beat it: A worm that moves randomly. Hit it when it passes you.
Mini-bosses
Madderpillar
Where: Deepwood Shrine
How to beat it: Hit its red nose to expose its tail, then slash the tail. It drops the Gust Jar chest.
Big Blue Chuchu
Where: Temple of Droplets
How to beat it: Wait until its electricity fades, pull its base with the Gust Jar, then slash it. It drops the Flame Lantern chest.
Three Darknuts (two red, one black)
Where: Dark Hyrule Castle, before Vaati’s chamber
How to beat it: Back against a wall, hit from behind and use Spin Attacks when surrounded.
Bosses
The dungeon bosses each have one item that makes the fight easy. Full strategies are on Boss Strategies; the dungeons themselves are in the walkthrough chapters linked below.
Big Green Chuchu
Dungeon: Deepwood Shrine
What beats it: Gust Jar to shrink its base, then slash it when it topples
Gleerok
Dungeon: Cave of Flames
What beats it: Cane of Pacci to flip its shell, then slash the jewel on its back
Mazaal
Dungeon: Fortress of Winds
What beats it: Bow on the hands’ eyes, then the pillars inside its head
Big Octorok
Dungeon: Temple of Droplets
What beats it: Small Shield to bounce its boulders, Flame Lantern to burn its plant
Gyorg Pair
Dungeon: Palace of Winds
What beats it: Roc’s Cape and clone Links to hit their eyes
Vaati Reborn
Dungeon: Dark Hyrule Castle
What beats it: Gust Jar for the shrouds, sword for his eyes
Vaati Transfigured
Dungeon: Dark Hyrule Castle
What beats it: Bow to find the four red orbs
Vaati’s Wrath
Dungeon: Hyrule Castle courtyard
What beats it: Cane of Pacci, Minish size and the Four Sword
Golden enemies
There are nine golden enemies: three Golden Octoroks, three Golden Tektites and three Golden Ropes. Each one appears only after a Kinstone fusion and pays a large Rupee reward; Golden Enemies lists every fusion and spawn point.
