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Each Zelda game has many different bosses to defeat. Some are mini-bosses, and some are main bosses. Some are repeated in multiple games, while others only show up once. Here’s a comprehensive list of bosses in alphabetical order, who they are, and in which games they appear.
A
Aginah: This is the Main Boss in the Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. Aginah is seen as a ghost in both games and is an old friend of Link’s. He helps Link get the Essences of Nature for Veran and General Onox to help save both lands. In Oracle of Seasons, he appears once you have completed all other dungeons in the game. In Oracle of Ages, it is only after completing every dungeon in a linked file without dying that he will appear before each boss.
Aghanim: The Aginah of Twilight Princess is the great King of Hyrule and leader of the Twili Tribe in the Era of Twilight. He helps Link and Midna in their battle with Zant in his castle.
Armogohma: This spider-like Boss is the mini-boss of the Temple of Time in Twilight Princess. Midna claims it is not powerful enough to threaten them, which is why she laughs at Link when he tries to attack it, telling him its weak spot is on its back. It appears multiple times throughout the temple until Link can finally defeat it and obtain the third Fused Shadow.
Armos: Also referred to as Armos Knights, this is a mini-boss in Link’s Awakening and the Oracle of Ages. It consists of two large statues that come to life and attack with swords. They are seen as early as Link’s Awakening, where they can be defeated by using the bow on them, but in this instance, only their swords can be damaging. Oracle of Ages requires both Bombs and Arrows to defeat them.
B
Bari: A jellyfish-like monster found in the Ocean Temple, Wind Waker. Link has to defeat it while riding a minecart which requires him to dodge its attacks and shoot or slice it with his sword.
Blue Stalfos: This is one of two Stalfos mini-bosses in the Spirit Tomb, Spirit Tracks. It is different from the final Stalfos battle in that it is fought on a moving platform, making boss fights more difficult. Link has to jump off of this moving platform and slash at its ankles before it dodges, then quickly get back on the platform to avoid falling below.
Bongo Bongo: This mini-boss is found only in Kakariko Village, Ocarina of Time. Link must defeat it with his slingshot as he is too large for attack otherwise. Unfortunately, no real clues are given to where this boss is located until you enter the Shadow Temple, which causes Bongo Bongo to appear before Link.
C
Carock: A giant stone face found in the Temple of Time, Oracle of Seasons. It is a mini-boss that uses its eyes and hands to attack, and Link has to shoot its eyes with his sword before attacking it once it opens its mouth.
Chester: The first Dark Nut Link encounters, he can be found as a mini-boss in Hyrule Castle during your second visit there in Twilight Princess. He’s known to be an old friend of Zant’s and is very powerful.
ChuChu: ChuChus are enemies that come in many different forms throughout the Zelda series, some being more difficult than others. This mini-boss can be found at several points in The Forest Temple, Ocarina of Time. It consists of a large ChuChu that shoots smaller ones at Link, and he has to hit the larger one with his sword, then use any item such as the Boomerang or the Bow to defeat the smaller ones.
D
Darknut: Darknuts are challenging enemies in the Zelda series, and they vary in size and power. They are massive, armored enemies that carry a sword and shield. These mini-bosses can be found in Link’s Awakening and the Oracle of Ages. However, they cannot be seen until you complete all other dungeons in the dungeon before them.
Darknut: The Darknut in Wind Waker is one of the mini-bosses and much more complex than many other enemies Link faces. He has a shield that blocks all frontal assault, but his back is open to attack. As a result, you have to use your boomerang or arrows to defeat him, which can be quite tricky for new players.
Diababa: A boss in the Forest Temple, Ocarina of Time. It consists of two Baba Serpent heads and a giant blob-like body suspended above the water below. This boss has to be defeated with both Din’s Fire and Arrows when they are available.
Dodongo: Dodongo is an enemy in the Zelda series that is typically huge and slow-moving. It appears as a mini-boss in countless games, including Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and more. One way to defeat these foes is by feeding them bombs that cause them to explode and open their mouth, revealing their weak point: the tail inside its mouth.
Dodongo Snakes: The Dodongo Snakes are small mini-bosses in Link’s Awakening. They appear when you feed the hungry snake three Bombs to break down its barrier, and they attack by spitting out fireballs at Link, which can be blocked with his shield.
E
Eox: This creature is only found in the Temple of Time, Oracle of Ages, as a mini-boss. It consists of one large eye and four arms with knives for hands, and it attacks by shooting fire at Link. He must use his sword to attack its eye, which causes it to retract into the stone platform until Link can strike again.
F
Floormaster: Floormasters are found in the Wind Waker, and they are mini-bosses that take control of a room when defeated. They attack with many hands that appear from the floor in one area until Link can defeat all of them so he can escape the room before it reforms.
G
Gohma: Gohma appears several times throughout the Zelda series and as a mini-boss in The Legend of Zelda and the Adventure of Link. He is typically weak to Bombs or can also be defeated with fire.
Gohma: This Gohma is an enemy that first appears as part of the first dungeon, The Forest Temple, in Ocarina of Time. It crawls along the ceiling, shooting fireballs at Link, which is very difficult for Link to defeat. To defeat the Gohma, you have to climb onto one of the nearby platforms or pillars and use your bow to shoot its eye when it opens.
Gohma Larvae: A mini-boss in Ocarina of Time that appears in Dodongo’s Cavern. They resemble small Gohma with one eye, and they crawl quickly across the floor. They are challenging for Link to defeat, so you must use certain items such as Bombs or your Boomerang.
Iron Knuckle: Ironknuckles are huge armored enemies that carry a giant sword in many Zelda games, most notably A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and more. In these games, they are some of the strongest enemies that often take a lot to defeat.
J
Jalhalla: A boss in Four Swords Adventures and another elementally cursed Poe sister. She consists of many different ghost-like creatures. This enemy is very difficult to defeat as it attacks with many different ghost-like creatures that attack by flying at Link.
K
Kalle Demos: This mini-boss is found in the Forest Temple, Ocarina of Time, consisting of a large head made out of plants. They are very difficult to defeat as you cannot use your sword on them, and you must shoot it with arrows or use Din’s Fire.
Kalle Demos: This Kalle Demos is a boss of the Forest Temple, The Wind Waker. It attacks by shooting fireballs at Link and using his roots to attack him. He is very difficult for Link to defeat, so you must use certain items such as the boomerang to defeat his tentacles and then shoot him in the head with a few arrows.
This enemy is also found in Spirit Tracks. He attacks by throwing many seeds at Link and trying to grab him with his roots which can only be blocked with the Lokomo Sword he obtains from Byrne shortly before the boss fight.
Kalle Demos also appears as a mini-boss in Phantom Hourglass that makes a return from the Wind Waker with the same strategy of shooting his head with your boomerang or arrows. However, his weak point is also his head which he protects using two large roots.
Kargarok: The Kargaroks are found in The Minish Cap, and they are mini-bosses found throughout Hyrule. They attack by swooping down at Link when he gets close to them and throwing Spiked Balls at him, which you can deflect with your shield.
Kholdstare: This enemy is found in The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, and Four Swords Adventures. It is typically one of the first ice-themed enemies Link comes across, and it has a fundamental attack pattern by shooting three balls of ice at Link and then hiding in the ceiling when he gets close to it. To defeat Kholdstare, you must wait for it to shoot out its ice balls which you can deflect with your shield and then shoot it with a Fire Arrow or wait for it to turn into an Ice Block, which you can then slash at with your sword.
Koorma: This enemy is found in the Earth Temple, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker. It attacks Link by shooting fireballs and breathing fire on him. To defeat this enemy, you must use certain items such as the Bow or Din’s Fire.
L
Like Like: An enemy that appears in many Zelda games and is most notably found in Ocarina of Time, where it appears as a mini-boss in the Water Temple. They are very difficult for Link to defeat as they eat his shield and other items such as his boots and rupees.
Leever: A type of cactus-like enemy that appears in many Zelda games, most notably The Legend of Zelda, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They appear in large areas with sand and attack by burrowing into the sand and popping out in random locations.
Lynel: Lynels appear throughout many Zelda games, such as The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, and Twilight Princess. They are found in the wild and can be very dangerous enemies that attack using fire breath and a sword. To defeat them, use strong weapons such as bombs or your sword.
M
Moblin: Moblins appear in many Zelda games, such as The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask. They attack by shooting arrows at Link and attacking him when he gets close to them, so use your shield well and pay attention to their movements to defeat them effectively.
Moldorm: Moldorms are recurring mini-bosses in many Zelda games such as A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda, Link’s Awakening, and Twilight Princess. They attack by charging at Link and then quickly turning around to charge at him again, so be careful when dealing with them.
Mothula: Mothulas appear in The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, and Link’s Awakening. They attack by throwing many seeds at Link, and they are difficult for him to defeat as they fly around very fast.
Mothulas also appear in A Link Between Worlds as a kind of mini-boss that shoots fireballs at Link and flies around swiftly. To defeat this enemy, you must slash at it with your sword when it is not flying and shoot its body with an arrow when it pops out from the flower to kill Mothulas quickly.
N
Needlebug: A beetle-like enemy in many Zelda games such as The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask. They attack by shooting needles at Link, which you can block with your shield or dodge using certain items such as the Bunny Hood.
O
Octorok: Octoroks are recurring enemies in many Zelda games that appear in most Zelda titles. They are enemies that hide in holes and pop out from them to shoot rock projectiles at Link, and they can be defeated by reflecting the rocks with your shield or shooting them with a Bow.
P
Peahat: A plant enemy that appears throughout many Zelda games such as The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker. They appear as flying spinning tops that attack Link by shooting fireballs at him, or they can fly around to damage Link if he stands still for too long, which is why you should defeat them quickly.
Phantom: Phantoms appear in many Zelda games, such as Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. They are found in the Arbiter’s Grounds and the Forest Temple, respectively, and they attack by flying around Link quickly before shooting a giant fireball at him. To defeat them, you must keep your distance from them as they shoot their fireballs and then attack them using your sword when it is safe to do so.
Plant: Plants are enemies that appear in many Zelda games, such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They attack by shooting fireballs or poison at Link, so be careful when dealing with them as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Rat: Rats are recurring enemies in many Zelda titles such as A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, and The Minish Cap. They appear in small holes, and they can be defeated by going into them with your Roc’s Feather equipped or by shooting arrows at them from a distance.
Rock: Rocks are recurring enemies in many Zelda titles such as A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that hide in holes or under rocks, and they attack by shooting projectiles at Link when he gets close to them, so be careful around these enemies as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
S
Shadow Beast: A shadow enemy appearing in many Zelda games such as Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Tri Force Heroes. They attack by charging at Link when he gets close to them, so be careful around these enemies as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Skulltula: A spider enemy in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They attack by shooting a web at Link or climbing on the ceiling to drop down on him when he is not looking, which can cause damage to you if they hit you. There is also a bigger type known as Big Skulltula in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask that looks like an overgrown Skulltula.
Spiked Roller: An enemy that appears in many Zelda titles such as A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, and Ocarina of Time. They are enemies that roll along the ground with spikes on their wheels, so they cannot be defeated by hitting them with your sword, so you must either time your jumps over them or use an item such as the Pegasus Boots to dash into them.
T
Tektite: A type of spider enemy that appears in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that jump around platforms or stones before shooting projectiles at Link, so be careful when dealing with them, as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Trinexx: Trinexx is a boss that appears in A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening. It is found as a side boss inside Turtle Rock, which can be destroyed if attacked enough times, but its main appearance is as the dungeon’s boss where it attacks by shooting fireballs at Link, or it can ram itself into him if he gets too close.
Twilit Aquatic: Twilit Aquatics are enemies that appear in Twilight Princess. They have a giant snake-like body with a large head that is fought as the boss of the Lakebed Temple, and they attack by sending balls of electricity towards Link or by ramming into him with their heads.
V
Vaati: Vaati is a recurring enemy that appears in several Zelda titles such as Four Swords Adventures, The Minish Cap, and The Legend of Zelda. He’s the main antagonist from those three games, and he attacks by shooting projectiles at Link, so be careful when dealing with him as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
W
Wallmaster: Wallmasters are enemies that appear in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are a large hand that comes out of the ground, and they grab Link causing him to be taken back to the start of the dungeon, so be careful around them as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
There are also smaller versions of the Wallmaster known as Floormasters in A Link Between Worlds which are enemies that can trap him on its attack before pushing him onto the ground and stealing some of his Rupees.
Water Tektite: A spider enemy that appears in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that jump around platforms or stones before shooting projectiles at Link, so be careful when dealing with them, as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Wizzrobe: Wizzrobes are a recurring enemy that appear in several Zelda titles such as A Link to the Past, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that shoot spells at you, so be careful around them as they can cause damage to you if they hit you. There are also other subspecies of Wizzrobe with different abilities than the standard one, such as Fire Wizzrobes and Ice Wizzrobes.
Wolfos: Wolfos are a recurring enemy in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that attack by scratching you with their claws if they get too close to them, so be careful around them as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
X
xBladez: xBladez are the bosses in Zelda’s Adventure on Philips CD-i. They are giant knights with a large sword and shield, which can only be destroyed by using Princess Zelda’s magic to do so, but you must make sure not to let them touch you, or else it can cause damage to you.
Y
Yeti: Yetis are recurring enemies that appear in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are abominable snowman-type creatures with a large temper, so be careful when dealing with them as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Z
Zant: Zant is one of the main antagonists in Twilight Princess, and he resides in Hyrule Castle, where he uses his power, which is fuelled by darkness, to transform into many different creatures that Link has fought before during the game like Armogohma or Darkhammer. He attacks by shooting projectiles at Link, so be careful when dealing with him as they can cause damage to you if they hit you.
Zora: Zoras are recurring enemies that appear in many Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess. They are enemies that live underwater, which attack by using their force to send Link flying back, causing damage to him if they hit him, so be careful when dealing with them. Other subspecies of Zora have different abilities compared to the standard one, such as Electric Zoras.
FAQ
When it comes to Zelda bosses, there are many. It can get confusing to sort through. Here are some frequently asked questions that may help.
Question: Who is the First Boss in the Zelda Series?
Answer: This would be Aquamentus. It was known initially as Dodongo, but Nintendo later changed its name to Aquamentus before releasing The Legend of Zelda.
Question: Who is the Most Recurring Zelda Boss?
Answer: While it varies, many would say Gohma or Darknuts. They have appeared in more than 15 Zelda titles. Other contenders are Stalfos, Armogohma, King Dodongo and Ganon/Ganondorf.
Question: Who is the Largest Zelda Boss?
Answer: This would be the aptly-named Biggoron from Ocarina of Time or Yuga from A Link Between Worlds.
Question: Who is the Smallest Zelda Boss?
Answer: This would be King Bublin from Majora’s Mask. He is a giant compared to Link, but he is roughly four times smaller than Gohma, who appears in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask.
Question: What are the Most Powerful Items in the Zelda Series?
Answer: This would be Triforce/Triforces, Armos, and Masks. All three are very powerful in their own right, with Armos bringing even Gods to their knees and masks like Majora’s Mask containing power that can destroy entire worlds.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading this Zelda bosses guide. I hope that this has helped give you information about the bosses in the Zelda series. For information regarding the Zelda series, check out the other articles on this blog.
Continue reading more related Zelda bosses guides:
Phantom Ganon Guide – The Legend of Zelda
Moblin Guide – Legend of Zelda
Lizalfos Guide – Strange Creatures Link Encounters