The Best Boss Fight from Every Zelda Game
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re showcasing the best boss fight from every “Zelda” Game! These bosses were picked based on pure fun factors as well as providing a balanced challenge.
Gleeok
“The Legend of Zelda” (1987)
Naturally, given the technical limitations of the NES, most bosses in the original game are somewhat basic in design and gameplay. That makes Gleeok a clear choice for the most fun and unique fight. Link first fights the two-headed dragon at the end of Level 4, though a three-headed version appears as a mini-boss in Level 6 and a four-headed version acts as the boss of Level 8. In every fight, Link must chop off the heads in order to kill the beast. However, each severed head will then fly around, bombarding Link with fireballs. Gleeok has enough moving parts to keep you on your toes, making each encounter a fun challenge.
Dark Link
“Zelda II: The Adventure of Link” (1988)
We know this fight can be easily cheesed by crouching in the corner and going for Dark Link’s legs. But let’s forget about that unintended winning strat for a moment. When fought the traditional way, this doppelganger provides the most interesting boss fight in the game by far. It takes the sword-fighting focus of other enemies like Darknuts and dials the challenge level up to 11. Dark Link is fast and ferocious, able to block even the most well-timed strikes with ease. Yes, it was a major challenge. But it’s also now an iconic moment, surprising everyone when Dark Link leapt into the light.
Helmasaur King
“The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” (1992)
Link has fought his fair share of giant reptiles over the years, but the Helmasaur King from “A Link to the Past” remains a fan favorite. You find him at the end of the Palace of Darkness, the first dungeon in the Dark World. It’s a near perfect mid-game battle, being just challenging enough to keep you cautious but not too stressful as to take away from the fun. Link must first get rid of its mask by using bombs or the magic hammer, then follow up by damaging the gem in its head with the sword or arrows. All the while, the Helmasaur King stomps about, swinging its tail and shooting fireballs to keep you on the move.
DethI
“The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” (1993)
Here we have another final boss, and one that leads to one of the best endings in the franchise. After Link makes it inside the Wind Fish’s egg, he’ll be greeted by the leader of the deity’s nightmares. What makes DethI fun is its many forms; some phases resemble recurring enemies, like the blob-like Zol and the annoying boss, Moldorm. However, it also copies Aganhim and Ganon from “A Link to the Past.” This naturally means that the method for defeating each form is different. Not only does the variety make it fun, but it’s also an interesting way to scale up to the final form.
Ganon
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)
“Ocarina of Time” is full of fantastic bosses. A special shoutout goes to Twinrova, whose use of the Mirror Shield makes for an exciting, elemental confrontation. However, it’s tough to measure up the iconicism that is Ganon. After defeating his Gerudo form, the big bad’s final trick sees him transform into a demonic, boar-like behemoth. Nintendo absolutely nailed the atmosphere, with Link trapped by a flaming ring as a storm rages in the distance. It has just the right level of peril, too; as Ganon swings his gigantic blades, Link must try to get around to his tail, the weak spot. From both a mechanical and artistic standpoint, Ganon closes out “Ocarina of Time” strongly.
Goht
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)
From a ‘pure fun’ position, Goht from “Majora’s Mask” brings joy in spades. Fought at the end of the game’s second dungeon, Snowhead Temple, the boss makes terrific use of Link’s Goron form. After thawing him out, he’ll begin stampeding around his circular arena, prompting you to roll on after him. What was already a ridiculously enjoyable form of traversal is elevated here. Going over jumps sends Goron Link upward like a spinning wheel of death, while dodging Goht’s progressively more destructive attacks lends the fight a nice layer of suspense. Barreling through this fight is fun every time, so it’s a good thing you have to do it a few times to unlock everything.
Onox
“The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons” (2001)
The final boss in “Oracle of Seasons,” unless you’re playing a linked game of course, General Onox certainly doesn’t go easy on you. And that’s okay. First, his armored form will be tricky to get through, requiring spin attacks to deal damage. He’ll also use the Oracle, Din, as a shield, which electrocutes Link if he uses anything other than the Rod of Seasons to move her out of the way. After that, Onox turns into a dragon, whose paws Link must jump on top of to strike at the gem in his head. But with him swiping at Link with sharp claws and spewing fireballs everywhere, that’s easier said than done.
Ramrock
“The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages” (2001)
Nintendo has recycled the ‘big head with detached hands’ boss design across several franchises. However, Ramrock from “Oracle of Ages” stands out thanks to the unique method of fighting him. During the first phase, Link must deflect Ramrock’s hands back at him to deal damage. But after this, the hands change. The second phase gives him crusher-like mitts, and Link must trick him into grabbing a bomb. The third phase sees him fire projectiles while defending with shields, and Link must ricochet a seed into his back. Finally, Link must dodge ball-and-chain attacks for the fourth phase, pulling them back with the Power Glove to send them flying back at the boss’ face. The level of variety is surprising, and also a ton of fun.
Vaati
“The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords” (2002)
There aren’t many noteworthy bosses in “Four Swords,” since it’s a smaller, multiplayer-centric add-on for “A Link to the Past” on Game Boy Advance. As to be expected, Vaati, the final boss, is the most interesting of the bunch. The first phase is quite easy; players must throw bombs in the cyclone Vaati flies with to damage him, lest they be sucked up and thrown off the stage. The second phase is much more memorable, though, since Vaati uses attacks based on previous bosses in the game. With the arena holding different items, it’s fun swapping out weapons and adapting to what the villain throws at you.
Ganondorf
“The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” (2003)
A boss doesn’t always need a clever gimmick or item to stand out from the rest. In the case of “Wind Waker,” the level of enjoyment comes from Ganondorf providing one Hell of a sword duel. Players must deal with Ganondorf’s onslaught as he dives, dashes, and delivers deadly blows, all while Zelda attempts to shoot him in the back with a light arrow. But Ganondorf’s a smart one; he’ll adapt by first knocking Zelda out, forcing you to rely on all your dueling knowledge, and eventually dodge your parries as well as her later arrows. It's a fantastic fight for a climax, also enhanced by the arena’s atmosphere as Hyrule continues to flood around you.
Ganon
“The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures” (2004)
From one Ganon fight to another. This multiplayer adventure closes out on a fight with a version of the big bad that dwarfs even four Links in size. He’ll spend the first section of the fight leaping around the arena to crush you. And his lightning can send you into the Dark World, forcing you to fight Stalfos minions. Halfway through, he’ll start hurling his trident, which leaves a trail of fire behind and can hurt quite a bit. You’ll also then need to defend Zelda as she charges up a spell to finally put an end to him. This design for the villain’s beast form is a personal favorite, and the fight itself is fittingly climactic.
Vaati
“The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap” (2005)
“The Minish Cap” did a lot to establish Vaati as a stronger villain than his previous appearances, and we mean that in more ways than one. Not only did he get some much needed personality and backstory, but facing him during the climax was an exceptional high point. The first phase had Link dodging projectiles and weakening Vaati’s defenses before he could deal any damage. Phase 2 saw the villain turn monstrous, with even stronger defenses and a lot of arena hazards. And Phase 3 used Link’s Minish form, almost like a puzzle within the fight. Beating Vaati requires much of Link’s weapons and abilities, bringing a lot of variety.
Stallord
“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)
Surprise, surprise; it’s the undisputed king of “Twilight Princess” boss fights. Stallord of the Arbiter’s Grounds became a fan favorite almost instantly, and he’s still considered by many fans to be one of the franchise’s greatest. The giant skeletal dragon is a fine design, but it’s how the battle makes use of the dungeon’s item, the Spinner, that really sets it apart. Players must first ride along the edge of Stallord’s arena, bouncing off to crush part of the boss’ spine while his minions defend. The second phase is even more fun, as Link bounces between the wall and pillar, avoiding fireballs and spike traps, in order to crash into Stallord’s head. Riding the Spinner never gets old, and the only downside is that this fight doesn’t last longer.
Eox
“The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass” (2007)
Mutoh’s Temple is, without a doubt, the best dungeon in “Phantom Hourglass.” And it thankfully ends on the highest of notes. Eox is a towering, stone golem whose body extends to both screens of the DS. It’s another fight that uses the dungeon item, here, the Hammer, wonderfully. Link uses it to spring himself into the air, then hit one of several weak spots on the boss’ body. After the stone layer is gone, destroying the wooden frame underneath leads into the second phase. Link must spring himself onto the boss’ remaining head in order to damage his weak spot. Eox lets you tap into your destructive side, with every Hammer blow providing a satisfying wallop.
Cragma
“The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” (2009)
The fight against Cragma is a bit similar to Eox, with just enough changes to differentiate it. Fought at the end of the Fire Temple, also one of the best in its game, you’ll use the bow instead of a hammer to shoot weak spots on Cragma’s body. And instead of catapulting yourself into the air, you ride a railcar upwards, with the main weak spot on his head revealing itself after you’ve done enough damage to the others. All the while, Cragma tries to throw Link back towards the ground and rain fiery debris on him. The railcar system makes sniping those weak spots thrilling. And the bow’s simple but intuitive controls make it less of a gimmicky pain than trying to use weapons in certain other fights.
Koloktos
“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011)
Another appearance that should come as no surprise, Koloktos from “Skyward Sword” has long been accepted as the game’s best boss. And who are we to argue? Fought at the end of the Ancient Cistern, the golden automaton begins with only its first half visible. Link must dodge its attacks, using the dungeon’s Whip to remove arms and strike at the weak spot in its chest. It’s pretty fun, but the second phase blows it out of the water. Koloktos gets fed up being stuck, and emerges from the ground to hunt Link down. By dodging its truly gigantic blades, Link again removes its appendages, but this time uses its own weapon against it. Everything from the boss’ design to the satisfying crunch of sword meeting metal makes this encounter memorable.
Stalblind
“The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds” (2013)
The boss of the Thieves’ Hideout comes in three phases, and they are all distinctly fun. As Stalblind plays defensively, Link must use his Wall Merge mechanic to hide on the boss’ shield. This leads to a humorous interaction, and lets Link pop out to strike Stalblind unawares. However, he then learns from his mistake and ditches the shield. The second phase requires Link to strike at the right moments, avoiding Stalblind’s massive sword. During the third, the boss’ head will fly around the room shooting while his body continues pressing the attack. Each phase keeps things fresh and is a perfect length.
Stalchampion
“The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes” (2015)
The final giant skeleton we’ll talk about today, Stalchampion is fought at the end of the Desert Temple and is surprisingly more agile than others like him. He can throw one of his ribs like a boomerang, has a mace for a hand, and can produce shockwaves that grow larger the more damage he takes. The trio of Links must first stun him by hitting him in the back, then break apart the skeleton before using the Magic Hammer on his heart. After destroying his body, Stalchampion’s head will still fly around, keeping up the attack. Communicating with other players made Stalchampion a hectic but enjoyable battle. While the game is less fun with the multiplayer no longer available, he’s still the best fight in “Tri Force Heroes.”
Monk Maz Koshia
“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)
While Monk Maz Koshia is a DLC boss rather than one found in the base game, he’s so much better than the others that we have to include him. He comes in four impressive phases, with each one bringing variety, challenge, and a whole heaping of fun. He can teleport, uses different elemental arrows, makes copies of himself, grows to the size of a building, and a whole lot more. It’s one of the most dynamic fights across the whole series and, depending on how upgraded you are from the base game, can actually be a bit tough. That’s not to mention his awesome music and the total surprise we felt when this wrinkly bag of bones challenged us.
Ganondorf
“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (2023)
Our genuine condolences to Colgera, who is legitimately too fun not to mention (Xref). But there’s simply no topping this. Ganondorf’s fight in “Tears of the Kingdom” just may be the best his Gerudo form has ever given us. He’ll swap between the Phantom Ganon weapons for the first phase, all of which deal Gloom damage, and can even Perfect Dodge your attacks. Phase 2 has an incredible intro, with Ganondorf transforming and extending his health bar to an almost comedic length. It’s also climactic in that the Sages join to fight against Ganondorf’s phantoms and that his attacks can deal major damage. Finally, his dragon form is the easiest, but still provides a tremendous sense of awe and accomplishment as Zelda’s light dragon form joins the fray. Everything about this fight is just the type of final confrontation that “Tears of the Kingdom” needed.
Did we leave off your favorite boss? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great gaming videos every day!
