The Legend of Zelda series is known for three things, brilliant puzzle-filled dungeons, expansive open worlds, and fiendish bosses.
We’re here today to celebrate the last of these, taking a look over the history of the entire Legend of Zelda series to look at the top 10 hardest – and best – Zelda bosses.
10. Dark Link – Zelda II – The Adventure of Link
You’ll be unsurprised to learn that the rock-hard Zelda II appears quite a lot on this list, as the NES game is probably one of the hardest games in the Zelda series.
Dark Link makes his appearance after fighting the also-incredibly-hard Thunderbird. Copying all your moves, he’s one of the toughest Zelda bosses. Well, unless you exploit his behaviour and simply crouch in the corner and thwack away, that is.
9. Demise – Skyward Sword
Demise is the final boss of Skyward Sword and is a challenge worthy of any seasoned Link. Despite being a wonderful final boss the main difficulty won’t be coming from the boss itself, but from battling against Skyward Sword’s slightly-iffy controls. Hopefully, with a Switch remaster coming, this’ll be something that’ll get an upgrade.
8. Bongo Bongo – The Ocarina of Time
Fighting a boss on a bouncy drum is as difficult as it sounds, though the Hover Boots can make it a little simpler to take this beast on. Or harder – as many report that the boots actually make the fight harder. It’s up to you to try and find out.
7. Monk Maz Koshia – Breath of the Wild
Monk Maz Koshia is one of the best Zelda bosses simply because they have so many options to hand. They can clone themselves, float, and switch it up with combos. Timing is key to taking this boss down, and once you do you’ll have a memorable fight to look back on.
6. Moldorm – A Link to the Past
When you see this boss you’ll probably laugh. But then you’ll fight it, and fight it, and fight it. It’ll keep pushing you to lower floors as you try to take it down, which means restarting the fight. And this’ll happen over, and over, and over again. Good luck – you’ll need it.
5. Helmethead – Zelda II – The Adventure of Link
What makes Helmethead such a difficult fight is right there in the name. You’ll take off its head, only to be given another to hit. Then another head, and this keeps happening. All the while you’ll have to be dodging a truly maddening amount of projecticels.
4. Manhandla – Oracle of Seasons
The boss of the Ancient Ruins requires you to practice your timing and your boomerang throws, combining skills in a fight that truly makes this a worthy inclusion in our list of the 10 hardest Zelda bosses. Once you create an opening with your boomerang it’s time to get stuck in with your sword – but you’ll have to be exceedingly quick.
3. Onox – Oracle of Seasons
The final boss of Oracle of Seasons is a toughie, you’ll have multiple phases to fight your way through and the toughest is undoubtedly the first. You’ll be dodging weapon attacks whilst charging spin attacks, a nearly impossible task at the best of times.
2. Gyorg – Majora’s Mask
Gyorg requires you to stun it and then jump into the water to deal some damage, meaning you have to be precise, quick, and mobile throughout. If you miss your window…that’s it until you stun Gyorg again. This boss is the quitting point for many a Majora’s Mask player – and with good reason.
1. Thunderbird – Zelda II – The Adventure of Link
We mentioned the boss fight that follows Thunderbird above, but Thunderbird itself is probably the hardest Zelda boss fight out there. Many Legend of Zelda fans still find Thunderbird troubling to this day, and with erratic movements and a truly tiny hitbox, you’ll soon find out why.
