Summary
TheLegend of Zeldafranchise is famous forits many great boss battles that come in different styles: they can be challenging, they can be emotional and, sometimes, they can even be flat-out epic. The scale and presentation of most of the bosses that Link has fought over the years are truly incredible.
Every entry in theZeldaseries has its fair share of epic boss fights that will surely give players goosebumps, regardless of how well-designed they are on a mechanical level. The following battles are the absolute best in this regard, and they have all become fan favorites for very good reasons.
Because of obvious technical limitations, 2DLegend of Zeldagames don’t usually have as many epic moments as their 3D counterparts. But there have been some exceptions,likeThe Minish Capand its solid collection of boss battles, with the dual bosses of the Palace of Winds, theGyorg Pairbeing a major standout of the adventure.
Riding these giant stingray-like creatures in the middle of the air while jumping from one to another is a really fun and unique experience that demonstrates how video games in 2D can still be as ambitious as games in 3D, as long as the developers know how to pull off incredible moments like this one.
Twinmoldis a fascinating pair of bosses who manage to be impressive regardless of how the player decides to fight them. Without the Giant’s Mask, Link will have to personally deal with these two behemoths that are flying around him, which is already quite epic in and of itself.
But if the player previously obtained and used the Giant’s Mask, Link can grow in size and the battle will become an epic clash between titans.Twinmold is usually considered one of the easiest bosses inMajora’s Mask, but this encounter is so much fun that it doesn’t really matter.
Even though they’re a common element in fantasy settings, there are not that many dragon bosses in theLegend of Zeldaseries. But the few ones that exist are quite memorable, likeArgorokfromTwilight Princess, for example. This is the fight in which players will be able to fully test their skill with Dual Clawhots that they recently obtained in the City in the Sky dungeon.
This is one of the best items in the game since, during this fight, it lets Link dynamically climb through the towers in a way that is reminiscent of Spider-Man. Finally, dragging this menacing dragon by hooking onto its tail and weighing it down with the Iron Boots feels excellent. Getting to take down a big dragon like this is certainly not something players can experience every day.
There are plenty of fights against the main antagonist,Ganondorf, scattered throughout theZeldaseries, and they’re all unique in their own way. His final battle fromThe Wind Wakeris one such case because it’s completely different from what fans would usually expect from him and for all the best reasons.
At the end of this long but memorable adventure, Link and Ganondorf will fight each other in a one-on-one sword fight. That’s it: No transformations, no gimmicks, and no powerful magic, just a raw duel between these two iconic characters that show off how strong and skilled both of them are. To top it all off, Link finishes the fight with a violent strike to Ganondorf’s head, in one of the franchise’s most memorable moments.
Because of its open-ended design, most bosses inBreath of the Wildwere relatively bland and didn’t leave a good impression on most fans. However, the developers redeemed this with theChampions' BalladDLC,which included one of the best and most epic encounters in the series:Monk Maz Koshia.
After clearing so many shrines, finally getting to see a Sheikah Monk standing up and challenging Link to battle is already quite a mind-blowing experience, but the fight itself is also really impressive. Maz Koshia has a vast collection of powerful techniques in his arsenal that make this fight challenging, not to mention that it also features an intense atmosphere. But the best part is the reward that Link will get after defeating Maz Koshia: the coveted Master Cycle Zero.
GhirahimfromSkyward Swordis often considered to be one of the best antagonists in the franchise, mainly due to his wacky personality and his relentless rivalry with Link. And, after fighting him many times throughout the game, the final encounter against him is truly extraordinary.
Skyward Swordhas a realistic motion-controlled combat system that was possible thanks to the implementation of the Wii MotionPlusaccessory. Every single sword fight in this game is intense, but the final clash against Ghirahim is the culmination of everything that players learned throughout the adventure. If that wasn’t already epic enough, there are other rewarding aspects in this fight, like pushing Ghirahim from different floating platforms or having to block and dodge the different types of blades he wields.
While the first four dungeons ofTears of the Kingdomcan be cleared in any order, most players will usually go to the Wind Temple first, meaning thatColgerawill be the first boss they’ll face. This gigantic ice bug will give them a good impression because he’s the star of one of the most ambitious and majestic battles in the whole series.
With the help of Tulin, Link will have to ride the wild winds that Colgera generates to search for its weak points and shoot them in the air. All the elements of this fight make it a true spectacle: the soundtrack, the background, and the sheer size of the boss itself. But there’s an optional strategy that makes the fight against Colgera even more epic. Instead of using arrows, Link can skydive directly into its weak points, which is incredibly satisfying to pull off.
When aZeldafan thinks of a final battle againstGanon, the one fromOcarina of Timewill certainly come to mind before any other. This makes a lot of sense since this is arguably the most iconic final boss of the series, and this can be mainly chalked up to the sheer spectacle of it.
Ganon’s Beast design is extremely well-made and quite intimidating, the atmosphere is palpable – thanks to the thunderstorm and the eerie music in the background – and finally getting to personally take down Ganondorf after everything he had done throughout the game feels fantastic, especially when Link deals the ruthless finishing blow. The gameplay may not be all that complex or challenging, but when everything else works so well, that’s far from important.
2Koloktos
Destroying A Golden Robot With Its Giant Swords Is Simply Amazing
As previously stated,Skyward Swordmade good use of the Wii MotionPlus to produce some genuinely memorable boss battles. And this can be perfectly seen with the boss of the Ancient Cistern,Koloktos. For starters, the design of this giant living statue with golden armor is already quite majestic.
But this is not just about Koloktos’ looks, but also about the fight itself. The first phase is quite fun and makes great use of the recently acquired whip item, but the second phase is where this battle truly shines. Link will not only have to disassemble its arms with the whip, but he will also have to pick up Koloktos’ huge cutlasses and destroy its entire metal body with them. This is very creative and incredibly satisfying, which makes the battle against Koloktos all the more incredible and epic.
1Demon King Ganondorf / Demon Dragon
The Most Powerful Version Of Ganondorf Is Responsible For The Two Most Epic Battles Of The Franchise
Among all the fights against Ganondorf, there’s no question that the most recent one fromTears of the Kingdomis the most ambitious and memorable. The moment in which he goes into hisDemon King Ganondorfform and his health bar surpasses the limit of the screen is extremely shocking, and it makes the ensuing battle all the more intense and unbelievable.
But that wasn’t enough, because Ganondorf eventually consumes his Secret Stone and transforms into a gigantic evil dragon known as theDemon Dragon. This is the true final boss ofTears of the Kingdom, so it’s no surprise that this is possibly the most grandiose moment of the game. Princess Zelda, in her Light Dragon form, even assists Link during this climactic encounter and, as a result, getting to control a giant dragon while fighting an even bigger one simply feels amazing. In addition to all that, both the beautiful music and the high stakes help make the final fight against the Demon Dragon the most epic moment in the entireLegend of Zeldaseries.
