Enemy Guide

Enemy Guide - Zelda: Twilight Princess

Enemy Guide

Here we'll take a more in-depth look at the enemies in the game, where to find them, how to avoid them, and how to take them down!

Bosses and any mini-enemies associated with them are listed individually in the Boss Guide.

Aeralfos

Aeralfos

Locations: City in the Sky, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 8/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot, Sword

Breakdown:
They like to fly overhead and dive bomb you. When they are about to charge, use the clawshot to draw them down and hack them. When on the ground, they cannot be hit safely, so keep your distance.

Armored Dynalfos

Armored Dynalfos

Locations: Temple of Time, City in the Sky, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 7/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
There's not much to these other then basic attacks. The armor makes them hard to damage and they can see through/are too fast for some hidden skills. Still, the Helm Splitter and Backslice work well. If you can, the Jump Strike also works, as well as a bomb arrow to the head if they haven't noticed you.

Armos

Armos

Locations: Temple of Time
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
They will only come to life if you get too close in front of them. The trick is to only activate one at a time. Their weak spot is the jewel on their back. Circle strife them by locking on and sidestepping around their shield side, then use a projectile to get at the jewel. It takes three shots, and after every one they get a little faster. After the third they go hyper then explode.

Baba Serpent

Baba Serpent

Locations: Hyrule Field, Forest Temple, City in the Sky,
           Twilight Palace, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
They'll lunge forward and grab you, sucking out health while holding you. Even after their vine is cut, they still chase after you on the ground. A spin attack can normally finish them off, vine and all. They often hang from the ceiling as well, so watch out.

Baby Gohma

Baby Gohma

Locations: Temple of Time
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Clawshot, Bow

Breakdown:
Little scared spiders. Alls they have is numbers, and even that doesn't mean anything when you always run away.

Bari

Bari

Locations: Lakebed Temple
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot

Breakdown:
If you get close, they electrify themselves for a short time, making them invulnerable (the shock will even travel up the clawshot if you hit it). The trick is to stay back and use the clawshot to grab out the core.

I also think these look a lot like Metroids, which makes them awesome. :)

Beamos

Beamos

Locations: Goron Mines, Temple of Time
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Bow

Breakdown:
When you get close, they will fire a beam out their eye that can eat away at your health. However, these beam does not reach far. Keep your distance and shoot the red eye with an arrow.

Bee

Bee

Locations: Hyrule Field, Ordon Village
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: None

Breakdown:
If you come near or otherwise agitate the nest without destroying it, the bees will swarm you. The only way to get rid of them is to leave the area or jump in water. To bring down the nest, hit it with something hard like the Bow, Bomb arrows, or Clawshot sometimes works.

Big Deku Serpent

Big Deku Serpent

Locations: Forest Temple, City in the Sky
Threat Level: 6/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bombs

Breakdown:
These huge plants are unknown in origin. You have to take out the head with your sword first, then the Deku Like in the center opens up to bombs.

Blade Trap

Blade Trap

Locations: Hyrule Field, Arbiter's Grounds, Hyrule Castle,
           Temple of Time
Threat Level: 2/10
Effective weapons: None

Breakdown:
These go up and down Spinner track, blocking your way. They are impervious to most attacks, the only way to kill them is in the Temple of Time you can use the statue's hammer. 100% of the time you can dodge them by walking carefully or jumping to another spinner track.

Bokoblin

Red Bokoblin

Blue Bokoblin

Locations: Hyrule Field, Goron Mines, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 5/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
They're only so much of a threat because they are almost always in large groups. The blue will fall with a single strike, but the Red are much tougher, generally taking 4 hits and sometimes an ending blow.

Bombfish

Bombfish

Locations: Lakebed Temple
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: None

Breakdown:
These are here to help the people that run out of bombs while in the Lakebed Temple. You cant keep them, but where there is one there is usually a bombable rock nearby.

Bombling

Bombling

Locations: Forest Temple
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: None

Breakdown:
These little bugs are here to help you before you get your bomb bag. Whack them to set the fuse, then pick it up and throw it at the target. Not the same as the Bomblings you buy in stores.

Bombskit

Bombskit

Locations: Hyrule Field
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Bow

Breakdown:
These wonder Hyrule Field dropping little bombs when scared. They try to keep a huge distance, so hitting them with anything other then the bow is hard. After you kill them, they will drop a worm on the ground that you can scoop up and use as bait.

Bubble

Bubble

Locations: Arbiter's Grounds, Snowpeak Ruins, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
The flying skulls you often see. These weird enemies generally stay grounded till something nears, then they take to the air and float around. They come in three varieties: regular, flaming, and frozen. Regular are no real threat, but the flaming can burn wood shield and set you on fire for a few seconds and the frozen can freeze you on contact (don't use the clawshot!).

The first swing you take will knock their wings off, and they'll start hopping on the ground. If you don't finish them, they will take flight again (only the next shot will kill them anyway).

Bulblin

Bulblin

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Bow, Sword

Breakdown:
Twilight Princcess's answer to Zelda's standard Molblin enemy. Bulblin are semi-intelligent thieves. They use two basic weapons: clubs and bows. Clubs are easy to kill with just a hit or two. The bows are harder, as they are flaming bows with the same draw time as you, making them hard to snipe, yet they run away really fast as well, making them hard to get with your sword.

Chilfos

Chilfos

Locations: Snowpeak Ruins
Threat Level: 6/10
Effective weapons: Ball and Chain, Bomb Arrows, Sword

Breakdown:
They use Javelins as their main weapon; Javelins that they can regenerate after being thrown. They'll throw them from a distance and up close use it like a spear. The javelins are made of hardened ice, meaning they can take several hits from your sword before breaking. Best bet is to either disarm them with a bomb arrow, then use a second to finish them before they rearm, or use a jump attack to destroy the javelin, then unleash a flurry to finish them.

Chu Worm

Chu Worm

Locations: Lakebed Temple
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot, Sword, Bomb Arrows

Breakdown:
These little bugs roll around in bubbles made of, I would guess, Chu. These bubbles are impervious to damage from anything other then explosives. You have two options when killing them: use a bomb arrow to completely destroy the bubble, or use the clawshot to snatch them out then kill them before they get back in.

ChuChu

ChuChu

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Clawshot

Breakdown:
These are actually a helpful enemy, as when you kill them they reduce to jelly that can be scooped up and stored. They like to cling to ceilings and drop on your head. They also have a nasty habit of absorbing one another to form a giant chuchu that takes much longer to kill (you have to break it into pieces first), and is always Purple, the most useless of the jellies. 

Purple Chu: Random effect (usually hurts you)
Yellow Chu: Acts as oil for Lantern
Red Chu: Replenishes 8 hearts
Blue Chu: Replenishes all hearts
Rare (Gold) Chu: Replenishes all hearts and increases attack power

Darknut

Darknut

Locations: Temple of Time, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 9/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bomb Arrows

Breakdown:
Darknuts are probably the hardest enemies in the game, excluding bosses (even including bosses, they still rank up there).

In their first stage, they are clad head-to-toe in thick armor and carry a huge shield. They use one of two huge weapons: Club or Sword. Clubs do more damage, but are more open to counterattacks after swinging. Your only chance it to either get them after they swing for the brief window they are open, use the Backslice, or use the Helm Splitter. Bomb Arrows also kind of work if you can get at a distance and get them to stand up and start walking normally (when they are crouched over behind the shield they wont work).

After you knock off all their armor, they will throw their large weapon at you and draw a smaller (yet still huge) sword. You'd think them easier to hit, but not. They can block anything with the sword. Further, they are a lot faster, and favor lunging attacks that don't leave them open. Your only hope here is to use the Backslice or Jump Strike to break their guard. 

Darknuts also come in three types: Black, Red, and Blue. Black is the weakest, yet the only one you'll face outside the Cave of Ordeals. Red is a lot faster and more aggressive, but wears less armor. Blue is the best; it shares the same traits as the Red, yet has more armor then the Black.

Deku Baba

Deku Baba

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 2/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
Use your sword to kill them. Not hard. They will lunge at you if you aren't careful, but you will usually kill them before that.

Deku Like

Deku Like

Locations: Forest Temple
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Bombs

Breakdown:
If you get close or try to jump over them, they'll eat you and do some damage. However, this is easily avoided by paying attention and throwing a bomb (er, bombling, as you wont have bombs yet) into them.

Dodongo

Dodongo

Locations: Goron Mines
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
These oversized lizards like hot places and breath fire (...or they just breath fire and MAKE it hot...). they are only vulnerable in the tail, but are too fast for you to get behind after the notice you (before that you can snipe them). You have to wait for them to start breathing fire, then strife beside them and use a spin attack.

Freezard

Freezard

Locations: Snowpeak Ruins
Threat Level: 7/10
Effective weapons: Ball and Chain

Breakdown:
These giant ice sculptures cant move, but they are rock solid and cant breath a frigid breath that will freeze link and do constant damage. The ball and chain is it's only weakness. You have to hit it twice. Worse yet, the range of his breath is the exact length of the ball and chain, meaning you have to get in range to hit it. Wait for it's breath to stop, then roll in and swing quickly! After being demolished, they will reduce down to several mini-freezards.

Also, they get bonus points for looking like Sheegoths from Metroid Prime. :)

Gohma Larva

Gohma Larva

Locations: Temple of Time
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
A slightly larger version of Baby Gohma. Still not a threat. They attack slowly and don't do much damage.

Guay

Guay

Locations: Hyrule Field, Gerudo Desert
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
Annoyance level: 10/10. These things are like over-aggressive Keese that travel in swarms. Just as you climb to the top of a platform, bam! Back down again. Luckily, they are positioned in any key areas, so you likely wont run in to any at all.

Helmasaur

Helmasaur

Locations: Hyrule Field, Lakebed Temple, Temple of Time, City in the
           Sky
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot, Sword

Breakdown:
They wear a steel-type helmet on their head and charge at anything that moves. You can easily get behind it and attack, but you can also use the clawshot to snatch their helmet off, making them vulnerable from all sides.

Helmasaurus

Helmasaurus

Locations: City in the Sky
Threat Level: 5/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
An older Helmasaur, their bodies have formed around the steel helmet, making it part of their body. Their larger size also means more damage. Roll to the side and attack from behind.

Kargarok

Kargarok

Locations: Hyrule Field, City in the Sky, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
They will fly around and attack anything that gets within their range. Their large size makes them much easier to snipe from a distance. Note that they take two sword attacks to bring down, so just because they've been lying on the ground for five minutes doesn't mean they're dead.

Keese

Keese

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
The bats of the Zelda world. These annoying creatures are everywhere there isn't any light. They fly erratically and are so small they are hard to snipe. You'll have to get their attention and wait for them to get close before attacking.

They also come in three types: Regular, flaming, and frozen. As usual, the flaming will burn wood equipment and the frozen will freeze link (you can still use the clawshot, as it will push them back).

Leever

Leever

Locations: Hyrule Field, Gerudo Desert, Arbiter's Grounds
Threat Level: 6/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
Leevers stay underground and wait for vibrations of something above it. They also live in colonies and hunt in circular formations. If you wonder over one, they will pop up and surround you, circling around you, then close in and charge, only to dig back in afterward. Your best shot is to use a spin attack as they close in.

Lizalfos

Lizalfos

Locations: Hyrule Field, Temple of Time, City in the Sky
Threat Level: 5/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
Lizalfos are aggressive and unrelenting, if not a little stupid. You can easily take them out with regular sword combos.

Mini-Freezard

Mini-Freezard

Locations: Snowpeak Ruins
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Ball and Chain

Breakdown:
These are more deadly on ice, as they slide around like a hokey puck when you hit them, and they'll freeze you on contact. Your best shot is to take a group out at once with the Ball and Chain. If you cant, spam the spin attack to prevent them from coming up behind you.

Moldorm

Moldorm

Locations: Gerudo Desert, Arbiter's Grounds
Threat Level: 2/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
These moles burrow through the ground at astonishing speed. Once by their prey, they leap up and bit. Your only chance is after they leave the dirt. Alternately, you can use the clawshot and pull them out yourself. The larger ones aren't any different, just easier to hit.

Peahat

Peahat

Locations: Hyrule Field, Gerudo Desert, City in the Sky
Threat Level: 0/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot

Breakdown:
Not enemies in the least. They act as mobile clawshot targets. And to think, these are the razor-bladed, blood-thirsty things that chased you all around Hyrule in OoT.

Poe

Poe

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Fangs

Breakdown:
Poes are special enemies that are needed for the Poe Soul side-quest. You can only attack them in Wolf form, and they only appear at night. In human form you can only see the lantern. You'll hear the menacing laugh and deep breath before they swing their large scythe. After two jump attacks, you HAVE to use the prompt to finish them.

Poison Mite

Poison Mite

Locations: Arbiter's Grounds
Threat Level: 0/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Lantern

Breakdown:
Despite their name, they do no damage to Link. Rather, they just slow you down and make you sink faster. A simple spin attack will disperse them for good; the lantern will keep them at bay.

Puppet

Puppet

Locations: Sacred Grove
Threat Level: 6/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
These wooden monsters are summoned by the Skullkid to keep you on your toes while wondering the Sacred Grove. They are literally infinite in number. It only takes two swings to bring them down however.

Rat

Rat

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
Rats often travel in groups. They can be hard to spot due to their size and color. Listen for the squeaks. Easily dispatched with a spin attack.

They also have a cousin in the form of a ghost. Ghoul Rats appear in the Arbiter's Grounds and Hyrule Castle. They can only be seen and attacked in Wolf form and act similar to the Poison Mite. 

ReDead Knight

ReDead Knight

Locations: Arbiter's Grounds
Threat Level: 7/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Ball and Chain, Bomb Arrow

Breakdown:
Basically the same as Redeads, only they carry a huge sword. I guess they prefer purée instead of soup. They'll only activate when you come near. They will let out an ear-shattering scream that leaves link frozen. Shake the controller to break free, then dodge quickly. The ball and chain can take them out with one shot, and the bomb arrows three. Their slow speed makes the sword work just fine, however.

Shadow Beast

Shadow Beast

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 8/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
Shadow Beast and Zant's right hand. They can create warp points and fall right on top of you. However, defeating them gives you power over the point they created. They are large and tough beast, taking several strikes to bring down. Further, if you only leave one left standing, it will revive his comrades, meaning at some point you have to take at least two out at once. Spin attacks work best.

There is also a special Shadow Beast shown during the cutscenes that are larger and obviously more powerful. While they have no official name, they are often called Twilight Assassins or Twilight Guards.

Twilight Assassin

Further, the disk contains what is an early beta version of a Shadow Beast that can give you nightmares O.o
Personally, I think they should have stuck with it.

Beta Shadow Beast

Shell Blade

Shel Blade

Locations: Lakebed Temple
Threat Level: 5/10
Effective weapons: Clawshot, Sword

Breakdown:
Shell Blades are only vulnerable right before they attack. They'll open their shell revealing the adductor muscle. Hit it with the clawshot if you want to stun it, but you'll have to use your sword to finish it.

Skullfish

Skullfish

Locations: Lakebed Temple
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: None

Breakdown:
Piranhas. That's all. If you see them in the water, swim out! There's no way to kill them.

Skulltula

Skulltula

Locations: Hyrule Field, Forest Temple
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword, Bow

Breakdown:
Skulltula will block most in coming attacks with it's front legs. You can knock it off balance with the bow, then hack away. I've never really been hit by one, so I guess they aren't that bit a threat :/

Skullwalltula

Skullwalltula

Locations: Everywhere
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Bow, Clawshot, Slingshot

Breakdown:
These little spiders hang on the vines you often climb. If you don't take them off, they'll come over and knock you off. One shot is all it takes.

Stalfos

Stalfos

Locations: Hyrule Field, Arbiter's Grounds, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 2/10
Effective weapons: Bomb arrow, Sword

Breakdown:
They look really menacing, and in pervious games were really menacing, but in Twilight Princess the bomb arrows can kill in one shot. Otherwise, the Helm Splitter takes them down in one shot, but only reduces them to bones, you'll have to plant a bomb on the bones to finish them off.

Stalhound

Stalhound

Locations: Hyrule Field, Hyrule Castle
Threat Level: 4/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
They'll come out of the ground with little warning and often are in packs. They're not very aggressive, so no worries there. Spin attacks are most effective.

Stalkin

Stalkin

Locations: Arbiter's Grounds
Threat Level: 5/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
They're only a threat because they attack in droves. Seriously, I don't think you EVER fight less then 12 at once. Though they go down in one shot, their sheer numbers makes the fight difficult, little pointed sticks poking you (and we only learned how to defend against bananas :( )

Tektite

Tektite

Locations: Hyrule Field, Lakebed Temple, Temple of Time
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
Hoping around constantly, jump attacks are a bad idea. Spin attacks, however, are the answer to everything, just one cuts their legs. The difference between the red and blue is that the blue can travel on water while the red are more aggressive.

Tile Worm

Tile Worm

Locations: Forest Temple, City in the Sky
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Boomerang, Sword

Breakdown:
These nuisances disguise themselves by putting tiles on their head and digging in the dirt. Step on the tile and you're in for a ride. The trick here is the Boomerang will rip them right out of the ground, making them easy pray. However, if you don't take them down, they'll dig back in.

Toadpoli

Toadpoli

Locations: Hyrule Field, Goron Mines
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Bow

Breakdown:
Toadpoli are... strange frogs. Probably and older form of the Toado. They only appear in two places that I'm aware of: In Goron Mines in a couple lava pools, and in a Hidden Grotto in Lake Hylia. They'll spit rocks at you that are easy to dodge. (they're probably linked to the Octoroks).

Torch Slug

Torch Slug

Locations: Goron Mines
Threat Level: 1/10
Effective weapons: Bow, Clawshot

Breakdown:
They apparently are animated lava. If you get close they let out a plume of the stuff. Keep your distance and snipe them.

White Wolfos

White Wolfos

Locations: Snowpeak Ruins, Snowpeak
Threat Level: 6/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
Unlike the easy one from OoT, these hunt in packs and have the ability to pop out of the snow, attack, and go right back in. They like to encircle you, and wont attack if you're already swinging your sword or have Midna's energy ring up. They are rather hard to kill because of this and the fact that they can take a lot of hits.

Zant Head

Zant Head

Locations: Twilight Palace
Threat Level: 3/10
Effective weapons: Sword

Breakdown:
You'll have to defeat the Zant Heads to get keys to progress through the Palace. This is easy enough. They are large, relatively immobile targets. Their only real attack is a slow moving energy ball that is generally inaccurate to boot. The only thing they have going is that they can teleport around the room.