Queen Gohma
mainWait for her eye to glow red, then hit it with a slingshot seed (or a Deku Nut) to stun her, then slash the eye with your sword or Deku Sticks; repeat when she climbs the ceiling to drop and attack.
Every one of the 17 bosses in Ocarina of Time — 10 main dungeon bosses and 7 sub/mini-bosses — each with its weakness, the item you need, the weak point to hit and the reward it drops.
Jump to: Boss order · Boss Strategies · Dungeons
| 1 | Queen Gohma | main | Inside the Deku Tree | Fairy Slingshot | Fairy Slingshot |
| 2 | King Dodongo | main | Dodongo's Cavern | Bombs / Bomb Flowers | Bombs (Bomb Bag) |
| 3 | Barinade | main | Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly | Boomerang | Boomerang |
| 4 | Phantom Ganon | main | Forest Temple | Fairy Bow / sword volley | Fairy Bow |
| 5 | Volvagia | main | Fire Temple | Megaton Hammer | Megaton Hammer |
| 6 | Morpha | main | Water Temple | Longshot (Hookshot) | Longshot |
| 7 | Bongo Bongo | main | Shadow Temple | Fairy Bow + Lens of Truth | Lens of Truth, Fairy Bow |
| 8 | Twinrova | main | Spirit Temple | Mirror Shield (reflected elements) | Mirror Shield |
| 9 | Ganondorf | main | Ganon's Castle (Tower) | Light Arrows + Master Sword | Light Arrows, Master Sword |
| 10 | Ganon | main | Ganon's Castle (collapsing exterior) | Master Sword (final blow) / Biggoron's Sword / Megaton Hammer | Master Sword (for the finishing strike); Biggoron's Sword or Megaton Hammer for damage |
| 11 | Stalfos | sub | Forest Temple (mini-boss), Spirit Temple, others | Sword + shield timing | Sword (Master/Kokiri), Shield |
| 12 | Dark Link | sub | Water Temple (mini-boss) | Megaton Hammer / Din's Fire / jump attacks | Megaton Hammer (or Din's Fire) recommended |
| 13 | Iron Knuckle | sub | Spirit Temple (mini-boss, incl. Nabooru) | Heavy sword strikes between swings | Biggoron's Sword / strong sword |
| 14 | Dead Hand | sub | Bottom of the Well, Shadow Temple | Sword (after being grabbed) | Sword |
| 15 | Flare Dancer | sub | Fire Temple (mini-boss) | Hookshot/Boomerang then sword | Hookshot (or Megaton Hammer) |
| 16 | Big Skulltula | sub | Various (e.g. Deku Tree, Forest Temple) | Sword to the soft underbelly | Sword |
| 17 | White Wolfos | sub | Ice Cavern (mini-boss), forests | Sword counter after its claw swipe | Sword |
💡 The clean weakness cheat-sheet
Phantom Ganon — Forest Temple boss fight
Phantom Ganon (Forest Temple): bounce his energy ball back with a sword slash, then arrow the real one.
Wait for her eye to glow red, then hit it with a slingshot seed (or a Deku Nut) to stun her, then slash the eye with your sword or Deku Sticks; repeat when she climbs the ceiling to drop and attack.
When he inhales to breathe fire, throw a bomb into his open mouth so it explodes inside; he topples over, letting you hack at his head with your sword before he rolls at you.
Z-target and sever the ceiling tentacles, then sever the spinning Bari that shield the core with the Boomerang; once the core is exposed, stun it with the Boomerang and slash it with your sword.
In phase one, shoot him with an arrow as he charges out of the correct painting. In phase two, play tennis with his energy orb by deflecting it back and forth with your sword until it stuns him, then shoot and slash.
Smash the lava holes with the Megaton Hammer to drive the dragon out, then hammer its head when it pokes up to stun it and drag it out for sword hits; dodge the falling rocks and fire breath.
Target the red nucleus as it moves through the water and snag it with the Longshot to yank it out of the pool, then slash it repeatedly with your sword before it dives back in; fight from a corner to limit its tentacles.
Use the Lens of Truth to see the invisible beast; shoot or stun both of its hands with arrows to immobilize it, then shoot the exposed eye and slash it. A spin attack can interrupt its charge.
Absorb three of the same element (all fire or all ice) with the Mirror Shield, then reflect that charged beam at the opposite sister to knock both to the ground, then slash the merged witch.
Deflect his energy ball back and forth like Phantom Ganon until it hits him, then immediately fire a Light Arrow to stun him and rush in for sword strikes; use the Hover Boots and corner blocks to avoid his shockwaves.
His sword knocks the Master Sword away, so use Biggoron's Sword or the Megaton Hammer; roll between his legs to reach and strike his glowing tail, then after Zelda holds him, deliver the finishing blow with the recovered Master Sword.
Block its overhead and thrust attacks with your shield, then counter with sword slashes or a back-slice when it leaves an opening; the Forest Temple pits you against two at once.
He mirrors your sword moves, so beat him by breaking the pattern: hit him with the Megaton Hammer (he can't parry it), use Din's Fire, or bait a thrust and jump-attack over his guard.
Stay out of range of its huge axe, then dash in and land one or two strong hits right after each slow swing; its armor breaks off as it loses health and it speeds up, so keep circling.
Let its buried hands grab you to lure out the head, break free, then slash the head repeatedly with your sword before it retreats underground; defeating it yields the Lens of Truth in the Well.
Strip its swirling flame cloak by grabbing it with the Hookshot, then chase down the small exposed core and slash it before it re-ignites and rebuilds its fiery body.
Its skull-marked front is armored, so wait for it to turn and expose its soft belly, then strike with the sword; some hang from ceilings and must be knocked down first.
Circle it with Z-targeting and wait for it to rear up for a claw swipe, then strike or back-slice the moment its guard is open; it teleports around, so stay patient.