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Bosses

Quick Answer

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.

17 Bosses
10 Main
7 Sub / Mini
2 Final Fights

Boss order at a glance

17 rows
The canonical fight order. Sort or filter to find a boss’s weakness fast.
1Queen GohmamainInside the Deku TreeFairy SlingshotFairy Slingshot
2King DodongomainDodongo's CavernBombs / Bomb FlowersBombs (Bomb Bag)
3BarinademainInside Jabu-Jabu's BellyBoomerangBoomerang
4Phantom GanonmainForest TempleFairy Bow / sword volleyFairy Bow
5VolvagiamainFire TempleMegaton HammerMegaton Hammer
6MorphamainWater TempleLongshot (Hookshot)Longshot
7Bongo BongomainShadow TempleFairy Bow + Lens of TruthLens of Truth, Fairy Bow
8TwinrovamainSpirit TempleMirror Shield (reflected elements)Mirror Shield
9GanondorfmainGanon's Castle (Tower)Light Arrows + Master SwordLight Arrows, Master Sword
10GanonmainGanon's Castle (collapsing exterior)Master Sword (final blow) / Biggoron's Sword / Megaton HammerMaster Sword (for the finishing strike); Biggoron's Sword or Megaton Hammer for damage
11StalfossubForest Temple (mini-boss), Spirit Temple, othersSword + shield timingSword (Master/Kokiri), Shield
12Dark LinksubWater Temple (mini-boss)Megaton Hammer / Din's Fire / jump attacksMegaton Hammer (or Din's Fire) recommended
13Iron KnucklesubSpirit Temple (mini-boss, incl. Nabooru)Heavy sword strikes between swingsBiggoron's Sword / strong sword
14Dead HandsubBottom of the Well, Shadow TempleSword (after being grabbed)Sword
15Flare DancersubFire Temple (mini-boss)Hookshot/Boomerang then swordHookshot (or Megaton Hammer)
16Big SkulltulasubVarious (e.g. Deku Tree, Forest Temple)Sword to the soft underbellySword
17White WolfossubIce Cavern (mini-boss), forestsSword counter after its claw swipeSword

💡 The clean weakness cheat-sheet

  • Queen Gohma — stun the eye with the Slingshot, then slash.
  • King Dodongo — feed it Bombs (or throw Bomb Flowers) when its mouth opens.
  • Barinade — the Boomerang cuts its tentacles, then attack the core.
  • Volvagia — the Megaton Hammer when it pops out of a hole (Fire Temple).
  • Morpha — Longshot the nucleus out of the water and slash it (Water Temple).
  • Ganondorf → Ganon — Light Arrows to stun, then the Master Sword; finish Ganon by severing his tail.

Phantom Ganon — Forest Temple boss fight

Phantom Ganon (Forest Temple): bounce his energy ball back with a sword slash, then arrow the real one.

Main bosses (10)

10 main bosses
Queen Gohma boss

Queen Gohma

main

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.

Dungeon Inside the Deku Tree
Location Kokiri Forest / Great Deku Tree
Weakness Fairy Slingshot
Required Item Fairy Slingshot
Weak Point Single large eye
Reward Heart Container (and Kokiri's Emerald on dungeon completion)
Era child
King Dodongo boss

King Dodongo

main

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.

Dungeon Dodongo's Cavern
Location Death Mountain Trail
Weakness Bombs / Bomb Flowers
Required Item Bombs (Bomb Bag)
Weak Point Open mouth / interior
Reward Heart Container (and Goron's Ruby on dungeon completion)
Era child
Barinade boss

Barinade

main

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.

Dungeon Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Location Zora's Fountain
Weakness Boomerang
Required Item Boomerang
Weak Point Tentacle stalks, then the central core
Reward Heart Container (and Zora's Sapphire on dungeon completion)
Era child

Phantom Ganon

main

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.

Dungeon Forest Temple
Location Sacred Forest Meadow
Weakness Fairy Bow / sword volley
Required Item Fairy Bow
Weak Point His body when knocked off his horse, then his head/orb
Reward Heart Container and the Forest Medallion
Era adult
Volvagia boss

Volvagia

main

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.

Dungeon Fire Temple
Location Death Mountain Crater
Weakness Megaton Hammer
Required Item Megaton Hammer
Weak Point Head when it emerges from a hole
Reward Heart Container and the Fire Medallion
Era adult
Morpha boss

Morpha

main

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.

Dungeon Water Temple
Location Lake Hylia
Weakness Longshot (Hookshot)
Required Item Longshot
Weak Point Red nucleus inside the water tentacle
Reward Heart Container and the Water Medallion
Era adult
Bongo Bongo boss

Bongo Bongo

main

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.

Dungeon Shadow Temple
Location Kakariko Graveyard
Weakness Fairy Bow + Lens of Truth
Required Item Lens of Truth, Fairy Bow
Weak Point Its two hands, then the single eye
Reward Heart Container and the Shadow Medallion
Era adult
Twinrova boss

Twinrova

main

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.

Dungeon Spirit Temple
Location Desert Colossus
Weakness Mirror Shield (reflected elements)
Required Item Mirror Shield
Weak Point Their combined body when stunned
Reward Heart Container (final medallion-related sage power; Spirit Medallion)
Era adult
Ganondorf boss

Ganondorf

main

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.

Dungeon Ganon's Castle (Tower)
Location Ganon's Castle
Weakness Light Arrows + Master Sword
Required Item Light Arrows, Master Sword
Weak Point Body when stunned by a Light Arrow
Reward Cutscene progression (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Ganon

main

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.

Dungeon Ganon's Castle (collapsing exterior)
Location Ruins of Ganon's Castle
Weakness Master Sword (final blow) / Biggoron's Sword / Megaton Hammer
Required Item Master Sword (for the finishing strike); Biggoron's Sword or Megaton Hammer for damage
Weak Point His tail
Reward Game completion (Triforce / ending)
Era adult

Sub & mini-bosses (7)

7 sub / mini-bosses

Stalfos

sub

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.

Dungeon Forest Temple (mini-boss), Spirit Temple, others
Location Various dungeons
Weakness Sword + shield timing
Required Item Sword (Master/Kokiri), Shield
Weak Point Body openings between its guard
Reward Opens path (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Dark Link

sub

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.

Dungeon Water Temple (mini-boss)
Location Water Temple illusion room
Weakness Megaton Hammer / Din's Fire / jump attacks
Required Item Megaton Hammer (or Din's Fire) recommended
Weak Point Body when his guard is bypassed
Reward Access to the Longshot chest (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Iron Knuckle

sub

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.

Dungeon Spirit Temple (mini-boss, incl. Nabooru)
Location Spirit Temple / Ganon's Castle
Weakness Heavy sword strikes between swings
Required Item Biggoron's Sword / strong sword
Weak Point Body during its slow recovery after an axe swing
Reward Progress / frees Nabooru (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Dead Hand

sub

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.

Dungeon Bottom of the Well, Shadow Temple
Location Bottom of the Well / Shadow Temple
Weakness Sword (after being grabbed)
Required Item Sword
Weak Point Its head when it leans down to bite
Reward Lens of Truth (Bottom of the Well); progress in Shadow Temple
Era both

Flare Dancer

sub

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.

Dungeon Fire Temple (mini-boss)
Location Fire Temple
Weakness Hookshot/Boomerang then sword
Required Item Hookshot (or Megaton Hammer)
Weak Point Its small core after the flame cloak is stripped
Reward Opens locked door (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Big Skulltula

sub

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.

Dungeon Various (e.g. Deku Tree, Forest Temple)
Location Multiple dungeons
Weakness Sword to the soft underbelly
Required Item Sword
Weak Point Soft belly (the back/skull side is armored)
Reward None (common enemy)
Era both

White Wolfos

sub

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.

Dungeon Ice Cavern (mini-boss), forests
Location Ice Cavern / Lost Woods
Weakness Sword counter after its claw swipe
Required Item Sword
Weak Point Body when it raises its arm to swipe
Reward Opens path (no Heart Container)
Era adult

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the boss order in Ocarina of Time?
Child era: Queen Gohma (Deku Tree) → King Dodongo (Dodongo’s Cavern) → Barinade (Jabu-Jabu). Adult era: Phantom Ganon (Forest) → Volvagia (Fire) → Morpha (Water) → Bongo Bongo (Shadow) → Twinrova (Spirit) → Ganondorf → Ganon at the top of his tower.
How do I beat Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time?
In the tower-top fight (Ocarina of Time specifically), volley his energy balls back with a sword slash or empty bottle until you stun him, hit him with Light Arrows, then close in with the Master Sword. After the tower collapses you fight Ganon — roll between his legs and sever his tail, finishing with the Master Sword Zelda’s Light hands back to you.
How do I beat Morpha?
Morpha is the Water Temple boss. Use the Longshot to yank its red nucleus out of the water onto dry tiles, then slash it before it dives back. Stay in a corner so the water tentacles can’t corner you.
Can you beat Ganondorf without magic?
You need Light Arrows (which cost magic) to stun Ganondorf in his tower fight, so a fully no-magic kill isn’t possible there. You can conserve magic by only firing a Light Arrow at the stun window and relying on sword volleys for the rest of the duel.

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