Ocarina of Time Bosses: Weaknesses, Items and Rewards

Every dungeon boss in Ocarina of Time is beaten with the item you find in that same dungeon, and the fight follows one pattern: stun the weak point with the item, then hit it with your sword. The tables below give the weak point, the item, and the reward for all ten bosses and every mini-boss, with a link to the full dungeon walkthrough for each.

Which boss is in which dungeon?

The first three are fought as a child and the rest as an adult. The dungeon order and the story between them are on the walkthrough hub.

How do you beat the three child bosses?

Queen Gohma. Look up at the ceiling to start the fight. Shoot her eye with the Fairy Slingshot when it turns red, then attack while she is stunned. Deku Sticks do twice the damage of the Kokiri Sword, so jump attacks with a stick finish her fastest. When she climbs to the ceiling, shoot the eye again before she drops her eggs.

King Dodongo. He takes a long breath before breathing fire. Throw a Bomb or a Bomb Flower into his open mouth, slash him while he is down, then get out of the way of his roll by hugging the edge of the lava pit or a corner. About four rounds finish him.

Barinade. Cut the three tendrils on the ceiling with the Boomerang. Destroy the first ring of five Bari, then the second ring once it stops crackling with electricity. With all ten gone, a Boomerang hit drops the body to the floor for sword strikes.

How do you beat the five temple bosses?

Phantom Ganon. He rides out of one of six paintings with two copies. The real one is lighter in colour and a purple portal opens in front of him; three arrows knock him off his horse. After that, swing your sword to send his energy ball back, keep the rally going until it hits him, and slash him on the floor.

Volvagia. A small burst of fire marks the hole it will rise from. Run there, hit the head with the Megaton Hammer and follow up with the sword or more hammer blows. When it flies, keep moving or hang off the edge of the platform, and run from the shadows of falling rocks.

Morpha. Stand in a corner of the room where the tentacles reach you least. Target the nucleus, pull it out of the water with the Longshot and slash it. A tentacle grab throws you into the wall spikes, so do not stand near the water.

Bongo Bongo. Target one hand and shoot it, then the other before the first recovers. With both hands stunned, use the Lens of Truth to see the body and shoot the eye as it charges, then run in and strike it. Hover Boots stop you bouncing on the drum.

Twinrova. In the first phase, use the Mirror Shield to bounce Kotake’s ice at Koume and Koume’s fire at Kotake. After they merge, absorb three blasts of the same element with the shield, release the charge at her, and slash her when she falls.

How do you beat Ganondorf and Ganon?

Ganondorf. Hit his energy ball back with the Master Sword (an empty bottle also works) until it strikes him, shoot him with a Light Arrow, then cross to the centre platform and slash before he gets up. When he gathers dark energy for a volley, interrupt him with a Light Arrow or return the balls with a spin attack. After he falls you have three minutes to follow Zelda down the collapsing tower.

Ganon. He knocks the Master Sword out of the ring at the start. Stun him with a Light Arrow to the face, roll under him and hit the glowing tail with Biggoron’s Sword or the Megaton Hammer. When he collapses, the fire ring drops; pick up the Master Sword, hit the tail again, and when Zelda holds him down, strike his face to end the game. How to get the stronger sword is on the Biggoron’s Sword page.

Which mini-bosses guard the dungeon items?

The optional Gerudo Training Ground has no boss of its own.

What should you bring to every boss?

• A fairy in a bottle. It revives you on the spot. The bottles guide lists all four.
• Full ammunition. Seeds for Gohma, arrows for Phantom Ganon and Bongo Bongo. Break the pots and cut the grass on the way to the boss door to refill.
• The right tunic and boots. The Goron Tunic for Volvagia, Hover Boots for Bongo Bongo.
• More hearts and magic. The Great Fairy Fountains double your magic and your defense, and the Pieces of Heart checklist covers the rest.

What should you read next?

• Ocarina of Time walkthrough hub: dungeon order and the story between bosses
• Items and upgrades: where every boss-fight item comes from
• Side quests and minigames: bigger quivers, bomb bags and bottles before the late bosses
• Gold Skulltulas checklist: each boss room is also the last stop for that dungeon’s tokens