TotK Gibdos and Moth Gibdos: HP, Weakness, Drops, Locations

The Hyrule Compendium calls the Gibdo “a monster that appeared along with the sand shroud”: slow, but covered in tough outer skin. In the story the Gerudo guards learn the hard way that their spears and swords barely scratch them. This page uses the game’s data for the HP and drops of the Gibdo and the Moth Gibdo in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, explains how to turn them white and brittle, and maps all 235 spawns. Other monsters are in the enemy overview.

What kinds of Gibdo are there?

HP is from the game’s parameters. Both kinds take double damage to the head.

The Moth Gibdo’s Compendium entry describes winged horrors that attack quickly while in flight, with the same tough skin. A loading tip adds: “Moth Gibdos like to hover just out of reach of your blade. A bow or a weapon with some reach, such as a spear, will do the job.”

How do you beat a Gibdo?

The Compendium is plain about it: “Though slow to move, they can fight without faltering to physical attacks thanks to their tough outer skin. On the other hand, they are vulnerable to fire and lightning, which can turn them white and brittle.” A loading tip adds water: “Though they are normally resistant to damage, they can be weakened with elemental attacks, such as fire or water. While in this vulnerable state, their bodies turn white.”

• Turn them white first. Fuse a Fire Fruit, Shock Fruit or Splash Fruit to an arrow and shoot. A Gibdo that turns white is brittle; switch to your weapon.
• Lightning for groups. Electricity spreads to nearby Gibdos, a direct lightning bolt from the sky deals 999,999 in the damage settings, and Riju’s lightning is the Gerudo’s main weapon against them in the story. Ice is said to work as well.
• Aim for the head. Both kinds have a head hitbox that takes double damage.
• Bow or spear for Moth Gibdos. They hover where a sword cannot reach.

One of the Gerudo guards puts it this way in the story: “The Gibdos we’ve encountered in the desert do not fall easily when struck. Attacks only seem to dull a blade… But fire attacks, as well as Lady Riju’s lightning, appear to be very effective against them.”

Why do Gibdos keep coming?

They come out of hives. In the story the Gerudo warn that Gibdos will keep pouring out until the hive is destroyed, and Riju asks Link to shoot the hives when they open while she strikes with lightning. The hives and the boss, Queen Gibdo, are covered in the temple bosses guide and the Lightning Temple walkthrough.

What do Gibdos drop?

Chances are from the game’s drop tables; a roll is one draw from that row.

• Gibdo Bone: “A creepy bone with multiple sharp tips. Attach it to a weapon to greatly increase its attack power. It tends to break easily due to its odd shape.” It adds 40 attack when fused; see the Fuse guide.
• Gibdo Wing: arrows and thrown weapons fly farther with it attached. It adds 8 attack when fused and upgrades the Glide set.
• Gibdo Guts: the item text says they are vitality-rich ingredients that are useful in elixirs.

Where do Gibdos spawn?

This is the game’s placement data, leaving out the 6 Gibdos used only in the defense of Gerudo Town.

• On the surface, all 160 are in Gerudo: 42 around Gerudo Town, 23 at Arbiter’s Grounds, 19 in the Palu Wasteland, 16 at the Desert Rift and 12 in the desert around the Lightning Temple.
• In caves, all 35 are in Gerudo too: 8 in the Statue of the Eighth Heroine Cave, 7 at the Ancient Altar Ruins, 7 in the Palu Wasteland cave, 6 in the Gerudo Sanctuary, 4 in the Central Gerudo Cave and 3 in the Valley of Silent Statues.
• In the Depths, 19 are right under Arbiter’s Grounds (12 Gibdos and 7 Moth Gibdos) and 12 right under Hyrule Castle; the castle ones only appear during the final battle.
• After the Lightning Temple, most of the surface Gibdos are gone: in the game’s data 127 Gibdos and all 17 Moth Gibdos on the surface are set to disappear once you finish the main quest Riju of Gerudo Town. The cave Gibdos and the ones in the Depths under Arbiter’s Grounds stay.

Surface spawns

Depths spawns

A Depths point is named after the place on the surface directly above it.

Other monsters are in the enemy overview. For the Depths see the Depths guide; cave names are in the cave list.