Octoroks are land based octopi that spit rocks. Your small shield can protect you if you’re facing them. Some move faster than others, so don’t be caught off guard.  Until you upgrade your sword, blue ones take two hits to kill. They hatch out of what seems like white eggs or clouds, or appear from the side of the screen.

Tektikes are four legged spiders that jump around. Some like to jump more than others, but all can be stunned by a boomerang you get in level one. It can be tricky to beat them, but they are still weak and fall easily to your sword.

Moblins are the mainstay of Ganon’s forces. They throw spears, but in the game it looks like they shoot arrows. Sometimes they’ll appear from the side of the screen, firing arrows at you. They can be blocked by the small shield.

Leevers are plants that come up from the ground. The red kind will rise and come straight for you, but can be killed if you’re ready for them. The blue ones roam randomly, and are stronger. They come in and out of the ground, and are hard to keep track of, so it can help to keep moving around as they have a habit of surfacing directly below you.

Peahats are another kind of plant that flies around like a helicopter. They can’t be harmed while moving, but can still damage you while they’re in the air. When they slow to a stop, be quick to attack. Large groups can be most irritating, and sometimes just trying to avoid them is best.

Zola is a fish monster that shoots at you from the water. It lifts its head up briefly before attacking, and can be hard to hit. Its balls of energy can’t be deflected by the small shield.

Ghini are ghosts that roam the graveyard. There will be one in each graveyard when you arrive, and more will appear if you touch a tombstone. Do not touch the tombstones from the bottom, or you’ll immediately get hurt. The Ghini that was originally in the graveyard is the ringleader, and killing it is the only way to kill the others that have appeared.

Lynel are cantaurs that wield swords. They throw swords that hurt quite a bit, and are tough opponents. They roam the upper part of the map, and blue Lynels are the most dangerous enemies in the over world.

While not technically enemy, falling rocks can hurt you. They can only be avoided. They are simply a natural hazard of Death Mountain, but don’t appear in all areas of the mountain.

Armos are stone statues that used to be Hylian Soldiers. They stand still until you touch one, and will either move slowly or very fast. They sometimes stand over secret entrances, and one even stands on the power bracelet. The best thing to do is touch one, wait for it to flash a certain amount of time, then stun with a boomerang. If you’re careful, it’s easy. Don’t ever touch one from the bottom or you’ll get hurt. The fast ones are one of the fastest moving enemies in the game.

Keese are bats, and one of the weakest enemies in the game. Not many enemies can be killed by the boomerang, but Keese can. They can fly over walls and such, so don’t think a barrier will prevent one from getting to you like most enemies. A group of Keese will sometimes be controlled by a ringleader, so if you destroy it you’ll destroy them all.

A Zol is a blob monster that bonces around. If attacked by the wooden sword, it will split into Gels. If you have the white sword, they just die without splitting. Maybe you should find it after getting four or five heart pieces, and before level three where the Zols are.

Vires are winged demons that, when hit, split into two red Keese. They’re just like normal Keese, only a different color. You’ll need the magic sword if you want to attack them without seeing them split. Finding the magic sword before encountering Vires may be harder to pull off, but if you throw the boomerang as soon as you’ve attacked the Vire, you’ll usually destroy both Keese before they have time to start moving.

Stalfos are sword wielding skeletons. They are likely fallen Hylian soldiers, reanimated to serve evil. They are fairly weak, and shouldn’t be too big a hassle.

Goriyas are boomerang wielding enemies, but luckily their boomerangs don’t stun you like yours does most enemies. Red Goriyas use the short ranged boomerang, while blue ones use the upgraded one that goes all the way across the room. It’s best to stun them so they can’t attack you long ranged. Bait works well on them, and sometimes they have a ringleader.

Wallmasters are giant hands that creep along the outer walls of a room. If they grab you, they’ll send you back to the start of the dungeon. It’s best to stun one with the boomerang, and wait for others to show up and be stunned. Then attack with sword and be rid of a most annoying enemy. Just remember, they always travel in groups so you will have to defeat several before you can freely walk about the room.

Ropes are snakes that move slowly when they don’t see you, but increase speed when they do. Don’t be caught off guard when they increase speed.

Gibdos are mummies, and one of the tougher enemies. Most enemies will be forced back by your sword, but not this one. It’s best to stun them first, then attack. Otherwise you’ll want to hit and run. The magic sword may be strong enough to force them back, though.

Darknuts are elite knights of Ganon. They carry a shield and can’t be attacked from the front, so you’ll have to get them from behind. Not very chivalrous of Link, but he does what must be done. You can also use bombs to harm multiple Darknuts at once, but you can only hold eight. You decide if it’s more important to use them for offense, or save them for opening secret passageways.

Wizzrobes are spellcasters, and one of a few enemies that can’t be harmed by a wand you find in level six. Orange ones teleport around, and will attempt to surround you in groups. The Magic shield can deflect their attacks. Blue Wizzrobes don’t teleport, but they can phase through walls and shoot a barrage of energy waves while on the move. They are the most dangerous enemies of the underworld.

Lanmolas are long centipedes that move very quickly around the room. They are hard to avoid, so just keep slashing until it’s dead. Blue Lanmolas are probably the fastest enemy in the game.

Red worms that move slowly around the room. They aren’t hard to beat, but they also can’t be pushed back by your sword. Once they’re defeated, they never reappear.

These tube enemies can eat your precious magic shield, if you have one. It’s best to attack from range, or stun them. If they catch you, but you kill them quickly enough, you won’t lose your shield. The magic sword can kill one in three hits, which lowers the danger, but in a dangerous dungeon you really don’t want to take chances. You can’t be hurt if you’re inside one.

Blades (or Traps) and Statues are invincible objects that can only be avoided. Statues sometimes fire energy balls, and blades converge on you when you pass between them.

Bubbles are enemies that can’t be killed, but they can’t kill you. When they hit you, you won’t be able to use your sword for a limited amount of time. They can only be avoided, and be careful that they don’t hit you into another enemy. If you encounter red and blue ones, a red one will take away your sword until you touch a blue one.

Patra is a flying eyeball with smaller flying eyeballs surrounding it. First you must kill the smaller eyeballs, then the larger one. The circle of eyeballs can become very large, so Patra can be a hard enemy to avoid.

Pols Voice is a bouncing rabbit head that can go through walls. It can’t be stunned, or pushed back with your sword. Contrary to some rumors, Pols voice is NOT affected by the sound of your recorder.  They take a number of sword hits to kill, but a single arrow does the trick.