Arm-Mimics are strange looking creatures seem simple enough to combat, moving only in mirror-image imitation of your movements, making them easy to place in position for your attacks. The only trouble is that if they do make contact with you, they deal a surprisingly large amount of damage. Bring them to you, but do so carefully.

A classic Zelda enemy, Armos Statues look like ordinary statue until Link touches them, at which point they spring to life and attack. There are two types, the more common type (green) being found both in the overworld (Tarm Ruins) and in the Ancient Ruins dungeon. Mere sword swipes are all that’s needed to defeat these. But against the tougher red types, you’ll need to use either Bombs or (better yet) your Magic Boomerang. Beware of bringing a whole horde of Armos Statues to life! This enemy is found only in Oracle of Seasons.

The Ball & Chain Trooper is a very tough enemy who guards the path at rather important locations, swinging his ball & chain around a wide radius and then extending it to try to catch Link. Surprisingly, the attack isn’t as damaging as you’d think, especially since the ball can be blocked with your shield. Nevertheless, these enemies are very strong, and you’ll need numerous sword slashes to bring one down–use Pegasus Seeds or Roc’s Feather if you’re having trouble getting in hits.

Located inside most of the later dungeons, the Beamos is a stationary device with an eye that roams the room surrounding it. If Link is caught by the eye, then Beamos will repeatedly shoot lasers at him until he is no longer in its line of sight. Unfortunately, no Beamos can be destroyed, but you can dodge the lasers with Roc’s Feather (or side-stepping) or block them with the Mirror Shield.

One of most simplistic enemies in the game, Beetles more often than not hide underground, and several of them spring forth if Link digs with his Shovel in a spot where they’re hiding. Fortunately, they do minimal damage and are easily cleared away with a swipe of the sword.

Not so much an sentient enemy, Blade Traps have dogged Link’s steps ever since the original Legend of Zelda. The most common type will spring toward you as you step near–simply trigger the attack, then quickly step away. As they’re slowly retracting, swiftly make your way through. Other Blade Traps are huge and follow preset patterns in a particular room. Simply take a moment to observe the pattern and then move around accordingly–these tend to be less bothersome than they look. Then there’s the spinning Blade Trap that, once triggered, will then chase Link up to a certain point. Look for niches or corners to hide in, and use Roc’s Feather to leap over it if need be.

Buzz Blobs are deceptive, gelatinous creatures that roam the countryside. They look weak, but as soon as you attempt to cut one down with your sword, you will be electrocuted while the Buzz Blob remains intact! Instead, use Seeds, Bombs, or your Boomerang to deal with them. In fact, it’s generally better to avoid them altogether unless one is specifically in your way.

In underwater side-scrolling sections, Link will find Cheep Cheeps–large, slow, predictable, but dangerous fish. They don’t do much damage, but when you come upon one, it’s better just to finish it off with a quick swipe of your sword since they tend to crowd underwater tunnels.

Crows are birds that tend to stay in high, hard-to-reach places, such as treetops, cliff ledges, and the like. Whenever Link comes close, they’ll swoop in to attack and then fly away. So be on your guard! Slash it repeatedly with your sword when one flies in, or if you have a clear shot, take one down from a distance before it can even get near you.

The strangest enemy of all, the Cukeman is not even an enemy that Link encounters in his travels, at least not normally. Just as in A Link to the Past, if you come across a Buzz Blob, you can transform it into a Cukeman–in Oracle of Seasons, this is done with a Mystery Seed. Afterward, it’s still the same as a Buzz Blob damage-wise, so be careful. But hit it with your Boomerang, then go up to talk to it. It will tell you some of the strangest things–and seems to be preoccupied with tropical vacations! If you want to destroy one of these things, you would go about fighting it just the same as you would a Buzz Blob. You can only find (or rather, make) these enemies in Oracle of Seasons.

There are very few of these in the game. These are plant-like creatures that hide in the ground, but once a victim gets close, they’ll come out and spit nuts at the intruder. Use your shield to deflect the nuts back at the Deku Scrubs, and they’ll surrender, giving you a tip for your troubles. You can also locate their less hostile relatives, the Business Scrubs, but their wares tend to be more expensive than you should be willing to pay (there are a couple exceptions to this rule, however).

Appearing in Sunken City as well as some water-filled caves and dungeons, these particular Fish are rather shark-like, moving stealthily in the water, showing only their fins, but every now and again leaping out of the water in an attempt to snag their prey. Don’t get caught by one! Unfortunately, you can’t damage a Fish when it’s underwater. Wait for it to leap out of the water, then unleash your sword on it. This enemy is only found in Oracle of Seasons.

Gels are small, green blob-like creatures that hide in the ground in caves and dungeons, waiting for someone to come by so they can ambush the intruder. Thankfully, they’re very weak enemies–a simple slash with your sword will dispatch them. Also, because they’re so tiny, they won’t damage Link. They normally comes several at a time, and they will cling to Link and slow him down greatly. Perform a spin attack to get rid of them when they do this. The larger cousin of the Gel is the Zol.

Dating back to the original Legend of Zelda, Ghinis are ghosts that appear most frequently in and around graveyards. Be careful pushing gravestones as touching one normally summons another Ghini to enter the fray. Ghinis typically float around the area and will do notable damage if they touch you. Moreover, they are very strong ghosts and require many sword hits before they’re destroyed for good. It’s best simply to stay out of their way and avoid them.

A Gibdo is a powerful mummy inhabiting some of the more advanced dungeons in the game. Upon spotting Link, Gibdo will slowly make its way toward you. The biggest problem with Gibdos is that unlike all other enemies, a Gibdo will not recoil when hit–although it takes damage, it’ll keep coming toward you unhindered. This makes for some awfully difficult combat in close quarters and narrow spaces! Stun with a Boomerang and then slash, but beware that it takes many slashes to destroy a Gibdo. Alternatively, burn it with an Ember Seed to reveal a (much easier) Stalfos enemy.

The Goponga Flower is a large, poisonous flower that takes root underwater in Spool Swamp and grows upward, its bud resting on the surface of the water. Many will also shoot fireballs at Link that have to be dodged. It’s best to avoid these plants (Link can even dive underneath them), but also Ricky can punch them, Dimitri can eat them, and they can also be burned up with Ember Seeds.

Hardhat Beetles are tough enemies that live under protective shells, shielding them from damage against most any type of attack. Moreover, once Link comes into view, any Hardhat Beetles that are around will charge the hero. Your sword will not damage these enemies directly, but each sword swipe does push them backward. Try to get all of them in front of you at once (instead of fighting from different directions) and use your sword to push them into a pit. Alternatively, with the Magnetic Glove, you can destroy Hardhat Beetles by pushing or pulling magnetic orbs over top of them.

Also known as Hiploops, Iron Masks are reptilian enemies that hide under protective masks of iron that shield them from all frontal attacks. You must get behind them (or to the side) to damage them–which is very tough because these enemies are quick and will give chase. Once you have the Magnetic Glove, they become far easier to deal with–simply pull the masks off of them and slash with your sword.

A staple enemy of the Zelda series, Keese are bats whose task it is to pester Link and thwart him at key points in caves and in dungeons. They are very weak and quickly slain with a slash of the sword or even a Boomerang–but they can be tricky to hit and can become especially annoying when there are a group of them swarming at you. Moreover, they can disrupt you during puzzles or against tougher enemies. Try to peg them with your Boomerang from a distance while they’re still at rest.

Even more annoying than ordinary Keese, the Fire Keese are wreathed in flame. They fly at a high elevation, but when Link comes near, they’ll swoop in and attempt to burn him, dealing more damage than a regular Keese. Because they fly at a higher elevation than Link, it’s hard to hit them with any of your attacks. Wait for it to swoop down to your level, then slash it. Alternatively, if you’d rather not wait (and put yourself in danger), use Roc’s Feather/Cape to jump up and slash it. If you’re hit by a Fire Keese, then its fire goes out and it becomes an ordinary Keese.

Leevers are enemies that burrow underground, then pop up and attack you at sometimes unexpected times. Link encounters them in the Woods of Winter and (more annoyingly) in Samasa Desert. When you’re on a screen that has Leevers in it, watch for a shadow to appear in the ground and get out of the way. Then hack away at the Leevers that come out with your sword. Leevers come in two varieties, red and blue. Red Leevers take less hits and are more random about where they come out. Blue Leevers, however, take more hits, and are more strategic about trying to pop out of the ground in inconvenient places.

Infamous in the Zelda series, Like Likes are quivering masses of flesh that wander around wooded areas aimlessly. They don’t give chase, nor does Link take any damage from touching them. So what’s the problem? The danger with Like Likes is that if one does touch Link, it sucks him inside its flesh and devours his shield! Afterward, you’ll have to purchase a new one. Like Likes take many sword hits to take down, but since they normally travel in groups, it tends to be a good idea to take the time and take them out. Always be careful with these enemies! The Lost Woods in particular has an area of endlessly spawning Like Likes.

Magnites, also known as Magnet Monsters, are tough, tricky enemies that inhabit the more advanced dungeons of the game. They sometimes shift color from red to blue, changing polarity every time their color changes. They also spin around the room erratically, shooting a flurry of fireballs at Link. Use the Magnetic Glove to pull one close to you and slash away–but be aware that a Magnite can easily change polarity while you’re pulling it, which will then repel it away from you. A perhaps better tactic is to try to coerce one or more into a corner where there’s no escape and then hack away with your sword. This enemy is found only in Oracle of Seasons.

Smaller cousins of Moldorm from A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening, these segmented worm-like creatures will roam around the room erratically trying to bump into you, damaging you in the process. They’re particularly annoying while you’re trying to solve a dungeon puzzle or get around narrow walkways. Use your sword to hack away at these creatures multiple times in order to kill it–for better results, stun with your Boomerang first.

Moblins are an infantry troupe of enemies that come in several varieties. First, there’s the bulldog-like enemy that tends to be more common. These kinds of Moblins will bombard you with spears or bow and arrows–but their attacks tend to be random, not focused. Then there’s the pig-like Moblin, which are fewer in number but higher in rank, being closer kin to the Great Moblin himself, who is pig-like in form. These carry swords and will charge straight toward Link. It only takes a few sword slashes to take down a Moblin, no matter what form it is.

The Octorok is one of the most long-running enemies in the Zelda series and has always been one of the most basic as well. It is an octopus-like land crawler that will wander around and shoot rocks. The rocks are easily blocked with your sword and the Octorok itself easily felled with your sword. Red Octoroks are weaker. Blue Octoroks, however, will require an extra hit to subdue.

The Peahat is a flying flower-like contraption that, in groups, can crowd certain passageways in the overworld as well as a couple dungeons. Unfortunately, as long as the Peahat is flying (i.e. when its pedals are in motion), it is invulnerable. Wait for it to come to a halt, then hit it with your sword to inflict damage–but it will only be immobilized for a short time! Alternatively, if you’d rather not wait, you can destroy Peahats with Ember Seeds even while they’re moving around still.

Hiding inside holes in Spool Swamp, these centipede-like creatures will reach out for Link when he comes close to ambush him–and do a fair amount of damage if they connect. Worse, if you come to their area in autumn, then their holes are hidden by leaves, making it even tougher to see and prepare for an attack. As you walk by a hole, if you see two eyes appear, then a Pincer is about to come out. Either quickly move away, or block the Pincer with your shield. Once it’s out, quickly slash away at it with your sword before it retracts back into the safety of its hole.

Pokeys are tall cactus enemies in Samasa Desert that are built up in segments and wander slowly around the area. Use your sword on it as it gets close to take out each segment, one by one. But be careful because Pokey will move faster with each segment eliminated. For a quick kill, simply shoot a Scent Seed at it to destroy the whole thing in only a single hit. This enemy is found only in Oracle of Seasons.

Located only in Subrosia, Fire Pokeys are fiery versions of the above ground Pokeys in the desert–except more dangerous. Even though they don’t move around as the desert Pokeys do, yet if left alone, Fire Pokeys will shoot fireballs at Link! Eliminate them quickly with a similar strategy to the other Pokeys–slash away at each segment until the whole thing is destroyed. Fire Pokeys will spring up primarily on the Lava Lake, but sometimes they’ll also pop out of the ground when Link is digging with his Shovel looking for Ore Chunks, so dig carefully!

Sand Crabs are weak enemies found on the Subrosian coast who scuttle back and forth, sometimes moving up and down, other times from side to side. Sometimes they move nice and slow, and other times erratically fast. So they’re a bit unpredictable but still easy enough to bring down with just a swipe or two from your sword.

Snake Ropes are classic enemies that appear to be just regular snakes. They slither around the floor, seeming to mind their own business, but once Link is level with one, it immediately and swiftly charges into him. Snake Ropes tend to be very quick, so when you approach an area of them, be aware of their charge and prepare accordingly, being ready to slash away at them as they rush toward you.

Some of the toughest enemies in the game, armored Soldiers guard the passageways through Tarm Ruins, Temple Remains, and even Onox’s Castle, as well as the last four dungeons. They’ll charge you on sight and attack you. Some Soldiers have swords, while others have spears that they throw at you; all of their attacks you can block with your sword. Their armor makes them invulnerable to Boomerangs or to any weapon other than Bombs or–of course–your sword. So move and prepare to deal a lot of sword slashes to bring one of these guys down. Red Soldiers take less hits. Blue Soldiers then take more.

Electrified Sparks cling to walls and move around the edges of a room along the walls. You’ll have to study their pattern in order to know how to avoid them. Better yet, take out your Boomerang and hit with it. The Spark will then turn into a Fairy! This could mean that Sparks are nothing more than Fairies imprisoned by dark magic and made to work unwillingly for evil ends, but we will never know for sure.

Spiked Beetles are turtle-like creatures that move around the room slowly. When one sees Link, however, it’ll charge straight at him just like a Snake Rope. Unlike Snake Ropes, however, Spiked Beetles are protected from sword damage by their protective shells. What to do? Block their charge with your shield, which will flip them upside-down. Now you can slash at their vulnerable underbelly to destroy them! Be careful as Spiked Beetles normally roam in groups.

Similar to ordinary Beetles that hide in the dirt, Spiny Beetles are a bit more clever. They hide under bushes and rocks instead. Moreover, it’s impossible to tell where they are until you get close enough, and the Spiny Beetle will move along with its bush or rock toward you in an attempt to damage you. If it carries a bush, a simple slash of your sword will suffice to defeat it. If it carries a rock, though, the rock will protect it from sword slashes. Instead, you’ll have to move in close with the Power Bracelet and lift the rock from the Spiny Beetle and then slash it afterward. For rock-carrying Beetles, it’s best simply to avoid.

Stalfos enemies are skeletal knights that attack Link in a variety of ways. First, there are the blue ones that simply meander around and try to collide with you. Next, there are the green ones that try to jump on Link. Finally, there are the red ones that will attempt both to jump on you and throw bones at you. If you can get the timing down, all of these remain pretty easy enemies to beat. Blue Stalfos will take only a single hit, but the other colors are stronger and may require an extra slash of your sword.

These are a different kind of Stalfos altogether! Shrouded in robes, they behave much more like Moblins, except unlike the above-ground Moblins, Shrouded Stalfos enemies tend to inhabit the dungeons. There are two types, and both have the same strength level (which isn’t particularly high). One type will simply throw spears around in an attempt to attack from a distance; block them with your shield and move in with the sword. The other type carries a sword and will charge at you; meet them at a proper angle so that you may dispose of them with your sword quickly.

The Takkuri is a black and blue raven that swoops down unexpectedly at Link in certain parts of the overworld. Either dodge or pick them off at a distance. If need, use your sword to ward them off. These enemies are very similar to Crows, except Crows lie in wait on easy-to-see treetops.

Tektites are a classic Zelda enemy–bouncy, jumping arachnids that attempt to collide with Link by jumping in erratic, unpredictable patterns. There are two types of land jumping Tektites, red and blue. The red ones are weaker and a bit more predictable, whereas the blue ones take an extra hit to subdue and whose jumping patterns are harder to get a hold of. Still, these land Tektites are easier than their aquatic cousins.

Located primarily in and around Spool Swamp, Water Tektites don’t jump around like their land-ridden cousins. Instead, they float on the surface of the water and attempt to converge on Link in groups when he swims in their waterways. If you can draw them near the shore before getting into the water, do so and use your sword on them. If not, dive underwater as they come near. The Zora Ring really comes in handy when these brutes are around.

Found only in side-scrolling portions of dungeons, Thwomps make a cameo appearance here from the Super Mario series. These are huge slabs of stone that attempt to fall from the ceiling and to crush Link whenever he comes near. Lined on their bottoms and sides with spikes, they are dangerous to the touch. Thankfully, however, their tops are flat and spike-free, enabling for safe passage up top. Use Roc’s Feather (or a nearby ledge) to hop on one and continue on your way. Note that you can’t stay on top of a Thwomp for too long, for it slowly retracts toward the ceiling and could crush you from below if you don’t move out of the way!

Found only in side-scrolling portions of dungeons, Thwimps are the smaller counterparts to Thwomps and possess only a single eye. Like Thwomps, these little blocks of spike-lined stone will attempt to fall upon Link as he comes near. Quickly run under them or even jump over them with Roc’s Feather. Unlike Thwomps, these things cannot be ridden by hopping on top of them. This enemy is found only in Oracle of Seasons.

The bane of any Zelda gamer’s existence, Wallmasters are menacing hands that either fall from the ceiling or pop out of the floors or walls and, if they catch Link, return him to the entrance of the dungeon, which in some rooms can be a major setback indeed. Red Wallmasters fall from the ceiling and only appear in Sword & Shield Maze. Blue Wallmasters, though, are far more prevalent and can appear either out of the floor or from the walls. Both types take a fair number of hits to defeat and normally appear in groups. Take very great care when you know that you’re in a room of Wallmasters and make eliminating them your top priority.

Alternatively called Anti-Faeries or Bubbles, Whisps are dangerous enemies. The weaker types will bounce around off the walls and attempt to collide with you–these can be destroyed with a quick flick of the Boomerang. But the more menacing types move in less predictable patterns and are invulnerable. If these Whisps hit you, then you’ll be jinxed and lose the ability to wield your sword for a brief while. Whisps are particularly annoying in a room full of other enemies that need to be defeated. The Whisp Ring comes in handy if you’re having trouble getting around Whisps.

Wizzrobes are another classic Zelda enemy; they are mighty wizards that will teleport to and fro and fire powerful magic attacks at you. In this game, there are three varieties: Green Wizzrobes are the weakest and moreover will teleport in and out of the exact same place every time. Lie in wait for it and slash away when it appears. Red Wizzrobes are slightly stronger and teleport in and out of different spots each time. As soon as it appears, hack away with your sword. Blue Wizzrobes are the most powerful and move around freely; they are invulnerable while faded but will be susceptible to your attacks when it’s fully visible, which is also when it attacks. Wizzrobes can be tough enemies, so try to take them on one at a time and stay out of the line of fire when they appear.

Close relatives of Lynels from previous Zelda games, Wolf Warriors are perhaps the most powerful enemies in the game. Guarding only very specific passageways in the north of Holodrum, these devastating beasts will home in on Link once he enters their turf and fire beams from their swords–beams that can even go through walls! Only the Mirror Shield can block them; otherwise, do your best to dodge. Don’t challenge these brutes head-on. Rather, try to attack them from the side or rear in order to avoid their sword beams. Red ones take many hits to subdue, but the blue ones require even more before they’re defeated.

Zols are gelatinous blobs that that are essentially large versions of Gels. They will hop around and attempt to collide with you–but more insidious than that, they often spring out of the ground coming at you unawares. You’ll know when this is happening when it looks like you’re leaving your shadow behind; it’s really a Zol! They come in two colors, green and red. Green Zols can be eliminated with only a single hit. Red Zols are more complicated, however: If Link cuts one of these with the Wooden Sword, instead of dying it will split into smaller Gels that try to attach themselves to you and slow down your movement. Destroy these also! However, once you have the Noble Sword, it takes only a single hit to fully destroy even a red one.

Not to be confused with the peaceful Sea Zoras found in Labrynna, the vile River Zoras are their distant and estranged relatives. Inhabiting the waterways of both Holodrum and Labrynna, these Zoras lie in wait, and when an intruder comes by, whether on land or in the water, the Zora will appear out of a whirlpool and emit fireballs at passerby. Use your Iron Shield to block these attacks and keep moving. If you can find a Zora close enough to shore, reach out with your sword to attack it. It’s better, though, simply to avoid these fishlike creatures and move on.