Boss Battle! Ganondorf — The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Guide

Ganondorf:

He’s somewhere between 30 and 40 years old. Like Link and Zelda, Ganondorf possesses a true power that only those chosen by the goddesses can obtain. He was once the leader of a tribe of thieves attempting to take over the kingdom, but he was captured by the Sages. At the very moment of his execution, his power woke, and he survived. The Sages concealed Ganondorf’s body and power in the Twilight Realm, but it didn’t stay hidden for long, and he soon began to control a member of the Twilit King’s entourage: Zant. Ganondorf is evil and considerably powerful.

Battle 1: Ganon’s Puppet: Zelda

Step 1: The possessed Zelda is your first adversary, and she wields the same power as Ganondorf. She floats about the chamber, creating a triangular field of energy. Flip back out of it as it forms so you aren’t stuck in the middle of it. These fields gradually get larger as the combat progresses. Puppet Zelda raises her sword when she is about to conjure, so flip away immediately!

Step 2: After about two of these energy fields (Zelda’s attacks are random), Puppet Zelda summons a large white energy ball from her sword, and casts it down at you. Instead of attempting to bounce this back with your shield, ZL target and time a single slash just as the ball reaches you (attempt this early). The ball ricochets and strikes her. Once this strikes her, repeat Step 1. You have to bounce three energy balls back at her, and she can deflect your return up to four additional times before she succumbs.

Battle 2: Dark Beast Ganon

Step 3: After Midna thrusts light back into Zelda, Ganondorf changes form into a hideous beast with a flailing mane and white eyes. As soon as the beast charges, roll out of the way. He then warps out of existence and creates a series of portals, one at a time, throughout the room. Turn and watch each portal with your Hero’s Bow primed. When a blue portal is created, Ganon is about to appear. As soon as he charges, fire a single arrow into the white stone between his eyes. Roll to the side immediately to avoid his slide.

At this point you might want to secure Hearts, Arrows, and a Fairy from the pots surrounding the throne room. Run around collecting them, then return to focusing on Ganon.

Step 4: The farther away Ganon is when you shoot, the less likely you are to be knocked down by his slide. As he slides, bring out your sword, ZL target the white split in his belly, and slash away until he howls in anguish! The best combo is three slices and then a great spin. Repeat this two or three more times.

Step 5: As soon as the arrows stop working, change to wolf form and face down Ganon as he charges out of a blue portal. A second before he strikes you, you’re given the option to push with the A button. Do this and Midna’s arm extends and grabs Ganon about the head. Press left or right to throw him, as you would a goat—a giant, demonic goat! Once Ganon slides onto his side, transform into Link and ZL target and follow him, and attack his belly as before.

Battle 3: Dark Rider Ganondorf

Phantom Rider

Phantom Riders are Ganondorf’s conjurations, and they do not attack independently. They are bolts of angry energy that charge and strike you during the battle. React by riding between them or avoiding them completely.

Step 5: After Ganondorf passes you, turn around and ZL target him, then kick Epona with the spurs twice to match his speed. Be sure you have a reasonably straight line between yourself and Ganondorf as Zelda prepares a Light Arrow. She fires, and it strikes, unless you’re making a sharp turn, or are struck by his attack—the Phantom Riders.

Step 6: If Ganondorf launches an airborne attack, judge where the riders will form, and ride between or around them. If you fall off your horse, get back on, spur a couple of times to speed up, and repeat Step 5. Once Zelda strikes with her arrow, speed up to the side of Ganondorf, and slice at him. A spin attack works well. Now repeat this about three more times until Ganondorf falls from his mount.

Battle 4: Dark Lord Ganondorf

Step 7: Ganondorf rises as the thunder claps. He is prepared to fight you in sword combat, and he seals Zelda out of the battle. When the fight begins, turn left, and begin to slice the skulls around the perimeter of the energy wall. Behind Ganondorf and to the left is a skull containing a Fairy. The rest contain Hearts. As the battle begins, you’ll see that Ganondorf is a formidable fighter!

Fairy

You caught a Fairy in a Bottle! When you fall in combat, this faithful friend gives you Hearts.

Step 8: The key to defeating Ganondorf is to maintain a distance of about 12 feet away from him. If you’re too close, you’ll be struck by his sword (shield block it). If you’re too far, Ganondorf charges you, then strikes at you with his sword hilt. If you attack with simple slashes, he blocks, then leaps into the air and slices down at you. Run or roll from him if you can’t see him. You can occasionally strike him by rolling around and using a back strike, then land and slash.

If ever there was a time to don your Magic Armor with a Giant Wallet holding 2,000 Rupees, now is it! Also remember to continuously ZL target during battle.

Step 9: But your prime opportunity to defeat Ganondorf is when he raises his sword like this. When a “chance” message appears, press the A button immediately!

Step 10: Your swords entangle, and you both begin to push each other. Tap the A button repeatedly, so you begin to push Ganondorf backward.

Step 11: As soon as you push Ganondorf backward, execute an immediate three slashes then pause for a split-second and finish with a spin attack (a great spin is even better!). Keep pummeling Ganondorf until he falls over. Repeat Steps 9–11 twice more.

Step 12: On the third attempt (or earlier if you connect with a great spin), when Ganondorf falls to the ground, you’re given a split-second to “finish” with the A button. ZL target at once and leap into the air, skewering the hated Ganondorf once and for all!