Ganondorf “Ganon” Dragmire has been Zelda‘s big bad since the NES original. In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Ganon’s back once again, but this time, you face the demonic porkchop as the princess he’s been kidnapping, possessing, and otherwise inconveniencing since 1987. Rarely has revenge smelt sweeter.
The fight against Ganon in Hyrule Castle is one of my favorite fights in EoW, not just because it’s one big, unsubtle tribute to A Link to the Past. It’s the first genuinely challenging boss in the game, the first bend in the difficulty curve that defines EoW‘s second half.
Taking down Ganon shouldn’t be too much of a hassle if you follow my lead. Hopefully, you’re going into this fight with a fully upgraded swordsman form and a few higher-tier Echoes like the Peahat, Club Boarblin, or Ball-and-Chain Trooper. you might also want to grab the Energy Glove accessory from the northwestern tip of Gerudo Desert.
Zelda Echoes of Wisdom Ganon Boss Guide
Ganon doesn’t waste any time: the second the fight starts, he teleports away and starts trying to shish-kabob you on the tips of his trident. He takes a few seconds to wind up a jab and a few more to catch his breath (he is on the chunky side, after all.) Once he’s finished going for a stab, swap to swordsman form and retaliate at will. If you want more stabbing time, you can Bind his trident and yank it out of his hand to extend the stun animation. Even if you don’t need to do this, I’d recommend practicing it.
After a few hits, Ganon mixes up his attacks. Now, he throws his trident at you before teleporting away, giving it a few seconds to spin around the room like the world’s sharpest boomerang before he poofs back in to catch it. You can try to score a few hits with swordsman form before he catches the trident, but that’s not the optimal way to do things here.
After a few hits, Ganon mixes up his attacks. Now, he throws his trident at you before teleporting away, giving it a few seconds to spin around the room like the world’s sharpest boomerang before he poofs back in to catch it. You can try to score a few hits with swordsman form before he catches the trident, but that’s not the optimal way to do things here.
Instead, once Ganon’s trident’s in the air, catch it with Bind. Once Ganon teleports back in, carry the trident over to him and hit him with it. This deals damage and stuns him for a few seconds, giving you time to go swordsman and let loose before he recovers.
Between trident tosses, Ganon summons a swarm of Fire Keese and sends them your way. You can either dodge out of the ay or put down a Boulder Echo as a shield. The Fire Keese will drop energy for swordsman form, so you can refill the gauge if it gets low. If you want to store some energy, summon an Echo and let it fight for a few cycles.
Once you’ve made Ganon feel his own wrath enough times, the Demon King decides it’s time to play some good old Dead Man’s Volley. Honoring classic Zelda tradition, Ganon summons a ball of electricity and lobs it your way. You can send it back at him with a swing of your sword, kicking off a deadly game of tennis. If you hit it back enough times, Ganon will take massive damage from the returning ball and be stunned, giving you an opening to get in a few good hits with swordsman form or an Echo.
After Ganon’s taken enough damage, he’ll become wreathed in purple flames, letting you know you’ve reached the last phase of the fight. Ganon’s attacks will get faster, and he randomizes the order he throws them at you. All the tactics you used earlier still work, but you’ll need to be faster on your feet to score hits and stay alive.
If you keep at it long enough, the King of Demons will fall, freeing a swarm of Tri’s friends from inside himself and giving the little fairy robot thingamabob the power he needs to seal the rift and restore Hyrule Castle to its former glory.
Published: Oct 2, 2024 10:13 PM UTC