Every Main Ocarina of Time Remake Boss and How to Beat Them

Ocarina of Time Remake has retained all ten main bosses from the original game, but this modern version of the classic Zelda title does make some changes. This includes combat mechanics changes for some bosses and a major expansion of the final boss, Ganon. Continue reading to find out everything needed to know about every boss in the game and how you can defeat them.

All main bosses in Ocarina of Time Remake

Ocarina of Time Remake features ten main bosses, with Link fighting one at the end of most dungeons. The only exception is Ganondorf, who returns as Ganon after Link defeats him for the first time. Here’s a list of each boss, their corresponding dungeons, which items are used to fight them, and rewards for defeating them.

How to Beat Queen Gohma

Queen Gohma is the first main boss in the game, who uses a straightforward combat loop. The boss fight can be triggered by looking at the ceiling to fight Gohma. You must use the Fairy Slingshot that you found in the Great Deku Tree to attack the boss’ eye and stun Gohma. Once the boss is stunned, rush toward it and use the Kokiri Sword to attack it. Gohma also has a ground attack where she slams her hands. You have to avoid this attack for the boss’ eye to be exposed.

This combat loop continues until you finally defeat Queen Gohma. The boss can also drop eggs, which hatch into Gohma Larvae. It’s more efficient to destroy the eggs before they have the chance to hatch. The remake changes one major thing about Gohma, as the boss can cover her eye using her front arms when she is on the ground. Gohma is immune to damage during this phase.

How to Beat King Dodongo

King Dodongo is a dinosaur-like creature that can roll around the arena like a massive Goron. When the boss is rolling around, it’s immune to damage, and you should avoid being hit. Dodongo breathes fire after it stops rolling, but this is also an opportunity for you to attack. When the boss starts to inhale before breathing fire, throw a bomb into its open mouth. This will stun the boss, and you can rush toward it to attack.

Repeating this a few times will deplete Dodongo’s health completely, and it’ll do one final roll that will end with it going into the lava. The remake does give Dodongo more mechanics than the original game, as the boss can summon Baby Dodongs during the fight. One tip for defeating the boss if you run out of bombs is to use the Bomb Flowers.

How to Beat Barinade

Barinade is a massive electric jellyfish-like boss that is attached to the ceiling by tentacles. The boss can use laser attacks and also has smaller electric jellyfish surrounding its body, which can deal substantial damage. Your combat strategy for this boss is straightforward: use the Boomerang to first separate Barinade from the ceiling by targeting its tentacles. 

Once the boss is free, avoid the small jellyfish until they drop their electric shield. Use the Boomerang to stun and then destroy the jellyfish. This same mechanic is used against Barinade, as you have to stun it using the Boomerang before rushing toward it to attack with your sword. Just be careful, as Barinade becomes more aggressive after the jellyfish are destroyed and moves around the arena while firing lasers. This is why it’s important to wait for an opening rather than rushing to attack.

How to Beat Phantom Ganon

Phantom Ganon has two phases, and this fight explains why Adult Link needs a ranged weapon after he outgrew the Fairy Slingshot. The boss’ first phase revolves around a painting of Phantom Ganon riding his horse. Two paintings will appear as if the boss is riding toward Link, but he will only emerge from one of them. You need to shoot the real Phantom Ganon using the Fairy Bow as he comes out of the painting. Shooting the boss three times will knock him off his horse, starting the second phase of the fight. However, in the third round, Phantom Ganon will appear to be emerging from all the paintings, so it’s important to keep looking around to see where he emerges from.

Once you’ve knocked Phantom Ganon off his horse, he’ll float around the arena and launch energy balls. Swing at the energy ball once it’s close enough to send it back, continuing to reflect the ball until it hits Phantom Ganon, and then rush to attack the boss with your sword. The remake changed how Phantom Ganon’s energy ball works, as the projectile doesn’t speed up after each exchange. Instead, the ball continues to bounce between both characters at a consistent speed.

How to Beat Volvagia

Volvagia is the fire-breathing boss of the Fire Temple that has been feeding on the Gorons. The arena places you on top of a platform that has multiple openings from which Volvagia can emerge. You have to use the Megaton Hammer, which you find in the Fire Temple, to hit Volvagia as soon as he emerges from a pit. Once the boss has been stunned, you can continue attacking it using your sword.

If you fail, the dragon will breathe fire, and then go back into the pit. The boss can also fly toward the ceiling, breathing fire and causing rocks to fall. You can try attacking the boss with the Fairy Bow during this phase, but the Megaton Hammer is the primary weapon for Volvagia. Volvagia can also fake emerging from multiple pits, so it’s better to wait for the boss’ head to emerge before rushing toward it. 

How to Beat Morpha

Morpha is a watery boss, which appears to be indestructible when you first see it, as how do you damage water? However, on closer inspection, you may see a small nucleus inside the water. This is the boss’ weak part, and you have to use your newly acquired Longshot to pull it toward you and attack it. The way this works is that you avoid the boss’ tentacles, as they have a large reach. Stay near the outer edge of the arena and watch Morpha’s tentacles.

Once you notice that the nucleus is inside a tentacle, wait for the boss to attack, confirm the nucleus is inside, and then use the Longshot to pull out the nucleus. You can then attack the nucleus with your sword and continue the combat loop. Make sure to stay away from the tentacles, especially as the fight advances because Morpha can create multiple tentacles. If you are grabbed by a tentacle, start mashing A to escape. 

How to Beat Bongo Bongo

Bongo Bongo is an invisible creature that Link fights atop a giant drum that is positioned above a poisonous floor. The creature uses its two hands to attack, which must be stunned before you can find an opening to attack the boss’ body. This creature’s body can only be seen using the Lens of Truth, and you have to use the Fairy Bow to stun the hands when they’re positioned to attack. 

Using the Hover Boots is also wise while the boss is drumming, as that stops you from bouncing around. The combat strategy to use for this boss is to stun the two hands using arrows after dodging the attacks, put on the Lens of Truth, and you will see Bongo Bongo charging toward Link. Shoot the red eye with the Fairy Bow to make the boss fall, and run toward it to start attacking with your sword.

How to Beat Twinrova

Twinrova are two witch sisters who first fight Link in their separate forms before merging together to increase their powers. This fight requires the Mirror Shield, which is the essential item found in the Spirit Temple. To fight the witches, you need to use their powers against each other. Koume uses fire attacks, and Kotake uses ice attacks. You can reflect the attack of one witch toward the opposite one, using their elements against each other to deal damage. Repeating this and damaging the witches for some time will trigger their merger into Twinrova. 

Twinrova can use both fire and ice attacks, which makes the strategy for defeating this phase different. You must use the Mirror Shield to absorb the same element three times in a row, following which the stored energy will be released, so you have to aim it toward Twinrova to stun her. Once she’s stunned, you can jump on her platform and attack her with your sword. If you absorb the opposite element, the Mirror Shield charge will reset. The remake has seemingly changed how much damage Twinrova deals, which makes the fight less challenging than in the original Ocarina of Time.

How to Beat Ganondorf

This fight is similar to Phantom Ganon’s second phase, where he was floating above the arena after falling off his horse. Ganondorf shoots an energy ball that Link has to continue hitting back until it leads to Ganondorf getting staggered. However, Link has to shoot Ganondorf with the Light Arrows to stun the boss and make him fall onto the platform, allowing Link to unleash his sword attacks.

Ganondorf can also launch multiple energy balls simultaneously, which Link can reflect with a charged Spin Attack. The boss destroys the arena as the fight continues, causing Link to stay near the corners. You can use the Hover Boots once too much of the arena has been destroyed. Players also have to aim on their own, as Navi can’t target Ganondorf. 

How to Beat Ganon

This is the biggest boss fight expansion in the Ocarina of Time Remake, as Ganon has gained more attacks and Light Arrows become even more important. The fight initially happens similarly to the original game, with Link losing the Master Sword and having to get behind the boss to use the Biggoron Sword or Megaton Hammer to attack the purple crystal on Ganon’s tail. 

The major change in this fight is showcased once Link recovers the Master Sword, as Ganon starts using lightning strikes and ground slams. He also drags his sword across the floor, leaving his forearms exposed, allowing you to attack the glowing weak points. However, attacking both arms makes Ganon temporarily invulnerable and enraged. You must keep moving until Zelda exposes a weak point on Ganon’s forehead, which must be attacked using Light Arrows to stun the enemy. Link can then deal the finishing blow with the Master Sword.