Hyrule, the mystical land that serves as the setting for most of the Legend of Zelda games, is teeming with magical beasts of all shapes and sizes. From the humanoid races that populate its cities to the feral beasts roaming its wilds, keeping track of the world’s creatures is somewhat of a daunting task. Luckily, editors at Zeldapedia have been enumerating the series’ races and species for some time now, detailing their characteristics to keep track of the games intricate mythology.
With The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD now available and Hyrule Warriors Legends hitting the 3DS next week, we’re celebrating the beasts of Zelda by selecting some of the series’ most recognizable species, from its monsters to its civilized races. Check them out below!
Deku Baba
Deku Babas are seriously terrifying creatures. I mean, they go down pretty easily and they don’t do a terrible amount of damage — but look at that gaping mouth! These are carnivorous plants that look a lot like a Super Mario Bros. Piranha Plant’s edgier cousin. They have only appeared in 3D iterations of the series, though Link’s Awakening features its forbearer — referred to as a “Piranha Plant” — which emerged from pipes during side-scrolling segments.
Notable Appearances: Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword
Moblin
Moblins are humanoid hybrids of pigs and bulldogs. These butt-ugly brutes have appeared in almost every The Legend of Zelda game since the series inception. They most often carry spears, but are known to carry swords, clubs, and bow and arrows as well. They have traditionally been feral beasts, concerned only with decimating poor Link, with one notable exception: in The Wind Waker, Link reads of a moblin named Moe, who befriends one of the kidnapped girls kept in the Forsaken Fortress, potentially abandoning his post, probably in pursuit of a more cultured existence.
Notable Appearances: The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, A Link to the Past, Skyward Sword
Tektite
Another series staple, the Tektite is a spider-like creature that attacks by jumping towards Link. While they are relatively weak creatures, they are pretty spry and can be difficult to hit. They can usually be found wandering around mountainous areas, notably the foot of Death Mountain.
Notable Appearances: The Legend of Zelda, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword
Lizalfos
These bipedal lizard men are a real pain. They use a wide variety of weapons and — for creatures with lizard brains — they wield them rather adeptly. In Ocarina of Time, they often fight in pairs, tagging in and out as necessary to double team the player and keep them on their toes.
Notable Appearances: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess
Poe
Poes are, essentially, the ghosts of The Legend of Zelda series; the spirits of deceased beings who foster immense hatred towards the world. They are usually found in dark places such as graveyards, empty fields, plains, and caves. While the role they play changes depending on the game, in Ocarina of Time, Link can bottle up their spirits and sell them to the proprietor of the mysterious Ghost Shop in Hyrule Castle Town.
Notable Appearances: A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Ages, A Link Between Worlds
Octorok
The Octorok sure is strange. An octopus-like creature that, fittingly, shoots rocks out of its tube-like snout, the Octorok can be found both on land and in Hyrulian rivers. To defeat these weird beasts, which only have four legs despite their name, Link simply has to deflect one of their rock projectiles using his shield.
Notable Appearances: The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword
Zora
The Zoras are water-based creatures known for their exceptional swimming ability. There are two major subspecies: the River Zoras and the Sea Zoras. The River Zoras are hostile creatures that pop out of the water and shoot fireballs at Link, while the Sea Zoras are friendly creatures that tend to help Link throughout his journey. In Ocarina of Time, Link even “marries” Ruto, the princess of the Sea Zoras.
Notable Appearances: A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Ages/Seasons
Goron
The Gorons are a rock-eating race. They are peaceful creatures that tend to cooperate with Link, offering advice and help during his adventures. While they might come off as brutish and a bit dumb, they are actually rather intelligent. In Twilight Princess, for example, the Gorons have developed a wide variety of advanced technologies that help them excavate and mine the mountainside, and in The Wind Waker they are scattered throughout the Great Sea, weathering the flood as traveling merchants.
Notable Appearances: Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, The Phantom Hourglass
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