The Legend of Zelda - NES
Boss Guide - written by Eric42 (eric42@gmail.com)
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Version 1.3a - Initial public release – (Date here)
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              Eric42       \ \ / /      ENTERTAINMENT
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                    Legend of Zelda (NES)
             copyright 1986 Nintendo of America

                 The Legend of Zelda NES FAQ
              First and Second Quest Boss Guide
           version 1.3a: Rewrites and Edits & email
                by Eric42 (eric42@gmail.com)
                    on (Date here)

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  Table of Contents:

  Introduction by Yours Truly ..................................  a
  Disclaimer and Legal Stuff ...................................  b
  FAQ Revision History .........................................  c

  First Quest Boss Guide .......................................  1
  Level One Boss:   Aquamentus ................................. 1a
  Level Two Boss:   Dodongo .................................... 1b
  Level Three Boss: Manhandla .................................. 1c
  Level Four Boss:  Two-Headed Gleeok .......................... 1d
  Level Five Boss:  Digdogger .................................. 1e
  Level Six Boss:   Ghoma ...................................... 1f
  Level Seven Boss: Aquamentus ................................. 1g
  Level Eight Boss: Four-Headed Gleeok ......................... 1h
  Level Nine Boss:  Ganon ...................................... 1i

  Second Quest Boss Guide ......................................  2
  Level One Boss:   Aquamentus ................................. 2a
  Level Two Boss:   Two-Headed Gleeok .......................... 2b
  Level Three Boss: Dodongo .................................... 2c
  Level Four Boss:  Digdogger .................................. 2d
  Level Five Boss:  Three-Headed Gleeok ........................ 2e
  Level Six Boss:   Ghoma ...................................... 2f
  Level Seven Boss: Four-Headed Gleeok ......................... 2g
  Level Eight Boss: Dodongo .................................... 2h
  Level Nine Boss:  Ganon ...................................... 2i
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---- INTRODUCTION -----------------------------------------------------
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The Legend of Zelda is a great game.  It was perhaps _the_ game that set
the standard for games of the same genre would be made in the future.
Of course, it also was the first game of a series that has since been an
excellent series of video games.  They have helped shaped gaming as it
is known today.

This game will always remain my favorite of the series.  I grew up with
the game after-all.  It was the second NES game purchased by my parents
when I really young and I retain that same exact cartridge today (with
the battery working!)  It remains a sparkling gem of my video game
collection that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

COLLECTOR’S EDITION NOTE:
Having finally received my copy of the Legend of Zelda Collector’s
Edition Gamecube disk, I have been working on making sure that the
strategies set out here will continue to work on it.  So far, the
results have been the same.  It seems that Nintendo did hardly any
tweaking the game, leaving it the same as it was on the Nintendo
Entertainment System.  If ANYONE happens to find that any of the
strategies listed in this FAQ should not work, email me and I’ll update
it as soon as I can.

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---- FAQ Revision History ---------------------------------------------
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Version 1.3 - 1.3a: 12/24/03-??/??/?? -
After the v1.2 update, I decided to sit down and rewrite a bunch of
things and edit the guide for mistakes.   Also, notes about the
Collector’s Edition re-release of this game on the Gamecube has been
noted.

Version 1.2: 12/23/03 –
Got an email commenting on a few things.  Those things are noted in the
guide where needed.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level One Boss: Aquamentus ---------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Level one is a walk in the park and so is the boss.  But it never hurts
to prepare.  For your first run through Level One, you just need
something that can damage the enemies, which could simply be the wooden
sword.

There are several things in this game that can make the boss extremely
easy.  Buying arrows to go with the bow that you find in level one is a
good idea.  Just make sure you have rupees before attempting to use it
as each arrow shot takes a single rupee from you.

Getting the White Sword, Blue Ring, and the Magic Shield will pretty
much keep you from dieing or taking much damage at all.  They are hidden
items in the over-world and take a little bit of effort to find, but
they aren’t hard.  My Maps guide on GameFaqs can help you locate them.
Remember, that it requires five hearts to get the White Sword, which can
be found immediately on the over-world (my maps guide can help find them
too!)

LEVEL ONE BOSS: Aquamentus
Aquamentus is easy.  His attack is fairly straight forward and easy to
dodge.  He just moves back and forth and shoots out three fireballs in a
spread pattern.

Several different methods can be done to defeat him.  The most straight
forward way is just stand across the way room from him and shoot
something at him.  If you are full of hearts, just shoot sword beams.
If not, use arrows if you brought them into the level with you.

You can also just walk up to him and hit him with the sword, but that
puts you at higher risk of getting damaged.

Bombs are another way to defeat this boss pretty easy and it only take a
total of two bombs to take it out, amazingly.

Level Seven has Aquamentus showing up again as a level boss.  However,
he isn't any stronger than his level one version.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Two Boss: Dodongo ------------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Level two is another way in the park, but still slightly harder than
level one.  Really, the only preparation you will need to do is to have
bombs.  However, having the White Sword, Blue Ring, and the Magic Shield
are all smart things to bring in with you.

Bombs are essential to this level.  Not only the main way to kill the
boss, but if you want to save on keys, you can bomb your way through
walls in the level.  And remember, saving keys in the early levels may
end up being a life saver in later levels.

LEVEL TWO BOSS: Dodongo
“Dodongo dislikes smoke”

That is what you would be told if you made it to the upper right corner
of the level and it’s a tip on how to kill Dodongo... if you understand
Engrish at least.

The quickest, and easiest, way to defeat Dodongo is to simply drop a
bomb into its path, where hopefully he’s walk into it before it explodes
and eat it, allowing it to explode in its stomach.  Do it twice and
he’ll be history.

Another way is to place a bomb sort of out of the path of the boss,
letting it explode without it eating it but still letting the explosion
hit him.  The explosion will then “stun” the boss, allowing you then to
hit him with your sword.  I personally haven’t done this, but many have
told me this is how they defeated him.  Thus, I am not 100% on how many
times you have to hit him with your sword.  This however does sound like
a way to save on bombs.

As the boss of Level Two, there is only a single Dodongo.  In later
levels, however, Dodongos makes a return as a level miniboss, but in
packs of three.  They are still defeated in the same ways listed above
however.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Three Boss: Manhandla --------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Before entering Level Three, have the White Sword.  It is pretty much a
must now, unless you are feeling brave.  Enemies in this level will fall
quicker to the White Sword and you’ll be glad to have to have the White
Sword.

The Blue Ring and Magic Shield are still major recommendations.  Also
bringing bombs, maxxed out of course, is a good idea as well.

LEVEL THREE BOSS: Manhandla
Manhandla looks like a plant come alive, doesn’t it?  A gardener’s worst
nightmare pretty much.  Anyway, there are two ways to defeat this boss.
But let me note now that each time a head is taken off, the boss speeds
up a bit.  By the time this boss has only one head left, it is moving
pretty quickly.

First, you can use your sword to “chop off” the heads.  However, this
could be the most life threatening way to attempt.  Each time you chop
off a head, the boss speeds up.  By the time you cut the third head off,
it is going at a high speed and if you don’t have the Blue Ring, you
could die quickly if you aren’t fast.

My favorite way is a good way to show off to anyone you know that has
trouble killing this boss.  BOMBS.  If you are a good shot, placing a
single bomb in the boss’s path can end up taking out the boss in one
shot.  That will impress your little brother (or in my case, older
brother who has trouble beating it).

With the Wooden Sword, it takes four hits to a single head to take it
out.  The White Sword takes only two hits and the Magical Sword takes
only a single hit.  This is the reason I said the White Sword is a must
now.  Other weapons like Arrows and the Wand can harm the heads as
well, but I don't have damage information on them as of yet.

Mandandla will show up several move times in the game as mid-level
bosses.  They aren’t any stronger than this one was, so defeat them in
the same fashion.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Four Boss: Two-Headed Gleeok -------------------------------
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Preparation:

LEVEL FOUR BOOS: Two-Headed Gleeok
This boss is fairly straightforward.  With your sword, you can stand up
next to its heads and swipe away.  But when you cut off a head, it will
start flying around the room, spitting fireballs at you.  Without the
sword, you'll need the wand to be able to behead it.

Two more version of Gleeok are in the game.  One is a mini-boss of
Level Six with three heads and the boss of Level Eight is a four-headed
version.  Defeat them the same way.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Five Boss: Digdogger ---------------------------------------
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Preparation:
You'll need the ladder quite a bit in this level, but not to get the
whistle if I remember correctly.  Make sure you have the Magical Sword
before you enter Level Five.  Don't listen to the tip in this level if
you happen to find it, as it is incorrect.  Pols Voice don't hate
noise, but the boss of this level does...

LEVEL FIVE BOSS: Digdogger
The way to defeat this boss is that you have to use the Recorder, or
the whistle, depending on what you call it.  Once you use it, it
becomes what is normally called the Digdogger Kid.  It will start
moving slowly, but gradually speeds up.  Try to defeat it before it
gets too fast for you.

I like to drop a bomb in the middle of Digdogger before I use the
whistle.  Making sure I use the whistle before the bomb explodes, it
SHOULD explode after the Kid shows up, damaging it if done correctly.
From there, a single hit with the Magical Swords takes out the Kid.
Maybe two hits or there about with the other two swords.

An interesting note sent to me via email by Joshua Frech
(jkwik6football9oracle@yahoo.com):
 “That bomb and whistle trick is neat, but I went one better. You said
  that the bomb will damage it; if you're quick enough with this, you
  can kill one that splits into three without ANY fuss at all. The
  timing for this must be quite precise. The bomb takes one second to
  explode, so if you lay a bomb and use the whistle JUST before the
  bomb explodes, it will still damage the little Digdogger(s). Now a
  quick second bomb will KILL the vulnerable beast(s) outright without
  ANY chance to get moving!”

Interesting, indeed.  Yeah, though I haven’t tried, that should actually
work.  Just have to be fast enough with the whistle to do it.  I will
have to try it sometime.

Digdogger shows up plenty of times later on, but instead splits into
three kids instead of just one.  Just takes longer to defeat.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Six Boss: Ghoma --------------------------------------------
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Preparation:
To defeat the boss, you have to make sure you have the bow and some
arrows.  Arrows can be purchased at several stores for 80 rupees.  You
can check my Maps Guide for those stores locations.  The Bow is found
in Level One.

LEVEL SIX BOSS: Ghoma
Ghoma is a spider with a single eye.  That eye is the key to its
defeat.  It moves left to right, but occasionally when it gets to the
center of the room, it'll move up and down.  And during all this
moving, its eye will open up.  Shoot an arrow while its eye is open.  A
single hit for this boss is all it takes.  Make sure to stand in the
doorway, where fireballs will not hit you until you can kill the beast.

However, later on, you will encounter a different version that will
require three hits.  Remember to stand in doorways until you can get a
shot in.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Seven Boss: Aquamentus -------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Level Seven is hard.  The boss is not.

LEVEL SEVEN BOSS: Aquamentus
This is the same boss as in Level One.  It isn't stronger in any shape,
form, or fashion.  Refer to Level One if you actually need any help.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Eight Boss: Four-Headed Gleeok -----------------------------
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Preparation:
Master Sword would be nice...

LEVEL EIGHT BOSS: Four-Headed Gleeok
This is a fairly straightforward battle.  Slash away at the heads and
beware the fireballs that the cut flying heads will spit out at you.
The Magical Sword will help make short work of those heads.

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---- First Quest Boss Guide -------------------------------------------
---- Level Nine Boss: Ganon -------------------------------------------
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Preparation:
If you are playing swordless, you've come as far as you can go when you
reach Ganon as you can not defeat him without a sword of some type.
Don't believe the instruction guide when it says the Magical Sword is
required.  It helps, but it's not required.  Any sword will do.

Don't forget to get the Silver Arrows, in Level Nine, before you even
dare go up against Ganon, because without them, you would never defeat
him.  Having the Red Ring, also in Level Nine, will help with damage.

LEVEL NINE BOSS: Ganon
Ganon is extremely easy to defeat.  The only problem to watch out for in
this battle are the fireballs that are spit out of the four block in
each of the room’s corners and from Ganon himself.  However, if you have
the red ring, you don’t have to worry about taking too much damage from
them.

What I personally like to do is just stand back in one corner and swing
the sword blindly.  Eventually, for reasons I can’t explain, Ganon will
come close enough to the sword to be hit.  The first two times he is hit
he’ll turn brown.  On the third hit, he’ll turn grey.  That is when you
need to hit him with a silver arrow.  And then he’ll be defeated.

Thanks to Joshua Frech (jkwik6football9oracle@yahoo.com) for pointing
out that I had a mistake in the original Ganon strategy I had up.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level One Boss: Aquamentus ---------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Since the bow is located in Level 5 in the second quest, you may not
have it when you come to this boss.  You may not have the letter to get
some medicine either.  Both are valuable, though, but may not be worth
the effort for you.  Bombs will still help you out and they are easy to
get.

How to Kill The Boss:
Use bombs or sword.  If you are full on hearts, just stand on the other
side of the room and blast Aquamentus a few times.  Other wise, just
stand next to him and strike him a few times.  Aquamentus isn't hard.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Two Boss: Two-Headed Gleeok --------------------------------
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Preparation:
Have the White Sword for this battle.  With the whistle, you can get
all three hidden heart pieces in the Overworld if you are willing to
travel.

How to Kill The Boss:
Slash and slash at the Gleeok.  He'll lose his head(s) eventually.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Three Boss: Dodongo ----------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Have the White Sword for this battle.  With the whistle, you can get
all three hidden heart pieces in the Overworld if you are willing to
travel.

How to Kill The Boss:
There's three Dodongo's here and they aren't close to the Triforce,
which is weird.  Anyway, There's two ways to do this.  First, you can
set a bomb down next to Dodongo and paralyze it, which you can then use
your sword to harm it, or you can set a bomb in front of it and have it
eat it.  It has to eat two bombs for it to be defeated this way.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Four Boss: Digdogger ---------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Get the whistle, which is in this level, and have some bombs on you.

How to Kill The Boss:
The quickest way I've found to defeat this guy is to lay down a bomb
right on Digdogger in it's first form, blow the whistle before the bomb
blows up, and let the bomb do some damage to the second, smaller form.
Then run in with the sword (or another bomb) before it starts running
around the room.

You'll find more Digdoggers throughout the game, but they will break up
into three smaller forms instead of just one.  Just be a bit quicker
after using the whistle and you should be able to use the same strategy
as above on them as well.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Five Boss: Three-Headed Gleeok -----------------------------
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Preparation:
Have, at least, the White Sword for this battle, though if you know
what you are doing, you can get the Magical Sword by now.

How to Kill The Boss:
Slash and slash at the Gleeok.  He'll lose his head(s) eventually.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Six Boss: Ghoma --------------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Have the bow from Level One and have bought some arrows sometime before
entering this level.  Oh yeah, have some money on you.

How to Kill The Boss:
When you first enter the room, stand back in the doorway where the
fireballs that Ghoma shoots won't hurt you.  When you see it's eye open
up, quickly fire off a arrow.  If it hurts, you've killed it.  It only
takes one hit.

Later, however, you'll find Ghomas that take three hits to kill.  They
will be a different color than the Ghoma here.  However, the same
strategy will the same as above.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Seven Boss: Four-Headed Gleeok -----------------------------
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Preparation:
Have the White Sword for this battle.  With the whistle, you can get
all three hidden heart pieces in the Overworld if you are willing to
travel.  Check the FAQ below for their locations.

How to Kill The Boss:
Slash and slash at the Gleeok.  He'll lose his head(s) eventually.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Eight Boss: Dodongo ----------------------------------------
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Preparation:
Have bombs.  Lots of Bombs.

How to Kill The Boss:
There's two ways to do this.  First, you can set a bomb down next to
Dodongo and paralyze it, which you can then use your sword to harm it,
or you can set a bomb in front of it and have it eat it.  It has to eat
two bombs for it to be defeated this way.

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---- Second Quest Boss Guide ------------------------------------------
---- Level Nine Boss: Ganon -------------------------------------------
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Preparation:
You will want the silver arrows and one of the three swords in the
game.  The Silver arrows are right there in Level Nine.  It's not a
requirement to have the Magical Sword, as the instruction manual will
lead you to believe.  If you are playing swordless, you've made it as
far as you can go, as you can not defeat Ganon without a sword.

How to Kill The Boss:
Ganon is extremely easy to defeat.  The only problem to watch out for in
this battle are the fireballs that are spit out of the four block in
each of the room’s corners and from Ganon himself.  However, if you have
the red ring, you don’t have to worry about taking too much damage from
them.

What I personally like to do is just stand back in one corner and swing
the sword blindly.  Eventually, for reasons I can’t explain, Ganon will
come close enough to the sword to be hit.  The first two times he is hit
he’ll turn brown.  On the third hit, he’ll turn grey.  That is when you
need to hit him with a silver arrow.  And then he’ll be defeated.

Thanks to Joshua Frech (jkwik6football9oracle@yahoo.com) for pointing
out that I had a mistake in the original Ganon strategy I had up.

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Eric42 - eric42@chartertn.net