Ganondorf Boss Guide — The Demon King

Ganondorf is the final boss of Tears of the Kingdom — a multi-phase encounter spanning the Hyrule Castle depths and the sky above Hyrule. You fight him in a series of escalating phases ending with a climactic battle atop the Light Dragon vs Demon Dragon. The full fight has four distinct stages and requires substantial preparation.

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Preparation

Before entering Hyrule Castle and descending to the final boss arena:

| Item | Why | |------|-----| | Master Sword | Required for maximum damage vs Demon King; doubles to 60 against Gloom enemies | | 5+ Endura Meals | Final phase requires stamina for dragon surfing | | Bomb Arrows | Excellent against all phases | | Savage Lynel weapons | Maximum melee damage (50+ base) | | Gloom-resistance armor | Decreases Gloom damage from Phantom Ganon copies | | Silver Lynel weapons with Fused horns | Backup melee for non-Master Sword slots |

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Phase 1 — Humanoid Ganondorf

Location: Underground throne room below Hyrule Castle

Ganondorf fights in his humanoid form with twin blades. This phase tests basic combat mechanics.

Attack patterns:

• Lunging slash combo (3-hit)
• Gloom orb projectile (2–3 thrown in rapid succession)
• Parry-able thrust attack
• Gloom ring ground stomp

Strategy:

1. Flurry Rush on the lunge — his 3-hit combo is perfectly timed for a backflip at the third strike
2. Parry the thrust — a perfect parry staggers him for a free 5-hit window
3. Dodge Gloom orbs — lateral rolls clear them; do not block (they pierce shields)
4. Attack from his left side — his right sword side has shorter reach; circle left while dashing in

Phase 1 ends when he reaches ~50% HP — he transforms and jumps to the ceiling.

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Phase 2 — Phantom Ganon Multi-Clone

Ganondorf summons multiple Phantom Ganon clones that fight simultaneously.

Identifying the real Ganondorf:

• The real Ganondorf has a brighter Gloom aura and moves more fluidly
• He is the one who uses the charged slam attack (clones only do basic swings)
• Target him specifically — defeating clones doesn't progress the fight

Strategy:

1. Focus the real Ganondorf exclusively
2. Use Bomb Arrows to hit him from range while avoiding clone aggression
3. Flurry Rush openings come after his charged slam — bait it and punish immediately
4. If surrounded, use a Bomb to create space
5. Keep moving — standing still lets clones pile on

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Phase 3 — Dragon-Fused Ganondorf (Gloom Hands Arena)

Ganondorf fuses with the Secret Stone and transforms. This phase has a larger health pool and two attack modes.

Attack patterns:

• Gloom tendrils sweeping the arena floor (jump)
• Gloom breath (lateral dash to avoid)
• Upward launching spike pillars (watch ground darkening)

Strategy:

1. Bomb Arrows to the face and chest are most effective
2. Stay airborne — the floor sweep attacks miss entirely
3. Use the Master Sword for maximized Gloom-enemy bonus (120 effective damage fused)
4. He staggers after 3–4 direct bomb arrow hits — rush for a melee burst window

Transition: After depleting Phase 3 HP, the Demon Dragon rises into the sky. Zelda (as the Light Dragon) arrives.

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Phase 4 — Dragon vs Dragon (Sky Battle)

The final phase is a dragon-to-dragon aerial battle. You ride the Light Dragon and must damage the Demon Dragon's tumors (glowing Gloom nodules).

Mechanics:

• Ride the Light Dragon and glide across to the Demon Dragon
• Attack the glowing Gloom tumors on the Demon Dragon's body — these are the only vulnerable points
• Each tumor destroyed removes one segment of the Demon Dragon's HP
• Ganondorf's consciousness appears at the head — that is the final target

Strategy:

1. Glide from the Light Dragon's back toward the Demon Dragon — time your glide to land on the body
2. Attack tumors in sequence — work from tail to head; each tumor destroyed locks Ganondorf in a stagger
3. Eat Endura meals before each glide attempt — stamina depletion mid-glide sends you falling
4. Bomb Arrows at the head when you reach it — deplete the final HP bar on Ganondorf's manifest form
5. The Master Sword beam (full health, long press Y) hits the Demon Dragon from the Light Dragon's back for high damage — use it when you can't reach safely

Ending: After destroying all tumors and reaching the head, the final cutscene triggers.

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Tips and Tricks

• Don't panic-eat — Gloom damage reduces max hearts but doesn't kill outright during the transition. Save meals for Phase 4 stamina.
• The Light Dragon won't let you fall — if you land on it between dragon phases, you're safe. Use it as a rest point.
• No time limit — the sky battle doesn't have a time pressure mechanic. Take your time lining up glides.
• Camera lock-on — lock onto Ganondorf (Z target) in Phases 1–3 to maintain orientation. Disable lock-on in Phase 4 (it interferes with dragon surfing).
• Flurry Rush timing on Phase 3 — his Gloom breath has a 0.4-second delay before contact — backflip the instant you see him open his jaw.

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Related Guides

• Master Sword Guide — Essential for this fight
• Final Boss Guide — Overview of the full boss sequence
• Light Dragon Guide — Understanding Zelda's dragon form
• Gloom Guide — Managing Gloom damage throughout