Zelda: Breath of the Wild immerses players in a vast, open world of danger. While exploring the kingdom of Hyrule, Link encounters different monsters, ranging from the mundane to the truly terrifying. Some enemies stand out as particularly challenging, requiring skill, strategy, and, often, a bit of luck to defeat.
Based on their difficulty, this guide ranks some formidable monsters in Zelda Breath of the Wild. From aggressive behavior to powerful attacks, these creatures pose a significant threat to even the most seasoned adventurer. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for survival in this perilous world.
5. Yiga Blademaster
| Health | 400 |
| Attack | Windcleaver Slashes, Earthwake |
| Rewards | Mighty Bananas, assorted gems, Windcleaver |
Yiga Blademasters are elite soldiers who appear randomly in various areas of Hyrule Kingdom, just like Yiga Footsoldiers. Bladmasters keep teleporting to switch positions during a fight, which makes their moves unpredictable. Their swift speed also makes it hard to track them.
One of their powerful attacks is swinging their sword to create a powerful wind blow, which can take down half of your health. Another attack you need to watch out for is when the Blademaster drives their sword into the ground, and a red orb chases you down and blows up. The last attack you need to watch out for is getting a blow from the Blademaster’s Windcleaver.
How to Defeat Yiga Blademaster in Zelda BOTW?
Despite being one of the deadliest enemies, the Blademasters can be defeated with perseverance and practice in Zelda Breath of the Wild. They have the power of air and earth, and you need to focus on dodging their attacks to avoid being staggered.
As for the fight, always have arrows equipped on you; one shot to the head stuns the Blademaster, giving you an opening to attack them. But if you’re in a rush, you can bomb them from a distance as they walk slowly. But remember to swap between bombs. You can also use electricity and fire to trap them and use melee weapons to take them down.
4. Electric Lizalfos
| Health | 288 |
| Attack | Electric Discharge, Tail Whip Attack, Tongue Attack |
| Rewards | Lizalfos Horns, Lizalfos Talons, and Yellow Lizalfos Tails |
Belonging to the Lizalfos race, the Electric Lizalfos are known to be quick and agile enemies. These are also among the many elemental-based enemies found in Zelda BOTW. The Electric Lizalfos can create electricity arcs, making you drop your weapons. But to avoid getting attacked by them, you need to get the Lizalfos Mask.
From their fast movement to the giant jump strikes they perform, these monsters can be a real pain in certain situations. Their electric discharge attack creates a bubble around them, and they try to approach you for a shock attack. Do note that it’s hard to attack them during this attack because of their expandable electric shield.
How to Defeat Electric Lizalfos in Zelda BOTW?
Before fighting these monsters, consume “Electro” based food dishes to increase Link’s shock resistance. Though this will not give you as much of the protection as Unshockable Armor, it does the trick.
As for the fight, these weapons have no elemental weaknesses, but if you use Ancient Arrow, it immediately obliterates them without getting any monster drops. If you also want the drops, equip the rubber armor and shoot their horns to remove the electric shield and get an opening for attack.
3. Guardian Scout IV
| Health | 3,000 |
| Attack | Shooting Lasers, Swinging Guardian Weapons |
| Rewards | Ancient Core, Ancient Shaft, Ancient Gear, Ancient Screw, Ancient Spring |
This is the most powerful among the Guardian Scouts enemies and is exclusively found within the Zelda Breath of the Wild shrines. When the battle begins, you must defend yourself quickly, or you’ll have to give the guardian the upper hand. Now, as for the weapon, depending on the shrine, these wield either Guardian Spear++, Guardian Sword++, or Ancient Battle Axe ++ with Guardian Shield++.
Once you’ve done enough damage to the guardian, it will begin to do a spinning attack. You can manage much damage if you don’t dodge this attack. Another attack you must watch out for is the shooting laser attack that takes successive quick shots, followed by a circular laser attack.
How to Defeat the Guardian Scout IV in Zelda BOTW?
You must use the pillars to block the spinning and laser attacks during the attack. While the guardian is using his circular laser attack, equip the Bomb Arrows, aim for the head while gliding above, and charge at it whenever you can.
Once you have taken down half of the guardian’s health, it’ll try to find an opening to recharge, and this is when you must quickly attack it with the Master Sword.
2. Guardian Stalker
| Health | 1,500 |
| Attack | Shooting Laser |
| Rewards | Ancient Core, Ancient Shaft, Ancient Gear, Ancient Screw, Ancient Spring, Giant Ancient Core, Guardian Trophy |
Like their name, when these enemies spot you, they stalk you and then hunt you down. They charge toward you with the one objective to destroy you alone. The Guardian Stalkers can become a difficult enemy, especially if you don’t have a good gear set.
As for his attacks, this monster shoots a powerful laser beam, damaging it massively. If that beam hits any object, it can set it on fire. Therefore, you must move around in a circle to avoid getting hit by the beam.
How to Defeat Guardian Stalker in Zelda BOTW?
As mighty and dangerous as these sound, there’s a simple strategy to take them out. Firstly, if you’re on a horse, move around in a circle to dodge their laser beam. As for the attack, focus on taking out his legs using the Master Sword when you get near him. Taking out his legs can temporarily stun him, causing an opening to inflict damage. You can also use bomb arrows to aim at his eyes and give him damage.
1. Silver Lynel
| Health | 5,000 |
| Attack | Explosive AoE and Lunge attacks, Arrows, Sword Slash |
| Rewards | Lynel Horn, Lynel Hoof, Lynel Guts, Assorted Gems, Star Fragment |
Compared to the Guardian Stalker, the Mighty Silver Lynel is deadlier as it can take you out from a mile away. As soon as this beast spots you, it will run toward you and use its sword (either a Mighty Lynel Sword or a Great Flame Blade) to slash at you. The beast swings his sword quickly and in an unpredictable pattern, making it hard to dodge the attacks.
Lynel’s attacks are dangerous, as one slash can take you down. Note that he will continuously charge at you, but this does give you a small time frame to mount the beast and deliver some hits on him. Moreover, the monster will blow fire or create a fire explosion to try and burn you.
How to Defeat Silver Lynel in Zelda BOTW?
When encountering the Silver Lynel, the best shields to use are the Guardian Shield, Lynel Shield, Royal Shield, and Hylian Shield. Once you’ve parried Lynel’s attack, get behind his back to land damage, or you can use arrows to stun him while you mount on his back. As for the sword, go for the Royal Broadsword or Lynel Crusher to launch flurry attacks. You can go for Ancient Arrows to one-shot this beast, but you won’t get any drops if you do so.
