History Characters / TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincessTwilightRealm

* LightIsNotGood: Light ''was'' good when the Sages tried to off him with a CoolSword made of the stuff, but in his hands, not so much.

* YouWillNotEvadeMe: Twilit Messengers always erect Twilight Barriers to prevent their prey from escaping.

* InsectQueen: Implied to be the spawner of the Shadow Insects, if its resemblance to termite queens is any indication. Its German name outright means "Queen of the Shadow Insects."

A holographic Zant that is the miniboss of the Twilight Palace. It grants the Sols after defeat, giving you the Light Sword once you put them in their original position.

* OutsideGenreFoe: Resembles something sci-fi and futuristic, despite the series being almost always set in high fantasy.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Some of them, like Fyrus and Blizzeta, are innocent creatures that were corrupted by the Twilight, and the others are implied to have been normal enemies who've been both empowered and made crazier by the artifact they're keeping away from the hero.

The Goron chief Darbus cursed and mutated by the Fused Shadow, locked deep within the Goron Mines.

The boss of the Lakebed Temple, and the only boss that actually bleeds. A giant leech/eel with an eye that swims between its tentacles.

Yeta transformed into a ice demon by the Mirror of Twilight, Blizzeta is the boss of the Snowpeak Ruins.

A giant spider (or more specifically, a variant of the recurring Gohma boss) with a weak point on her eye, Armogohma is the boss of the Temple of Time.

An armored dragon functioning as the boss of the City in the Sky.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Some of them are innocent creatures that were corrupted by the Twilight.

** Diababa is a Deku Baba.
** Fyrus is an odd one, as he's just a mutated Goron. However, the Gorons ''are'' initially hostile to Link on the way up to Death Mountain, with one of them even being fought as a mini-boss.

** Blizzeta is essentially a giant Freezard.
** Armogohma is a more realistic version of Queen Gohma.
** Argorok is a powerful Kargorok.

A three-headed baba large enough to dwarf a monster truck, dwelling in poison water. Diababa is the boss of the Forest Temple and the first boss of the game.

* KingMook: The boss is the result of a Deku Baba influenced by a fragment of the Fused Shadow. As such, it mutated into a giant Baba with three heads.

* EvilIsBigger: It's ''massive'', and quite appropriately a boss.

* KingMook: Its appearance and strategy bring to mind a giant Chu Worm, although it's also able to release Bombfish from its mouth. The Encyclopedia reads that it's instead a mutated Octorok, which are otherwise absent from ''Twilight Princess''.

* WakeUpCallBoss: Stallord can be considered the first real challenging boss for newcomers, especially on his first phase: you have to use the Spinner on a circular way (which gets filled with traps as the fight goes on) to hit his spine which is guarded by undead soldiers and not reach the limit of your item to not fall in the quicksand. The second phase, where you have to reach his head while going up and avoid traps on the way, is much easier in comparison.

* KingMook: Although Yeta retains her physical form under the influence of the Mirror fragment, the monstrous ice formation she uses to attack Link takes the form of a Freezard, while also moving and attacking like one.

* KingMook: Her spawn, both diminutive Baby Gohma and larger Young Gohma, are found all over the Temple of Time where she resides.

* KingMook: In the English dub, its name presents it as a giant, boss-level variant of the common Kargaroks, although it has an ability that they don't have (fire breath). In Japanese, however, they have unrelated names.

* NotQuiteDead: Stallord appears to be done for after only its skull remains. But once Link makes his way up to attempt to reach the top of Arbiet's Grounds, ''that skull'' pushes him back down and the battle is resumed.

* BarbaricBattleaxe: As a more imposing and vicious Bulbin, he wields a two-handed axe during the confrontations at the Bulblin Compound and at Hyrule Castle.

* BrutishCharacterBrutishWeapon: As a more imposing and vicious Bulbin, he wields a two-handed axe during the confrontations at the Bulblin Compound and at Hyrule Castle.

[[Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincessHeroes Heroes]] | '''Twilight Realm''' ([[Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincessZant Zant]]) | [[Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincessLightWorld Light World]] ]]]]-]

[[folder:#-E]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:F-L]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:M-Y]]

->[[Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincessZant See his page for tropes on him]].

[[folder:Ganondorf]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twilight_princess_hd_artwork_ganondorf_official_artwork.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[EvilOverlord Dark Lord]]'']]
[[caption-width-right:355:[[labelnote:Click to see Ganon]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ganon_Twilight_Princess_8831.png ''[[FullBoarAction Dark Beast]]''[[/labelnote]]]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Hironori Miyata
->''"He who wields such power would make a suitable king for this world, don’t you think?"''

[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime After falsely swearing allegiance to the king]], [[Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaGanonGanondorf Ganondorf]] was exposed as a traitor by the Hero of Time, having just come back from a BadFuture where he'd taken over Hyrule. His plans to get the Triforce were foiled, and he was condemned to execution by the Sages themselves. However, even though he got his heart pierced, it didn't quite kill him, as the mark of the Triforce of Power somehow appeared in his hand, and reanimated his body. In a fit of UnstoppableRage, he broke free of his chains, killed the Sage of Water, and took the very sword meant to execute him for his own. In a desperate move, the Sages sent Ganondorf to the Twilight Realm, in the hopes of keeping him trapped there. After wandering there for who-knows-how-long, he met Zant, and the events of the game were set in motion.
----
* AlasPoorVillain: His death is portrayed rather somberly and no real fanfare. After the final battle, when the impaling Master Sword severs his connection to the Triforce of Power, he suffers a slow death as the old wound from the Ancient Sages catches up to him. After his passing, Zelda prays for him.
* AllForNothing: His original reason for invading Hyrule, as established in ''The Wind Waker'', was to provide a better life for the Gerudo away from the harshness of the desert. By the time he returns to the Light World, the Gerudo have long since disappeared and their desert is nothing but a barren wasteland.
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: His skin is somewhere between green and gray this time around.
* AnthropomorphicShift: Inverted by his Ganon form. In previous games, Ganon was a trident-wielding sorcerer PigMan, but in this game, Ganon runs on all fours and only attacks by charging around the room like an animal. This is likely due to it being portrayed as a counterpart to Link's wolf form.
* ArchEnemy:
** Averted this time in regards to Link, as he doesn't really know who the hero is in this game. Especially in contrast to the equivalent moment in the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' Timeline. There he faces The Hero of Time Reborn, who overthrew his kingdom after his successful grand master plan and stabbed him in the face at the end of an epic duel. Here he faces the Hero of Time Reborn who called the cops on him during the early stages of his grand master plan. Likewise, Link himself has far more personal enmity [[ItsPersonalWithTheDragon with King Bulblin]], who kidnapped his friends and directly antagonizes him for most of the game.
** Played straight with Princess Zelda. Ganondorf is the mastermind behind Zant's coup against her and has a personal grudge against the Royal Family, even [[KickTheDog going out of his way]] to humiliate her by pinning her against a Triforce statue in her own throne room and possessing her during his battle against Link.
* ArmorIsUseless: Averted. The black armor he wears can deflect all of Link's sword attacks, forcing him to target the glowing scar on his chest.
* AttackTheInjury: He still has the glowing scar he received from his failed execution, which serves as his primary weak point.
* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Can be distracted in the final battle by ''your fishing rod.'' It's a long-standing series tradition (dating back to ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'') for a single non-combat item to have an inexplicable combat usage like this.
* AxCrazy: As soon as he gains the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf breaks through his chains, murders a Sage in one hit, and begins to growl like an animal as fangs grow within his mouth, establishing that Ganondorf is more openly ruthless this time around.
* BadassBoast: Practically every line that comes out of his mouth once Link and Midna confront him qualifies as one.
-->'''Ganondorf:''' Would you hear my desire? To take this foul blade… and use it to blot out the light forever!
* BadassCape: He has a large and extravagant cape just like his ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' counterpart. Just watch how it flows during his battle.
* {{BFS}}: The Sword of the Six Sages, which he pulled out of his own chest. He uses it during the last two phases of his boss battle.
* BigBadDuumvirate: While Zant is the one causing the main conflict for most of the game, Ganondorf was directly enabling his conquest and steps up as the main villain and FinalBoss after Zant’s death.
* BishonenLine: He possesses Zelda, turns into a giant boar-monster, then attacks you on horseback, and then ends it all in a one-on-one swordfight.
* BlackEyesOfCrazy: After receiving the Triforce of Power and killing the Sage of Water, he's shown with yellow, pupil-less irises and black sclera.
* BlackKnight: Has a hefty black armor, [[{{BFS}} huge sword]], and a [[MightyGlacier slow]], [[TheStoic stoic]], and [[EvilIsBigger imposing]] nature, and he also fights similarly to the Darknuts that play this trope straight. However, Ganondorf is a manipulative evil king rather than an actual knight.
* BladeLock: For the first time in the series. Slash or Jump Attack at him when he comes running at you with his sword raised and you'll lock blades. Lose, and you'll get stabbed (and a brief DarkReprise of his already dark theme). Win, and he'll be left wide open for a devastating combo (and accompanying TriumphantReprise of his theme).
* BossAlteringConsequence: If you take out the Fishing Rod during the fight, he'll be so distracted by it that he won't be able to act.
* BossSubtitles: He has a number, one for each stage of his fight:
** Ganon's Puppet: Zelda
** Dark Beast: Ganon
** Dark Lord: Ganondorf
* BringIt: His reply to Midna's threat to deny him reign over Hyrule.
-->'''Ganondorf''': Very well... deny me, then! Yes, try to deny me... you and your little friend...
* CardCarryingVillain: At one point, he talks about how hatred fuels his power. (''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' makes this a combination of {{Foreshadowing}} and CallBack!)
* TheChessmaster: Ganondorf spends one hundred years biding his time, waiting for the perfect [[OpportunisticBastard opportunity]] to break free from the Twilight Realm. When he finally seizes said opportunity, it doesn't take long for him to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate]] everyone in his path and take over two entire kingdoms undetected.
* ColdHam: Contrasting his usual boisterous demeanor, this version Ganondorf is much calmer and more subdued. Nevertheless, his actual lines and behavior are just as hammy as ever.
* CoolSword: He wields an intricate blade made of HardLight, in fact, the very sword used in his botched execution.
* DeathIsCheap: He actually ''dies'' at the end of the game. But he is reborn as a second Ganondorf prior to the events of ''Four Swords Adventures''. Considering that he's the product of Demise's curse as the end of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', it makes sense that he would reincarnate the same way Link and Zelda do if it became necessary.
* DefiantToTheEnd: Even when facing certain death after being skewered by the Master Sword, Ganondorf spends his final moments vowing to continue the war for Hyrule between himself, Link, and Zelda. Then he dies… and his lifeless body [[DiedStandingUp continues standing]], refusing to bow down to the kingdom that took everything from him.
* DemonicPossession: He uses this on Zelda for the first phase of the final battle, although it's just her empty body and Zelda's soul is keeping Midna alive. Likely because of this, the resulting Puppet Zelda [[LarynxDissonance only has his own voice]] and not hers.
* DemonOfHumanOrigin: He was once a (seemingly) normal, albeit magically-gifted Gerudo. After receiving the Triforce of Power, however, he gained the ability to transform into the demonic [[OneWingedAngel Ganon]] at will.
* DesertBandits: He was the leader of a notorious tribe of thieves (the Gerudo) prior to his arrest.
* {{Determinator}}: Even when he's impaled with the Master Sword, he refuses to give up.
* DiedStandingUp: After the final battle and especially noticeable since the finishing blow was done while he was on his back, meaning he managed to ''stand up'' with a sword through his chest before the Triforce of Power left him and he finally died from the injury.
* DimensionLord: By virtue of being the one empowering Zant.
* TheDreaded: Even prior to gaining the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf was a ruthless, notorious thief feared by all of Hyrule. A century later, even the Sages [[TheScottishTrope hesitate to speak his name]].
-->'''Sage:''' His name is… '''Ganondorf'''. […] He was known as a demon thief, an evil magic-user renowned for his ruthlessness…
* DuelBoss: The final stage of the Ganondorf face-off is a sword duel between him and Link; neither Midna nor Zelda can help for this round.
* DyingAsYourself: When the Triforce of Power fades from his hand, Ganondorf suddenly becomes mortal and the glow on his wound disappears. He dies not as Ganon, the dark god that granted Zant the power to invade Hyrule, but as Ganondorf, the mortal Gerudo criminal with an overdue execution.
* DyingCurse: Before he dies, he warns Link and Zelda that this bloody conflict between light and shadow will not end here. Dialogue cut from the final release would have him state that when the chosen ones appear in this world, so too will their anthesis from his bloodline to renew the conflict over again. [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Much of this speech would be later reused for Demon King Demise]] and it foreshadows Ganon's reincarnation in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures''.
* EmotionEater: He states that he regained his power by feeding on the hatred of the Twili, implying that the reason he bonded to Zant was to feed on his hatred.
-->'''Ganondorf:''' Pathetic as [the Twili] were though, they served me well. Their anguish was my nourishment. Their hatred bled across the void and awakened me. I drew deep of it and became strong again.
* EvilCounterpart: As always, to Link. Much like the Hero of Twilight, Ganondorf is a powerful magic user and a skilled swordsman that was chosen by a goddess to wield a piece of the Triforce, only to be trapped in the Twilight Realm and forced to make his way out by striking a deal with one of the Twili. However, while Link is motivated by his desire to save his loved ones and eventually forms a genuine bond with Midna, Ganondorf is motivated only by his lust for power and hatred of Hyrule, and he sees Zant as nothing more than a puppet to get what he wants.
* EvilIsBigger: As usual, he towers over Link. His Ganon form is also at its largest until Calamity Ganon in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild''.
* EvilIsHammy: Generally a ColdHam this time around. Yet when he allows the ham to come out, he does so with as much enthusiasm as one would expect.
-->'''Ganondorf:''' Both of you, faithless fools who would dare to take up arms against the king of light and shadow… So you choose! And so you shall feel my wrath!
* EvilLaugh: Toned down considerably from the previous games. More like an Evil Chuckle.
* EvilLearnsOfOutsideContext: Ganondorf seemingly had no idea that the Twilight Realm even existed… [[NiceJobBreakingItHero until he was banished there by the Sages]], at which point he was able to hijack their kingdom, use them to break free, and return more powerful than ever.
* EvilOverlord: By the climax, he has taken control of both Hyrule and the Twilight Realm.
* EvilSorcerer: He is a dangerous dark magic-user who gave Zant his powers.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Toned down slightly from previous games; his voice sounds deep when it's quieter but is higher-pitched and raspy when he's shouting.
* FairPlayVillain: During the final phase of his battle, Ganondorf forsakes using magic in favor solely wielding a sword, creating an isolated area for a one-on-one duel between himself and Link.
* FangsAreEvil: After killing the Sage of Water, he's shown with protruding canine teeth on his lower jaw.
* FauxAffablyEvil: As per usual, Ganondorf is suave and gentlemanly when Link and Midna confront him, even welcoming them to "his" castle. Of course, this is nary an attempt to mask the manipulative, arrogant, and megalomaniacal tyrant beneath the surface.
* FinalBoss: The hidden BigBad and boss of Hyrule Castle, the final dungeon at the end of the game.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** The Hero's Shade repeatedly alludes to an even greater threat than Zant, referring to it as Link's "true enemy". Of course, said enemy turns out to be none other than the spirit's old nemesis, Ganondorf.
** After the Lakebed Temple, Zant reveals that his powers don't come from the Twilight Realm, but rather, his "god". After the Arbiter's Grounds, the Sages reveal that this [[GodGuise "god"]] is actually Ganondorf.
* FourIsDeath: The Ganondorf battle at the end of ''Twilight Princess'' has four phases to it.
* FullBoarAction: Ganon. Instead of being a sorcerous PigMan, he instead runs on all fours like a beast.
* GameFace: After the Triforce of Power revives him from his execution and he breaks from his restraints, he gains yellow eyes and tusk-like fangs, gnashing his teeth like a rabid dog as he murders the Sage of Water with his bare hands. The other Sages banish him to the Twilight Realm before he can carry out his rage further.
* GeniusBruiser: He's an extremely strong eight-foot-tall armored giant who masterminded the game's entire plot.
* GodGuise: He poses as a god to manipulate Zant. However, this played with somewhat, as he is somewhat of a god due to possessing the Triforce of Power. Additionally, ''Skyward Sword'' reveals that he is the reincarnation of [[SatanicArchetype Demise]].
* GodIsDispleased: Implied. It's never stated exactly how Ganondorf came into possession of the Triforce of Power, but the sages suggest that it was a "divine prank" for which the goddess Din was responsible. In the end of the game, he loses the Triforce piece after Link stabs him through the chest (again, the exact reason why isn't stated). Stripped of its divine protection, he succumbs to his wounds and [[DiedStandingUp Dies Standing Up]].
* GodzillaThreshold: The Sword of the Six Sages was used in his botched execution and he calls it a "foul blade," but he resorts to using it after being purged from Zelda's body and losing to Link in his Ganon form.
* GoMadFromTheIsolation: Downplayed. Ganondorf is still pretty sane (especially compared to [[TheMentallyDisturbed Zant]]), but he's become noticeably more ruthless and barbaric since his time in the Twilight Realm, likely due to him being alone in a forgotten world with nothing but his [[ThePowerOfHate sheer hatred]] for Hyrule to keep him going.
* HeartLight: He has a white, glowing scar in the middle of his chest. His permanent reminder of the Sages' failed attempt at executing him.
* HellishHorse: With ''glowing red eyes''.
* HijackedByGanon: Of course. It's revealed that it was him who gave Zant enough power to invade the Twilight Realm, and eventually Hyrule. After Zant's death, he becomes the FinalBoss.
* HugeHolographicHead: He appeared before Zant as a giant spectral version of his head made of flames and Twilight. He takes on this form after his Ganon form is subdued, forcing Midna to confront him with the Fused Shadows.
* HumanoidAbomination: He ''was'' human (or very close to it) to start with, but after getting the Triforce of Power, he became something much, ''much'' worse.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Ganondorf considers the Twili's magic petty, but during his fights, he uses the same type of magic against the Hero and Midna, including twilight portals. He also sees Midna's race as pathetic, but still, the reason why he was released was due to such a 'pathetic' race.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: The Sages do this to him with a {{BFS}} made to execute prisoners... which doesn't work. Then Link does it. Since it's with the Master Sword, it works.
* ImprobableHairstyle: His hair is arranged around his crown in some elaborate cross between dreadlocks, cornrows, and RegalRinglets, with the HotBloodedSideburns he had since ''[=OoT=]''. ''And'' it connects to his [[BigOlEyebrows eyebrows]] and beard, too.
* InSpiteOfANail: Despite the previous Link going back in time and preventing Ganondorf's coup, Ganondorf ends up gaining the Triforce of Power and conquering Hyrule anyway, BecauseDestinySaysSo.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Ultimately, despite the circumstances that drove him to villainy, Ganondorf's primary motive in this game is to get revenge against Hyrule purely for his own sake, not caring about the deaths of anyone (even his greatest supporter, Zant) that come as a result.

** When Link and Midna arrive at Hyrule Castle, they find that not only is Ganondorf holding Zelda captive, he also has her plastered against the center of a Triforce symbol right above her throne, like some kind of [[CreepySouvenir sick trophy]] to taunt the duo.
** After seemingly killing Midna in the game's climax and destroying Hyrule Castle, Ganondorf looks straight at Link and Zelda, holds up Midna's crown… [[DesecratingTheDead and crushes it]].
* LargeAndInCharge: In this game, measurements place him at slightly over ''nine feet'' tall.
* LarynxDissonance: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]], when he possesses Zelda's body. Puppet Zelda only uses Ganondorf's own voice clips.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: When the game initially came out in 2006, Ganondorf was the biggest and best-kept secret in the game, as he was absent from all marketing and Zant was built up to be the BigBad of the story. However, Nintendo decided to just spoil the reveal by including the King of Evil's face on the '''''front cover''''' of the ''Twilight Princess HD'' port for Wii U.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Remixed with Hyrule Castle's while you progress through it. And with Zelda's for the first phase of the final battle.
* LightIsNotGood: Light ''was'' good when the Sages tried to off him with a CoolSword made of the stuff, but in his hands, not so much.
* LightningBruiser: His Ganon form is extremely fast in spite of its size and can ram through the stone pillars in the throne room you fight it in like they aren't even there.
* LodgedBladeRecycling: Exaggerated: he takes an entire longsword stabbed through his heart as his own.
* MagicKnight: He not only possesses powerful magic, but is also unbelievably strong and skilled with a sword.
* TheManBehindTheMan: Much like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', Zant first alludes to it when he confronts Link and Midna after they've returned from the Lakebed Temple. He tells Midna that their "Old Magic"[[note]]i.e. the Fused Shadows[[/note]] was no match for the power that's been bestowed upon him by his Lord. The Sages fill in the rest, once Link reaches the Mirror Chamber atop the Arbiter's Grounds, where they recount having banished Ganondorf to the Twilight Realm after a failed attempt to execute him. They explain that he was amassing power there, in preparation for his eventual return to Hyrule.
* ManipulativeBastard: Manipulates Zant in order to escape the Twilight Realm.
* MightMakesRight: He claims that having been blessed with the power of the Gods grants him the right to rule.
* MightyGlacier: Despite his occasional sprinting and jumping in his final boss fight, he mostly moves around with a [[TheSlowWalk menacing slow gait]]. He's also generally much slower than Link, who can easily roll around him and repeatedly use Back Slice on his scar during the final duel.
* MixAndMatchCritters: His Ganon form in this game resembles a boar on a wolf's body, with a mane resembling a lion's.
* {{Narcissist}}: As always, Ganondorf is [[SmugSuper arrogantly secure in his own power]], completely [[ItsAllAboutMe self-absorbed]], and will do anything to achieve his goals, [[LackOfEmpathy regardless of the consequences they may have on others]].
* NighInvulnerable: Ganondorf just ''refuses'' to die. First he gets exposed as a traitor, which probably nets him ''very harsh'' treatment in a prison (Arbiter's Grounds, [[NightmareFuel and if they're anything to go by...]]). Then he gets ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice by a [[{{BFS}} sword]] made of HardLight specially made for executing deranged madmen like him. Then he gets thrown into the [[DarkWorld Twilight Realm]] (and it really looks like it hurt him when he got disintegrated into the portal). Then when Link confronts him, he gets hit by his own powerful light magic spells, which should be his antithesis, then gets his still-very open [[GoodScarsEvilScars scar]] and [[AttackItsWeakpoint weak spot]] ''brutally abused'', then gets hit by Midna's OneWingedAngel form's {{BFS}} of a spear (which was enough to trigger an ''explosion strong enough to level Hyrule Castle''), then gets turned into a [[LightEmUp Light Arrow]] pincushion, then gets [[DeathOfAThousandCuts repeatedly slashed]] in his scar by the Master Sword, is [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbed one last time in the chest, right where his glowing scar is]], and finally succumbs to the pain once the Triforce of Power abandons him, bringing this OverlyLongGag to a subverted close.
* NoSell: In the climax, Midna unleashes the full power of the [[ArtifactOfDoom Fused Shadow]] onto Ganondorf. Up to that point, the Fused Shadow was known to be one of the most powerful and dangerous artifacts in the world, having almost corrupted ''[[IncorruptiblePurePureness Link]]'' and popped Zant like a balloon. When the dust settles, Midna's attack has devastated Hyrule Castle and wiped out all enemies in the area… only for Ganondorf to reappear without so much as a scratch on him and [[TheWorfEffect crush the Fused Shadow with his bare hands]].
* NotQuiteDead: You try to execute him with a magical sword? Too bad, he immediately gets the Triforce of Power and becomes immortal. You expel him from Zelda? Good, but then he transforms into his beastly Ganon form. But we slice open his old wound, and he's dead... and becomes some kind of spirit thing, [[HeroicSacrifice Midna then proceeds to sacrifice herself to blow him up with magic.]] But it doesn't work. He becomes humanoid again, only this time on a [[CoolHorse demon horse]]. But even after various slashes and Light Arrow shots, plus receiving a SwordPlant in the chest during a swordfight, he's still able to stand up. Only when the Triforce of Power abandons him does he finally die.
* OlderThanTheyLook: While he's noticeably older and stockier looking, he has still aged remarkably well considering he's ''centuries'' older than he was in ''Ocarina of Time''.
* OminousLatinChanting: Continuing the trend started in ''Ocarina of Time'', the cutscene and battle themes have some choral chanting. Though in the case of the Dark Beast Ganon and sword duel fights, it sounds more like strange tribal chanting.
* OneHandedZweihander: The Sword of the Six Sages is a heavy greatsword that the Sage of Water had to levitate and Link, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', can only flail about with using both hands. Ganondorf can easily swing or thrust with one hand, and only uses two for his charge attack.
* OneWingedAngel: Ganon, as always. [[BishonenLine He turns back into his human form for the very last fight, though.]]
* OpportunisticBastard: While wandering in the Twilight Realm as a spirit, he waited for about a century for the opportunity to escape. Eventually, he found the perfect opportunity in Zant.
* OrnamentalWeapon: Subverted. While he carries the Sword of the Six Sages around as a trophy, he finally resorts to drawing it after losing to Link in his Ganon form.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: Ganondorf exists somewhere between life and death, having barely survived his execution thanks to the Triforce of Power reanimating him. In addition to his considerable magic power, he can switch between his "mortal" Gerudo form and a giant ghostly head. When the Triforce of Power finally leaves him, he goes with it.
* OutOfFocus: While presented as the ultimate BigBad of the story, having made a [[DealWithTheDevil bargain]] to lend Zant his power in exchange for his loyalty (in reality just to feed on his hatred), the story focuses very little on his character unlike his ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Wind Waker'' appearances. The story instead focuses more on Zant and, to a lesser extent, King Bulblin, primarily because of Midna and Link's respective [[ItsPersonalWithTheDragon personal enmities]] with both.
* PartialTransformation: When he breaks free from his failed execution, he's shown with protruding canines on his lower jaw and BlackEyesOfCrazy.
* PhysicalGod: Almost literally, considering what powers him. He also pretends to be an actual god to Zant.
* ThePowerOfHate: According to his speech during the endgame, the hatred of the Twili (Zant in this case) "awakened" him while he was dormant in the Twilight Realm, which he states he [[EmotionEater absorbed to restore his power]]. Later games would expand on this by characterizing him as "hatred and malice incarnate", with ''Skyward Sword'' in particular implying that he is the heir of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword the original demon king Demise]]'s hatred.
* PureIsNotGood: The Sages describe him as possessing "the purest malice". If you play ''Skyward Sword'', you'll know why.
* PrecrimeArrest: How he was captured and brought to the Arbiter's Grounds to begin with; the Hero of Time traveled back to his childhood and warned the King of Hyrule of Ganondorf's treachery, leading to Ganondorf's arrest and botched execution.
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: He destroys a statue of the Golden Godesses and has Zelda— the mortal form of the Goddess Hylia— pinned up against its remains in their place, successfully mocking the four most powerful deities in Hyrule all at once.
* RasputinianDeath: It takes a lot to put him down for good. In his final boss fight, he is exorcised from Zelda with his own reflected magic, mauled by Wolf Link in his Ganon form, blown up by Midna's use of the Fused Shadows, shot by Zelda with Light Arrows causing him to fall off his horse and crash, and finally impaled in a duel with Link.
* RunningGag: Obeying the tradition of the most mundane item being most effective against the final boss, the fishing rod can distract him.
* SanitySlippage: Downplayed, as he's just as intelligent and calculating as ever, but it's clear that his time in the Twilight Realm has made him more openly ruthless and violent when pursuing his goals.
* SealedEvilInACan: What the Sages did to him after they failed to kill him. He got out.
* SequentialBoss: Link and Midna don't meet Ganondorf until the end of the game, and when they do, Link has to deal with ''four'' stages of Ganon.
* SinisterSchnoz: Toned down from previous games, but it's still fairly wide compared to other characters.
* SlouchOfVillainy: When you meet him in Hyrule Castle's throne room.
* StayingAlive: Although he seems to be DeaderThanDead at the end, with the Triforce of Power abandoning him, he ends up reincarnating just in time to {{hijack|edByGanon}} ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures''.
* SmugSuper: As always, Ganondorf is completely confident in his power and ability to conquer, especially since he has a piece of the Triforce to further enhance himself.
* TheStoic: Ganondorf is usually a grade-A LargeHam, but this particular incarnation is very much the opposite.
* StoutStrength: He isn't nearly as hefty as he looked in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'', but he isn't as trim as he was in ''Ocarina of Time'' and is no less imposing or powerful.
* TennisBoss: When he's possessing Zelda.
* ThrowTheSheathAway: Ganondorf drops the scabbard for the Sword of the Six Sages as he prepares for his duel with Link.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Downplayed. Ganondorf was never a NiceGuy, but in the past, he was capable of some VillainRespect, which only became more genuine in the other timelines presented in ''A Link to the Past'' and ''The Wind Waker''. However, since this Ganondorf was defeated before his plans even got off the ground and then spent the next century in a strange dimension, by the time he returns, he's even more arrogant and downright disrespectful than before, on top of being prone to blatant KickTheDog moments thanks to his sheer hatred for Hyrule being all that he has left.
* TooPowerfulToLive: The reason the Sages chose to execute Ganondorf following his PrecrimeArrest was due to the Gerudo king being far too much of a potential threat for Hyrule to be left alive, even when imprisoned. Of course, their attempt at execution is [[NiceJobBreakingItHero exactly what leads to]] Ganondorf breaking free and taking over the Twilight Realm.
* TragicVillain: Once a desperate thief seeking a better life for his people, Ganondorf was DrivenToVillainy by a curse from ages long past. He plotted to take over Hyrule and gain their resources, only to be arrested and sentenced to ''death'' [[PrecrimeArrest before he even had the opportunity to carry out his crimes]]. After being banished and spending a century wandering an unknown realm, during which the Gerudo fell apart and disbanded, Ganondorf returns with only one goal: [[{{Revenge}} revenge]] against the kingdom that took everything from him.
* UngratefulBastard: It was thanks to Zant and the Twili that Ganondorf was capable of being freed from his banishment; but while talking to Midna, he slanders them for defying the gods with their 'petty' magic and calls them pathetic. He doesn't even refer to Zant by name, seeing him as insignificant and pathetic as any of the other Twili.
* TheUsurper: A century prior, Ganondorf was plotting a coup against the Royal Family, only to be caught and arrested before he could make the first move. When he breaks out of the Twilight Realm, however, he immediately takes over Hyrule Castle and imprisons Zelda, finally usurping the throne.
* VocalDissonance: Ganondorf has a slightly higher-pitched and raspy voice in this game, similar to [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers the original Megatron]]. While the voice isn't completely unfitting for the character and it emphasizes how bestial he's become, it can be a bit jarring after the near-operatic baritone he had in ''Ocarina of Time''.
* VoicesAreMental: He keeps his voice when possessing Zelda's empty body.
* WasOnceAMan: He was once a mortal thief will dreams of power. Upon receiving said power, he becomes a [[HumanoidAbomination demonic]], god-like entity capable of subjugating entire kingdoms… and Hyrule is at the top of his checklist.
* WickedCultured: Ganondorf fancies the power of the Golden Goddesses and their holy artifacts over Twili magic, despite using both to his advantage. He believes the Triforce of Power makes him a worthy king for Hyrule, and loves the irony of using the holy blade meant to execute him. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking He also had time to braid his hair for his fancy head brooch]].
* WoundThatWillNotHeal: The glowing wound on his chest is the result of the Sages' failed attempt to execute him. It's remained there for decades, and serves as his weak point.
* YouCantFightFate: Despite being exposed by the Hero of Time and sentenced to death by the Sages before he could even begin his conquest of Hyrule, Ganondorf winds up receiving the Triforce of Power and conquering Hyrule [[InSpiteOfANail anyway]]… it just takes him an extra 100 years to do so.

[[folder:King Bulblin]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/King_Bulblin_TP_5350.png]]
->''"I have come to play!"''

The chief of the Bulblin tribe in ''Twilight Princess'', who raids Link's village at the beginning of the game. He and his minions serve as recurring enemies throughout the game, with Link fighting him four times, two on horseback, two on foot.
----
* AffablyEvil: Despite remaining mostly silent for the majority of the game, by the time King Bulblin speaks after being defeated by Link, he hands over a key, voices his respect for the hero, and then rides off into the sunset.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Subverted. While he and his army sided with Zant and Ganondorf, it's because he follows whomever he believes to be the strongest. After being bested by him four times, he decides that this is Link.
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Like all Bulblins, he has green skin. Also extends to his mount, King Bulbo, which is the only Bulbo to have blue fur.
* AmbiguousSituation: ''Why'' exactly did King Bulblin kidnap the children of Ordon Village? It's never explained in-game, and theories about his motives have run rampant for years.
* AntiVillain: Ultimately a type I (NobleDemon). While he is firmly a villain in the game, it was clear that he was JustFollowingOrders due to his philosophy of [[IFightForTheStrongestSide fighting for the strongest side]] and bore no actual malice toward Link, eventually surrendering when he realized that Link was the strongest side.
* ArchEnemy: For the Link of this game, [[ItsPersonalWithTheDragon who otherwise has little connection to Zant or Ganondorf]]. He earns Link's ire at the beginning of the game, being the one who led his army to raid Ordon Village, and the two [[RecurringBoss duel repeatedly]] throughout the game.
* BarbarianTribe: He leads a wide army of Bulblins.
* BlowThatHorn: He has a war horn that he blows during his raid on Ordon Village to signal a Shadow Beast attack on Ordona's Spring, and during his first mini-boss fight to summon more of his Bulblins.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: King Bulblin seems to care less about right and wrong, and more about whoever is the strongest, to the point that he willingly surrenders the key to Ganondorf's lair once Link proves to be a WorthyOpponent.
* BrutishCharacterBrutishWeapon: As a more imposing and vicious Bulbin, he wields a two-handed axe during the confrontations at the Bulblin Compound and at Hyrule Castle.
* {{Determinator}}: This guy battles and gets beaten up by Link no less than four occasions before finally calling it quits.
* TheDragon: To [[BigBadDuumvirate Ganondorf and Zant]], being their main enforcer in the Light World.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: King Bulblin and his army are introduced during the attack on Ordon Village. They storm into the spring, where one of his raiders knocks Link unconscious, while another of them shoots Ilia in the back with a poisoned arrow. Once the kids have been rounded up, King Bulblin sounds his trumpet to open the first Twilight Portal and signal his men to withdraw.
* FatBastard: He's got quite a large gut, and is one of the villains of the game. Subverted in the game, where he's one of the only villains to redeem himself.
* FullBoarAction: He rides a blue boar.
* GetBackHereBoss: The first phase of his first fight has him constantly running away from Link as he is hounded by hordes of Bulbo-mounted Bulblins.
* GracefulLoser: Bulblin [[KnowWhenToFoldEm finally calls it quits]] and acknowledges Link's strength after being bested by him for the fourth time.
* TheHeavy: Bulblin is established as Zant's [[KingMook chief flunky]] for 3/4 of the game, during which, Link has to face him in battle 3 times. By the time of their 4th (and final) confrontation at Hyrule Castle, King Bulblin has become a part of Ganondorf's army.
* HeelFaceTurn: He finally realizes that Link is too powerful to be defeated and stops fighting him after their last encounter, saluting him as 'the strongest'.
* HiddenDepths: After being defeated by Link for the fourth time, he finally speaks Hylian for the first time, revealing that he has always fought for those stronger than himself. Even Midna is surprised that he's not just some mindless brute.
* HornsOfVillainy: As seen in his character image, he wears a helmet with giant horns and his war beast has massive horns and tusks to match. He loses one after the Eldin bridge duel, then the second after the Hylia bridge duel.
* IFightForTheStrongestSide: The {{Trope Namer|s}}, and said almost verbatim. King Bulblin is of the ProudWarriorRaceGuy variety — after losing several matches against Link, during the final dungeon, he finally declares a draw and just hands over a key to proceed, running off after citing this philosophy is all he's ever known.
* IncomingHam: As he drops in for his final battle:
-->'''King Bulblin:''' '''''I have come to play!'''''
* ItCanThink: Despite initially appearing to be nothing more than a mindless brute like most other monsters, King Bulblin eventually reveals that he is not only capable of speech, but also his own sense of honor.
* ItsPersonalWithTheDragon: This guy raided Link's village, kidnapped the kids there (though they escaped to Kakariko Village), raided Kakariko and took away Colin by force, and then becomes a RecurringBoss. Is it any wonder this Link takes a bigger issue with him than he does with [[NumberTwo Zant]] or [[HijackedByGanon Ganondorf]]?
* KickTheDog: He waves around a kidnapped child like a flag. Particularly bad is that the kid is [[ShrinkingViolet Colin]].
* KingMook: Of the Bulblins. And because of his size, both his life energy and his attack power are stronger.
* KnightOfCerebus: His arrival in Ordon Village and kidnapping of its children is what shifts the game from a quaint little farm simulator to a dark and brooding adventure.
* LargeAndInCharge: Unlike regular Bulblins, he's HUGE and strong enough to heft a giant battle axe. Plus, it takes a significant amount of damage to make him surrender and retreat each time.
* MadeOfIron: He gets slashed repeteadly, is shot like a pincushion, loses both horns, gets knocked into a vast gorge ''twice''... and yet he manages to make it to the endgame to fight Link.
* MightyGlacier: When wielding his axe. Because the thing is so heavy, it takes quite a while for him to wind up a swing, giving Link time to gets some hits in before he attacks. Getting hit by that axe, however, takes away ''three Hearts''.
* NobleDemon: For all his misdeeds, King Bulblin isn't without a sense of integrity. After their final duel, he concedes defeat and hands Link the key to the Castle's inner sanctum, then withdraws.
* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: As a militaristic green-skinned monster that's about roughly person-sized, he's somewhere on the verge between Goblin and Orc.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Lampshaded by his parting words to Link:
-->'''King Bulblin:''' I follow the strongest side! ...That is all I have ever known.
* RecurringBoss: He's fought four times over the course of the game: the Bridge of Eldin, the Great Bridge of Hylia, the Bulblin Compound, and Hyrule Castle.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Like all Bulblins, he has red eyes and is the most dangerous of them all.
* StarterVillainStays: He is the first major villain to appear in the game and an early boss, yet he manages to survive his first battle with Link and return no less than ''three times'', with the final confrontation being right outside [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Hyrule Castle]] itself.
* SuddenlySpeaking: For the majority of the game, Bulblin remained silent and only spoke before and after the final battle with him in Hyrule Castle. This is lampshaded by Midna, who evidently finds him speaking to be more remarkable than the guy surrendering.
* VillainRespect: His entire philosophy is built on this. He will follow or surrender to whoever is powerful enough to earn his respect, whether it be Zant, Ganondorf, or even Link.
* WorthyOpponent: Implied by the grin he shoots Link after being defeated for the last time, right before surrendering his key.

!!Bosses
[[folder:In General]]
!!Twilit Beasts

A group of monsters corrupted by Zant using the power of the Twilight.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Some of them are innocent creatures that were corrupted by the Twilight.
* EyesDoNotBelongThere: Each of them has a monstrous eye in a strange part of their body, indicating their corruption from Zant.
* FisherKing: All of them (with the exception of Stallord) negatively impact their dungeons and the regions surrounding them.
* GoForTheEye: Most of them have weird-looking eyes that serve as convenient weak points for Link to plunge his sword into.
* KingMook: Almost all of them are giant versions of regular enemies.
** Diababa is a Deku Baba.
** Fyrus is an odd one, as he's just a mutated Goron. However, the Gorons ''are'' initially hostile to Link on the way up to Death Mountain, with one of them even being fought as a mini-boss.
** Stallord is a colossal, draconic Stalfos.
** Blizzeta is essentially a giant Freezard.
** Armogohma is a more realistic version of Queen Gohma.
** Argorok is a powerful Kargorok.
* MadeOfEvil: Being the products of Zant's Twilight corruption, all of them are essentially this in their current forms.

[[folder:Diababa]]
[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/diababa.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:''[[ManEatingPlant Twilit Parasite]]'']]

A three-headed baba large enough to dwarf a monster truck, dwelling in poison water. Diababa is the boss of the Forest Temple and the first boss of the game.

* BossSubtitles: '''Twilit Parasite: Diababa'''
* DubNameChange: It's called Barbarant in the original Japanese, and further renamed Dionéa in French, Plantainferna in German, Nefentyax in Italian and Babalant in Spanish.
* GoForTheEye: The eye is located inside the central maw, which only appears after Link dispatches the first two in the first phase.
* KingMook: The boss is the result of a Deku Baba influenced by a fragment of the Fused Shadow. As such, it mutated into a giant Baba with three heads.
* StarterVillain: The first boss of the first dungeon of the game, along with being one of the more easy to defeat bosses.
* StationaryBoss: Due to being a rooted plant, it cannot leave its spot in the arena during its battle.
* WarmUpBoss: It only has to be hit four times (the two side mouths and the central one twice), and it barely attacks Link.

[[folder:Fyrus]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fyrus.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[PlayingWithFire Twilit Igniter]]'']]

The Goron chief Darbus cursed and mutated by the Fused Shadow, locked deep within the Goron Mines.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the manga he lacks any of his game counterpart's tragic background as revealed in ''The Wind Waker'' and ''Skyward Sword'' and is portrayed as much more evil and sinister than he already was. He acts far more bloodthirsty and sadistic toward Link such as actively taunting him as he fights him while possessing Zelda’s body. He even [[spoiler:rejects Link’s offer of a truce and kills himself out of spite]].
* AlasPoorVillain: His death is portrayed rather somberly and no real fanfare. After the final battle, when the impaling Master Sword severs his connection to the Triforce of Power, killing him. After his passing, Zelda prays for him. It’s averted in the manga where he’s portrayed as a spiteful, sadistic monster [[spoiler:and he kills himself out of spite instead of accepting Link’s truce]].

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the game, he is just a strong monster following orders from who he deems the strongest. While this is also true in the manga, his cruelty is more pronounced, and he has a hint of sadism not seen in his original incarnation.

* DisproportionateRetribution: In the accompanying manga, when Link manages to actually wound King Bulblin in his attempt to rescue Ilia and Colin, King Bulblin retaliates by ordering his men to hold him down... '''so he can cut off his arm with his axe.'''

* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the manga, being relieved of the shard of the Mirror of Twilight restores Argorok to its true form as the GuardianEntity of the City in the Sky.

* DecompositeCharacter: Of sorts. In the manga, Dark Link's design is not used to represent the interlopers, with one of them depicted as a vampire-like Hylian.

* MountedMook: Bulblins often appear riding on aggressive warthog-like beasts called Bulbos, giving them increased mobility as they pepper Link with arrows. Link often fights against them while he's himself mounted on Epona.

A long-forgotten tribe of sorcerors who arose during a period of civil war in Hyrule, attempting to invade the Sacred Realm and steal the Triforce. They were the creators of the Fused Shadow and the ancestors of the Twili tribe.

* DecompositeCharacter: Of sorts. In the manga, his design is not used to represent the interlopers, with one of them depicted as a vampire-like Hylian.

* EvilSorcerer: The Interlopers are explicitly described as "wielding powerul sorcery" and trying to conquer the Sacred Realm.
* GodzillaThreshold: Lanayru states that the Light Spirits were called by the gods to deal with them, and the interlopers themselves had to be sealed in the Twilight Realm by the goddesses personally. Given that divine beings throughout the series are shown to generally avoid interfering in mortals' lives, this means that they were so powerful that they attracted the gods' attention.

* GodzillaThreshold: Lanayru states that the Light Spirits were called by the gods to deal with them. Given that divine beings throughout the series are shown to generally avoid interfering in mortals' lives, this means that they were so powerful that they attracted the gods' attention.

* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: Lanayru depiction of them as Dark Link is a black shadow with red eyes.