Zelda 2 - The Adventure of Link on NES (mini) and GBA (NES Classic): Bestiary (Hyrule's Monsters)

Lowder

A crawling bug. Sucks life force. Also lives in caves.

The Lowder is a cockroach with only one variety: the small blue one. This variety is really easy to kill, because it only crawls on the ground. To defeat it, a simple crouching strike is enough. Since it speeds up when it sees you, if you stay on the first attack level without throwing your sword, the Lowder has very little chance of hitting you.

Ache

A bat living in dark places. Usually hangs upside down in trees or caves.

The Ache is a blue bat with relatively low resistance that attacks Link in caves and the forests of Hyrule. However, it is not very easy to kill because it is very fast and often stays near the ceiling. Approach it so that it attacks you, and strike when it flies past at your height.

Bit (red) and Bot (blue)

A jellyfish monster with erratic movement. But watch out! Bot jumps.

A kind of very slow blob. There are relatively few Bits in Hyrule, but Bots are also seen in palaces. To hit them, crouch down and strike or use a downward thrust.

Molblin (formerly Moblin)

A small goblin, found mainly in forests. Link attacks with a spear, but moves slowly.

This pig-like bipedal creature has 2 tactics and 4 colors. Moblins carry spears. Some advance towards you and strike with their spear; hitting them as they approach is enough. Others try to catch you from a distance by throwing their spear at you, and you must attack them directly after deflecting or dodging one of their spears with your shield. The orange Molblin, which does not throw its spear, forces you to lose experience points. Note: In Zelda 1, this monster was named Moblin.

Deeler

Descends from trees. The blue Deeler drops to the ground to attack Link.

This spider can be encountered in the forests of Hyrule. When Link passes nearby, the red spider goes down and back up; stand next to its vertical line to strike it with the sword when it passes by at eye level. The blue spider dies the same way, but if you miss your timing, it will let go of its thread and jump at you. So it is better to wait for this spider on the ground.

Dust

This speck of dust is not really an enemy, as it does not seem to be controlled by Ganon and gives nothing (in fact it cannot be destroyed). However, if it touches you, it takes away a little of your life (unless your shield protects you). It can be found in some deserts.

Geldarm

A giant entity stretching from the ground to the sky. To defeat it, you must hit its head.

This type of sand worm is not very dangerous because it does not move horizontally. If you see one in the desert, strike its head (the black part). If it is too high, hitting its body makes it go back down.

Water bubble (Bulle d'eau)

Like the desert dust, these bubbles are not real enemies, and like them cannot be killed or made to disappear. They are often found in platform sections where there is a risk of falling into the water. They start from the bottom and rise at a steady speed. Be careful.

Goriya

A small goblin, attacking Link with a boomerang. Block blows with the shield. Watch out! These goblins also inhabit flat land and caves.

Whatever its color (which only changes its resistance), a Goriya only knows how to throw a boomerang which Link's shield can block. Try to stay close to it, and stop attacking to block the boomerang when it prepares to throw it. Goriyas are not afraid of Link's thrown sword.

Octorock

An octopus living on land. They jump and throw stones.

This small octopus twitches a bit on the ground before jumping and throwing a pebble, which Link can block. The best approach is to block their attack and then crouch down to kill them while they are on the ground.

Acheman

The Acheman is a red bat that attacks like an "Ache", but with an additional feature. When it gets close to the ground, it transforms into a small dragon and shoots a fireball, which will hit Link unless he has used the "Reflect" spell.

Megmat

This creature (to me a cat wearing a western bandit mask) bounces all over the place. It advances slowly towards Link via small and large jumps. Try to wait for it at the right spot and strike at the exact moment. If it doesn't die instantly, strike again quickly; then it won't have time to move.

Moby

Attacks Link in a diving motion. Low power, but very fast and hard to avoid.

This little bird's pattern may be simple, but catching it is far from easy given its sheer speed. The Moby descends until it reaches Link's horizontal height, and then rushes towards him. If you want to hit it, you have to turn towards it and strike at the right moment. You can also jump as it descends so that when Link reaches the peak of his jump, it is at Link's same height. This way the Moby will fly right over you.

Bago-Bago

While this monster always looked like a dragon's skull bone to me, it's actually a skinless fish (definitely a piranha given the teeth). Anyway, Bago-Bago emerges from water or lava, rises higher than Link and then goes back down. Usually, it shoots as soon as it reaches Link's height; so it's best to crouch down the moment it reaches your height to block the stone the Bago-Bago throws horizontally. Bago-Bago forces you to lose experience points. In the Grand Palace you also find Bago-Bago where they shoot; it's best to use "Reflect" there.

Daira (or Daria)

An alligator warrior attacking with an axe. Link's shield cannot protect him from the axe.

The orange Daira is a powerful enemy, armed with an axe, appearing in the maze of Death Mountain. It rushes toward Link and strikes at regular intervals. If Link is within reach, the Daira stops and strikes. Since Link's reach is short, you must keep your distance, then step forward and strike right after its attack. Then back off a bit and repeat the tactic. This requires pretty good timing.

The red Daira also appears in Death Mountain's maze. It advances towards Link and throws its axe. Defeating it also requires good timing, as you must jump over its axe, strike it, and then step back far enough (but not too far) to repeat the tactic. The red Daira's axe is stopped by the "Reflect" magic.

Dairas are not afraid of Link's sword thrown at full health.

Moa

A ghost flying over the graveyard. You must have the cross to see all of them.

This flying eye is quite annoying because its movement is quite erratic. Some of these eyes are invisible (especially in old Kasuto), and you need the 6th palace's cross to see them. Unlike the orange Moas in palaces, outside world Moas do not throw fire. If a Moa touches you, you will lose experience points.

Patra (Digdogger)

This eye floats very slowly in the air (and occasionally pauses) and moves towards Link when he advances. You cannot reach it while it is closed; it is only vulnerable when open. So step forward and strike on time when it opens its eye (or throw your sword at it).

Basilisk

Due to its shell, the Basilisk is only afraid of the fireballs from the "Fire" spell. It doesn't move very fast or very far and throws small orbs that Link can block. It is frequently encountered at the beginning of Hyrule's second island.

Tektite

This long-legged spider-like creature is made of the same material as the Basilisk and therefore only fears the "Fire" magic. It also throws easily blockable balls. It jumps towards Link, and depending on the jump you can pass under or over it, but it's best to kill it for a safe passage.

Scorpion

Despite its solid shell, the scorpion has one weakness: its eye. When it is open, it is vulnerable to sword strikes (not projectiles). The scorpion throws fireballs with its tail that Link can only stop with the "Reflect" magic.

Boon

This enemy has random movement either horizontally or vertical. It changes direction often in the sky and throws stones at Link, you can get it with an upward attack if you don't take a stone to the head while jumping. It's better to move along and pass it by.

Lizalfos (Lizardman)

These lizardmen have different attacks depending on their color. The Lizalfos defends itself with a shield that it moves up or down to try to counter Link's sword. You can eventually get it with a downward attack, but it counters most of them.

The orange one is similar to an ironknuckle with a bit more reach, parry its spear and strike it high or low (where its shield isn't). The second has the same technique as a red Daira, but this time with a mace; however, unlike it, hitting it nonstop will normally keep it at bay (because it has a shield). The blue one finally looks like the red Daira and throws its maces. "Reflect" magic will stop them without problem, but if you don't want/can't cast it, you'll have to jump over them and attack when you return to the ground. Timing is quite hard to get. Lizalfos are not afraid of Link's thrown sword at full health.

Bombardier Lizalfos

This lizardman stands atop walls and throws stones at you. These can be blocked by Link's shield, but it's not very easy because they don't go horizontally. This Lizalfos is too high to receive sword blows; if it really bothers you, you can always transform it into a bot with the "Spell" magic or kill it with the "Thunder" magic.