Set firmly within the fantasy genre,The Legend of Zeldafranchise has featured many mythical creatures in its nearly forty-year run. Though several remain unique to the series itself, such as theoddly adorable Chuchusand theunsettling Like-Likes, many of its creatures take their design from common fantasy staples. One such staple is thedragon.
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Dragons dominate the fantasy genre as they are often either portrayed as fearsome magical enemies, or wise and benevolent beings. InThe Legend of Zelda, dragons have appeared in roles on both sides of this divide. But out of themany dragons in the series, which ones are the best?
This article contains spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
11Barba
Serving as the main bossof the Three-Eye Rock Palace inThe Adventure of Link, Barba has a unique design that was somewhat limited by the available technology at the time. Players only ever see Barba’s goofy-looking head and neck as it rises from the pools of lava in this dungeon.
In the promotional art, however, Barba is a coiling, scaly monstrosity sure to strike fear in even the most dedicated hero’s heart. Barba attacks Link by shooting streams of fire from its mouth. Interestingly, Barba would later be renamed as Volvagia – another entry in this list – inTheLegend of Zelda: EncyclopediaandNES Remix 2.
10Aquamentus
Aquamentus appears both in the originalLegend of Zeldagame as well asOracle of Seasons. In both games, his character sprite is a masterclass in retro Western dragon design. Featuring a stocky green dinosaur-like body, a unicorn horn protrusion from his head, and small highly impractical wings, Aquamentus usually serves as the first major boss of early game levels.
Like many other dragons in this list, Aquamentus’ main attack is fire based. In the original game, it breathes three fireballs at Link and can be killed with bomb damage to the body. InOracle of Seasons, it breathes fire rings instead and can be killed by damage to its horn. Aquamentus is not a particularly tough enemy in either game, however its design is very typical of its era.
9Argorok
Serving as the seventh boss in the ever-popularTwilight Princess, Argorok has a much darker design than many others in this list. It is also known as the Twilit Dragon and is a large armored enemy that Link must face in the City in the Sky.
Argorok uses gusts of wind and flame breath to try to bring down Link. When enough of its armor has fallen away, a weak spot can be exposed on Argrok’s back. Some fans have criticized the combat encounter to be too easy for such a high-level boss fight, however the moody design still shines.
8Valoo
Known also as the Spirit of the Skies, Valoo is one of the more lovable dragon characters within the series. Appearing only inWind Waker, Valoo lives atop Dragon Roost Mountain and is usually a protector of the Rito people who dwell on the island. However, when Link first encounters him, he is in a fit of rage due to being tormented by Gohma.
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As Valoo is not an enemy himself, he has no particular attacks to speak of. However, he does play an important role in Rito society. His scales are gifted to the Rito children when they come of age and enable them to grow wings. Valoo’s design is colorful and dynamic, while still holding to key elements of Western dragon designs.
7Dinraal
As one of the three dragons that first appear inBreath of the Wild, Dinraal is naturally one of the fan-favorite designs in the entire franchise. Helped along by contemporary technology, this game showcases a more Eastern dragon design by holding to a snakelike silhouette more than a dinosaur-like one. Dinraal is the draconified spirit of fire and is tied to the Spring of Power.
Being a spirit of fire, Dinraal issurrounded by flamesthat will burn anyone who gets too close. Instead of being an enemy, however, Dinraal is instead a source of precious resources in the form of scales, claws, fangs, and shards of horn. Link can glide toward Dinraal to acquire these items by shooting an arrow at various locations on its body. Dinraal also reprises her role inTears of the Kingdom.
6Farosh
Farosh is the spirit of lightning who, like Dinraal, is surrounded by her particular element. Farosh features in bothBreath of the Wild,and inTears of the Kingdom.Farosh can be found primarily in the Faron region but also in the Gerudo Highlands areas. She is connected with the Spring of Courage as well as The Serpent’s Jaws shrine quest.
Farosh is the source of the same resource materials as Dinraal that can be acquired by shooting arrows at various parts of the dragon’s body. These resources can be used to upgrade armor, cook elixirs, andsell for a high price. Farosh’s design is similar to both Dinraal’s and Naydra’s however she has only one prominent horn on her head.
5Naydra
As the ice spirit component ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom’selemental dragons, Naydra takes a slightly more prominent role in the story than the others. After becoming infected by Malice, Naydra requires the help of Link to be freed from its effects. However, despite being infected by Malice, Naydra remains passive and peaceful.
Like the others, Naydra is also closely associated with one of the Springs. Naydra’s, The Spring of Wisdom, is also where Hyrule’s princesses go for a purification ritual. In the memory scenes revealed inBreath of the Wild, it is also one of the locations where Zelda goes to attempt to trigger her latent powers.
4Volvagia
Appearing only in one of the top fan-favorite games of the franchise, Volvagia is another ofThe Legend of Zelda’smost popular dragons. Volvagia serves as the boss of the Fire Temple inOcarina of Timeand features a fiery snakelike design. As a boss fight, Volvagia can be difficult to defeat without the necessary skills and timing.
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Unsurprisingly for the big bad of the Fire Temple, Volvagia’s main attacks involve fire either in the form of fire breath or flaming rocks knocked down from the ceiling. He can be stunned with a hammer and then defeated with a sword to reveal a portal to the Sacred Realm. His fiery aesthetic and unique design make him a memorable foe in the franchise’s history.
3Gleeok
On the topic ofLegend of Zeldahistory, Gleeok may just be the most prolific dragon of them all. Gleeok has appeared in the originalLegend of Zelda,Oracle of Seasons,Phantom Hourglass, and makes a triumphant return inTears of the Kingdom. In each appearance Gleeok takes the form of a large multi-headed dragon.
InTears of the Kingdom, however, a new elemental facet is introduced to this recurring enemy. Gleeoks now appear in Flame, Frost, and Thunder varieties as well as King Gleeok, which features a head of each. These elemental beasts are a difficult slog to defeat, however their large eyes are a key weak spot.
2Demon Dragon
One of the newest elements thatTears of the Kingdomintroduces toLegend of Zeldalore is the Secret Stones. These stones are powerful artifacts brought to Hyrule by the Zonai and can enhance the abilities of those who possess them. However, in an act forbidden by the Zonai, the stones also have the power to transform those who consume them into dragons. In a desperate act toward the end of the game, the Demon King Ganondorf consumes his stone to transform into the Demon Dragon.
This transformation, however, is not without its downsides. The consumer will become an immortal powerful dragon, but they will also lose their mind and personality in the process. As such, the Demon Dragon is a wild and ferocious force focused only on the destruction of Hyrule. Its design is similar to that of the three dragons that feature inBreath of the Wild, but distinct color and structural differences set it apart. Though thebattle against the Demon Dragonis straightforward, it is a truly fearsome enemy to face off against.
