Spoilers: This guide covers the final boss encounter and ending sequence. To beat Ganondorf, prepare before entering the cavern, use perfect dodges and Flurry Rushes early, then change tactics when his later phase can counter your rush. The Demon Dragon finale is a repeated glide between four back weak points and the Light Dragon, followed by a dive to the forehead crystal.
Prepare before entering Ganondorf’s cavern
You cannot save or fast travel once inside, according to GameSpot’s final-boss guide. If you realize you have forgotten supplies, getting them may mean loading an earlier save and replaying the Demon King’s Army encounter. A Travel Medallion placed in the Depths before that encounter can be a useful convenience, but it is not required to win.
- Bring healing items and Sundelion-based meals to recover from ordinary Gloom damage.
- Take a dependable weapon setup. A high-attack weapon with a strong Fuse material or the Master Sword with a high-tier Fuse material are options, not mandatory builds. Nintendo describes Fuse as a way to add damage, durability, or effects to weapons, shields, and arrows; see its official Tears of the Kingdom listing.
- Keep in mind that Ganondorf’s later attacks can remove maximum hearts. Ordinary healing meals do not restore those lost maximum hearts during that portion.
Opening phase: dodge the weapon attack, then punish
Ganondorf changes attacks with the weapon he is holding. Rather than trading ordinary melee blows, watch his wind-up and dodge at the last moment. A perfect dodge opens a Flurry Rush, which is the main melee punish window in this phase.
Read the attack and respond
- Sword lunge: Time a sidestep or backflip for the perfect dodge, then use Flurry Rush.
- Ground-traveling blade projectiles: Move sideways or pass through the visible gaps instead of retreating straight into their path.
- Three quick Gloom arrows: Keep moving laterally to avoid the volley.
- Three-part spear thrust: Watch the sequence and dodge the thrusts; a perfect dodge creates the counter opportunity.
- Aerial slam: Clear the landing area when Ganondorf jumps, then punish after he lands if an opening is safe.
These are the attacks and responses described in GameSpot’s encounter walkthrough. The important adjustment is to wait for his committed attack rather than trying to interrupt him with routine swings.
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Phantom Ganons and the later humanoid phase
At the next transition, Ganondorf summons Phantom Ganon copies. Your Sage companions distract most of them, so focus on the active threat and keep track of Ganondorf rather than letting the group draw you into careless attacks.
After the copies are defeated, the encounter escalates. Ganondorf’s attacks track Link, he can counter a Flurry Rush, and his hits can remove maximum hearts. Do not treat the opening phase’s dodge-and-rush pattern as a guaranteed safe loop.
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How to handle the escalation
- Give Ganondorf room and watch what he is preparing before committing to a dodge or attack.
- Use long casting animations as attack windows; ranged attacks can be useful when approaching safely is difficult.
- If he counters a Flurry Rush, be ready to block rather than immediately repeating the same rush.
- Move through gaps in the expanding or inward-moving crimson flame patterns. Keep moving laterally against tracking projectiles and watch for spear thrusts.
Maximum-heart loss is different from ordinary Gloom damage: Sundelion meals help with the latter, but do not restore the maximum hearts removed by these attacks. The phase changes and attack behaviors are outlined in GameSpot’s Ganondorf guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Demon Dragon: repeat the weak-point route
When Ganondorf is depleted, the battle shifts to the Demon Dragon and the Light Dragon arrives to help. This is an aerial weak-point sequence rather than another duel. The four glowing targets are along the Demon Dragon’s back; the Master Sword is used to strike them.
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- Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
- Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
- Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
- Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
- Jump from the Light Dragon and land on the Demon Dragon’s back.
- Strike one of the four glowing weak points with the Master Sword.
- When the hit knocks Link away, glide toward the Light Dragon. It catches him and returns him to a position above the Demon Dragon.
- Repeat the approach and strike until all four back weak points are destroyed.
The Light Dragon also provides recovery: returning to it heals Gloom damage, as described by PowerPyx’s Demon Dragon guide. GameSpot likewise notes Gloom recovery when Link reaches the Light Dragon or moves away from the Demon Dragon.
Finish at the forehead
After the four back weak points, the Demon Dragon attacks with fire and red orbs. Avoid these as you line up a dive toward the glowing crystal on its forehead. Strike the crystal with the Master Sword and complete the on-screen final-blow prompt. The sequence then continues into the ending cutscenes; the route and final target are also covered by PowerPyx.
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