Summary
One of the best parts aboutTears of the Kingdomis the variety of field bosses available throughout the game. AlthoughBreath of the Wildwas an undoubted triumph, one of the main issues players had was therepetitiveness of its enemies.Tears of the Kingdomhas managed to avoid this problem by adding new bosses and expanding upon the familiar ones. ClassicBreath of the Wildvillains like Taluses have returned, but exciting monsters like Gleeoks and Flux Constructs have definitely livened up the gameplay.
There are a few components needed when creating a good overworld boss. They have to be challenging enough to engage gamers, and rewarding enough to warrant taking on the fight. But, if the mini-bosses roaming Hyrule are too difficult, then many players simply won’t bother trying to take them on. The entire point of field bosses is that it’s a choice (and benefit) to battle them. Luckily,Tears of the Kingdomhas the perfect formula, and the game is packed full of brilliant field bosses.
1Hinox
Quick And Easy Takedowns For Monster Part Farming
Hinox are one of the most common field bosses inTears of the Kingdom, and players will know they’ve encountered one either from their loud snores or heavy footsteps. Hinox are resourceful, and can hurl rocks and trees at Link if he gets too far away - but they drop lots of monster parts and weapons, making them the ideal overworld boss.
Luckily, killing a Hinox is pretty easy. They take damage from anywhere on their body, but their eye is particularly vulnerable to just about anything. If players struggle to hit the eye with an arrow, throwing aDazzlefruitorPuffshroomwill also halt a Hinox in its tracks, long enough for players to hack at its legs. Hinox scale by color, so a blue or black one might take more effort than a red one, but once players get the hang of it, these field bosses are ideal for farming monster parts. Hinox parts can be used to upgrade a few armor sets, including the Solider’s Armor set and theYiga Armorset.
2Frox
Similar Tactics, But More Interesting Than A Hinox
Frox are newTears of the Kingdommonsters that hop around the depths in search of a tasty meal. Frox are very similar to Hinox in terms of the tactics needed to kill them. However, they’re frog-like creatures capable of leaping large distances and throwing Link very high up into the air. These qualities, coupled with their ability to blend into the low light of the depths, make Frox more interesting to fight.
Dispatching a Frox will eventually become second nature to most players since an arrow, dazzlefruit, or puffshroom to the eye will knock it down just like a Hinox. Players should then climb on its back and hack at the ore deposits - like a Talus. Most Frox will be guarding a horde of Zonai deposits, which means that any players in need of Zonai know exactly where to look. Also, these terrifying toads drop monster parts needed to upgradethe Depths Armor set.
3Battle Talus
Dimensional Mini-Boss That Requires Strategy
Battle Talus' are another new enemy introduced inTears of the Kingdomthat combines a monster camp with a Stone Talus to create a formidable field boss. The trick of the Battle Talus is that it may just appear to be a standard monster camp - perhaps even an easy one. But if the ground starts to shudder, players will quickly realize they’ve taken on more than they bargained for.
The best tactic for killing a Battle Talus is to use arrows to take out the Bokoblins atop it, particularly any ranged ones since they’ll cause extra trouble for Link. The Battle Talus will fall to its knees, which should allow Link to hop onto the wooden platform (or ascend up) and dispatch the rest of the Bokoblins. Once they’re gone, the Talus dies the same as others: by hacking at the ore deposit on its head. Battle Talus' are a great revision of the classicBreath of the Wildenemy, and are far more intimidating.
4Flux Construct
Creative Attack Patterns And Limited Damage Area
Flux Constructs can be found exclusively in the Sky and the Depths. Players who encounter a Flux Construct 1 for the first time may be surprised at how easy they seem, but they scale in difficulty and, after the first level, becomesignificantly harder.
Different Flux Constructs have different attack patterns and strategies, which is part of what makes them so engaging to fight. Players need to pay attention to the behavior of each one and utilize any Zonai devices nearby. The most important thing to note is that Flux Constructs only take damage from their core - which is noticeably different from the other cubes in their body. Using ultrahand and having plenty of arrows available are necessities when battling any Flux Construct, and players shouldn’t be surprised if it takes a few tries.
5Phantom Ganon
Unexpected Appearances, Challenging Attacks, And Rewarding Drops
As a field boss, Phantom Ganon will sometimes spawn after players have defeated Gloom Hands - which means its appearances are largely unpredictable. Phantom Ganon’s design is a red, shadowy version of Ganon, with creepy eyes and a Gloom-infected body. Phantom Ganon, like Gloom Hands, is one of the few non-Depths enemies todeal Gloom damage, which means every hit counts.
Phantom Ganon may spawn with aGloom Club, spear, or sword, which will adjust its attack pattern. Like Lynels, if Link is out of reach, then Phantom Ganon will shoot arrows at him. Players will also have to avoid the pools of Gloom that spread around Phantom Ganon, making it a very challenging battle. The best course of action is to pay attention to its attack patterns, focus on dodging and striking - and remember that Phantom Ganon is quick, and can occasionally teleport to Link - so trying to stay far away isn’t always the best tactic. When defeated, Phantom Ganon will drop its weapon and bow, which both deal a tremendous amount of damage, but Link will take damage while he’s using them.
6Thunder, Frost, Flame & King Gleeok
Manageable Attack Patterns In A Genuinely Fun Battle
Gleeoks are one of the most talked-about additions toTears of the Kingdom, if not because of their sheer size and appearance, then because of their terrifying elemental attacks. These three-headed dragon creatures are incredibly intimidating, and deciding to take one on is no small feat. Usually, a lot of preparation is needed to ensure success but the brilliance of these mini-bosses is that they’re actuallya lot of fun to fight.
It’s recommended to eat a dish with the respective resistance boost, and to have full armor sets to avoid being frozen solid or burned alive - theLightning Helmis the best armor for resisting the Thunder Gleeok’s attacks.Each Gleeokhas a slightly different attack strategy, but generally, players should equip arrows with Keese eyes (ideally ones with the opposing element) to knock out the three heads. Once the Gleeok falls, attack it with the strongest weapon available and get back before it can strike again. Players will then have to enter combat in an aerial phase, but aiming an arrow in midair will slow down time, which can sometimes be easier than the ground phase.
A King Gleeok is particularly fearsome and difficult to defeat since players need to be resistant to multiple elements. But, other than that, a King Gleeok is largely the same in battle. The best method is to deal as much damage as possible before they can even begin their attack patterns, so shooting arrows fused with high-damage materials while in midair is the way to go.
