Across the entire Zelda series, the use of ferocious reptilian enemies has been a common trend. From the terrifying dragon bosses to the routinely dangerous Lizalfos, these scaly beasts have challenged and threatened Link at every turn.
But these reptiles come in more than a few varieties, with one of those being the dinosaur variety. Dodongos are a type of enemy that has appeared in the games since the beginning of the series, and they have remained as fan-favorite monsters.
The Legend of Zelda
The Dodongos made their first appearance as the bosses of multiple dungeons in The Legend of Zelda‘s second dungeon. They were large quadrupeds that resembled the triceratops species of dinosaurs, albeit with the added ability to breathe fire.
This first appearance of the monsters served to establish their long-standing traits of being extremely durable but susceptible to bombs. Their tough hide made them invulnerable to nearly all attacks. The only way Link could destroy them was to either detonate a bomb next to the side of their bodies to weaken them or trick them into swallowing bombs to destroy them from the inside.
Ocarina of Time
Dondongos served both as common enemies and as a boss in Ocarina of Time. Link fought them in the aptly named Dodongo Cavern, which was the home territory of the creatures.
The regular Dodongos were large reptiles with influences taken from snakes and dinosaurs. They didn’t have hind legs and moved around by using their front legs and powerful tail. Their tail was weaker than the rest of their bodies. Link’s best option for beating them was to trick them into stopping to breathe fire at him, giving him enough time to get around them and attack the tail.
The Dodongo boss was King Dodongo, a massive dinosaur that towered over Link. The exterior of the beast was impenetrable. Link’s only option to defeat the boss was to throw bombs into its mouth as it inhaled before unleashing its fiery breath.
Majora’s Mask
The Dodongos of Majora’s Mask were, for the most part, the same as the ones from Ocarina of Time, but they did have some differences in size. These Dodongos were much larger than the ones from the previous game, which made them more of a threat for young Link.
These Dodongos were approximately twice the size of the previous Dodongos, and they dwelled in parts of Termina Field rather than in any dungeon. Defeating them required the use of the same strategies from Ocarina of Time, though more caution was required to avoid being hit by their larger and longer tails.
Oracle of Seasons
The Dodongo of Oracle of Seasons was a boss and took heavy inspiration from the first Dodongos from The Legend of Zelda. The boss of the Snakes Remains dungeon, this Dodongo could only be defeated in a two-step process.
The first thing Link needed to do was successfully stun the beast with a bomb. Once it was stunned, the hero then needed to use the Power Bracelet to lift the dinosaur up and throw it into a collection of large spikes in the center of its lair.
Four Swords Adventures
The Dodongos in Four Swords Adventures were unique because they came in two different forms, but each version was a type of boss. There were the smaller yellow ones and the larger blue ones.
Despite their differences in size and appearance, both Dodongos behaved the same way and shared the same weakness. The Links needed to predict the monsters’ paths and place bombs in their way. The Dodongo would then eat the bomb, automatically hurting them. It was the same process seen with the other variants of the enemy.
Twilight Princess
The Twilight Princess incarnation of the Dodongo is possibly the most unconventional of the Dodongo breeds and takes only minor inspiration from the older types.
These Dodongos, which were found primarily in the Goron Mines, were smaller and resembled real-world geckos. They could also use their suction cup-like toes to scale walls and ceilings. Whenever they saw Link, they would immediately rear up before unleashing a stream of fire breath in his direction. Link needed to use the same strategy from Ocarina of Time and avoid the flames, get around the creature, and strike its tail.
Phantom Hourglass
A Dodongo boss named Dongorongo is the final challenge Link faced in the Goron Temple in Phantom Hourglass. It was the second-largest Dodongo seen in the series, with only King Dodongo being larger than it. It is also the last version of the Dodongos seen in the franchise as of now.
While it was not the biggest Dodongo, it was the most dangerous. It was more durable than most other Dodongos, and its lair’s terrain made it hard for Link to properly fight it. It was only by combining his strength with a young Goron named Gongoron that Link was able to slay the beast.
Dodongos have not appeared in a mainline game in nearly 14 years, yet they continue to hold their place as an iconic member of the series’ bestiary. There are few other creatures in the Zelda canon that can fill their place as stubborn, fire-breathing menaces, and many fans eagerly await their return in future games.
