Whenever people discuss the topic of frightening enemies in the Zelda series, ReDeads often become the main point of focus. These humanoid, undead creatures have terrorized fans for more than 20 years. They have only appeared in a handful of games, but that has actually helped them retain their notoriety. Their stark contrast to most other designs and themes in the Zelda games has made them one of the series’ most iconic elements of horror.
Ocarina of Time (1998)
The ReDeads made their frightening introduction in Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. They appear to be mummified remains of humans or some other humanoid species, but they are actually made of clay. They have reddish-brown skin, long and gangly limbs, and they wear wooden masks that only expose their strong teeth.
The ReDeads appear in various locations throughout Hyrule, both in the present and seven years in the future. These monsters lurk only in dark places, such as dungeons and graves, as sunlight can damage them. They move slowly, but once a ReDead spots some prospective prey, they let out a blood-curdling scream that literally paralyzes the target with fear. If the ReDead is close enough to their prey while they are shocked, they will latch onto them and begin biting down.
Link has multiple options to defeat the ReDeads, but he always needs to be mindful and not fall into their line of sight. He can kill them from a distance by using Bombs, Bombchus, Din’s Fire, or arrows. If he wants to kill them with his sword, he needs to attack them from behind so they don’t see them. Another option is to use the Deku Nuts or play the “Sun’s Song” to stun them so he can approach.
Majora’s Mask (2000)
Just like their undead counterpart, the Gibdos, ReDeads returned in Ocarina of Time’s sequel, Majora’s Mask. They look and behave the same, and are again found in dark places such as dungeons and crypts.
The only significant change to the ReDeads is that Link can wear certain masks to avoid fighting them completely. If Link dons the Gibdo Mask, Captain’s Hat, or Garo’s Mask when approaching any ReDeads, they will not attack him. Instead, they will amusingly begin dancing in place, and will not stop unless Link leaves, kills them, or takes off his mask.
The Wind Waker (2002)
The ReDeads received a major redesign for their appearance in The Wind Waker. They match the game’s more cartoonish and dramatic visual style and effects. The ReDeads have lumbering, slouched bodies, and they no longer wear masks. Their faces are completely visible.
Their eyeless sockets and blank expressions make them look almost harmless from a distance. That’s a deception to lure in prey. If Link draws too close to one, their eye sockets will glow a deep red, their mouth open wide to let out a horrific and howling screech, and their overall expression becomes one of complete malice. And as with the previous version of the creature, their screams can freeze Link in place, leaving him open to being grabbed and bitten.
As is the standard for the species, ReDeads are only found in various dungeons and secret caverns.
Destroying The Wind Waker’s ReDeads is essentially the same process as destroying them in the previous two games. Link does have fewer options to work with, though. Link’s most reliable method is to destroy them from a distance by throwing Bombs at them. The second-best tactic is to sneak behind them and attack them with his sword.
Tri Force Heroes (2015)
The ReDeads of Tri Force Heroes are currently the latest version. For the most part, they take a lot of inspiration from the original ReDeads from Ocarina of Time. They have clay bodies, and they wear masks that, aside from being blue, are identical to the original’s masks. The biggest difference physically is that these ReDeads don’t have legs. Rather, their clay bodies seem to melt into puddles below the waste.
Their malleability seems like a weakness at first, but it actually gives them an advantage. When they want, they can turn their entire bodies into clay puddles. In puddle form, they are able to swiftly move around an area. This increased mobility makes them even more of a threat than the previous incarnations.
The Links face the ReDeads in two levels of the game’s seventh area, the Ruins. The Ruins is the game’s haunted area, where the ReDeads are accompanied by all manner of undead foes.
Typically, the Links need to stun a ReDead to be able to attack them. They can do this by using long-range items such as the Gripshot. The only viable option for damaging them from afar is to use the Fire Gloves when possible.
The ReDeads are a favorite species to hate for many Zelda fans, and for good reason. They bring a level of horror and shock to the games that only they and a few other enemies can. The difference between ReDeads and those other enemies is that they introduced that shock element first. They can be difficult to deal with, but the chance to conquer one’s fears is often as exciting as it is terrifying. This thrill is why many fans hope to see ReDeads return in a future game.
