How to Beat Rush/Replay — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide

Boss Rush/Replay

While The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time doesn't feature a dedicated "Boss Rush" mode in the traditional sense, you can revisit and re-challenge many of the game's memorable dungeon bosses through strategic use of the game's mechanics. This section outlines how to effectively replay these boss encounters, allowing you to hone your skills, test new strategies, or simply relive the epic battles.

Important Note: This method of replaying bosses is primarily applicable to the major dungeon bosses. Overworld mini-bosses (like the Stalfos in the Forest Temple or the Iron Knuckles) and the final encounters with Ganondorf and Ganon cannot be replayed using this specific save/reload technique, as their defeat often triggers irreversible story progression or there isn't a suitable save point immediately preceding them without completing a significant portion of the game again.

Preparing for Battle

Before attempting to re-engage any boss, ensure Link is fully equipped and prepared. Optimizing your inventory and gear will significantly increase your chances of success, especially if you're aiming for speed or a flawless victory.

Equipment Upgrades: For maximum damage output, the Biggoron's Sword is unparalleled. The Master Sword is also a strong contender and is required for certain boss mechanics. Ensure you have the Giant's Wallet and Adult's Wallet to carry plenty of Rupees for restocking essential items.
Heart Containers: Collect all available Heart Pieces and Heart Containers to maximize your health. More hearts mean more survivability and a larger margin for error.
Bottled Items: Stock up on essential bottled items. Fairies are invaluable for automatic revivals, providing a second chance. Potions (Red Potion for health, Green Potion for magic) are crucial for sustained combat. You can carry up to four bottled items, so choose wisely based on the boss.
Magic Meter: Ensure your Magic Meter is fully upgraded by visiting the Great Fairy Fountains. This is vital for magic-intensive items like the Bow with Light Arrows or Din's Fire, which are critical for several boss fights.
Ammunition: Replenish your Deku Nuts, Deku Sticks, Bombs, and Arrows to their maximum capacity. These items are often key to stunning or damaging bosses.

Revisiting Dungeon Bosses

The primary method for re-encountering dungeon bosses involves utilizing save points and strategically dying or resetting. This allows you to reload a save file just before a boss fight, effectively creating a "replay" scenario.

General Strategy for Replay:

Save Before the Boss: Always make a manual save at the earliest possible save point before entering a boss arena. This is your "reset" point. For most dungeons, this means saving in the room directly preceding the boss door.
Challenge the Boss: Engage the boss as usual.
After the Fight (Replay or Proceed):
- To Replay the Boss: If you want to fight the boss again, simply let the boss defeat you, or reset your console (if you didn't save after the fight). You will reload at your last save point, allowing you to fight the boss repeatedly.
- To Exit Dungeon Quickly (without saving): If you've defeated the boss and collected the Heart Container but wish to exit the dungeon without saving your progress past the boss, play the Song of Time (C-Right, A, D-Down, C-Right, A, D-Down) or the Song of Storms (A, D-Down, C-Up, D-Down, C-Up, D-Right). Playing either of these songs will warp you out of the dungeon to its entrance without triggering an autosave or requiring you to walk all the way back. This is particularly useful if your save point is just before the boss, and you want to keep that save for future replays while still collecting the Heart Container for your current session.
- To Proceed with Story: If you successfully defeated the boss and wish to move on, save your game after collecting the Heart Container and proceeding through the next area.

Specific Dungeon Boss Replay Scenarios:

Here's how to best set up replays for each of the game's major dungeon bosses, along with key strategies:

Gohma (Inside the Deku Tree)

Save Point: The ideal save point is just before dropping into the main chamber of the Deku Tree where Gohma resides. This is the room with the web floor you burn away.
Recommended Link: Young Link
Key Items: Slingshot, Deku Sticks
Strategy: As Young Link, wait for Gohma to climb onto the ceiling and open her eye. Use your Slingshot to shoot her eye when it's red. She will fall to the ground, stunned. Quickly switch to your Deku Stick and unleash a flurry of attacks. Repeat this process. Be wary of her spawning Gohma Larvae; quickly defeat them with your Kokiri Sword or Deku Sticks to avoid being overwhelmed.

King Dodongo (Dodongo's Cavern)

Save Point: Save right outside the boss door in Dodongo's Cavern. This is the room with the large block puzzle leading to the boss.
Recommended Link: Young Link
Key Items: Bombs
Strategy: As Young Link, observe King Dodongo's pattern. When he inhales to prepare a fire breath attack, quickly throw a Bomb into his mouth. The bomb will explode inside him, stunning him. While he's stunned, run up and attack his head with your Kokiri Sword. Repeat this process. Be careful to avoid his roll attack, which can deal significant damage. You can also use Bomb Flowers found in the arena if you run out of regular Bombs.

Barinade (Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly)

Save Point: Save just before entering the boss room in Jabu-Jabu's Belly. This is the room with the platform that descends into the boss arena.
Recommended Link: Young Link
Key Items: Boomerang, Kokiri Sword
Strategy: As Young Link, this fight has two phases. First, use your Boomerang to detach the three tentacles connecting Barinade to the ceiling. Then, target the central core of Barinade. When it's vulnerable, stun it with your Boomerang and quickly attack its core with your Kokiri Sword. Be mindful of the electric barriers and jellyfish that Barinade releases.

Phantom Ganon (Forest Temple)

Save Point: Save immediately before entering the boss chamber in the Forest Temple. This is the room with the elevator leading down to the boss arena.
Recommended Link: Adult Link
Key Items: Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword), Bow & Arrows
Strategy: As Adult Link, this is a multi-stage "tennis match."
1. Painting Phase: Phantom Ganon will ride out of one of the paintings. Identify the real one (the one with a blue aura around him) and shoot him with an Arrow before he can attack. If you hit the wrong one, the phantom will disappear.
2. Energy Orb Phase: Once he's out of the paintings, he'll float in the air and shoot energy orbs. Use your Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword) to reflect these orbs back at him. Keep reflecting until he's hit.
3. Stunned Phase: When he's stunned and falls to the ground, run up and unleash a powerful sword combo. Repeat these phases until he is defeated.

Volvagia (Fire Temple)

Save Point: Save just before the boss door in the Fire Temple. This is the room with the large block and the switch that opens the boss door.
Recommended Link: Adult Link
Key Items: Megaton Hammer, Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword), Hookshot (optional)
Strategy: As Adult Link, wait for Volvagia to emerge from one of the lava pits. When he pops out, quickly hit him with your Megaton Hammer to stun him. While he's stunned, switch to your Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword) and attack his head. If he flies into the air, you can use the Hookshot to pull him down, or wait for him to dive back into the lava. Be careful to avoid his fire breath and falling rocks.

Morpha (Water Temple)

Save Point: Save right before the boss room in the Water Temple. This is the room with the rising and falling water level, just before the boss door.
Recommended Link: Adult Link
Key Items: Longshot, Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword)
Strategy: As Adult Link, the key to defeating Morpha is to expose its nucleus. Stay on the corner platforms to avoid its water attacks. When Morpha's nucleus is exposed from the water, use your Longshot to grab it and pull it onto the platform you're standing on. Once the nucleus is on solid ground, quickly attack it with your Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword). Repeat this process until Morpha is defeated. Avoid falling into the water, as it will damage Link.

Bongo Bongo (Shadow Temple)

Save Point: Save just before the boss room in the Shadow Temple. This is the room with the boat ride leading to the boss arena.
Recommended Link: Adult Link
Key Items: Hover Boots, Bow & Arrows, Lens of Truth, Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword)
Strategy: As Adult Link, equip your Hover Boots to stay on the central drum platform. Bongo Bongo's giant hands will try to attack you. Use your Bow to shoot his hands when they approach the platform. Once both hands are stunned, Bongo Bongo's invisible body will appear. Equip the Lens of Truth to see his body, then shoot his eye with an Arrow. When he falls, quickly run up and attack his eye with your Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword). Repeat this cycle. Be careful to avoid his drum beats and hand attacks.

Twinrova (Spirit Temple)

Save Point: Save right before the boss room in the Spirit Temple. This is the room with the large statue and the final push block puzzle.
Recommended Link: Adult Link
Key Items: Mirror Shield, Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword)
Strategy: As Adult Link, this fight has two main phases.
1. Individual Phase: The Twinrova sisters (Kotake and Koume) will fly around, casting fire and ice magic. Equip your Mirror Shield and use it to absorb three consecutive attacks of the same element. Once your shield is charged, reflect the energy back at the other sister (e.g., absorb fire, reflect at the ice sister). This will stun them.
2. Combined Phase: After taking enough damage, the sisters will merge into a single entity, Twinrova. In this phase, you must absorb three consecutive attacks of the same element, then reflect the charged energy back at Twinrova. This will stun her and cause her to fall to a platform. Quickly run up and attack her with your Master Sword (or Biggoron's Sword). Repeat until defeated.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively replay any dungeon boss battle in Ocarina of Time, allowing for practice, challenge runs, or simply enjoying the epic confrontations again and again.