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This Article Contains Spoilers -
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| “ | A long time ago there was an evil dragon named Volvagia living in this mountain. That dragon was very scary! He ate Gorons! | „ |
| ~ Link the Goron describing Volvagia. |
| “ | Link. | „ |
| ~ Volvagia's only spoken line in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga. |
Volvagia, also known as Barba, is a major antagonist in the 1987 action role-playing game Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the 1998 action-adventure game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and the 2024 action-adventure game The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
It is a snake-like dragon with two unique front legs that serve as arms that was defeated by the Gorons long ago, only to be revived by Ganondorf to guard the Fire Temple. In the Era of Decline, Volvagia reappears as the guardian of the Three-Eye Rock Palace. In an unknown era, a dark echo of Volvagia created by Null appears in the Eldin Temple.
Biography
Unified Timeline
Ocarina of Time
A legendary, snake-like dragon in Goron lore, Subterranean Lava Dragon: Volvagia is the boss residing in the Fire Temple. Volvagia was an ancient dragon that lived in the depths of the fiery Death Mountain, long before Link was born. It was said that a legendary Goron destroyed Volvagia with the use of the Megaton Hammer. By the time of Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf had revived the fierce creature to secure the corrupted Fire Temple from intrusion and by feeding the native Gorons to Volvagia by forcing them, to "make an example" to other people that might revolt against him. Incited by Darunia's son, who told him both about the other Gorons and that if the dragon escaped from the temple, Hyrule would become a burning wasteland, Link set out to destroy Volvagia. In the game, Volvagia is referred to as "it", with a single instance in which its gender is specified as male. This is omitted in the 3DS remake.
Downfall Timeline
Echoes of Wisdom
An echo of Volvagia created by Null to capture the Tris appears as the boss of Eldin Temple. Its battle is similar to his fight in Ocarina of Time where Zelda must strike it when it emerges from a hole. On its neck is a green gem that gives it the ability to shoot out a large orb of green fire. Smashing it with an Echo or pulling at it with Tri will break it and temporarily stun Volvagia. By defeating it, Zelda is able to free the captured Tris imprisoned within its body and fix the Eldin Volcano Rift.
The Adventure of Link
Volvagia, now known as "Barba" in the Downfall Timeline, is the guardian of Three-Eye Rock Palace, where Link places one of the six Magic Crystal shards in the palace's lectern in order to rouse Princess Zelda from her unnatural slumber. It breathes fireballs at Link. However, it can be beaten if Link uses the Jump Spell, or by using the upwards sword thrust, though this method is more risky, as it is easier to fall into the lava. It is better if Link stands still and facing it to prevent this while using this technique.
Other Media
Ocarina of Time (Manga)
The 2000-2008 manga of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has an entirely different backstory for Volvagia. In it, a young Link buys a baby Volvagia at a shop to set it free, and the two have some bonding time before Link sends Volvagia on his way. Sometime during Link's seven year sleep in the Chamber of Sages, Ganondorf finds Volvagia and turns him into a monster through some kind of mind control, destroying Goron City and threatening to bury all of Hyrule in lava from Death Mountain. Link has to make the tragic choice to kill his old friend in order to save Hyrule. As Volvagia's severed head hits the ground, it cries and says Link's name one last time.
Hyrule Warriors
- Main article: Volga
The character, Volga, was originally designed with the intention of making him an incarnation of Volvagia, hence the similarities in both design and name. The major difference between the two is that Volga was originally a noble knight from the Eldin Caves, who lived peacefully among the Lizalfos, Dinolfos, Bulblins and even among the Gorons, whereas Volvagia was a monster that terrorized the Gorons in Death Mountain.
Trivia
- During production of Ocarina of Time, Volvagia's AI while flying was tested using an Arwing from Star Fox 64.
- According to Hyrule Hystoria, Valoo from The Wind Waker is theorized to be a descendant of Volvagia.
- While Volvagia never speaks in the game, he does in the manga, though he is limited to being able to say Link's name.
