Gleeok

Gleeoks are recurring Bosses in The Legend of Zelda series.^{[1][note 1]} They are dragon monsters with multiple heads, which are called Gleeok Heads.^[3] If the Gleeok Heads are struck enough, they often detach and fight independently until the body is finally defeated.

Characteristics

The Legend of Zelda

Gleeok makes three appearances in The Legend of Zelda, all defeated in a similar fashion. Using the Sword, Link must cut off each of the heads on the beast. Once one of the heads is detached from the body, it will float around the room shooting fireballs at Link.^[4] He must avoid the fireballs and cut off the other heads. The Magical Shield cannot defend Link from Gleeok's fireballs.

In the First Quest, a two-headed version guards the fourth piece of Triforce in Level 4, a three-headed version is a mini-boss in Level 6, and a four-headed version guards the piece of Triforce in Level 8. In the Second Quest, there are two, three and four-headed versions guarding the pieces of Triforce in Level 2, Level 5 and Level 7, respectively.

Oracle of Seasons

Gleeok is a two-headed version fought in the Explorer's Crypt in Oracle of Seasons.^[5] It is defeated in a different fashion from its former counterpart. Getting rid of the beast's heads is still Link's main objective; however, there is one more step before defeating it. Link must quickly slash away the heads, which must be done quickly because the severed heads will reattach themselves to the body if given time. Once both heads are severed, they will be permanently destroyed, reducing Gleeok to a skeleton. However, Gleeok's skeletal remains will continue to fight Link by jumping and causing a massive earthquake in the arena. In addition, Gleeok's body will wildly charge at Link. Using the Roc's Cape is the only way to avoid serious damage from the beast. When the beast is grounded, Link should attack with his Sword. He must continue this process until Gleeok is defeated. It will then give up the Seed of Life, the seventh Essence of Nature.

Phantom Hourglass

In Phantom Hourglass, Gleeok appears as the Two-Headed Dragon Gleeok, boss of the Temple of Ice and guardian of the Azurine steel. Its red head spews fireballs, while the blue head sprays frigid ice, similar to Trinexx from A Link to the Past.

Link will be standing on a platform with four pegs near each corner. When one of the heads fires a blast at Link, he will need to attach the grappling hook to two pegs diagonally so as the rope launches the blast back at the other dragon's face, cracking its mask. In addition with these blasts, the two heads will lunge to snap the rope Link ties, while trying to bite him as well. They can also sink below the water to cause a tremor that will flood Link's platform, as well as cause chunks of ice to fall from the ceiling and crash into Link. Link can tie the grappling hook to two posts and walk along the rope to avoid the ice chunks. Three blasts to both heads will remove their masks.

With their defenses destroyed the heads will remove two of the four pegs by snapping them with their jaws. Afterward each head will take turns at trying to bite Link, then will charge up for a powered blast. The red dragon head will fire a fiery blast that will scorch him, as well as leave a trail of fire on the platform. The blue dragon head will fire a blast of ice that will freeze Link on contact. While charging, however, both dragons will be sucking in energy, exposing their tongues. Link can pull the head down by tying one end of the grappling hook to a post and using it as an anchor on the dragon's head. Once down, Link must slash at the dragon head before it recovers. Repeating this process to both heads will defeat the dragon, and Link will obtain a Heart Container, extra sands for the Phantom Hourglass, and the second of the three Pure Metals, Azurine.

Tears of the Kingdom

Gleeoks make a return to the series in Tears of the Kingdom. They come in Flame, Frost, and Thunder variants, all appearing as massive dragons with three heads with one eye each. They keep enemies from attacking at close-range by using gusts from the wings to force them back, allowing them to spray their array of elemental attacks from afar at their leisure, and the occasional tail-swipe on the ground. At lower health, they take to the skies to use more powerful blasts of elemental energy. Link can use arrows to target their eyes and send the Gleeok crashing back down to earth, allowing him to close the distance for a follow-up assault. Fusing monster eyeballs to arrows, especially in tandem with a Duplex or Lynel Bow, is highly effective, as it allows Link to rapidly fire them upward with all but guaranteed accuracy towards the eyes.

Superior versions known as "King Gleeoks" also debut, with each of their three heads channeling one of fire, ice and lightning. These are much more dangerous than their more common counterparts due to being able to wield a triple threat of elements. A particular gloom-infused King Gleeok guards a chest containing the Cap of Twilight within its own Gleeok Den, located in the Hyrule Depths.

Locations

Flame Gleeok

• Spectacle Rock
• Bridge of Hylia
• Trilby Valley
• Rayne Highlands

Frost Gleeok

• Gerudo Summit
• Biron Snowshelf
• South Tabantha Snowfield

Thunder Gleeok

• South Akkala Plains
• Herin Lake South
• Coliseum Ruins

King Gleeok

• Hebra Sky
• Necluda Sky
• Gerudo Sky
• Gleeok Den

Other Appearances

Trivia

• In The Legend of Zelda, there is an unused variant of Gleeok with one head within the game's code.^[15]
• Gleeok is the only boss from The Legend of Zelda to not appear in BS The Legend of Zelda.
• The masks Gleeok wear in Phantom Hourglass are similar to that of the Helmaroc King. Without their masks, they also bear a striking resemblance to Valoo.
• Being a multi-headed dragon, Gleeok bears similarities with the chthonic water beast of Greek mythology, Hydra.
• The final battle phase with the head of Stallord in Twilight Princess may be a homage to the severed heads of Gleeok in the original The Legend of Zelda.
• The series sometimes uses variants of Gleeok with different names:
  • The Minish Cap has a similar one-headed variant called Gleerok.
  • Cadence of Hyrule uses a four-headed variant called Gleeokenspiel.

Nomenclature

Gallery

Artwork

• 
  Gleeok's The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass artwork

Sprites

Models

• 
  Gleeok's The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass model

Unsorted

• 
  Artwork of a three-headed Gleeok from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Artwork of a Gleeok Head from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Artwork of Link fighting a Gleeok from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  A Gleeok after all but one of its heads are detached
• 
  A four-headed Gleeok from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  A Gleeok Head from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Gleeok model from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Gleeok's skeleton from Oracle of Seasons
• 
  Gleeok from Phantom Hourglass
• 
  Gleeok without masks from Phantom Hourglass
• 
  Three-headed Gleeok from The Legend of Zelda TV series
• 
  Three Gleeok Heads from The Legend of Zelda TV series
• 
  Four-headed Gleeok in The Legend of Zelda comic
• 
  Gleeok from The Faces of Evil and The Wand of Gamelon
• 
  Gleeok's Head from The Faces of Evil and The Wand of Gamelon
• 
  Link fighting Gleeok action figure from The Legend of Zelda
• 
  Gleeok concept art from Phantom Hourglass
• 
  Gleeok concept art from Phantom Hourglass
• 
  Gleeok sprite from Oracle Of Seasons
• 
  Gleeok model from Tears of the Kingdom
• 
  A Flame Gleeok from Tears of the Kingdom

See Also

• Flame Gleeok
• Gleeokenspiel
• Gleerok

Notes

References

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