Puppet Ganon

Puppet Ganon is a Boss in The Wind Waker.^[1] The three-stage battle is a precursor to the finale with Ganondorf atop Ganon's Tower, making this foe the penultimate boss of the game.

Characteristics

First Form: Humanoid Boar

Puppet Ganon's first form, Humanoid Boar,^[2] is reminiscent of Ganon's traditional boar-like demon form. Puppet Ganon's movement is restricted; his appendages hang from the ceiling by cords. Puppet Ganon damages Link by spinning his tail and flailing his long-reaching arms, and by releasing Keese as a distraction (which can be identified when he spins around continuously). Link can cut the cords with the Boomerang, similar to the battle with Kalle Demos in the Forbidden Woods. After Link cuts all blue cords attached to Puppet Ganon, he hangs suspended on the central red cord, dragging the ground. To damage Puppet Ganon, Link must shoot a Light Arrow at the blue ball at the end of Puppet Ganon's tail to damage him. However, the blue ball is always revealed to Link, so cutting the cords is not required. After three hits, Puppet Ganon is seemingly defeated and changes form.

Second Form: Bug-Ganon

Puppet Ganon's second form, Bug-Ganon,^[3] resembles a large spider; he flies up to the top of the room periodically, spinning rapidly before crashing back down above Link's latest position. While in the air, Link can use the shallow water in the room as a mirror to see where Puppet Ganon will fall. Once again, Link must shoot a Light Arrow at the blue ball on Puppet Ganon's body to damage him. After three hits, Puppet Ganon changes form again.

Final Form: Worm

The final form of Puppet Ganon, Worm,^[4] is reminiscent of the many iterations of Moldorm throughout The Legend of Zelda series. Puppet Ganon moves erratically around the room, gaining speed each time Link strikes the blue ball at the end of his tail with a Light Arrow. Puppet Ganon is stunned whenever Link attacks his face with the Master Sword, Light Arrows, Bombs, or the Skull Hammer (each have varying duration of being stunned). The monster even becomes distracted at the sight of All-Purpose Bait; When the bait is thrown, Puppet Ganon quickly moves towards it, damaging Link if he is in the way. Link may best Puppet Ganon if he uses the Hookshot to reach high platforms in the room. With this method, Link may shoot at the boss without fear of damage.

After three hits to this form, Puppet Ganon is truly defeated. After defeating the final form of Puppet Ganon, Ganondorf, carrying Princess Zelda (Tetra) appears above and tells Link, the Hero of Winds, that he is the Hero of Time reborn. The young hero then climbs the room's central cord after Ganondorf to the tower's rooftop; it is here that he faces the villain for the final time.

Trivia

• Puppet Ganon's second form vaguely resembles the Ushi-Oni from Japanese folklore.
• In the Prima Games official strategy guide, Puppet Ganon's second and final forms are referred to as "Tarantula" and "Snake".
• Some fans of the game considered Puppet Ganon's Worm form to be one of the toughest battles in The Wind Waker, due to its aggressive and unpredictable movement.

Nomenclature

Gallery

• 
  Puppet Ganon's snake form being shot with a Light Arrow in The Wind Waker

References