Shadow Nightmare

Template:Boss The Shadow Nightmares^[1] is the collective name of the various final boss forms in Link's Awakening. The final Nightmare, seemingly a collective of multiple Nightmares, takes on six forms, or Shadows, of former bosses Link has defeated in Link's Awakening, as well as that of Template:ALTTP. The Nightmares are the primary antagonists in the Wind Fish's dream on Koholint Island, and are the force single-handedly responsible for the forced, continued slumber of the Wind Fish.^[2]^[3]^[4] Like many of the bosses Link fights in the game, the Shadow Nightmares are self-aware: at the beginning and end of the battle, it reveals the plans to continue the Wind Fish's slumber, and speaks of how its death will signal the end of "its world", respectively.^[5]

The Six Shadows

Giant Zol

File:GiantZol.png

The first shadow is also known as Giant Gel, and is a giant Zol, a common enemy throughout Link's travels on Koholint and his previous adventures. The Giant Zol bounces after Link much like a normal Zol, and occasionally disappears into the ground only to appear elsewhere. While not particularly danagerous, as first the Giant Zol can seem impossible to destroy; striking it with his blade will simply cause it to shatter and reappear elsewhere. However, if Link simply sprinkles Magic Powder on it three times, it will be defeated and proceed to morph into its next form.

Agahnim's Shadow

File:Agahnim'sShadow.png

The second form is a shadowy version of Agahnim, the evil sorcerer from Template:ALTTP. This form can be defeated in the same manner as the true Agahnim, by playing a grueling game of Dead Man's Volley. Link must parry balls of magic back at Agahnim to cause damage. Similar to the true Agahnim battle in A Link to the Past, some blasts of magic cannot be reflected, and will instead scatter, sending smaller bolts across the arena. Agahnim will however not use his lightening attacks or attempt to create fake copies of himself, nor will Link take damage from striking him with his sword like he did in the previous game. After hitting him with his magic enough times, he will spin on the spot before breaking apart and moving to the next form.

If timed properly, Link can also use the Shovel to deflect Agahnim's blasts in a similar manner to how Link could use the Bug Catching Net to do so in A Link to the Past.

Moldorm's Shadow

File:Shadow3(Moldorm).gif

The third form will be that of the first boss in Link's Awakening, Moldorm, in technique and in attack strategy. The only changes are that there are no holes to fall down, and Link must strike the tail many more times than the original Nightmare he first fought in the Tail Cave. There is also another, more simple way to defeat the Moldorm; as Nightmare is switching forms, from Agahnim to Moldorm, Link may quickly and continuously slash the transforming mold, slowing and eventually halting the process. Only the head of the Moldorm will successfully form, and after more striking, the boss will simply change into its next shape, or at least sustain enough damage that Link will be able to defeat it quickly and painlessly as compared to its full-bodied form.

Shadow of Ganon

File:ShadowofGanon.png

The fourth form is a Nightmare version of The Legend of Zelda's archvillain, Ganon, taking on his appearance from Template:ALTTP. The Shadow of Ganon will summon a flurry of Blazing Bats in Link's direction before attacking with its Trident and moving across the room, much as Ganon did in A Link to the Past. To defeat it, Link must use the Spin Attack, or alternatively by using a combination of the Pegasus Boots and his blade, Link can charge at the shadow in a Dash Attack in order to defeat it. After about twelve hits with Link's normal sword it is defeated, and it shall morph into the Lanmola form.

Lanmola

File:Shadow5(Lanmola).gif

Despite being known as Lanmola, this particular form does not have much relation to its namesake; instead it appears to be the collective form of the Shadow Nightmares that Link sees inbetween each form, making a last ditch attempt to defeat Link. It is seemingly invulnerable to Link's sword and will home in on him, leaving trails of itself behind as it chases him around the room. It can be defeated with a powerful strike, preferably from the Magic Rod, but a Spin Attack, Hookshot, Bomb or the Boomerang will have the same effect. A single strike is all that is requires to stop its charge and cause it to reveal its final, deadly form.

DethI

File:DeathEye.png

The final form is the only new enemy encountered in this battle, DethI (spelt DethI, also known as Death Eye). DethI consists of a large pulsating mass with a single, usually closed eye from which two dark, shadowy arms with huge spiked tips extend outwards. Using the Roc's Feather, Link must jump over the arms to avoid injury once they begin to swing and avoid the movement of the central body. Occasionally, the eye will open during the battle, upon which Link must strike it using the Bow. After depleting half of its health, Link's deadly game of jump rope will get harder, as the swinging arms speed up and start moving in a less obvious pattern, with one arm moving faster than the other. It will take a long and challenging battle, but sixteen direct shots in the eye with the Bow will finally defeat it. This form will take the longest, but once it is defeated, the Wind Fish will awaken.

DethI can also be defeated by using a secret method; if Link has located the powerful Boomerang, he can defeat the final shadow with a single hit from the Boomerang to DeathI's eye.

Aftermath

Once the Nightmare is dealt with, the Owl will speak to Link and a stairway will appear. Link travels up the stairs to speak to the Owl a final time, before the Wind Fish appears. He will confirm that Koholint Island is a dream world,^[6] and that Link ended up in his dream after his ship was struck by lightning while he was sailing home. By using the Eight Instruments of the Sirens Link gathered on the island to play the Ballad of the Wind Fish, the Wind Fish finally awakens, dispelling his dream world and returning Link to the sea from whence he came.^[7] He awakens on a piece of his former ship and watches as the Wind Fish flies overhead. The dream island of Koholint would only remain in his memories.^[8]

Trivia

DethI resembles Vaati's final form in Four Swords and The Minish Cap, and was possibly an inspiration for his design.
During the DethI phase, the music is the miniboss theme instead of the Shadow Nightmares unique battle theme.

Gallery

The Shadow Nightmare's transitory appearance
Link sprinkes Magic Powder on the first form, the Giant Zol
Reflecting magic defeats Agahnim's Shadow
Link chases the third form, Moldorm's Shadow, around the arena
The Shadow of Ganon prepares to challenge Link
The fifth form, the Lanmola, pursues and injures Link
DethI, the final Nightmare, uses its radial arms to attack Link

References

↑ Template:Cite book
↑ "As part of the Wind Fish's spirit, I am the guardian of his dream world... But one day, the Nightmares entered the dream and began wreaking havoc. Then you, Link , came to rescue the island... I have always trusted in your courage to turn back the Nightmares. Thank you, Link... My work is done... The Wind Fish will wake soon." — Owl (Link's Awakening)
↑ "Now I understand why the monsters are starting to act so violently... It is said that you cannot leave the island unless you wake the Wind Fish..." — Owl (Link's Awakening)
↑ "We were born of nightmares... To take over this world, we made the Wind Fish sleep endlessly! If the Wind Fish doesn't wake up, this island will never disappear! We would have been the masters of this place... But you had to come here and disrupt our plans! Heh heh! You can never defeat us!!!" — The Shadow Nightmares (Link's Awakening)
↑ "This island is going to disappear... Our world is going to disappear... Our world... Our... world..." — The Shadow Nightmares (Link's Awakening)
↑ " IN MY DREAMS... AN EGG APPEARED AND WAS SURROUNDED BY AN ISLAND, WITH PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AN ENTIRE WORLD! BUT, VERILY, IT BE THE NATURE OF DREAMS TO END!" — Wind Fish (Link's Awakening)
↑ "PLAY THE EIGHT INSTRUMENTS! PLAY THE SONG OF AWAKENING!!" — Wind Fish (Link's Awakening)
↑ "ONLY THE MEMORY OF THIS DREAM LAND WILL EXIST IN THE WAKING WORLD... SOMEDAY, THOU MAY RECALL THIS ISLAND... THAT MEMORY MUST BE THE REAL DREAM WORLD..." — Wind Fish (Link's Awakening)

Names in Other Regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	Template:Japanese	Shadow (Wind Fish)
	French	Maléficio l'Ombre du Cauchemar
	German	Manifestationen der Alpträume	Nightmare Manifestations

Names in Other Regions
Language		Name
Language		Giant Zol	Agahnim's Shadow	Moldorm's Shadow	Shadow of Ganon	Lanmola	DethI
	Japanese	Template:Japanese	Template:Japanese	Template:Japanese	Template:Japanese		Template:Japanese
	French	Zol Géant	L'ombre d'Agahnim	L'ombre de Moldorm	L'ombre de Ganon	Lanmola	DethI
	German	Schatten-Blob	Schatten-Agahnim	Schatten-Moldorm	Schatten-Ganon	Schatten-Lanmola