Bubble


 * For the actual bubbles that appear Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly in, see Shabom.

Bubbles, also sometimes known as Fire Faeries, Anti-Faeries or Anti-Fairies, and Whisps or Wisps, are recurring enemies in. They are flying skulls that are usually seen engulfed in flames. They appear primarily in dungeons.

A Bubble is a spirit in the form of an animated skull with fire surrounding it, sometimes also depicted with bat-like wings that it uses for flight. In many games, the main threat behind the Bubble is the curse they inflict to those they touch, leaving the victim unable to wield a blade and sometimes other items for a brief period of time. This leaves the victim open to attack from any nearby enemies and monsters. While this is their most dangerous curse, the actual effects of touching a Bubble vary from game to game; sometimes they steal Magic, in others they will simply set Link on fire or merely cause damage. Depending on the game, Bubbles may either be completely invincible to all attack, can only be affected by certain items, or can simply be killed with the Sword. Their erratic and sometimes unpredictable flight patterns, however, can make them a tricky enemy to deal with.

In several games, Bubbles come in various shapes, types and even color of flame. These different variants often feature varying characteristics, ranging between movement and attack method. Some of the most common color variants include the Red Bubble and the Blue Bubble, which appear in several games. Fire Bubbles and Ice Bubbles are another common variant, which are fire and ice-based, respectively.

The Legend of Zelda
In, Bubbles appear as animated skulls with crackling flames surrounding them. They inhabit dungeons, appearing in the Manji, Snake, Dragon, Demon, Lion, and Death Mountain dungeons, where they often appear in swarms along with other enemies. They move in erratic patterns and are entirely invincible to all attacks, but do not cause any damage to Link when he collides with one. Instead, a touch from one would curse Link to be unable to use his Sword for a short time, forcing him to rely on other weapons to defend himself, or simply flee until the curse wears off. In the main quest, using the Recorder will dispel the curse instantly.

In the Second Quest, however, Bubbles appear in red and blue color variants with a different function each. In this quest, Red Bubbles will curse Link permanently upon contact, whereas Blue Bubbles are actually beneficial enemies that will dispel this curse when touched. For this reason, Blue Bubbles are usually not too far away from Red Bubbles. Only the Blue Bubble's touch will dispel the curse in this quest, and the Recorder will not work in this way. They appear in the Snake, Dragon, Demon, Lion and Death Mountain dungeons.

The Adventure of Link
In, Bubbles inhabit several palaces as an enemy and a type of obstacle. As previously, Bubbles retain their erratic flight patterns, but differ as they now bounce off the walls, floor, and ceiling in diagonal paths as they move. Their quick movement makes them difficult to avoid, especially in tight corridors with little space. These Bubbles no longer curse Link when they collide, but instead drain a little of his Magic and inflict some damage. While Bubbles are not invincible in this game and can be attacked with the Sword, they are one of the most resilient enemies in the game, and take numerous hits of the Sword to defeat. When they are hit, however, they briefly stop in place, allowing Link to strike it repeatedly at a rapid rate until it is defeated or until he stops.

A larger version of the normal Bubbles, called Giant Bubbles, can be found in the Great Palace. They appear as large skulls with horns surrounded by fire. It behaves just like a normal Bubble as it bounces off of boundaries, but if it is struck three times, it splits into two fast-moving normal Bubbles. It can be destroyed without it splitting if Link continues to strike it without stopping, but it will give no experience when destroyed.

A Link to the Past
In, Bubbles are known as Anti-Fairies (previously known as Fire Faeries in the original SNES version). They appear as obstacle-like monsters that inhabit dungeons in both the Light World and the Dark World. They take on a slightly different appearance than before, as instead of a skull engulfed in flames, they resemble regular skulls with four fireballs orbiting around them. This incarnation of the Bubble behaves very much like the Bubbles of The Adventure of Link, as they bounce off the walls in a diagonal direction as they fly. They are typically located in enclosed rooms or narrow spaces where there is little room to dodge their movements. Anti-Fairies in A Link to the Past also do not curse Link upon contact, instead draining some of Link's Magic in addition to inflicting some damage. Generally, Anti-Fairies are invincible to nearly all items; with the exception of Magic Powder. If Link manages to sprinkle them with Magic Powder, they are instantly transformed into Fairies. These Fairies can then be used immediately to heal Link's injuries, or be captured and put into a Bottle for later use.

There also appears a congregation of four Anti-Fairies in the Eastern Palace, known as a. They swarm around a lone pot in the room housing the dungeon's Big Key. The pot sits atop a Switch that needs to be hit to get the Big Key, but the pot cannot be reached with the Anti-Fairies protecting it. To dispel the group, Link must defeat all other enemies in the room except for them, at which point the group will split and fly around the room as normal Anti-Fairies.

Link's Awakening
In, Bubbles are known as Anti-Faeries. They share their appearance and behavior to the Anti-Fairies of A Link to the Past, as skulls that bounce off the walls of dungeons. As before, they are nearly invincible enemies that tend to occupy narrow spaces. Due to the lack of a Magic Meter, these enemies do not drain Link of any vitals, and instead merely inflict damage when they fly into him. Anti-Faeries can be dispelled by Magic Powder and the Boomerang, both of which destroy it instantly. Sprinkling Magic Powder on them, however, does not turn them into a Fairy. Instead, this curious trait goes to the Spark, a similar kind of enemy, when hit by the Boomerang.

Two Giant Bubbles also appear in a side-scrolling passageway of the Face Shrine. These Bubbles look very different from the Anti-Fairies, appearing more as flashing balls of fire with eyes, but behave similarly; bouncing around the tunnel's walls, ceiling and floor in the same manner. This enemy cannot be harmed by any of Link's weapons and will simply cause damage like regular Anti-Fairies when it comes into contact with him.

Ocarina of Time
In, Bubbles take on a slightly different form as skulls surrounded in flames that fly using a pair of bat-like wings on the sides of their head. Bubbles behave much differently compared to earlier incarnations, as they no longer curse Link or drain Magic upon impact but instead burn him, and tend to fly in more predictable patterns based on the type. Bubbles come in various different colors, with each differing in their movement and approach. Red, Blue, Green, and fire'less White varieties exist. In Ocarina of Time, Bubbles can be killed with the Sword, though usually only when their flames vanish, which act as a protective barrier. They can be stunned with items such as the Boomerang to instantly extinguish their flames, making them vulnerable. They can otherwise also be killed with the Slingshot or Arrows as well. They mainly inhabit the temple dungeons.

Red Bubble
Red Bubbles are so named for their red flames. This type of Bubble leaps out of pits or from the lava of Death Mountain and the Fire Temple and bounces about, attempting to knock Link out and set him on fire before returning to where they came from. They often appear near ledges that Link must hop across, and so attempt to surprise Link by ambushing him just as he about to jump over. When it emerges, Link can defend with the Shield to knock it back.

Blue Bubble
Blue Bubbles are identified by their white-blue flames. Unlike other types of Bubbles, they are initially stationary and hover in one spot, but come after Link when he approaches them. Their flames act as a barrier that protects them from most attacks. Defending with Link's Shield will knock its blue flame out, causing the Bubble to lose its ability to fly and fall to the ground. They will then helplessly hop along the ground where Link can easily attack them using his Sword. Other items will also dispel its flames, but defending is the safest method. They also seem to be attracted to Bombs; when Link throws one near a Blue Bubble, they circle it until the Bomb explodes. Blue Bubbles only appear in the Forest Temple.

Green Bubble
Green Bubbles are surrounded in bright green flames. Like Red Bubbles, they typically appear near ledges, but float in a circular pattern in an attempt to obstruct Link's way. Their flames also serve as a barrier that protects them from being attacked directly. To defeat them, Link can either wait until their flames briefly die down or put them out with the Shield, then attack them. They can also be stunned with other items as well such as the Boomerang, which will also extinguish their flame, or alternately attacked with projectile weapons such as the Slingshot or the Bow. They often appear in groups of two. They appear in the Forest Temple, Spirit Temple, and Ganon's Castle.

A larger Green Bubble can also be found floating along the water way in the Bottom of the Well. This Bubble does not hover in one spot, but instead circles around the entire area.

White Bubble
White Bubbles bear no flames of any color. They are simply the animated skull of a Bubble with no additional features, yet are still able to fly with their bat-like wings. White Bubbles swiftly glide through the air, stopping only midway to spin around before moving to another spot. They only appear in the Spirit Temple, where they appear as a pair. Since they have no flames to dispel, they can be easily destroyed with just the Sword. White Bubbles do not appear in, making them the only enemy from the original version to be excluded from it.

Majora's Mask
In, Red and Blue Bubbles based on their Ocarina of Time incarnation appear. Both types behave similarly as before: Red Bubbles will leap out from pits of lava, while Blue Bubbles chase after Link when he comes near. Blue Bubbles, however, now possess the ability to curse its victims by coming into contact with its blue flames. If Link becomes cursed, he will be unable to use his Sword for a short while, although the curse can be instantly removed by playing the "Song of Storms". The best method of dealing with both types is to defend with the Shield, which will knock out their flames and leave them vulnerable. Blue Bubbles appear throughout Termina at night, most commonly around the Ikana region, while Red Bubbles appear from the lava pits of Snowhead Temple.

Oracle series
In the, Bubbles come in two distinct types: one simply called an Anti-Fairy, and another called Whisps to distinguish it from the normal variety.

The Anti-Fairy variety is based off of the Anti-Fairies from A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, appearing as a skull with fireballs revolving around it. This type behaves identically to those in Link's Awakening; it bounces off of walls diagonally and merely damages Link when it comes into contact with him. These enemies are invincible to most attacks, but can be removed by throwing the Boomerang at them. They can also be blown away with Gale Seeds as well.

Whisps greatly resemble and behave like the Bubbles of the original The Legend of Zelda, resembling skulls fully engulfed in flames. They move in slow, random paths and curse Link when they collide with him, leaving him unable to use his Sword for a short while, however, he can still use his other items in his arsenal. They are invincible enemies that cannot be defeated or dispelled by any means. Wearing the Whisp Ring prevents the effects of being cursed by them.

The Wind Waker
In, Bubbles resemble floating skulls surrounded by curling flames. Bubbles fly around at their own leisure, but immediately chase after Link when they spot him, attempting to catch him on their fire. They emit a cackling laughter whenever they spy or attack him. Like the Bubbles of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, the flames of a Bubble serve as a protective barrier that shields them from Link's attacks. These flames, however, can be blown away with the Deku Leaf, causing the Bubble to lose all power as it falls to the ground as a regular skull, where it can be attacked normally. They can also be shot down with the Bow as well.

Red Bubbles appear in the Tower of the Gods and Ganon's Tower. When they come into contact with Link, they burn and set him on fire. They can also sometimes be summoned by Wizzrobes. Blue Bubbles instead curse Link when they collide into him. This sets Link on blue-colored fire and prevents him from using any items so long as the flames remain. These flames can be instantly removed by stepping into a light source. Blue Bubbles appear in the Earth Temple. The temple's Blue Fog has an identical effect.

Four Swords Adventures
In, Bubbles are closely based on those from A Link to the Past. They are invincible enemies that bounce off of walls as a type of obstacle. Bubbles appear in the Dark World, which is accessed through Moon Gates. In the Light World, Bubbles inhabiting the relative area simply appear as shadows that will pass through the Links harmlessly. Since they cannot be harmed or dispelled, they must simply be avoided.

The Minish Cap
In, Bubbles are known as Wisps. They closely resemble their Four Swords incarnation, as skulls with colored flames revolving around them. Wisps come in two color types: Red and Blue. The red kind moves at a slow pace, while the blue kind swiftly glides through the area. Both types move in erratic, random patterns. Wisps do not cause Link any damage, but instead curse him so that he is unable to use any of his items for a short while. When Link is hit by a Wisp, it disappears and its flames surround Link for as long as the curse lasts. When the curse ends, the Red Bubbles will reappear, but the Blue Bubbles will not.

Bubbles cannot be attacked directly. They can be sucked up into the Gust Jar, or killed by shooting Arrows at them. Throwing the Boomerang at them will make them disappear, and as such, they will reappear once Link leaves and enters the area again.

Twilight Princess
Bubbles in closely resemble their counterparts from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, appearing as skulls with bat-like wings they use to fly with. They at first appear as regular skulls on the ground, but then grow wings and take to the air when Link approaches. Regular Bubbles do not have any flames and as such can be attacked normally with the Sword or alternately with projectile weapons, but two newer varieties, the Fire Bubble and Ice Bubble, are surrounded by flames of their element. These forms are more dangerous as they can set Link on fire and freeze him on the spot, respectively. Their flames can be extinguished with the Gale Boomerang, allowing Link to slash back with the Sword. Regular and Fire Bubbles appear in Arbiter's Grounds, while Ice Bubbles appear in Snowpeak Ruins. All three types appear in the Cave of Ordeals.

Phantom Hourglass
In, Bubbles appear similarly to those in The Wind Waker. They come in Fire and Ice varieties, which have red flames and icy mist, respectively. If they collide into Link, they will set him on fire or freeze him. If Link is frozen, the screen will have to be rubbed with the stylus to thaw him out. Like the Bubbles of The Wind Waker, they are completely invulnerable to direct attacks while they are on fire or covered in mist. They can be defeated by stunning them with the Boomerang, removing their flames and rendering them as hopping skulls. They can then be attacked by any manner. The Bubbles can also be shot down with a single Arrow as well.

Spirit Tracks
In, only one kind of Bubble appears, which inhabits the Forest Temple. This Bubble closely resembles those from Phantom Hourglass, but is covered in a purple mist that is local to the temple. They simply fly about in no particular path. If they collide with Link, they simply inflict minor damage onto him. Like the rest of the purple fog in the temple, the Bubble's mist is impenetrable and protects them from being attacked directly. Their mist can be blown away by using the Whirlwind on them, stunning them and turning them into regular skulls.

A Link Between Worlds
In, Bubbles appear in a Fire and Ice variety. They behave and look similar to the Anti-Fairies of A Link to the Past, as hovering skulls with flames of their element circling around them. They bounce off of the walls in a diagonal path as they move. Fire Bubbles appear in the House of Gales, where they also appear as a kind of mini-boss, while Ice Bubbles appear in the Ice Ruins. Unlike the Anti-Fairies of A Link to the Past, these Bubbles are susceptible to a couple weapons and can be defeated. Fire Bubbles can have their flames put out with the Tornado Rod, rendering them as hopping skulls that can be attacked normally. They will try to hop away from Link until their flames return. Ice Bubbles are unaffected by the Tornado Rod, but can have their icy mists dispelled with the Fire Rod, which will also turn them into regular skulls.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
In, Bubbles appear as enemies in the mode and as a Trophy.

Trivia

 * In The Adventure of Link and A Link to the Past, Bubbles can steal Magic even if Link is flashing after taking damage from enemies or hazards. This period of time normally prevents Link from taking immediate damage again.
 * In Majora's Mask, Bubbles will drop different items depending on how they are defeated. They normally drop three Hearts. If defeated with a Fire Arrow, they drop a bundle of 20 Arrows. If defeated with a melee attack, they drop three Green Rupees. If defeated with a Light Arrow, they drop a Purple Rupee.
 * Although Bubbles do not appear in SS undefined, the Dark Keese are a skeletal variety that also carry the ability to curse.