Big Octo (Mini-Boss)


 * For the enemy featured in The Wind Waker, see Big Octo (Great Sea)

The Big Octo (ダイオクタ, Daiokuta) is a beast that made its home in the depths of Inside Jabu Jabu's Belly (supposedly swallowed by the deity himself). When Link arrives at its lair, he throws Princess Ruto up on top of a platform to get the Spiritual Stone of Water. Upon grabbing it, however, Princess Ruto is taken up to the next room by the platform. Then the platform sinks, revealing the Big Octo in its entirety. The Big Octo is none other than a large, mutated Octorok.

The weapon of choice for this battle is the Boomerang. The Big Octo circles around the middle and chases after Link. Link in effect, must do the same thing- circle around until he reaches the Big Octo. Link should hit it with his Boomerang, forcing it to turn around and become stunned for a moment. Its only weak spot is on its back, so Link must run around the circle and try to hit its back before it starts to run again. For this reason, Link will have to stun it from a fairly decent distance in order to have time to get around and stun it again while it is facing the other direction. With a jump slash with the Deku Stick, the Big Octo is killable in one hit.



Another strategy to defeat it prolongs the battle, but it is a good way to ensure not being hit. Hit the creature with Link's Boomerang to stun it, then when it spins around, throw the boomerang at it again to stun it again (Link will need to target the miniboss in order to do this effectively). Chances are, Link will stun it when it turns its weak spot to him. Other times, it will turn its face to him.

A third strategy requires losing one heart of health, but is by far the easiest and fastest way to kill the creature. If Link walks into the Big Octo (each time costs half a heart), then it will shake, then turn around and head the other way. If Link is quick enough, he can throw the boomerang at the Big Octo, hitting it from behind and stun it, then attack its weak spot with a jump slash (Z+A+forward on Nintendo 64, and L+A+forward on the Nintendo Gamecube), doing double damage. Doing this twice will kill the Big Octo.

Majora's Mask
The Big Octo also appears in the swamps of Termina, guarding the way to the Deku Palace and the Deku Shrine. There are three of them in total, and they are far easier to kill than in Ocarina of Time, a single shot from the bow is sufficient. However, the first time around, Link must ram into them with the boat. They also automatically die after completion of Woodfall Temple. They do little in Majora's Mask except for blocking passage to the palace, or sucking Link towards them and spitting him away if he comes too close.

Trivia

 * This enemy has a striking resemblance to the land dwelling octoroks from the 2D Zelda games, but bigger.