Big Octo

The Big Octo, sometimes spelled Bigocto, is a recurring enemy that resembles a giant Octorok in.

Ocarina of Time
In, the Big Octo had made its home Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly, where it is the mini-boss of that dungeon. 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. The platform then sinks, revealing the Big Octo in its entirety.

The Big Octo circles around the spinning platform and chases after Link. Link in effect, must do the same thing- circle around until he reaches the Big Octo. The Big Octo is susceptible to the Boomerang, which when hit by it, stuns it and forces it to turn around. Its only weak spot is on its back, which is only revealed once it is stunned. Link must run around the circle and try to hit its back before it starts to run again. For this reason, Link has 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. By performing a Jump Attack with the Deku Stick, the Big Octo can be killed in one hit.

Another strategy to defeat it prolongs the battle, but is a good way to ensure not being hit. Link can hit the creature with his Boomerang to stun it; then, when the creature spins around, Link can throw the Boomerang at it again to stun it again (Link needs to target the mini-boss in order to do this effectively). In most cases, Link manages to stun it when it turns its weak spot to him. Other times, it turns its face to him.

A third strategy requires losing at least 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), he can make it 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 stunning it, then attack its weak spot. A Jump Attack done twice can kill the Big Octo.

Majora's Mask
In, Big Octos appear in the Southern Swamp, blocking the way to the Deku Palace and the Deku Shrine. They attack Link by sucking him in and spitting him out if he gets too close. A total of three appears. They can be killed by ramming into them with the boat, thus opening the way to the Palace. Upon completion of the Woodfall Temple, they disappear from the swamp. They can also be killed with the Hero's Bow once Link retrieves it from the Woodfall Temple.

The Wind Waker
In, Big Octos are large, squid-like creatures that inhabit the waters of the Great Sea, and will appear if Link sails nearby. Their locations are marked on the Octo Chart. One has 4 eyes, three have 8 eyes, and two have 12 eyes. To defeat one, Link must shoot and destroy all of its eyes with a projectile, either with the Bow and Arrows or with Bombs.

Each one appears in a whirlpool, which can be indicated by the large number of Seagulls flocking around it. As the Big Octo surfaces, the whirlpool pulls Link and the King of Red Lions into its mouth. If all of its eyes are not destroyed before reaching the center of the whirlpool, the Big Octo sucks Link up and spits him out, sending him out to the edge of the quadrant.