Stalchild

A Stalchild, also known as Stalkin in, is a skeletal enemy that rises from the earth immediately after sunset in and. They also make appearances in various areas of and in dungeons in Twilight Princess. In Ocarina of Time, they only appear in pairs, but in later games, they show in much larger numbers. They are commonly small, but larger varieties exist.

Despite common perception, these enemies are not skeletal children, but are said to be cursed soldiers and are seemingly weaker relatives of Stalfos. They are not always aggressive, and in Majora's Mask, they show the ability to talk.

Ocarina of Time
In, Stalchildren are common enemies in Hyrule Field. They spawn only at night and disappear immediately at sunrise. These skeletal warriors bear no armor other than a Roman Cingulum, or a Military Kilt. They attack in pairs, and if one falls before the other, another Stalchild may spawn in its place but only if Link takes too long to destroy the surviving Stalchild. Each Stalchild, regardless of size, can only take two hits. Their attacks only deal 1/4 damage. If Link attacks the Stalchild from the front, it will lose its head and begin wandering around without aim.

Wearing the Bunny Hood will prevent their appearance altogether, as well as staying on the dirt roads. Each time ten Stalchildren are defeated, a larger one will spawn alongside a regular sized Stalchild, much like Guays and Leevers. Due to the time it takes to spawn pairs of Stalchildren and the time from dusk till dawn, Link can only defeat two of the larger Stalchildren. The second large Stalchild will be larger than the first, and offers a larger Rupee reward for its defeat. Once Link becomes an adult, Poes haunt the field in their place.

''Majora's Mask
In, Stalchildren are of the Ikana race. They haunt the Ikana Graveyard and are the fallen soldiers of the Ikana Kingdom. Their general is Captain Keeta, but they will mistake anybody that wears the Captain's Hat for their leader. By wearing the Captain's Hat, the Stalchildren will ask Link whether they should open or guard the grave, mentioning that they already had an order from Captain Keeta to guard it. While this is their most major role in the game, they also have a slight role in the Oceanside Spider House, where each of the Stalchildren in there will reveal the solution to the house's puzzle, ultimately leading to a Piece of Heart.

Four Swords
Stalchildren in appear in various locations. They are similar in appearance to those in previous games, but they attack differently; throwing their bones at Link in a similar manner to regular Stalfos in. Their movement is slow and defenses are not particularly strong, but they are able to leap out of the way of Link's attacks. They commonly appear in small groups and are particularly prolific in areas with lava such as Death Mountain.

Twilight Princess
Known as Stalkin in, they are miniature skeleton enemies similar in appearance to Stalfos found in the Arbiter's Grounds and the Cave of Ordeals. Stalkin emerge from the ground in large groups and attack with small spears. While individually they are weak, they can be quite bothersome in packs. They can be destroyed with almost any weapon, though Link's Sword is arguably the most effective for dealing with large groups, especially when the Spin Attack is utilized.

Hyrule Warriors
Stalchildren appear in, based on their Ocarina of Time appearance, as part of the armies that specialize in the Dark element. They are generally weak soldiers that come in large hordes, often with a Stalfos leading them. Helmeted Stalchildren with broken armor appear as a variant that guard Keeps and Outposts. Summoner Stalchildren also appear, and wear purple hoods and carry staves.

Although while not the same kind of enemy, Stalfos are incorrectly referred to as Stalchildren in-game.