Ball and Chain Trooper

The Ball & Chain Trooper (鉄球兵士, lit. Iron Ball Soldier) is (as its name suggests) a fully armored knight wielding a massive spiked ball on a chain. They appear as some of the hardest foes in several Zelda games.

A Link to the Past
The Ball and Chain Trooper, also known as the Mace Knight is a possessed Hyrule knight from A Link to the Past that wields a heavy mace, and first appears as the guardian of Princess Zelda's cell. At this early stage of the game it is the most difficult enemy Link has yet faced; the weapon it is named for has a long reach and does serious damage. It also recovers fairly quickly from being stunned by the boomerang. Mace Knights are the highest class of Hyrule knights and therefore are the most powerful. They require many swipes with the sword to defeat them. Bombs are also useful. When in doubt, Link should use the Boomerang to stop them in their tracks. Later in the game, when ascending the Castle Tower, Link must face several more of these foes. Some wear dark grey armor while others wear gold.

Link's Awakening
In Link's Awakening, a Ball and Chain Trooper is encountered within Kanalet Castle, guarding one of the Five Golden Leaves Link needs to collect for Richard. The trooper wields a ball and chain similar to that of the A Link to the Past incarnation. If it contacts with Link, it takes off one full heart of energy. At this early stage in the game, only three weapons are effective against the ball and chain trooper with the bow and arrow and bombs being the most effective.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
The Ball and Chain Trooper makes a return appearance in this series, looking exactly the same as it did in Link's Awakening. It is a fairly rare enemy, and is dealt with much in the same way as before. With the Master Sword and the Red Ring, the Ball and Chain Trooper is killable in one strike. It is one of the enemies in both games that are immune to the effect of Gale Seeds.

Onox, the boss of Oracle of Seasons, attacks much like a Ball and Chain Trooper in his normal form, but also uses other attacks unique to himself. He does double their damage when he attacks.

Four Swords Adventures
Several of these enemies appear in Four Swords Adventures, once more as very challenging enemies. A few of them spread flames with their maces.

The Minish Cap
These soldiers swing a damaging ball and chain, and are one of the hardest enemies in The Minish Cap, but can be destroyed by:
 * Dodging their ball and chains, then striking with the sword
 * Using the Roc's Cape to jump over their ball and chain and perform a down thrust
 * Throwing Bombs
 * Shooting arrows

Twilight Princess
An enemy similar to the Ball and Chain Trooper also appears as the mini-boss of the Snowpeak Ruins in Twilight Princess. Named Darkhammer, he seems to be reptilian and to kill him Link will have to Clawshot over him when he throws his weapon at Link so he can hit his tail. Or Link could sidestep to avoid his attack and use a Back Slice to get behind him. Vanquishing him will result in Link obtaining the Ball and Chain.