Skulltula

Skulltulas (スタルチュラ, Staltula) are spider-like enemies that have been featured in several Zelda games. Although the Skulltula's specific appearance varies from game to game, it is always depicted as a large spider with a skull-like shell. They usually hang from the ceiling and surprise Link by dropping down and attacking him. If Link comes too close to them, they will spin around quickly, injuring him and tossing him backwards. A Skulltula's hard, skull-shaped exoskeleton can deflect many attacks, but the insects are far from intelligent, and often leave their defenses open by exposing their soft underbellies. In order to attack the Skulltula with his sword, Link must wait for this opening, otherwise, the Skulltula will counterattack with its spin attack. If Link is impatient, he can attack the creature right away with his Bow, which will pierce its armor and award the hero with a swift victory.

A special type of Skulltula that appears in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask is the Gold Skulltula, who drop Gold Skulltula Tokens that can be traded for useful items. In Ocarina of Time, Link collects the Tokens to free a family from a curse. Once freed, the family will reward Link if he visits them in the House of Skulltula in Kakariko Village. In Majora's Mask, Link must visit either the Swamp Spider House or Oceanside Spider House to collect the Tokens and receive his rewards.

A smaller version of the Skulltula, the Skullwalltula, also exists. It usually clings to vines that Link must climb, and charges at him if it spots him. To advance, Link can either sneak past while their back is turned, or defeat them with any ranged weapon.

Ocarina of Time
Skulltulas appeared in Ocarina of Time, where Link first encountered the dangerous arachnids Inside the Deku Tree. Later in his adventure, he also encountered them in the Forest Temple and Shadow Temple, as well as Beneath the Well and in various caves. As a child, Link must wait for the Skulltula to expose it's soft underbelly, then attack it with his sword. As an adult, Link can employ this same tactic, or he can simply fire his Hookshot or Fairy Bow at it, and the sharp projectile will penetrate the skull for an instant kill. Link also encounters invisible Skulltulas in his travels. Clues that a hidden Skulltula is nearby include noticing the shadow it casts and recognizing the distinctive scratching noise it makes. To successfully detect and combat these covert enemies, Link must employ the Lens of Truth to unveil the inconspicuous insects before dispatching them.

Majora's Mask
Skulltulas in Majora's Mask are virtually identical to their Ocarina of Time counterparts. Link first meets Terminan Skulltulas in the sewers leading to the Astral Observatory while in his Deku Link form. In this form, he must wait for the Skulltula to spin around before he unleashes a Bubble Blast attack at their soft underbellies. In his Hylian form, Link must still wait for them to expose their weak spot to attack with his sword, or he can fire his Hero's Bow at their skull for an easy victory. It is worth noting that the Hookshot no longer penetrates the Skulltula's frontal armor. Link can once again find invisible Skulltulas that require the use of the Lens of Truth to be seen.

Twilight Princess
Skulltulas in Twilight Princess seem to be somewhat more intelligent than their previous incarnations, because they actively block Link's frontal attacks and do not expose their soft underbellies except right before they attack (as opposed to their counterparts from previous games, who exposed their weak point seemingly at random). When a Skulltula momentarily rears back before attacking Link, he can counterattack the deadly arachnid by slashing it with his sword before it launches its attack, or he can dodge the spider's bite attack and hit it while it's recovering. Link can also defeat Skulltulas by first stunning them with a Spin Attack and then finishing them off with an Ending Blow. The Hidden Skills Link learns during his adventure are also useful when engaging Skulltulas. Link can use a Shield Attack to knock the insect off balance, giving him a chance to attack, or he can use a Back Slice to circumvent its defenses entirely while attacking its vulnerable abdomen. It is worth noting that if Link sheathes his sword immediately after defeating a Skulltula, he will sheathe it with a flourish, much like he does after defeating a boss.

Phantom Hourglass
Skulltulas return in Phantom Hourglass as residents of the Ghost Ship. They look largely the same as their Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask incarnations but are much easier to kill, requiring only a single swipe of Link's sword. However, they are much more annoying than before, since they re-spawn much faster than normal enemies and drop down from the ceiling to attack with little warning. The Cubus Sisters are deathly afraid of the spiders, cowering and screaming whenever they appear (their screams also alert the Reaplings, who will then investigate the sound). They're so scared of them that the mere sight of a Skulltula causes them to freeze, hampering Link's rescue effort by forcing him to run back and offer reassurance.