Rat


 * This article is about the recurring enemy in the main Zelda games; for the enemy in Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, see Rat (Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland).

Rats are minor enemies. They are relatively easy to defeat, and are found in many Zelda dungeons. They seem to have an affinity for Rupees, and are also related to Real Bombchus as revealed in. Rats, as in real life, are shadow-dwelling creatures, preferring dank, maze-like sewers, holes in walls, and even dark rooms in comparison to light-filled areas.

A Link to the Past
In, Rats are first encountered in the Sewer Passageway below Hyrule Castle while Link is escorting Princess Zelda to the Sanctuary. They are later found elsewhere in Hyrule.

The Wind Waker
Rats in are devious creatures, known to steal Rupees while running about, and drop them upon their defeat. Some will toss Bombs at unsuspecting victims and are apparently known as Bombchu. Providing the rats with nutrition, such as All-Purpose Bait, will turn the Rats into benign creatures; they will talk and politely sell some of their wares to Link, whether it be a necessary key or some common pickup item such as Arrows or Bombs. Otherwise, they will purposely run into Link, spilling the contents of his wallet and snatching any dropped Rupees.

Twilight Princess
The Rats in possess a more ferocious look than in previous games, though they remain relatively easy to dispatch. They are sometimes found gnawing on Skulls. In this game, Rats exposed to the Twilight become Shadow Vermin, which slightly resemble squids. Twilight Princess also introduces Ghoul Rats. These ghostly rats cling onto Link and stunt his mobility, also preventing him from jumping off platforms. When they cling to Wolf Link, Midna will become uneasy, and look down nervously at the Ghoul Rats covering Link's body. Ghoul Rats can only be seen and destroyed when using Link's wolf senses. A Spin Attack can be used to remove any clinging to Link.

Phantom Hourglass
Rats in will usually appear from small holes, possibly their nests, in walls. They generally act as simple obstacles, and, as in most games, are easily killed in one hit.

Spirit Tracks
The Rats in act nearly identical to their counterparts in Phantom Hourglass. They sometimes carry a Small Key, whereupon Link must defeat them to obtain it. If one gets near Princess Zelda, she will scream and cower, and will not being able to move again until Link kills it. During the game's finale, in the first phase of the fight with Malladus, Chancellor Cole attacks Phantom Zelda with ghostly rats that tend to home in on her or circle around her. If one of these rats hits Zelda, Cole will take control of her, forcing Zelda to attack Link.

A Link Between Worlds
Rats in serve almost the same role as in A Link to the Past. They first appear in the Secret Passageway that Link uses to get inside the Sanctuary after Yuga locks the doors.

Tri Force Heroes
In, there are two varieties of Rat, they they share the same name and have no difference except their color. Blue Rats tend to appear in the Ice Cavern, and sometimes hide inside Snowballs, while Gray Rats are generally found in the The Ruins.

Trivia

 * Monsters called Bazu appear in Thieves' Town of and act very similar to the Rats of the Light World, though stronger.
 * Also in a monster called Pirogusu appears in the Swamp Palace. As well as having similar movement patterns, the latter half of its name, Gūsu suggests a relation with the Gūzu, which is the name given to the Rats in Japan.
 * Syrup and Crazy Tracy from are the only two characters with rodents in their house. Syrup's Shop and Crazy Tracy's are both located in Koholint Prairie.