Shadow Nightmare
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Template:Boss The final boss of Link's Awakening, Nightmare takes on six forms of former bosses Link has defeated in Link's Awakening, as well as that of A Link to the Past.
First Form: Giant Bot
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The first form is a Giant Bot. Simply sprinkle Magic Powder on it three times, and it will switch forms.
Second Form: Agahnim
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The second form is the evil priest (or wizard in the U.S.) from A Link to the Past. Agahnim will take the second form and can be defeated in the same manner as in A Link to the Past. Link must send his magic ball back at him with a sword-slash and Nightmare will switch forms once again. Watch out though, some blasts of magic cannot be reflected.
Oddly enough, if timed properly, Link can also use the shovel to deflect Agahnim's blasts (presuming you haven't traded it for the boomerang), in a similar manner to how Link could use the Bug Catching Net to do so in A Link to the Past.
Third Form: Moldorm
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The third form will be that of the first boss, Moldorm. Striking the tail will cause this form to disappear. However, if the Moldorm of the Nightmare form slows down during the battle, the process must be repeated. There is also another, more simple way to defeat the Moldorm; by starting to slash the boss with the sword continously while it is changing to Moldorm, the boss will just freeze on the Moldorm's head, so that the whole boss won't be able to appear. Just keep slashing it for some time, and when Link stops, the boss will simply change into its next shape (Or at least be badly hurt if Link didn't slash it enough). Once Moldorm is defeated, it will switch forms again.
Fourth Form: Dark King Ganon
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The fourth form is Link's worst enemy, Ganon. Ganon will attack with his ax, as well as sending demonic bats to attack Link. Using the Pegasus Boots and the Sword, Link must charge at the Ganon form in order to defeat it. After it is defeated, it will switch forms again.
Fifth Form: Lanmola
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The fifth form will become a Lanmola from A Link to the Past, but is defeated in a different fashion. The Hookshot, Boomerang, Bomb, or Magic Rod will defeat this form. It will change forms one last time.
Final Form: Dethl
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The final form is the true form and will be the only new enemy encountered in this battle. Dethl (シャドー, Shadow) will be in the form of a strange creature with two muscular arms extending from a center eyeball that looks a lot like Vaati (who did not exist in the franchise yet). Using the Roc's Feather, Link must jump over the arms to avoid being hit by them. The center eye will be closed while the arms swing. Occasionally, the eye will open during the battle. Once it opens, attack with an arrow or the boomerang. This form will take the longest, but once it is over, the Wind Fish will awaken.
As well as being a possible inspiration for Vaati, Dethl also appears incredibly similar to a final boss in the Kirby series of games, also by Nintendo, and resembles the game's antagonist "Dark Matter".
It takes sixteen hits to kill Dethl with the bow and arrows. However, a single direct hit (right in the center of the eye) with the boomerang will kill him instantly.
The Wind Fish
Once the Nightmare is dealt with, the Wind Fish will awaken. He will confirm that Koholint Island is a dreamworld, and that Link was taken into it when the ship he was sailing in was struck by lightning. Using the Eight Instruments Link gathered and playing the Ballad of the Wind Fish, Link and the Wind Fish finally awaken. Link awakens on a piece of his former raft and watches as the Wind Fish flies overhead. The dream island of Koholint would only remain in his dreams.