Dead Man's Volley: Difference between revisions

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(The technique section used to be two paragraphs that essentially stated the same thing so I merged them. Cleaned upt he wording and and consistency. Easter eggs section is poor. Help?)
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[[File:MagicTennisPuppetZelda.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Puppet Zelda sends a ball of dark energy towards Link in {{TP}}.]]
[[File:MagicTennisPuppetZelda.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Puppet Zelda sends a ball of dark energy towards Link in {{TP}}.]]
'''Dead Man's Volley'''<ref>{{cite|If you want to save Tetra, you'll have to play a match of dead man's volley first! So... Are you a big enough boy to return these volleys?|Cubus Sisters|Phantom Hourglass}}</ref> is a particular battle technique that involves the rhythmic parrying of an energy beam between two adversaries: [[Link]], and a boss, often [[Ganondorf]] or one of his [[Phantom Ganon]] clones. The energy ball eventually impacts the one who is either paying the least attention, tires first, or the one who is not fast enough to parry the energy. In the Zelda universe, this technique is often only a section of a boss's overall fighting technique, although it has been seen to encompass the technique of an entire form, such as [[Princess Zelda#Puppet Zelda|Puppet Zelda]] in {{TP}}. Many boss enemies in [[The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda series]] are difficult or impossible to harm with ordinary attacks.  Sometimes this is because they're just too tough, other times because they have magical protection or can block attacks, and occasionally because they're flying out of reach. To hit these enemies, it's often necessary to reflect their attacks back at them with the sword, much like a tennis player would return a serve. The first game in the series that included this tactic was [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|''A Link to the Past'']], which required Link to use the [[Master Sword]], or, strangely, the [[Bug Catching Net]], to reflect [[Agahnim|Agahnim's]] magical bolts back at him to hurt him.  No other attacks would do damage. As an in-game hint, Link is told that he must find a way to reflect Agahnim's evil magic back on him.<ref>{{cite|Listen well, Link. Even with the Master Sword, you cannot inflict physical harm on the wizard. You must find a way to return his own evil magic power to him.|Sahasrahla|A Link to the Past}}</ref>
'''Dead Man's Volley'''<ref>{{cite|If you want to save Tetra, you'll have to play a match of dead man's volley first! So... Are you a big enough boy to return these volleys?|Cubus Sisters|Phantom Hourglass}}</ref> is a particular battle technique that involves the rhythmic parrying of an energy beam between two adversaries: [[Link]], and a boss, often [[Ganondorf]] or one of his [[Phantom Ganon]] clones. Many bosses in [[The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda series]] are difficult or impossible to harm with ordinary attacks; either because they're just too tough, have magical protection, the ability to block all attacks, or because they're simply flying out of reach. To hit these bosses requires a "game" of Dead Man's Volley to reflect their energy ball attack back at them with the sword, much like a tennis player would return a serve. The energy ball will then impact the one who is either not fast enough to continue the volley or tires first. In the Zelda universe, this technique is often only a section of a boss's overall fighting technique, although it has been seen to comprise the entire battle, such as [[Princess Zelda#Puppet Zelda|Puppet Zelda]] in {{TP}}. The first game in the series that included this tactic was [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|''A Link to the Past'']], which required Link to use the [[Master Sword]] to reflect [[Agahnim|Agahnim's]] magical bolts back at him and was the only means to cause damage. As an in-game hint, Link is told that he must find a way to reflect Agahnim's evil magic back on him.<ref>{{cite|Listen well, Link. Even with the Master Sword, you cannot inflict physical harm on the wizard. You must find a way to return his own evil magic power to him.|Sahasrahla|A Link to the Past}}</ref>


===Technique===
===Technique===
Since ''A Link to the Past'', playing tennis has become a standard tactic for battling powerful enemies, but with a new twist. The enemy will often be able to answer Link's reflection by batting it back himself. This results in a dangerous game of skill as the two enemies bounce the shot back and forth between them, waiting for the other to make a mistake and get hit. In ''Ocarina of Time'', for example, Link reflects the shots of both [[Phantom Ganon]] and also [[Ganon|Ganondorf]] himself by batting them back with his sword (again, as an easter egg in the game, an empty [[bottle]] could also be used).  Both these enemies will return the shot until someone misses and gets hit. Frequently, Link can increase his chances of hitting the enemy with the reflected shot by standing very close &mdash; the enemy will not be able to react fast enough to answer.
Since ''A Link to the Past'', playing Dead Man's Volley has become a standard tactic for battling powerful bosses, but with a new twist. The boss will start the attack by procuring a ball of dark energy and throw it at Link. Link must parry the energy ball back at the boss who will often be able to answer Link's reflection by one of his own. This results in a dangerous game of skill as the two combatants volley the shot back and forth between them, waiting for the other to make a mistake and get hit. Over the course of the battle, the speed and the amount of volleys required of the energy ball will increase, making it harder for Link to keep from getting hit. Link can increase his chances of hitting the enemy with the reflected shot by standing very close &mdash; the enemy will not be able to react fast enough to answer. Eventually, upon a certain amount of volleys, the boss will tire, and be hit by his own magic energy, leading to a [[Critical Point]].
 
As an exception, [[Princess Zelda#Puppet Zelda|Ganondorf's Puppet Zelda]] merely requires the reflected shots to hit her in order to be defeated.
The boss will procure a ball of dark energy and throw it at Link. Link has one of two choices, if he does not want to get hit by the dark magic: either send the energy back at the boss through the swinging of a sword or interstingly, an [[Empty Bottle]], or evade the strike by moving out of the way. In the case that Link parries the energy, it will be sent back to the boss, who will consequently send it back Link's direction. Over the course of the battle, the speed and the amount of parries required of the energy ball will increase, and the time Link has to deflect it back will decrease, making it harder for Link to keep it from hitting him. Eventually, upon a certain amount of parries, the boss will tire, and succumb to backfire of his own magic energy, leading to a [[Critical Point]]. As an exception, [[Princess Zelda#Puppet Zelda|Ganondorf's Puppet Zelda]] merely requires the reflected shots to hit her, as Link obviously doesn't want to strike Zelda's body, even while possessed, with the [[Master Sword|Blade of Evil's Bane]].


===Users of the Technique===
===Users of the Technique===
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* '''[[Puppet Zelda]]''' in {{TP}}, Ganondorf's first form
* '''[[Puppet Zelda]]''' in {{TP}}, Ganondorf's first form
* '''[[Cubus Sisters]]''' from {{PH}}
* '''[[Cubus Sisters]]''' from {{PH}}
===Easter Eggs===
The [[Bug Catching Net]] can be used to harm [[Agahnim|Agahnim's]] in [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|''A Link to the Past'']]
In ''Ocarina of Time'', an empty [[bottle]] could also be used to reflect energy shots.
{{ref}}
{{ref}}
[[Category:Sword Techniques]]
[[Category:Sword Techniques]]

Revision as of 16:50, 10 February 2010

Puppet Zelda sends a ball of dark energy towards Link in Twilight Princess.

Dead Man's Volley[1] is a particular battle technique that involves the rhythmic parrying of an energy beam between two adversaries: Link, and a boss, often Ganondorf or one of his Phantom Ganon clones. Many bosses in The Legend of Zelda series are difficult or impossible to harm with ordinary attacks; either because they're just too tough, have magical protection, the ability to block all attacks, or because they're simply flying out of reach. To hit these bosses requires a "game" of Dead Man's Volley to reflect their energy ball attack back at them with the sword, much like a tennis player would return a serve. The energy ball will then impact the one who is either not fast enough to continue the volley or tires first. In the Zelda universe, this technique is often only a section of a boss's overall fighting technique, although it has been seen to comprise the entire battle, such as Puppet Zelda in Twilight Princess. The first game in the series that included this tactic was A Link to the Past, which required Link to use the Master Sword to reflect Agahnim's magical bolts back at him and was the only means to cause damage. As an in-game hint, Link is told that he must find a way to reflect Agahnim's evil magic back on him.[2]

Technique

Since A Link to the Past, playing Dead Man's Volley has become a standard tactic for battling powerful bosses, but with a new twist. The boss will start the attack by procuring a ball of dark energy and throw it at Link. Link must parry the energy ball back at the boss who will often be able to answer Link's reflection by one of his own. This results in a dangerous game of skill as the two combatants volley the shot back and forth between them, waiting for the other to make a mistake and get hit. Over the course of the battle, the speed and the amount of volleys required of the energy ball will increase, making it harder for Link to keep from getting hit. Link can increase his chances of hitting the enemy with the reflected shot by standing very close — the enemy will not be able to react fast enough to answer. Eventually, upon a certain amount of volleys, the boss will tire, and be hit by his own magic energy, leading to a Critical Point. As an exception, Ganondorf's Puppet Zelda merely requires the reflected shots to hit her in order to be defeated.

Users of the Technique

File:AgahnimFight.jpg
The duel against Agahnim in Template:ALTTP

Easter Eggs

The Bug Catching Net can be used to harm Agahnim's in A Link to the Past In Ocarina of Time, an empty bottle could also be used to reflect energy shots.

References

  1. "If you want to save Tetra, you'll have to play a match of dead man's volley first! So... Are you a big enough boy to return these volleys?" — Cubus Sisters (Phantom Hourglass)
  2. "Listen well, Link. Even with the Master Sword, you cannot inflict physical harm on the wizard. You must find a way to return his own evil magic power to him." — Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)