Hardhat Beetle
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Hardhat Beetles are recurring Enemies in The Legend of Zelda series.[1][2] They are monsters that resemble a jellyfish.[3] They are notable for their extreme resilience and elasticity. They consist of a round, bouncy shell-like bell atop a mass of tentacles that it uses to creep about the various rooms and hallways throughout the dungeons in several Zelda titles. They commonly inhabit tower-like regions and appear alongside Bumpers and pitfalls.
Characteristics
A Link to the Past
Hardhat Beetles first appear in the Tower of Hera, but also appear in many Dungeons in the Dark World and Caves on Death Mountain, and commonly appear in groups. They home in on Link wildly and attempt to knock him down pits. Their movement is erratic and their tentacles give them little friction: they are liable to overshoot Link and careen around the room, bouncing off Bumpers. Striking a Hardhat Beetle with a Sword or Magic Hammer will cause it to bounce away wildly and cause Link himself to fly backwards. Due to their high defense, it is easiest to deal with them by knocking them down pits, but this will cause them to reappear if Link exits and re-enters the room. They will also attempt to knock Link into pits. In particular, the red variety can take a huge amount of damage before it is destroyed, and moves much faster than the blue variety, so Red Hardhat Beetles should be knocked down nearby holes as soon as possible. Hardhat Beetles are invulnerable to most weapons, but Bombs will stun them. They often leave more Bombs behind when destroyed.
Link's Awakening
Hardhat Beetles are completely invulnerable to the Sword, and in most cases must be defeated by knocking them down pits. They usually appear in smaller numbers however, and don't cause Link to fly back when striking them with his blade. They still retain their weakness to Bombs, but now these explosives will destroy them, rather than simply stun them. They are common in various Dungeons and Caves.
Oracle of Seasons
Hardhat Beetles are completely invulnerable to the Sword, and in most cases must be defeated by knocking them down pits. They usually appear in smaller numbers however, and don't cause Link to fly back when striking them with his blade. They are now invulnerable to Bombs and are knocked back rather than stunned by the boomerang. They can be warped away with Gale Seeds, but will respawn the next time Link reenters the room. They are common in various Dungeons and Caves. Link can use the Magnetic Gloves to crush them with metal balls.
Oracle of Ages
Hardhat Beetles are completely invulnerable to the Sword, and in most cases must be defeated by knocking them down pits. They usually appear in smaller numbers however, and don't cause Link to fly back when striking them with his blade. They are now invulnerable to Bombs and are knocked back rather than stunned by the boomerang. They can be warped away with Gale Seeds, but will respawn the next time Link reenters the room. They are common in various Dungeons and Caves. Patch's game-like ceremony for fixing items features four or eight Hardhat Beetles that must be defeated in less than thirty seconds or before the Mine Cart traveling around the room hits whatever item is being fixed. These Beetles are of a particular pinkish color.
Four Swords Adventures
In Four Swords Adventures, Hardhat Beetles first appear in the Tower of Flames, similar to their appearance in A Link to the Past. In this game they will even bounce off one another, but must again be defeated primarily by knocking them down pits. It is however possible to destroy them by hitting them with the Down Thrust using the Roc's Feather. As in A Link to the Past, they commonly appear near pitfalls and Bumpers in Dungeons.
Phantom Hourglass
In Phantom Hourglass, Hardhat Beetles first appear in the Temple of Courage. Aside from a slightly shorter stature, they are otherwise very similar to their previous appearances and must be knocked down pits since they retain their invulnerability to the sword. The Hammer received later in the game can be used to smash the Hardhat Beetle into oblivion.
A Link Between Worlds
In this game, they appear in Tower of Hera, Treacherous Tower, and Ice Ruins. They behave much like in A Link to the Past, but when Link strikes them with a Sword, they will push the young hero further away than in their previous incarnation. The Hammer can also stun them when pounding it near these enemies.
Tri Force Heroes
Hardhat Beetles are found in blue and red varieties in Tri Force Heroes. The red one is on fire, which will harm the Links if it is touched or if they attempt to attack it normally with their Swords. However, their fire can be extinguished with many other items, such as the Gust Jar, after which it is rendered almost defenseless. Like its blue counterpart, its only attack after its fire has vanished is to bump into the Links, attempting to knock them off a platform or into lava. They appear in many Levels in the Drablands.
Trivia
- The Hardhat Beetles in Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons loosely resemble the Blooper and Buzzy Beetle enemies from the Mario franchise.
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | Meanings |
 Japanese | ポーン(青) (Pōn (Ao)) (ALttP)[5] | Pōn (Blue) |
 German | Chromaqualle (LANS) | Chroma Jellyfish |
 Italian |
| |
| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | ||
Other Names
| Name | Beetle Bailey[6] |
|---|---|
| Applies to | |
| Source | |
| Superseded by | |
| Name | Beetle Shell[7] |
| Applies to | |
| Source | |
| Superseded by | |
| Name | Shell Beast[8] |
| Applies to | |
| Source | |
| Superseded by |
Gallery
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A red Hardhat Beetle from A Link to the Past
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Concept artwork of a Hardhat Beetle from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch
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A red Hardhat Beetle as seen during Patch's "ceremony" from Oracle of Ages
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A red Hardhat Beetle from A Link Between Worlds
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A red Hardhat Beetle from Tri Force Heroes
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A dark Hardhat Beetle from Tri Force Heroes
See Also
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 184 (ALttP | LA | LADX | OoS | OoA | FSA | PH | ALBW | TFH)
- ↑ Dreamer Art Book, Nintendo Co., Ltd., pg. 25
- ↑ "弾カ性に富んだボヨヨンな感じのクラゲ。" (The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods Official Nintendo Guidebook Over, Shogakukan, pg. 131)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Enciclopedia di Hyrule, Magazzini Salani, pg. 184
- ↑ Nintendo Official Guidebook: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 131Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Shogakukan, pg. 24
- ↑ Official The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & Ages Perfect Guide, Versus Books, pg. 26 (OoS)
- ↑ Official The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & Ages Perfect Guide, Versus Books, pg. 63 (OoS)
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass—Prima Official Game Guide, Prima Games, pg. 25
- Enemies
- Beetle Enemies
- Fire-Related Enemies
- Insect Enemies
- Shelled Enemies
- Enemies in A Link to the Past
- Enemies in Link's Awakening
- Enemies in Link's Awakening DX
- Enemies in Link's Awakening (Nintendo Switch)
- Enemies in Oracle of Seasons
- Enemies in Oracle of Ages
- Enemies in Four Swords Adventures
- Enemies in Phantom Hourglass
- Enemies in A Link Between Worlds
- Enemies in Tri Force Heroes
- Enemies in Ancient Stone Tablets