10 Zelda enemies we want to return to the franchise

Since the 80s, the Zelda franchise has had a huge variety of enemies for the hero Link to hack and slash his way through while exploring Hyrule. As the years have gone by, the best foes have often appeared in multiple games, however, it’s been a while since we’ve seen some of them.

With the latest title Echoes of Wisdom ushering in a new era for the franchise, there are some enemies we wish would come back to the series. Here are the ten enemies we want back in Zelda — and luckily ReDeads don’t need to be on this list since they’re in Echoes of Wisdom.

10 enemies that Zelda should bring back 

1. Darknuts

An imposing suit of armor that gives me a chance to sword fight? Yes, please. Darknuts have been around in the series for a while now, but it’s no contest that their Twilight Princess appearance is the best. These black suits of armor with intricate detail are just so much fun to fight and provide a unique challenge that simple baddies like Bulbins and Lizalfos just couldn’t compete with. 

2. Deku Babas

Every good fantasy series needs an evil plant, and Deku Babas have long served that purpose for The Legend of Zelda. Sadly, they didn’t show up in Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, and there wasn’t anything similar. Were they particularly difficult? No, but there’s nothing quite like seeing Link suddenly tossed 10 feet away screaming because one of these guys popped up out of nowhere.

3. Wallmasters

Another classic that’s sadly missing, Wallmasters were Gloom Hands before Gloom Hands existed. These disembodied hands will slowly fall from the ceiling before snatching up Link and throwing him back to the beginning of the dungeon. Equally terrifying and annoying, the moment you first run into one in Ocarina of Time’s Forest Temple is just as memorable as your first Guardian fight.

4. Dodongos

Dodongos are the closest thing to dinosaurs we’ll probably ever have in Zelda, so it’s not hard to see why we want them back. While they weren’t ever too difficult, they provided a great unique enemy to volcanic regions like Death Mountain that weren’t just fire variations of common enemies. We hope to see these lizard-dinosaur-like creatures again.

5. Armos

Our favorite foes from the series are typically the most intimidating, and the Armos is certainly one you’ll be wise to tread carefully around. These huge statues shoot lasers and explode upon death, so taking them out is a special challenge. Their Majora’s Mask appearances, including the Death Armos, are by far our favorite, and we’d love to see them appear in the next 3D title.

6. Soldiers

While the soldiers of Hyrule are normally a good help (or at least not hostile) to Link, it’s been a while since we’ve seen them actively fight the hero. A Link to the Past is our favorite, providing tons of variations including soldiers with spears, bows, bombs, and even ball and chains. Human enemies are not common in Zelda, and it’d be awesome to be able to fight some brainwashed soldiers again.

7. Guardians

It hasn’t been that long since Guardians struck fear into our hearts for the first time in Breath of the Wild. Initially one of the most dangerous enemies in the game, once you learned how to beat them you never felt cooler. These mechanical tanks were one of the most iconic parts of the game, so it was sad to see them completely omitted from the sequel. How terrifying would it be to find these guys roaming around in the next title? We want to see it happen.

8. Geldman

We’ll forgive you for not recognizing this sand monster since it hasn’t been seen since A Link Between Worlds over a decade ago. This creature might not have been the hardest to beat in their previous appearances, but the original artwork featuring the Geldman that lives in the desert sands is just so imposing and cool, that we’re hoping to see it make a comeback. Just think of the possibilities a massive sand monster could have.

9. Poes

These ghosts have certainly had quite the switch-up in the most recent 3D Zelda, going from combative foes to whisps of light you can collect for rewards. While their Tears of the Kingdom appearance is nice, we would love to see these guys back in action like they were in their heyday, lanterns, and all. After all, there are never enough ghosts you can fight off.

10. Gohma

Technically Gohma is a recurring boss, however since this massive spider loves to send her children to fight for her as common enemies, we’ll count her on this list. Gohma is one of the quintessential Zelda enemies, instilling arachnophobia in all who pick up the game. Sadly, there were no enormous spiders in the most recent titles for Legend of Zelda, and it just feels wrong. We want Gohma back and with more of her babies than we’ve ever seen before.