Shadow Nightmares is the collective name of the various final Bosses in Link's Awakening.^[1] The final Nightmare, seemingly a collective of multiple Nightmares, takes on six forms, or Shadows, of former bosses Link has defeated in Link's Awakening, as well as that of A Link to the Past. The Nightmares are the primary antagonists in the Wind Fish's dream on Koholint Island, and are the force single-handedly responsible for the forced, continued slumber of the Wind Fish.^[2][3][4] Like many of the bosses Link fights in the game, the Shadow Nightmares are self-aware: at the beginning and end of the battle, it reveals the plans to continue the Wind Fish's slumber, and speaks of how its death will signal the end of "its world", respectively.^[5]

The Six Shadows[]

Giant Zol[]

The first shadow is also known as Giant Gel, and is a giant Zol, a common enemy throughout Link's travels on Koholint and his previous adventures. The Giant Zol bounces after Link much like a normal Zol, and occasionally disappears into the ground only to appear elsewhere. While not particularly danagerous, at first the Giant Zol can seem impossible to destroy; striking it with his blade will simply cause it to shatter and reappear elsewhere. However, if Link simply sprinkles Magic Powder on it three times, it will be defeated and proceed to morph into its next form.

Agahnim's Shadow[]

The second form is a shadowy version of Agahnim, the evil sorcerer from A Link to the Past. This form can be defeated in the same manner as the true Agahnim, by playing a grueling game of Dead Man's Volley. Link must parry balls of magic back at Agahnim to cause damage. Similar to the true Agahnim battle in A Link to the Past, some blasts of magic cannot be reflected, and will instead scatter, sending smaller bolts across the arena. Agahnim will however not use his lightning attacks or attempt to create fake copies of himself, nor will Link take damage from striking him with his sword like he did in the previous game. After hitting him with his magic enough times, he will spin on the spot before breaking apart and moving to the next form.

If timed properly, Link can also use the Shovel to deflect Agahnim's blasts in a similar manner to how Link could use the Bug Catching Net to do so in A Link to the Past.

In Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch, Link can also use an empty Fairy Bottle to deflect Agahnim's blasts in a similar manner to how Link could use an Empty Bottle to deflect Ganondorf's blasts in Ocarina of Time.

Moldorm[]

The third form will be that of the first boss in Link's Awakening, Moldorm, in technique and in attack strategy. The only changes are that there are no holes to fall down, and Link must strike the tail many more times than the original Nightmare he first fought in the Tail Cave. There is also another, more simple way to defeat the Moldorm; as Nightmare is switching forms, from Agahnim to Moldorm, Link may quickly and continuously slash the transforming mold, slowing and eventually halting the process. Only the head of the Moldorm will successfully form, and after more striking, the boss will simply change into its next shape, or at least sustain enough damage that Link will be able to defeat it quickly and painlessly as compared to its full-bodied form.

Shadow of Ganon[]

The fourth form is a Nightmare version of The Legend of Zelda's archvillain, Ganon, taking on his appearance from A Link to the Past. The Shadow of Ganon will summon a flurry of Blazing Bats in Link's direction before attacking with its Trident and moving across the room, much as Ganon did in A Link to the Past. To defeat it, Link must use the Spin Attack, or alternatively by using a combination of the Pegasus Boots and his blade, Link can charge at the shadow in a Dash Attack in order to defeat it. After about twelve hits with Link's normal sword it is defeated, and it shall morph into the Lanmola form.

Lanmola[]

Despite being known as Lanmola, this particular form does not have much relation to its namesake; instead it appears to be the collective form of the Shadow Nightmares that Link sees inbetween each form, making a last ditch attempt to defeat Link. It is seemingly invulnerable to Link's sword and will home in on him, leaving trails of itself behind as it chases him around the room. It can be defeated with a powerful strike, preferably from the Magic Rod, but a Spin Attack, Hookshot, Bomb or the Boomerang will have the same effect. A single strike is all that is requires to stop its charge and cause it to reveal its final, deadly form.

DethI[]

The final form is the only new enemy encountered in this battle, DethI. DethI consists of a large pulsating mass with a single, usually closed eye from which two dark, shadowy arms with huge spiked tips extend outwards.

Aftermath[]

Once the Nightmare is dealt with, the Owl will speak to Link and a stairway will appear. Link travels up the stairs to speak to the Owl a final time, before the Wind Fish appears. He will confirm that Koholint Island is a dream world,^[6] and that Link ended up in his dream after his ship was struck by lightning while he was sailing home. By using the Instrument of the Sirens Link gathered on the island to play the Ballad of the Wind Fish, the Wind Fish finally awakens, dispelling his dream world and returning Link to the sea from whence he came.^[7] He awakens on a piece of his former ship and watches as the Wind Fish flies overhead. The dream island of Koholint would only remain in his memories.^[6]

Other Appearances[]

Trivia[]

• The music played during the battle against DethI in the original and DX versions is the Sub-Boss theme instead of the Shadow Nightmares unique battle theme. This was changed in the Switch version, which supplied DethI with its own boss theme.
• In the original and DX versions, the Shadow Nightmares appear under Link, while in the Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch version, they briefly emerge from Link in a cutscene, implying that they in part embody Link's inner nightmares similar to Link's Shadow from The Adventure of Link.
• In the Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch version, the Shadow Nightmares, or more specifically the Ganon phase of the battle, reused sound effects from the boss fight against Antasma in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team when Ganon summons Blazing Bats to attack Link.
• In the GB and DX version DethI moves on it's own, but in the Switch version he always stays in front of Link.
• Until the announcement trailer for Echoes of Wisdom, the Shadow Nightmare incarnation of Ganon is the only instance of him using a double-bladed trident, as he generally used a single-bladed trident.
  • Coincidentally, the Echoes of Wisdom depiction of Ganon was also a duplicate created by the game's main antagonist as part of their agenda (in this case, a Dark Echo created by Null to ensure Hyrule was absorbed by its rifts into the Still World).

Nomenclature[]

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	シャドー (Shadō) (LA)[8]	Shadow
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

• 

  The Shadow Nightmare

• 

  The Shadow Nightmare's transitory appearance

• 

  Link sprinkes Magic Powder on the first form, the Giant Zol

• 

  Reflecting magic defeats Agahnim's Shadow

• 

  Link chases the third form, Moldorm, around the arena

• 

  The Shadow of Ganon prepares to challenge Link

• 

  The fifth form, the Lanmola, pursues and injures Link

• 

  DethI, the final Nightmare, uses its radial arms to attack Link

• 

  Artwork of DethI in the Suzana Art Works guide

• 

  The Giant Zol in Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  Agahnim's Shadow in Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  The Moldorm in Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

• 

  The Shadow of Ganon in Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

References

v · d · eEye Enemies Enemies Bawb · Beamos · Chasupa · Eyegore · Eyeball Monster · Eye Slug · Eyeroc · Fire Eye · Girubokku · Gohma Larva · Ice Keese · Keese · Laser Eye · Moa · Morth · Octomine · Phantom Eye · Tektite Bosses Armogohma · Arrghus · Big Octo · DethI · Diababa · Dharkstare · Digdogger · Eyesoar · Gigaleon · Gohma · Kholdstare · Knucklemaster · Margoma · Margomill · Morpheel · Patra · Prismantus · Slime Eye · Vaati · Vitreous · Wart Enemies

v · d · eCharacters in The Legend of Zelda Major Protagonists Link · Princess Zelda · Ciela · Epona · Ezlo · Fi · King of Red Lions · Linebeck · Midna · Navi · Tatl · Tetra Minor Protagonists Anjean · Daruk  · Darunia  · Din · Farore  · Great Deku Tree · Groose · Impa · King Rauru  · Maku Tree · Marin · Medli · Makar · Mineru  · Mipha  · Nabooru  · Nayru  · Queen Sonia  · Ralph · Rauru · Ravio · Revali  · Riju  · Ruto · Saria · Sidon  · Tingle  · Tulin  · Urbosa  · Yunobo Major Antagonists Bellum · Demise · Ganon · Ghirahim · Lady Maud · Majora's Mask · Malladus · General Onox · Shadow Nightmares · Twinrova · Vaati · Veran · Yuga Minor Antagonists Agahnim  · Byrne · Chancellor Cole · Dark Link · King Bulblin · Master Kohga · Princess Hilda · Shadow Link · Skull Kid · Vire · Zant Characters by Game