The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide | How to Beat Ganon

Here’s a guide on how to beat Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Nov 13, 2026

Ganondorf rises from the debris and transforms into the massive beast Ganon for the final showdown of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

You have to survive three distinct phases to put him down for good. Here is how to beat Ganon and finish the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Preparing for the Ganon Boss Fight

Preparing for the Ganon Boss Fight

Before you walk toward the pile of rubble to trigger the fight, keep a few core mechanics in mind so you do not get caught off guard in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

First, Navi returns for this battle, which means you can lock onto Ganon just like a normal enemy. However, Ganon knocks the Master Sword out of your hands right as the fight starts. You cannot use it during the first phase, so be ready to cycle through your secondary items quickly to deal damage.

If you run low on health, Arrows, or Magic Power at any point, bait Ganon into swinging his swords at the stone walls surrounding the arena. Breaking the walls drops recovery pickups you can grab on the run.

Phase #1: Breaking Ganon's Tail Without the Master Sword

During the opening phase, Ganon only has one weak spot: his tail. Bait his attacks and counter with your items.

Ganon relies on three main attacks in this phase. He will lift a sword overhead and slam it down or thrust it into the ground, leaving his blade stuck for a moment while an energy rupture explodes nearby.

He also uses a wide horizontal sweep across the ground in front of him. If you linger behind him for too long, he will leap into the air and slam his body down to crush you.

When Ganon slams his sword into the dirt and gets stuck, sprint behind him and hit his tail with the Megaton Hammer or your Fairy Bow. If you want to play more aggressively, wait for him to lift his sword, then quickly fire an Arrow right between his legs to strike his tail. You only have a split-second window to pull this off. You can also send a Bombchu between his legs so it detonates against his tail, though the timing takes practice.

When he jumps for a body slam, just back away to avoid getting squashed and wait for his next swing in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Keep damaging his tail until it breaks. Once it shatters, the second phase begins, Princess Zelda throws the Master Sword back to you, and Ganon opens a third eye on his forehead while his arms begin to glow.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Phase 1 Breaking Ganon's Tail Without the Master Sword

Phase #2: Destroying Ganon's Glowing Arms

Even though you have the Master Sword back, Ganon's third eye slams shut, and your blade starts glowing with extra power.

His sword swings in this phase mirror his earlier attacks, with one major addition: glowing circles now appear on the ground as he winds up and finishes his swings. Lightning strikes those exact spots a moment later, so keep moving to avoid taking shock damage.

Your goal here is to attack his glowing arms using either the Master Sword or Light Arrows. The Master Sword only reaches his arms safely when his blades are stuck in the ground after a slam. Because those openings are brief, firing Light Arrows at his arms whenever you have a clear shot is the fastest way to wear him down.

After you deal enough damage, Ganon's empowered arms explode and return to normal. He will then wrap himself in dark energy and charge straight at you in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Run along the outer edge of the arena until Princess Zelda casts a spell that forces Ganon's third eye open.

Phase #3: Striking Ganon's Third Eye

In the final phase, Ganon uses the same basic swing patterns, except his ground slams now trigger multiple energy ruptures instead of one. Do not panic when you see them. There is plenty of room between the blasts, so just stand in the clear spaces until they go off.

Ganon's weak spot is now his glowing third eye. Pull out your Fairy Bow and shoot a Light Arrow straight into his eye whenever he leaves it exposed. He covers his face right before launching an attack, so wait for him to finish his swing before taking your shot.

After you hit his third eye three times with Light Arrows, Ganon collapses to the ground. Slash his eye with the Master Sword. The Sages will then step in to seal him away, wrapping up the story of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Phase 2 Destroying Ganon's Glowing Arms

FAQ

Q. How do I get the Master Sword back during the Ganon fight?

A. You have to play through the entire first phase using other weapons like the Megaton Hammer, Fairy Bow, or Bombchus to damage Ganon's tail. Once you break his tail, Princess Zelda automatically tosses the Master Sword back into the arena for you to pick up.

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