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

Once you drop through the cracked floor into the lair, you will land on a square ledge surrounding a central pool of lava. This is where you fight King Dodongo, the massive dinosaur beast responsible for cutting off the food supply of Goron City.

His thick scaly skin deflects all standard sword slashes from the front. Defeating him requires timing your items around his breathing attacks. Here is the exact strategy to bring down the behemoth and claim your rewards.

Watch for the Fire Breath

When King Dodongo faces you, he will stop moving and open his jaws wide to inhale air before releasing a massive stream of fire. This open mouth is his only weak point.

Stand directly in front of him just out of bite range. As soon as his mouth opens to inhale, pull out a Bomb from your Bomb Bag and throw it directly down his throat in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

If you run out of explosive inventory during the fight, wild Bomb Flowers grow along the edges of the room that you can pluck and use instead.

The explosive will detonate inside his stomach, stunning him and forcing his head to collapse flat onto the ground with his tongue sticking out.

Strike the Exposed Tongue

Sprint up to his face while he is stunned. Target his exposed mouth with your Kokiri Sword and unleash a jump attack or a string of rapid forward thrusts.

You'll have a very short window untill the boss recovers, so do as much damage as possible during this time.

Dodge the Rolling Attack

As soon as King Dodongo regains consciousness, he will curl his massive body into an armored ball and roll along the narrow perimeter path.

Do not try to jump over him or run into the lava, as the shallow magma burns your health. Instead, sprint toward one of the room's four inner corners in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Stand tight against the inside corner lip right next to the lava pit. When the boss rolls past, he will slam into the outer stone wall and redirect down the next straight path, completely missing you.

Keep your distance as he finishes his roll and unpacks his body. The impact often shakes loose several Baby Dodongos. Take them out quickly with sweeping sword slashes or back away to avoid their explosion when they die.

Finish the Fight and Claim Your Rewards

Repeat the cycle: wait for him to inhale, throw a Bomb into his mouth, slash his tongue while he is stunned, and dodge his rolling attack by hugging the inside corners.

After taking damage from three separate bomb stuns, King Dodongo will lose control, roll straight into the fiery pit, and harden into solid rock in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Walk over to the center of the room to collect your brand-new Heart Container to permanently extend your life bar. Step into the swirling blue light portal to warp outside the cavern, where Darunia will congratulate you and hand over the Goron's Ruby, the Spiritual Stone of Fire.

FAQ

Q. Can you hurt King Dodongo with the Fairy Slingshot?

A. No, slingshot pellets simply bounce off his thick scales and do not deal any damage, even when shot directly into his open mouth. You must use Bombs or Bomb Flowers to stun him.

Q. What should you do if your Kokiri Shield burns during the battle?

A. If you equip the Kokiri Shield and fail to dodge a fire breath blast, the wooden frame will burn away completely. Equip the metal Hylian Shield before dropping into the arena to protect yourself without risking your gear.

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