Final Boss

The Final Boss, much like in any video game, is the last and toughest obstacle standing in the way of the main protagonist's mission, and the defeat of this particular boss results in the conclusion of the game's story. Usually but not always, the Final Boss is the main antagonist and mastermind behind the plot of the game, much like the role Ganon recurringly plays in . They can be distinguished by having a unique, more climactic theme as opposed to the common bosses (especially in older games). In the Zelda franchise, whether their plan is to take over the world, gain the true force of the Triforce, or rid the land of peace and serenity, it is Link's primary objective to stop and defeat this character, and the final showdown is the main antagonist's ultimate chance to destroy the hero and vice versa. Ganon is by far the most popular Final Boss of the series, but some games have seen a variety of different lead antagonists such as Majora's Mask. The Final Boss often has a puppet, or minion who precedes him, like Zant in or Agahnim in , who appeared to be the primary villain of the game until the plot took an unexpected turn storyline-wise, revealing the main antagonist to be a larger, more influential figure, such as Ganon himself.
==Recurring Final Bosses==
===Ganon===
 
Ganon is the most frequently recurring Final Boss of the series, namely because as he is the main villain of The Legend of Zelda franchise, his ties to the Triforce and to Hyrule itself outweigh any other antagonist in any other Zelda title. As the wielder of the Triforce of Power, Ganon assumes an incredible strength, not only physically, but magically as well; his ability to transform the land and its atmosphere to suit his dark desires is a power used in a more positive light by his representative goddess, Din. Throughout the longtime series, Ganon exists in human form as Ganondorf, his standard pig form (wielding a Trident in some games), and even in beast form in , using different aspects of his Triforce of Power to morph into various, stronger, more menacing monsters.
Ganon is the Final Boss in:
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* (As Yuga Ganon)
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====Other Appearances====
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*Nintendo Land's attraction
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===Vaati===
 
Vaati is the second-most recurring antagonist in the Zelda series, only after Ganon, appearing in a total of three games. Vaati is a Minish wind mage who uses his dark magic to get his way, in his search for the Light Force of Hyrule through selfish motives. Like Ganon, Vaati also can change form, last of which being his intimidating "Wrath" phase. Vaati only appears as an antagonist, however, whenever Link is forced to pull the Four Sword from its pedestal in the Elemental Sanctuary, releasing his spirit, only to be sealed back into the sword during the game's finale.
Vaati is the final boss in:
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==Non-Recurring Final Bosses==
*Link's Shadow/Dark Link: Link's Shadow is the final boss in . Dark Link is the final boss in the Palace of the Four Sword of , and as the final boss of the Take 'Em All On! minigame in .
*Shadow Nightmare: final boss in 
*: final boss in 
*Veran: final boss in 
*General Onox: final boss in 
*Bellum: final boss in 
*Malladus: final boss in 
*Demise: final boss in 
*Yuga Ganon: final boss in 
*Lady Maud: final boss in 
===Other Appearances===
*Eighth Dragon: final boss in 
*Uncle Rupee: final boss in 
*Majiyo: final boss in 
*Stallord: final boss in as well as a regular boss in .
*: final boss in 
*: final boss in 
*: final boss in 
*: final boss in 
* and : final boss in 
*Inferno: final boss in 
*King Dodongo: final boss of Linkle's Tale in 
*Phantom Ganon: final boss of Saga of the Great Sea in 
== Gallery ==
File:TLoZ Ganon Sprite.png|Ganon, as he appears in The Legend of Zelda
File:Tloz ganon artwork.jpeg|Link fighting Ganon in an artwork of The Legend of Zelda
File:TAoL Dark Link Sprites.png|Dark Link, the Final Boss of The Adventure of Link
File:TAoL Link Fighting Link's Shadow Artwork.png|Link fighting his shadow self in an artwork of The Adventure of Link
File:ALttP Ganon.gif|Ganon, as he appears in A Link to the Past
File:Ganon Battle ALTTP.jpg|Link vs. Ganon in an artwork of A Link to the Past
File:LADX Shadow Nightmare Sprite 2.png|The Shadow Nightmare, the Final Boss of Link's Awakening
File:Ganont 1.gif|Ganon, as he appears in BS The Legend of Zelda
File:Ganondorf OoT.png|Ganondorf, as he appears in Ocarina of Time
File:OoT Ganon Model.png|Ganon, as he appears in Ocarina of Time
File:Majora's Wrath 2.png|Majora, the Final Boss of Majora's Mask
File:OoA Veran Artwork.png|Veran, the Final Boss of Oracle of Ages
File:Onox Sprite.png|General Onox, the Final Boss of Oracle of Seasons
File:OoA Ganon Sprite.png|Ganon, as he appears in the linked Oracle games
File:TWW Ganondorf Model.png|Ganondorf, as he appears in The Wind Waker
File:FSA Ganon Sprite 2.png|Ganon, as he appears in Four Swords Adventures
File:TMC Vaati's Wrath Sprite.png|Vaati, the Final Boss of The Minish Cap (Wrath form)
File:TP Ganondorf Render.png|Ganondorf, as he appears in Twilight Princess
File:TP Ganon Model.png|Ganon, as he appears in Twilight Princess
File:PH Bellumbeck Artwork.png|Bellum, the Final Boss of Phantom Hourglass
File:ST Malladus Possessing Cole Model.png|Malladus, the Final Boss of Spirit Tracks
File:SS Demise Render.png|Demise, the Final Boss of Skyward Sword
File:ALBW Yuga Ganon Final Form.png|Yuga Ganon, the Final Boss of A Link Between Worlds
File:TFH Lady Maud Third Phase Artwork.png|Lady Maud, the Final Boss of Tri Force Heroes (Third form)
File:BotW Calamity Ganon Model 2.png|Calamity Ganon, the Final Boss of Breath of the Wild
File:DemonDragonTotK4.png|Demon Dragon, the true Final Boss of Tears of the Kingdom
== Trivia ==
* Although most Final Bosses throughout The Legend of Zelda series have themselves utterly killed by Link's hand upon their ultimate defeat, very few such Dark Link, Vaati, and especially Ganon himself have returned to reappear in a later game, due to those villains being revived from being sealed away or resurrected. In the case of Ganon, often as Ganondorf, this is because he is in fact the reincarnation of Demise's hatred.
* A few Final Bosses such as Majora, Vaati, Yuga Ganon, Lady Maud, and Ganon himself have two or three increasingly more powerful forms as they take enough damage between their battles, with the last being their true state.
* The final battle with Ganon in Ocarina of Time, in both his Gerudo and beast forms, and the destruction of his castle between their phases, is arguably considered the most climactic boss battle in not only the long-running franchise, but video game history among critics and fans alike. However, it is not without controversy, as unlike in any other game, the final blow features real blood via stabbing into his mouth that would ultimately be censored to green in later versions and the Master Sword hitting Ganon's forehead in its 3DS remake. Ganondorf also pukes blood when defeated.
** On the other hand, Dark Beast Ganon, the second phase of the final battle against Clamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild is met with more criticism than any other Final Boss, and is called an anticlimactic fight due to the gigantic boar-like monster being shockingly easy to damage and dodge its attacks, as it rarely and slowly turns toward Link's direction and takes only a few hits from the Bow of Light to defeat it.