Bokoblin

Bokoblins (ボコブリン) are recurring enemies in the Legend of Zelda series. They are bipedal creatures similar to Moblins, the most common Goblins in the series. Typically, Bokoblins carry various forms of weaponry, and wear belt buckles in the shape of a skull.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Bokoblins can be found all throughout the Great Sea, notably in areas like Lookout Platforms, Submarines, and the Forsaken Fortress. They are shown to be more intelligent than Moblins, enough so that they are capable of operating simple machinery, such as the Forsaken Fortress searchlights. However, they are terrible guards, often sleeping at their posts, and unable to detect Link if he is on the King of Red Lions, even if they are looking directly at him. That being said, if Link sneaks up on them while they are sleeping at their posts, they can be defeated with ease. They appear in blue, green, and pink colors. The green ones have slightly more vitality than the other varieties and is slitghy less common than the blue variety.

Bokoblins use different items as weapons: the blue variety carries Boko Sticks or Sharp Machetes, the green carries a wooden shield and a Sharp Machete, and the pink type carries a Telescope. Bokoblins' attack style is straightforward; they will move left and right, waiting for a good time to strike, and jump forward to attack which can all be parried. Athough Bokoblins are not very powerful, they can dodge Link's sword if equipped with a weapon. The green Bokoblins don't dodge but rather they deflect the sword with their shield while they have a weapon. If Link disarms a Bokoblin, it will attempt to fight Link by jumping around and kicking at him until it can retrieve its weapon or obtain another. Bokoblins are also able to pick up a Darknut Sword from a Darknut or a Gigantic Mace but the power of the attacks will be the same. Link has to be careful not to get too close a Bokoblin after when they get a weapon back, otherwise they will use a counterattack to hurt him. Bokoblins are more easier than Moblins as Bokoblins do not deal a full heart of damage.

If a Bokoblin is damaged by a Bomb, it will run away from any set bomb and Link if he is carrying one. Bokoblins will fall off ledges in an attempt to escape the blast. After dangling on a ledge for a few seconds, they pull themselves back unless Link interferes and makes them fall to certain death. Like all enemies that are not water-based, Bokoblins will disintegrate if they touch water.

Bokoblins will occasionally drop Joy Pendants when defeated. Alternately, Link can use the Grappling Hook to steal these necklaces from their person with a 100% success rate, although the blue variety can dodge it while the green variety can deflect the Grappling Hook with their shields.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Bokoblins are common Overworld enemies under the control of Ganondorf. Blue Bokoblins are quite weak and relatively easy to defeat, even with the Wooden Sword, and are among the first enemies Link encounters in the game.

Later on in the game, blue Bokoblins are almost entirely replaced by purple ones, which wield large blades, similar to a butcher knife, and are much more resilient and can take quite a few hits; however, they are still susceptible to the Ending Blow, Mortal Draw and Helm Splitter, all of which can dispatch them in one hit. Despite their defensive boosts however, red Bokoblins' fighting skills do not improve in any significant way, if at all, with respect to their blue counterparts.

At the beginning of the game, a group of blue Bokoblins kidnap Talo and the Female Monkey. Link frees Talo and the Monkey by defeating the two Bokoblins near the Forest Temple and cutting the bars of their cage.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Bokoblins appear in several varieties, their weapons, color and attack method dependent on the region in which they are found. They are larger and more difficult to defeat than in previous games. They are the most common type of enemy found in the game, and are under the direct command of Ghirahim, formerly under Demise. Due to the game's new combat gameplay, Bokoblins are able to block Link's strikes with their own weapons and do complicated sword parrys, forcing him to find an opening in their defense. Bokoblins are more resourceful than in previous installments, as they run away to take cover from bombs and the Beetle, and attempt to stomp on Link's hands when he is climbing on ledges near them. Interestingly, should Link manage to climb the ledge, the Bokoblins will still attempt to stomp on Link. Bokoblins can also walk on tightropes. Bokoblin Archers also appear, and shoot flaming arrows at Link.

Aside from regular Red Bokoblins, there are Bokoblin Leaders, identified by their distinctive blue bandanas, which are more resilient and dangerous. Blue Bokoblins are the toughest variety of regular Bokoblin, and appear to be able to use a charging attack similar to Ghirahim's, as shown in the Horde Battle. Blue Bokoblins (Fi identifies them as regular Blue Bokoblins) sometimes carry Monster Horns to summon Red Bokoblin Leaders that do not carry Monster Horns themselves. Also later in the game, sometimes Link may encounter these Monster Horn-less Red Bokoblin Leaders, replacing standard Red Bokoblins in certain areas such in the Bokoblin camps around Eldin Volcano.

These stronger ones, along with Moblins, appear frequently after defeating Koloktos. Some Bokoblin leaders carry horns that allow them to call for reinforcements, forcing Link to single them out to prevent a constant onslaught of enemies. These horns can be stolen by using the Whip. Bokoblins wield a variety of weapons, including bows, maces, and swords. Some Bokoblins carry large Boulders, which they roll down steep slopes that Link is attempting to ascend. This, however, can be turned against them if Link attacks them with a ranged weapon or when they are unaware of his presence; doing so will cause them to drop their boulders on their own heads, defeating them.

Other varieties of Bokoblin are less common, such as Technoblins, who wield electrified batons and are only seen in the past via Timeshift Stones, Green Bokoblins, who are slightly more durable than regular Bokoblins, don iron clad armor and spiked iron helmets and only appear in dungeons, and zombie-like Cursed Bokoblins. The Horde Battle, which takes place near the end of the game, pits Link against hundreds of Bokoblins, as well as Stalfos and Moblins. Green Bokoblin archers have a skull for a helmet.

Bokoblins and their varieties often drop Ornamental Skulls (which is implied to be the skulls worn on their belts), or more rarely, Golden Skulls. The leaders will also sometimes drop their Monster Horns, though Link can also use the Whip to grab it out of their belt or hands; if Link can accomplish this fast enough, he can prevent them from calling reinforcements. Humorously, as Fi points out, all these types of Bokoblins wear leopard-printed undergarments and have an obsession of them.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Bokoblins are first encountered on the Great Plateau's campfires or around the Temple of Time.

Link's Crossbow Training
In Link's Crossbow Training, Bokoblins from Twilight Princess appear as enemy targets. In Ranch Target Practice, the goal is to shoot the Bokoblins as they ride on Ordon Goats, without hitting the Goats.

Hyrule Warriors
Bokoblins are prominent enemies in Hyrule Warriors and are based on their Skyward Sword incarnation. Bokoblins are divided into regular foot soldiers, archers, and helmeted officers with shields. Bokoblins are shown with the capability to talk with Hylians in this game and act as ally soldiers in a few scenarios. The game also features a new type of Bokoblin called Bokoblin Summoners, which wear a cow skull on their head and can summon enemy units with their Monster Horns.

Ghirahim, as a playable character, has the ability to summon Bokoblins during some of his combos.

Hyrule Warriors Legends
Bokoblins, Bokoblin Captains, Bokoblin Archers, and Bokoblin Summoners appear as enemies and play the same role they did in Hyrule Warriors.