Octorok

Octoroks are recurring enemies in the Legend of Zelda series. They are amphibious octopus-like creatures that launch rocks from their mouths at people. They are largely land dwelling animals, but have been seen residing in water as well. Octoroks are one of the most common enemy types in the series, along with Keese, Moblins and Stalfos. They debuted in the original The Legend of Zelda, and have appeared in almost every Zelda game since, with the sole exception of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

The Legend of Zelda
Octoroks come in red and blue varieties and attack Link by shooting rocks at him. Blue Octoroks are more dangerous than red ones, due to the fact that they have to take two hits from Link's Wooden Sword in order to be defeated instead of one. Octoroks move in horizontal and vertical paths and they can quickly change direction. Some Octoroks are fast and some are slow. They are common around the more desolate regions of Hyrule, while Moblins patrol the Forest areas, Ghinis haunt the Graveyard, and Tektites infest the Mountains.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Octoroks are similar to the ones from The Legend of Zelda in almost every aspect; however, only certain Octoroks move around. Some jump in place, firing as they leap into the air. There are blue and red variants, with the blue Octoroks being significantly stronger than the red ones. Link gains 10 experience points for defeating a red Octorok and 20 experience for defeating a blue Octorok.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Octoroks are found in the Light World, mainly in the region just east of Hyrule Castle. They only come in one color, a reddish purple, and are smaller and more dexterous than Octoroks in previous games. They spit rocks, and will sometimes spin in place while rapidly firing rocks in all four directions. They also deal a bit more damage to Link than other types of Octoroks. In the Game Boy Advance remake of A Link to the Past, there is a room with three Golden Octoroks inside. Octoroks have a Dark World equivalent called Slaroks.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
In Link's Awakening, Octoroks are similar to the ones from A Link to the Past. However, due to the limitations of color in Game Boy games, Octoroks come in only one color. There is also a new type of Octorok in the game known as Paraoctos.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Octoroks were redesigned as aquatic monsters. They can be found almost anywhere there is water, including Lake Hylia, Zora's River, Zora's Fountain, and even in aquatic dungeons like Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly. They remain hidden under the water most of the time; upon spotting Link, they surface and spit rocks at him. If Link gets too close, they hide under the water. The rocks they spit can be deflected back at them with the Deku Shield or the Hylian Shield, and they can also be defeated by long-range weapons like the Fairy Bow and Hookshot. A large Octorok known as Bigocto appears as the mini-boss of Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Octoroks are identical to their counterparts in Ocarina of Time. When hit with an Ice Arrow, an Octorok will freeze into a solid block of ice, allowing Link to use it as a platform. They are also used in the Clock Town Shooting Gallery as the targets. Unlike in Ocarina of Time, though, two deflected rocks are required to defeat an Octorok, rather than one rock.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages & Seasons
Octoroks in the Oracle games are similar in appearance to Octoroks in Link's Awakening. They come in shades of red and blue, with the blue Octoroks being more durable than the red. Their attack pattern is also the same as that of the Link's Awakening Octoroks, crawling around and spitting rocks. In Ages, blue Octoroks appear in the past and red Octoroks appear in the present. In Seasons, the two kinds often appear together. There is also a special Golden Octorok that appears in Oracle of Seasons. Also, in both games, Link can acquire an Octo Ring that transforms him into an Octorok. He cannot use any attacks while in this form, but he is ignored by other Octoroks, and also cannot be eaten by Like Likes.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
There are two kinds of regular Octoroks that appear in The Wind Waker. Some Octoroks lurk around in shallow waters and fire rocks at intruders, hiding whenever someone comes near, while others dwell in the Great Sea, firing Bombs from their mouth at random travelers. Usually, if Link stops sailing his boat to battle the Octoroks at sea, a massive swarm of Octoroks will eventually gather. When fought at night, the tops of the sea Octorok's heads glow blue, revealing them to be bioluminescent like many real-life deep sea dwellers. There are also Big Octos that appear wherever seagulls gather.

The description for the Octorok figurine in the Nintendo Gallery mentions that Octoroks have a "perfect attendance record", reflecting their appearances in all games up to The Wind Waker. However, this record no longer proves to be true, as no Octoroks appear in Twilight Princess.

The design for the "river" and "ocean" Octoroks are different, as are the projectiles they fire; however, during Link's second visit to the Forsaken Fortress there is a room with a pool of water that hosts a "river" Octorok that fires bombs instead of rocks. This odd melding of Octorok traits and appearance is seen nowhere else and may be a glitch similar to the strange Wizzrobes sometimes encountered at sea.

Interestingly, the Octorok sprite from The Legend of Zelda appears on Manny's backpack.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Octoroks are found on the land in this game and attack Link by shooting rocks at him. Red Octoroks are the most common and can be defeated in a single sword slash. Blue Octoroks take a great number of hits to kill and shoot rocks in all for directions in all for directions, although they sometimes shoot a red Force Gem instead. Pink Octoroks shoot volleys of rocks in one direction. The latter two varieties are only found near The Coast.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Octoroks once again return to land-dwelling Octoroks in red and blue, with blue being stronger than red. They fire rocks at Link, and through Kinstone fusion, sometimes appear as Golden Octoroks, which leave behind great wealth. The boss of the Temple of Droplets, the game's fourth dungeon, is known as Big Octorok. However, it is not the Octorok's size that is bigger than usual; Link confronts Big Octorok while in Minish form.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
In Phantom Hourglass, Octoroks appear on both land and sea. The earth-dwelling Octoroks (similar to the ones in the original game) vary, as some alternate their firing direction, whereas others remain fixed in place. The marine Octoroks are almost identical to those of The Wind Waker. Interestingly, the marine Octoroks charge at the S.S. Linebeck, instead of spitting rocks. There is also an Octorok boss, known as Cyclok.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Octoroks appear in two forms: their land-dwelling form as well as their water form. They act similar to past counterparts, as they shoot rocks at Link. When the Spirit Train is riding the undersea tracks in the Ocean Realm, Sea Octoroks try to squirt ink at it, blinding Link and temporarily hiding the map. Fast rubbing in any direction is required to remove the ink. Freezards also appear as Octoroks encased in ice. When Link throws his Boomerang through fire and into a Freezard, the ice melts, revealing the Octorok inside. Earth Octoroks are fought as part of the Take 'Em All On mini-game.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Octoroks are set to appear. Link must deflect their rocks back at them with his shield. Interestingly, they bear a striking resemblance to Deku Scrubs from past games, as they hide in the grass and camouflage themselves in leaves.

The Legend of Zelda animated series
Octoroks are frequently employed by Ganon. They are depicted as huge red octopi, dwarfing humans such as Link and Princess Zelda in size. They attack by spewing balls of energy at their targets. In the episode "The White Knight," an Octorok appears, trying to kidnap Zelda. Link deflects one of its energy balls at a Tinsuit to defeat it. Link fails to defeat the Octorok, but it is eventually defeated by Prince Facade.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Octoroks, in their Ocarina of Time depiction, appear as random enemies in Super Smash Bros. Melee, usually found in boxes and barrels. They fire rocks at the player, but the rocks cannot be deflected back at them. The are also found in Adventure Mode, in the Underground Maze. Octoroks appear as a collectible trophy as well. These Octoroks are modeled after the Ocarina of Time Octorok, although their tentacles are replaced with four legs like in the first The Legend of Zelda.

WarioWare: Twisted!
Octoroks appear in 9-Volt's chapter as in The Legend of Zelda. Depending on the difficulty level, Link is surrounded by two, three, or sixteen Octoroks. The rocks must be deflected with the shield, which is automatically equipped. The GBA console must be turned to have Link turn into the proper position.

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
Although Octoroks are not actually seen in the game, they are referenced. After King Harkinian says "I wonder what's for dinner," Link replies, "Oh boy, I'm so hungry, I could eat an Octorok!"

Etymology
"Octorok" is a portmanteau of octopus, aquatic invertebrates with which Octoroks share some physical similarities, and rok (as in rock), referring to the rocks that Octoroks fire as projectiles.