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Zelda: Link's Awakening - Hot Head boss strategy

How to defeat the boss of the eighth dungeon.

Hot Head is the boss of the eighth dungeon of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Turtle Rock.

If you're looking for more assistance, our Zelda: Link's Awakening walkthrough can help.

Hot Head boss strategy

You just need a single item for this boss battle - the Magic Rod. Hot Head will jump out of the lava left and right, spitting out lava when it does. As long as you stand to the south of Hot Head at all times, you'll avoid getting hit.

Fire the Magic Rod up to hit him - it emerges quickly so it may take a few attempts - and then cool off and bounce around the room. Continue hitting it with Magic Rod attacks - you can predict where it'll go next easily enough - to damage it.

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Repeat this process until a second phase where it is more exposed. You can now damage it directly when it leaps out of the lava. A handful of these attacks later and it's, well, toast.

When done, collect the last full Heart Container of the game, then north to pick up the eighth and final instrument - the Thunder Drum.

It's now time to visit the Wind Fish and conclude our journey. Hope you're ready!


Our Zelda: Link's Awakening walkthrough and guide can help you with the critical path, including the Eagle's Tower and Turtle Rock dungeons. There's plenty to be done on the side, too - including Zelda Link's Awakening Heart Pieces, Zelda Secret Seashells and the Zelda Link's Awakening trading sequence. Finally, there's also the new Zelda Chamber Dungeons feature to unlock and complete.