The Legend of Zelda series is home to some of gaming's best adventures, but not all of Link's fights have been memorable. Amidst the large number of enemies that Link has encountered in his many journeys, not all have achieved the memorable status of Zelda's Hyrule enemies, Ganon and Dodongo. Some of the obstacles in Link's path ended up being rather easy to forget.
In Legend of Zelda games, Link always faces a large number of enemies over the course of his quests, both big and small. It's not only the big bosses that gather attention despite their major roles. While recurring bosses like Gohma are iconic parts of the series, even some minor enemies like Octoroks are well-known and loved by fans. There is a good reason why many of these enemies have been reincarnated in several games, because they are memorable and interesting.
Unfortunately, many of Zelda's enemies lack the memorable nature of the series' icons. There are plenty of monsters who, after Link defeated them, were almost completely forgotten by fans as another footnote over the course of his adventures. Even fans who played the games these enemies appear in may have forgotten them, and it's the same reason why BOTW 2 needs greater enemy variety. Fans forget about enemies who fail to make an impact, which is why some of Link's foes came and went without much fuss.
Nejirons In Majora's Mask Are Strange Goron Impersonators
It is said that Nejirons are a species that evolved to mimic the appearances of peaceful Gorons in order to trick their prey. While they have brown skin and rotund bodies like Gorons, there are some obvious differences between the two. Most obvious is how Gorons have discernible heads and simple faces. Meanwhile, Nejirons are essentially boulders with arms and legs as well as two odd-looking eyes at their front. Despite their efforts, observant players will easily be able to detect Nejirons before they attack.
Nejirons will attempt to attack Link by rolling into him, but that is not the only way they will pose a threat. Tatl will warn Link that they smell of gunpowder, and that is not just flavor text. In a twist almost as cruel as Ocarina of Time's Giant's Knife, Nejirons will explode upon defeat, harming Link if he is nearby. Because of this, it is best to dispatch them from a distance with one of Link's ranged weapons, keeping him safe from their explosive retribution. This gives Nejirons a bit of a unique twist, as using Link's signature sword on them will only hurt him in return.
Despite the explosive antics of the Nejirons, they only appear in Majora's Mask, and they don't appear very much. Although Nejirons sound like an interesting encounter, their lack of presence keeps them from establishing a notable mark on the game. However, with Gorons being a Legend of Zelda mainstay, it is entirely possible for Nejirons to make a return someday.
Kyandokan Are Nigh-Indestructible Candles From Zelda: Oracle Of Ages
Kyandokan are enemies that appeared only in Oracle of Ages, and only in the Mermaid's Cave and Ancient Tomb dungeons. This makes them one of the rarest Legend of Zelda enemies. Even more surprising is that they are somewhat silly-looking walking candles, a fact that becomes even more surprising when one considers their sheer amount of immunities.
Despite their rather unthreatening appearances, Kyandokyan are immune to every source of damage in Link's arsenal with the exception of Ember Seeds. However, as a trade-off, the flame of an Ember Seed will immediately light the Kyandokyan's wick. A that point, they will run around in a panic for a few seconds before exploding, forcing Link to take cover to avoid taking damage. This makes Kyandokyan a surprisingly difficult enemy to deal with, leaving only one way to defeat it and allowing it a chance to strike back at Link before it goes down for good.
Like Link's theremin in Wind Waker's original draft, it's not difficult to imagine why players don't remember Kyandokyan. As previously mentioned, it only appeared in two dungeons in Oracle of Ages. Not only that, but the dungeons where it does appear are both late-game dungeons. As a result, players would not see them unless they were skilled enough to get very deep in one specific Zelda game. While no one can fault the creativity in the Kyandokyan's design, they simply did not have much of a chance to be memorable foes.
Onox Is The Legend Of Zelda's Least Memorable Major Villain
Onox is one of the major antagonists of Oracle of Seasons, and the one who sets the story of the game into motion by kidnapping Din, the titular Oracle. He is clad in a massive suit of golden armor and wields a wicked-looking flail, giving him a factor of intimidation. However, unlike Volvagia from Ocarina of Time's manga backstory, there is little to Onox beyond first impressions.
For one thing, despite Onox's impressive stature, he more or less looks like a larger version of the series' traditional Iron Knuckle enemies, giving him less uniqueness. In addition, Onox is barely present in the game he's the villain of. He appears at the start of the game to kidnap Din, then disappears until the confrontation with him near the end. Comparing Onox to Oracle of Ages' villain Veran only makes him look worse. While Onox is a nonentity for most of Seasons, Veran is a very present force in Ages, repeatedly bedeviling Link and the people of Labrynna over the course of the game. As a result, Veran is a highly memorable foe, succeeding where Onox could not.
Despite being a major antagonist, Onox isn't even notable enough to be one of The Legend of Zelda's weirdest bosses, and is simply very forgettable at the end of the day. He does not establish much of a presence in Oracle of Seasons despite his role in the plot, and he isn't even the final boss despite initiating the plot. One cannot be blamed for forgetting about Onox after playing through Seasons, because he doesn't offer much to be remembered by.
The Legend of Zelda is a series that naturally creates a lot of unforgettable adventures. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all of the foes that Link meets. Despite how big of a name Ganon is, the same success is not guaranteed for Link's other enemies. Sadly, some monsters from The Legend of Zelda seem destined to be lost to history.