The Demon King's Army

Key takeawaysSpoilers

Keep these points in mind before committing to the encounter.

• Expect four waves The fight is divided into four enemy waves, so spending every powerful resource immediately can leave Link underprepared for the later groups.
• Use the Sages Sages can draw enemy fire and give Link breathing room. Their support is most valuable when several monsters are active at once.
• Save elemental options Elemental attacks are essential against the Gibdos. Keep suitable elemental materials or weapons available instead of using every option on earlier enemies.
• Prepare for gloom Bring healing and food that provides gloom resistance. The encounter is designed to pressure Link over an extended battle rather than through one isolated exchange.

The Demon King's Army overviewSpoilers

The Demon King's Army is a major late-game combat challenge in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It functions as a final gauntlet for Link before he faces the Demon King, Ganondorf, in his lair.

The encounter is built around endurance rather than a single boss health bar. Link must survive four distinct waves of monsters, with the composition changing as the battle progresses. The army includes Bokoblins, Boss Bokoblins, Lizalfos, Gibdos, and Moblins, so a single weapon or attack pattern is not equally effective against every group.

Sages unlocked during the journey can arrive and support Link during the fight. Their presence is especially useful because they draw enemy attention away from Link, creating opportunities to reposition, heal, separate targets, or focus on a dangerous monster. The encounter therefore rewards players who use the assistance available to them instead of treating the fight as a completely solo battle.

Preparation matters because the army combines large numbers with gloom-related pressure. Food that provides gloom resistance or healing gives Link more room for mistakes, while Muddle Buds can cause monsters to attack one another. Elemental attacks are particularly important during the Gibdo wave, making this a battle where inventory planning and target selection are as important as direct weapon damage.

Where this sitsSpoilers

Requirements

This is a late-game story encounter. The practical requirement is reaching the final sequence and arriving prepared for a prolonged multi-wave battle.

• RequiredReach the late-game confrontationThe army is encountered toward the end of the game, immediately before Link faces Ganondorf in his lair.
• RecommendedBring healing foodHealing supplies help Link recover between dangerous engagements and compensate for mistakes during the four waves.
• RecommendedPrepare gloom resistanceFood that provides gloom resistance improves Link's ability to withstand the encounter's gloom-related pressure.
• RequiredCarry elemental attacksElemental attacks are essential for the Gibdo wave, so retain suitable elemental resources for that stage of the battle.
• RecommendedKeep Muddle Buds availableMuddle Buds can turn monsters against one another and reduce the pressure on Link when multiple enemies are present.

ObjectivesSpoilers

1. Survive the four waves of The Demon King's ArmyThe objective is an endurance battle against changing groups of Bokoblins, Boss Bokoblins, Lizalfos, Gibdos, and Moblins.
2. Use available support from the SagesUnlocked Sages join the battle and can draw enemy fire while Link attacks, heals, or changes position.
3. Defeat the Gibdo wave with elemental attacksElemental damage is the key preparation point for the Gibdos, making this wave distinct from the other enemy groups.
4. Proceed to the Demon King confrontationAfter the army is overcome, the encounter serves as the final warm-up before Link faces Ganondorf.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Prepare for the full gauntlet

   Prepare healing and gloom resistance

   Before starting the final sequence, place healing food and gloom-resistant food in an easy-to-reach inventory position. The battle contains four waves, so entering with only ordinary meals makes later mistakes much harder to recover from.

   Location: Before The Demon King's Army

   TipTreat healing and gloom resistance as separate resources so one kind of meal does not exhaust the other.

   Watch outDo not spend all of your best recovery items before the encounter begins; the fight is longer than a normal monster skirmish.

2. 02

   Prepare an answer to the Gibdo wave

   Keep elemental attacks in reserve

   Make sure Link can use elemental attacks when the Gibdos appear. Elemental options are specifically important for that wave, so avoid consuming every suitable material or weapon during the opening groups.

   Location: Before The Demon King's Army

   TipInventory planning is safer than assuming ordinary attacks will handle every enemy type equally well.

   Watch outArriving at the Gibdo wave without elemental options can turn a manageable section into the most dangerous part of the encounter.

3. 03

   Start the four-wave battle

   Begin the first enemy wave

   Engage the opening group while watching the overall battlefield instead of chasing one target into the middle of the horde. The army includes Bokoblins among its forces, and the opening phase is an opportunity to preserve high-value resources for later waves.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipLet the Sages draw attention where possible, then isolate enemies that have moved away from the main group.

   Watch outA fast advance into several enemies can surround Link and force unnecessary healing before the harder waves arrive.

4. 04

   Make use of Sage support

   Use the Sages to divide enemy attention

   Once the Sages arrive, fight near the space they are occupying without allowing Link to become trapped among the monsters. Their role is to draw enemy fire, giving Link time to attack, retreat, heal, or change equipment.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipUse the distraction to create short safe windows rather than standing still and relying entirely on the Sages.

   Watch outSage assistance reduces pressure but does not make Link invulnerable; keep watching attacks coming from outside the immediate group.

5. 05

   Control groups of enemies

   Disrupt clustered monsters with Muddle Buds

   Throw Muddle Buds into a dense group when several monsters are threatening Link at once. Confused monsters can attack each other, reducing the number of enemies Link must handle directly while the effect lasts.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipUse Muddle Buds when the monsters are close together so the confusion creates the greatest disruption.

   Watch outMuddle Buds are a control tool, not a replacement for finishing enemies; remain ready to attack once the group becomes less dangerous.

6. 06

   Reduce the threat from the Bokoblin forces

   Defeat the Boss Bokoblins without losing battlefield awareness

   Boss Bokoblins are part of the army's changing enemy roster and can make a group harder to manage than ordinary Bokoblins. Keep the larger battlefield in view while taking advantage of Sage distractions or monster confusion to avoid being attacked from multiple directions.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipSeparate targets when possible instead of trading blows with the entire group at close range.

   Watch outFocusing exclusively on a Boss Bokoblin can leave Link exposed to attacks from other monsters entering the fight.

7. 07

   Defeat the Lizalfos group

   Adapt to the Lizalfos wave

   When Lizalfos enter the battle, change your approach rather than repeating the same close-range pattern used against the Bokoblins. Their presence adds a different enemy type to the gauntlet, so use open space, Sage distractions, and controlled positioning to prevent Link from being pressured from several angles.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipMove after attacking so the next enemy does not get a free approach while Link is committed to a target.

   Watch outDo not let the battle compress Link against the edge of the arena; limited escape space makes mixed enemy groups more dangerous.

8. 08

   Overcome the Gibdo wave

   Save elemental attacks for the Gibdos

   When the Gibdo wave begins, use elemental attacks as the central part of the response. The source material identifies elemental damage as essential for this wave, so prioritize those attacks instead of treating the Gibdos like another ordinary monster group.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipKeep Link close enough to capitalize on the opening created by elemental attacks, but leave room to retreat when other monsters remain active.

   Watch outUsing the last of your elemental options before this stage can leave Link without the encounter's most important counter.

9. 09

   Finish the four-wave gauntlet

   Manage the final wave with preserved resources

   The fourth wave is the last part of the army encounter, and Moblins are among the forces involved across the battle. Use the healing, Muddle Buds, Sage support, and remaining strong attacks that you deliberately preserved instead of trying to win through reckless trades.

   Location: The Demon King's Army battlefield

   TipPrioritize survival and clean target selection over speed; the encounter is won by completing the sequence, not by taking unnecessary risks.

   Watch outA nearly empty health supply is dangerous here because the army is a final endurance test before the next major confrontation.

10. 10

    Continue to the Demon King confrontation

    Proceed toward Ganondorf

    After the army has been defeated, continue into the final confrontation sequence. The battle's role is to act as a last gauntlet or warm-up challenge before Link faces the Demon King, Ganondorf, in his lair.

    Location: After The Demon King's Army

    TipUse the transition as a reminder that the story sequence is not finished when the last army wave ends.

    Watch outThis step contains a major story spoiler: defeating the army leads into the confrontation with Ganondorf.

Mission mechanics

The encounter's defining mechanic is wave management. Four enemy waves arrive as a sequence, and each group asks Link to adjust his priorities. Bokoblins and Boss Bokoblins create pressure through group combat, Lizalfos add another enemy type to track, Gibdos make elemental attacks essential, and Moblins contribute to the army's heavy presence.

Sage support changes how Link can approach the battlefield. Because the Sages draw enemy fire, Link can use their presence to create space rather than meeting every monster head-on. This is particularly valuable when Link needs to heal, swap to an elemental option, or reposition away from a cluster.

Muddle Buds provide a second form of crowd control. Turning monsters against one another can reduce the immediate number of threats, but the effect is best treated as a window for Link to select targets and recover control of the fight. It does not remove the need to finish the surviving enemies.

The gloom theme also affects preparation. Food that provides gloom resistance or healing supports a longer attempt, while elemental resources should be protected for the Gibdo wave. Together, these mechanics make the quest a test of inventory discipline, positioning, and adaptation rather than a simple damage race.

What works and what does not

PhasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Wave one: opening assault

   Starts: The army encounter begins.

   The first group starts the four-wave sequence and includes Bokoblins among the enemy forces. Preserve resources while learning the battlefield flow.

   • Group pressureTell Several monsters remain active around Link at the same time.Answer Use positioning, Sage distraction, or Muddle Buds to avoid being surrounded.
   • Do not spend every high-value item in the opening exchange.
   • Keep an escape route instead of fighting with Link pressed against the edge.
2. 2

   Wave two: mixed enemy pressure

   Starts: The next group arrives after the opening group is defeated.

   Boss Bokoblins and Lizalfos are among the enemy types associated with the army. The increased variety makes target selection and battlefield awareness more important.

   • Mixed-group advanceTell Different enemy types approach from separate positions.Answer Use Sage support to divide attention and reposition before committing to a target.
   • Avoid focusing on one large enemy while ignoring the rest of the group.
   • Muddle Buds are useful when multiple monsters are close together.
3. 3

   Wave three: Gibdo threat

   Starts: The Gibdo wave begins.

   This is the encounter's clearest elemental check. Elemental attacks are essential for defeating the Gibdos, so the resources saved earlier should be used here.

   • Gibdo pressureTell Gibdos remain part of a larger wave rather than appearing as an isolated target.Answer Use elemental attacks and capitalize on the resulting opening while keeping other enemies in view.
   • Do not arrive at this phase with all elemental options already spent.
   • Use Sage distractions to create room for the elemental response.
4. 4

   Wave four: final stand

   Starts: The final army wave begins after the preceding groups are defeated.

   The last wave completes the gauntlet, with Moblins among the army's forces. Finish methodically and preserve enough healing to survive the transition into the next story confrontation.

   • Heavy group engagementTell Large enemies and remaining monsters can keep Link under pressure while he tries to finish the wave.Answer Separate targets, use the remaining control tools, and avoid unnecessary close-range trades.
   • Survival is more important than a fast clear.
   • Keep healing available until the army has fully been defeated.

Checklist

• Bring healing foodThe encounter spans four waves and can punish mistakes.
• Bring food that provides gloom resistanceGloom-related pressure is part of the encounter's preparation concern.
• Keep elemental attacks availableElemental attacks are essential during the Gibdo wave.
• Retain Muddle BudsThey can make monsters attack one another and reduce group pressure.Optional
• Confirm which Sages are unlockedUnlocked Sages can arrive and draw enemy fire.
• Avoid spending all strong resources in the first waveLater waves require different responses.
• Be ready for the Ganondorf confrontationThe army is the final gauntlet before the Demon King encounter.

Failure conditions

• Link is defeated during one of the four wavesThe encounter is a continuous combat gauntlet, so running out of health during any wave ends the attempt.
• Link enters the Gibdo wave without effective elemental attacksElemental attacks are essential for defeating the Gibdos, making poor resource management a major source of failure.
• Link is overwhelmed by the groupThe army includes multiple enemy types and can surround Link if he ignores positioning, Sage support, or Muddle Bud control.
• Link exhausts healing or gloom-resistant food too earlyThe late waves become harder to survive when the supplies intended for the full encounter have already been consumed.

RewardsSpoilers

• Progress toward the Ganondorf confrontation
  Defeating the army clears the final gauntlet before Link faces the Demon King in his lair.
• Completion of The Demon King's Army
  The four-wave monster assault is overcome as part of the late-game story sequence.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

• LinkFaces the four waves of the army.
• GanondorfThe Demon King who commands the hordes and is confronted after the gauntlet.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The army is thematically connected to the gloom flowing from Ganondorf.
• The encounter is structured as four distinct waves rather than a single conventional boss phase.
• Sage assistance is presented as battlefield support that draws enemy fire, not merely as a story appearance.
• Muddle Buds are useful here because the army's monsters can be made to attack one another.
• The Gibdo wave gives the encounter a specific elemental preparation check.

Sources

• The Demon King's Army reference — fandom.com
• The Demon King's Army guide reference — primagames.com
• Player discussion reference — reddit.com
• Late-game quest reference — nintendolife.com
• Quest and enemy reference — zeldawiki.wiki

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