Deku Baba

Deku Babas are -like carnivorous plants and enemies that appear in a few three-dimensional The Legend of Zelda games. They first appear in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Their body consists of a thin green stem, an indigo, round head, and large teeth. In the Nintendo 64 games, Deku Babas have large, pink veins on their head.

Deku Babas generally inhabit the forest or another grassy area. At first, Deku Babas hide beneath the ground, and their location is indicated by four connecting leaves on the ground. If Link approaches a Deku Baba, it sprouts and starts to bite at him. Deku Babas can be defeated from a sword attack. Deku Baba usually release a Deku Nut when defeated.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, there are two Deku Baba variants: a normal type and a withered type. Deku Babas are the first enemy that Link encounters on his adventure, which he goes down a path to visit the Great Deku Tree. Deku Babas also have a larger variant, the Big Deku Baba.

When Link approaches a normal variant, it sprouts from the ground and then tries to lunge at Link, snapping rapidly. Deku Babas can be defeated if Link slashes his sword at their head twice. Deku Babas always release a Deku Nut when defeated this way. Alternatively, if Link first hits the Deku Baba as it lunges, it briefly moves into an upright posture, munching as it faces upward. During this, the Deku Baba's entire stem is exposed, and Link can slash it, making it fall to the ground and turn into a Deku Stick. Link can use a Deku Nut to stun a Deku Baba. The withered variants are similar, except they are always in an upright position and sometimes spin around. The withered type respawns shortly after defeat, and is seemingly designed simply as a way to get Deku Sticks quickly.

Aside from the Kokiri Forest, Deku Babas also appear at Inside the Deku Tree, the Lost Woods, the Forest Temple, and the Bottom of the Well. If Link is an adult, he encounters more Deku Babas in Kokiri Forest. After Link completes the Forest Temple, the Deku Babas stop growing in Kokiri Forest.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Both Deku Baba variants reappear in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, retaining their behavior from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Deku Babas appear in the Termina Field, the Southern Swamp, Woodfall, the Stone Tower Temple, Sakon's Hideout, and numerous grottos throughout Termina. The game introduces two more variants of Deku Baba: Mini Babas and Bio Deku Babas.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Deku Babas retain their main characteristics from the Nintendo 64 games. Like their earlier appearances, Deku Babas are one of the first enemies encountered. They appear in Faron Woods, the Forest Temple, a grass field near Hyrule Castle Town, and the City in the Sky. Appearance-wise, they closely resemble their previous design, but have rows of teeth-like nubs and bright orange and yellow tongues.

In the game, Deku Babas move a lot slower and more deliberately, waiting for Link to approach to lunge. If a Deku Baba bites Link, it clamps on to him, causing Link to be immobilized until the Deku Baba gets off. Link can break free by performing the Spin Attack. Some Deku Babas hang from the ceiling. If a Deku Baba is defeated, its head dries up into a Deku Nut, which Link can break open to reveal Pumpkin Seeds. Unlike most enemies, Deku Babas are stunned if Link performs the Mortal Draw on them.

The game introduces a few more variants, including Baba Serpents, Big Babas, and Twilit Babas. Unlike Deku Babas, the Baba Serpents and certain Twilit Babas can survive if their stem is cut off, similar to the Bio Deku Babas from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The first main boss, Diababa, is a severely mutated Deku Baba.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Deku Babas are once again common in Faron Woods. They now have actual teeth, causing them to even closer resemble Piranha Plants, and they no longer have veins visible on their heads. Their heads are also now extremely tough, and attacking unsuccessfully will simply cause them to recoil a little. Link can use his sword to cut along the opening of their mouths to slice their heads in half to defeat them. They appear in both the normal horizontal-mouthed type and a new vertical-mouthed type, though the ridges on the heads suggest they actually have four pieces to their heads instead of just two. A yellow type called the Quadro Baba appears later, and takes advantage of this to switch between opening horizontally and vertically.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Deku Baba appears as a sticker, which depicts its The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time artwork. The sticker increases both Arm and Leg attacks by 4 points.

Mario Kart 8
In Mario Kart 8, Deku Babas are obstacles in the Hyrule Circuit course. They act the same as Piranha Plants from GCN Yoshi Circuit; when a racer approaches a Deku Baba, it tries to lunge at them. If the racer is hit, he is knocked over and slows down temporarily.

Hyrule Warriors
In Hyrule Warriors, Deku Babas are giant enemies that act as obstacles in certain stages, spitting a huge circular field of poison gas around them. They can only be defeated if a character shoots arrows at them from the Bow or the Sacred Bow. Deku Babas are mainly featured in The Sorceress of the Woods scenario of Faron Woods. The Bow is obtained in the scenario, and the player's character is required to defeat the Deku Babas with it.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

 * Navi's comment: "If you hit it when it lunges at you, it will stand upright. Cut it quickly to get a Deku Stick!"
 * Navi's comment (withered): "Though it looks withered, it will hurt you if you touch it!"

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

 * Tatl's comment: "Cut it down when it has extended its body and Deku Nuts or Sticks will come out."
 * Tatl's comment (withered): "But it looks a little withered... Just cut it. You should at least get a Deku Stick out of it."

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

 * Fi's comment: "This violent plant is widespread in wooded areas. It will attempt to bite anything that approaches it. Though it is covered in a tough outer husk, the inside of its mouth is soft. I have confirmed the existence of two varieties: those that open their mouths vertically and those that open them horizontally."