Puppet Ganon

Puppet Ganon is the penultimate boss of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, acting as an analogue to Ganon. It is an enormous boar-faced marionette that initially appears to be a transformation of Ganondorf, though the scene after the battle and the figurine description indicate they are separate entities, with Ganondorf pulling the strings. It assumes three forms throughout its battle, and all of them are vulnerable to three Light Arrows on the light blue ball at the end of its tail. Puppet Ganon's back is suspended by an invulnerable red string. It is fought in a large chamber full of shallow water where Princess Zelda was previously sleeping, and features a few raised platforms accessible via the Hookshot.

In its first phase, Puppet Ganon's limbs are connected to blue strings that can be cut with the boomerang. If the boomerang fails, the string simply makes a twanging noise. Puppet Ganon will attack by punching Link, spinning its tail around when its arm strings have been severed. Additionally, it spawns Keese. It will normally turn to face Link to keep him from attacking its tail, but once the strings connected to its head are severed, it will stop doing so. The tail is also connected to a string that makes it wave back-and-forth quickly, and cutting it causes it to drag the ground slowly and become much easier to hit. If strings are left for too long, they will repair themselves, which also happens after a successful hit. After three hits, the typical "boss defeated" fanfare begins as Puppet Ganon starts dissolving into darkness, but the music then takes an ominous turn as it transforms.

For its second stage, Puppet Ganon takes the form of a giant, six-legged spider with the same face, now only supported by the red string. It moves up to the chandelier, moves and spins around, and slams back down, spawning Keese and returning to the ceiling a few moments later. Link needs to be positioned near the blue sphere at its abdomen to damage it. This may be done randomly or by looking at Puppet Ganon through first person view or the reflection in the pool. After three hits, Puppet Ganon loses its legs, beginning the final phase.

In the third stage, Puppet Ganon takes the form of a boss Moldorm, sliding around quickly and erratically with its weak point at the end of its long tail. It attempts to bowl over Link and releases Morths to slow him down, and as part of a series running gag, is distracted by All-Purpose Bait. As it is hit, it begins moving faster and more erratically until predicting its movements is quite difficult. Attacking its face may stun it, however. After three hits in this form, Puppet Ganon is destroyed. Ganondorf then appears in the chandelier carrying a sleeping Zelda, challenging Link to meet him on the roof as he floats off. The red string continues hanging, allowing Link to climb it and reach the chandelier.

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 * Puppet Ganon and Ganondorf are the only bosses whose health is not shown through the Hero's Charm.
 * Due to the door to Puppet Ganon's chamber locking behind Link, the only way to gain its figurine is to save and quit, sending Link back to the central room of Ganon's Castle.