You’ve just beaten Calamity Ganon, the credits haven’t rolled, and the ground is shaking. Breath of the Wild has one last fight for you, and your weapons won’t help in this one.
Here’s the full breakdown of Dark Beast Ganon: what changes, how the fight flows, where to aim and how to keep your horse alive while you do it.
What Dark Beast Ganon Is
Dark Beast Ganon is the final form of Calamity Ganon, a colossal boar-like beast made of Malice. Right after the Calamity Ganon fight inside Hyrule Castle, Zelda pushes the battle out into Hyrule Field and the last phase begins.
- Where: Hyrule Field, in front of Hyrule Castle.
- Your setup: you start on horseback, and Zelda gives you the Bow of Light.
- The Bow of Light: a bow that fires Light Arrows without using up your arrow supply.
- What works: arrows to his glowing weak points. Your swords and the Master Sword won’t hurt him.
- The danger: a beam fired straight ahead from his mouth, and bursts of Malice fire that erupt across the field.
How to Beat Dark Beast Ganon
At first it feels like poking a mountain. That’s fine. The fight is a pattern, and Zelda tells you what to do at each step.
- Equip the Bow of Light. Get it in your hand straight away so you’re ready when the first target appears.
- Stay off his front. The beam only fires forward, so keep riding along his flanks rather than in front of him.
- Wait for Zelda. She weakens the Malice and glowing yellow weak points appear on his body.
- Ride alongside and shoot. Match his speed at a comfortable distance and fire Light Arrows into each glowing spot.
- Hit every spot. Weak points appear in different places around his body, including both sides, so circle him to reach them.
- Finish the eye. When the body spots are done, a huge Eye of Malice opens on top of his head. Shoot it to end the fight.
(Pro tip: jump from your horse or a high spot and draw your bow in midair to trigger slow motion. It makes the eye shot much easier to land before it closes.)
Fight at a Glance
| Stage | What happens | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Ganon charges across Hyrule Field | Equip the Bow of Light and ride to his side |
| Weak points | Yellow glowing spots appear on his body | Ride parallel and shoot each one |
| Dodging | Mouth beam forward, Malice fire on the ground | Stay on his flanks and keep moving |
| Finale | The Eye of Malice opens on his head | Shoot it, ideally in midair slow motion |
Pro Tips
- Your horse is your health bar: staying mounted keeps you fast enough to dodge everything. Leave the saddle only when you need slow motion.
- Don’t spam dismounts: every jump drains stamina and leaves you on foot in a field full of fire.
- Keep your distance: riding farther away gives you a better angle on high targets and more time to react.
- Other arrows work too: Ancient Arrows will also hit the weak points if you prefer them, but the Bow of Light is free to use, so lean on it.
- No pressure: this fight is forgiving. Zelda keeps guiding you, and there are no extra phases after the eye.
Prep Checklist Before Hyrule Castle
You can’t go shopping once the final sequence starts, so pack for both Ganon fights before you head in.
- Food: a stack of hearty meals and a few stamina dishes (think Endura Carrots or Stamella Shrooms) for the dismount shots.
- Arrows: the Bow of Light handles Dark Beast Ganon, but Calamity Ganon before it eats through your normal and Ancient Arrows.
- Shield: a sturdy shield for parrying Calamity Ganon’s beams.
- Fairies: a couple of fairies in your inventory revive you automatically if something goes wrong.
Making the Final Fight Easier
Most of the heavy lifting happens before Dark Beast Ganon, in the Calamity Ganon fight. Every Divine Beast you free fires a laser at Hyrule Castle when you arrive, which takes a big chunk off Calamity Ganon’s health. Clearing all four, starting with Vah Ruta and Vah Medoh, makes the last stretch far smoother.
Oh, and the Champion abilities you earn from them help too. Mipha’s Grace and Daruk’s Protection are lifesavers in the castle, and Revali’s Gale is handy for getting height around Hyrule Field.
Once Ganon falls, the story is complete. If you want the full ending, recover all of Link’s memories first. Our Zelda’s Sacrifice memory guide is a good place to start.
Dark Beast Ganon FAQ
How do you beat Dark Beast Ganon?
Ride your horse along his sides and shoot the glowing weak points with the Bow of Light, then shoot the Eye of Malice on top of his head.
Can you use the Master Sword on Dark Beast Ganon?
No. Melee weapons don’t damage him. The fight is won with arrows.
Do you need a horse for Dark Beast Ganon?
The fight starts with you on horseback and is built around riding alongside him, so stay mounted as much as you can.
Does Dark Beast Ganon drop anything?
No. Beating him ends the main story.
Nailed it? Sides, then the eye, all from horseback. Take a second to enjoy the scale of it, because galloping beneath a beast that size is a sight to screenshot. For more Hyrule guides, head to our Breath of the Wild hub.
