To beat Bongo Bongo in the Ocarina of Time remake, shoot each of his two hands with the Fairy Bow to stun them, then turn on the Lens of Truth, shoot the glowing eye on his body and run in to slash it. Repeat until he collapses, with the Hover Boots on to keep you steady while he drums.
He is the boss of the Shadow Temple, and most of the trouble comes from the arena rather than his health. Below is what to bring, how to reach him, the fight step by step, and how to get back on the drum when he knocks you off.
What to Bring
| Item | Why | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Lens of Truth | Without it you only see his hands | D-pad, press again to turn off |
| Hover Boots | Stop the drum’s bounce from throwing you around | Equipment tab, or the D-pad if you have assigned them there |
| Fairy Bow | Hits the hands and the eye | Hold R to put it on ZR |
| Magic | The Lens drains it while on | Bring a green potion |
Our guides to the Lens of Truth and the 1998 Hover Boots show where they come from. If you do not yet have Din’s Fire, you need that to get into the temple at all. Our quick swap guide covers the buttons.
Bring your strongest sword as well. A shield does little in this fight, so the two-handed Biggoron Sword gives up nothing here, and it gets more damage in during the short opening.
How to Reach Him
Get the Boss Key first, burning the cobwebs in your way. Then topple the bird statue so it falls and makes a bridge, and use the Lens with the Hover Boots to cross the invisible platforms. The golden door with the skull takes the Boss Key. Save first, then drop down the hole behind it into the arena.
Step by Step: How to Beat Bongo Bongo
- Wear the Hover Boots at the start. He drums on the arena floor, and the boots keep the bounce from throwing you around.
- Set the Fairy Bow on ZR and watch his hands. They rise and slam down in turn.
- Dodge the slam. Take the boots off when you need to move quickly, since they make it hard to stop. Keep moving in a circle rather than standing under a hand.
- Shoot a hand with an arrow when it pauses, so that it is stunned. It is easiest just after it hits the ground, when it turns grey.
- Shoot the other hand before the first one recovers.
- Turn on the Lens of Truth with both hands down. It shows you his body and the big glowing eye in the middle.
- Shoot the eye. He staggers.
- Run in and slash the eye with Y for as long as you can.
- Roll away when the hands rise, then start again. Repeat until the body collapses.
What to Do When He Knocks You Off
Getting thrown off the drum is normal. You land on the outer platforms, and from there you can get back to the central drum. Do it quickly, as he does not stop attacking. Our jump guide covers the remake’s dedicated jump button.
Faster Ways to Win
- Ice Arrows. Use one on a hand. The game’s own entry for him says, “Freezing its hands hindered its ability to bang out a tune.” Our Ice Arrows guide shows where to get them.
- Fire Arrows. They hit his hands hard, and our Fire Arrows guide covers the one shot it takes to earn them.
- Double Magic. The Lens drains your meter for as long as it is on, and the Great Fairy in Death Mountain Crater doubles it. Our Great Fairy guide has the fountain.
- Turn the Lens off during the hands phase. You only need it to see the eye, so there is no reason to spend magic on it before then.
What You Get for Beating Bongo Bongo
A Heart Container lies on the arena floor beside a blue warp. Take it to gain a heart and refill your health, then step into the light. Impa is waiting as the Sage of Shadow, and she gives you the Shadow Medallion.
His statue joins the Hall of Fallen Foes, where you can fight him again against the clock. Our 1998 boss list shows where he falls in the order, and our what to do after the Water Temple guide covers the choice between the Shadow and Spirit temples. Every remake guide is on our Zelda hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to beat Bongo Bongo? The Lens of Truth to see him and the Fairy Bow to hit him. The Hover Boots keep you steady on the drum.
Why can’t I see Bongo Bongo? Only his hands show without the Lens of Truth. Turn it on to see his body and eye.
How do you hurt Bongo Bongo? Shoot both hands with arrows to stun them, shoot the eye with the Lens on, then slash the eye with your sword.
What happens if you fall off the drum? You land on the outer platforms. Get back to the drum and carry on.
Can you use Ice Arrows on Bongo Bongo? Yes. The game’s own entry for him says freezing his hands hinders his drumming.
What does Bongo Bongo drop? A Heart Container. Impa then gives you the Shadow Medallion.