Daily Debate: Which Is The Zelda Series’ Coolest Dragon?
Posted on March 07 2023 by Mike Midwood
Despite its idiosyncrasies, The Legend of Zelda is firmly entrenched in the fantasy genre. Many of the attendant tropes make an appearance throughout the series and dragons are no exception. While the explicit term “dragon” isn’t always used and Nintendo doesn’t typically bother to distinguish them from what are technically wyverns or serpents, there are numerous creatures in the franchise clearly designed to invoke the mythical, flying beasts of legend. No doubt, dragons are pretty awesome, but which is the most awesome? Which dragon in the Zelda series is the coolest?
In a lot of recent media, dragons are being presented more and more as intelligent, benevolent beings. The Zelda series has taken this approach more than once recently, usually to compelling effect. I’ve always loved Valoo from The Wind Waker. He’s a gentle giant, but he isn’t afraid to burn down a fortress to save the hero’s hide. While I think Skyward Sword is overlong and could have done without its dragons, they at least have cool designs. My favorite in this style has to be the three dragons from Breath of the Wild. Seeing their majestic flight path in the distance, they embody the mythical creatures they’re supposed to be. If not for Naydra’s corruption, they’d seem almost cosmic in nature; above the petty squabbling of the worldly characters.
I’m a classical type, however, and I’ve always preferred for dragons to be monstrous animals for Link to battle. From the earliest days of the Zelda series, Gleeok and Barba were among the fiercest enemies in their respective games and both have been iterated on since. Many people would probably look to Volvagia from Ocarina of Time as the definitive dragon in the series. The fiery beast is incorporated into the narrative pretty well and is built up as a true threat, which it can be if you don’t go into the fight prepared. Many people have praised Twilight Princess’ Argorok, and while the design is definitely cool, I’ve always felt that the fight itself is a bit lame. My favorite does come from Twilight Princess, though. Stallord looks absolutely awesome as a skeletal dragon and his boss arena is basically a skate park. The spinner wasn’t a great item, but it’s use in this fight is amazing.
What about you? Who is your favorite dragon in the Zelda series? What type of dragon do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!
Hi, I’m Mike Midwood and I’m a Senior Editor at ZeldaDungeon! Video games and literature are my greatest joys in life. An avid Zelda fan, some of my other favorite games include the Resident Evil and Dark Souls series. I hope you enjoy my content here on ZeldaDungeon!
“The sword has no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.”
