Bubble
The Bubble (バブル, Baburu) is an animated skull with fire surrounding it, seeking out prey for its master. The main purpose of the Bubble is to induce fear in their victim by touch, leaving the victim trembling and unable to wield or use a weapon/item for a brief period of time. This leaves the victim open to attack from any nearby enemies and monsters. Link found these enemies virtually indestructible in his quests. They first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda and have appeared in numerous games since then.
It is important to note that the Bubbles seen in the 3D Zelda games (i.e Red Bubble, Blue Bubble) have little in common with this Bubble other than similarity in appearance. Their attack patterns do damage and are completely different in many regards. In Ocarina of Time, they became a more diverse race, containing White, Green, Blue, and Red Bubbles.
In The Adventure of Link, a larger version can also be found.
In Twilight Princess, White Bubbles return simply being called "Bubbles" and bearing no flames. But there is another type of Bubble that does, called the Fire Bubble, which appears in certain dungeons. There are also Ice Bubbles, which freeze Link (but appear very rarely).
In Phantom Hourglass, there are Fire and Ice Bubbles. Both are easily defeated by stunning them with the Boomerang, then attacking them with a Sword, Bomb or Bombchu. Sword is most suggested, as the latters are too time-consuming. They can also be destroyed instantly by a single arrow, though are fairly hard to hit.
Red Bubble
The Red Bubble is a disembodied skull with red flames surrounding it. They usually stalk places where heat is abundant, and can ram into opponents, setting them on fire in the process. The best option is to use a shield of some sort to block their attacks. This will remove their red flames, leaving the skull vulnerable to attack. Slicing the skull with something like a sword will cause the death of the beast.
Red Bubbles have been spotted in all of the current 3-D Zelda games: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess. Their overall appearance hasn't changed very much throughout the games, although the The Wind Waker incarnation has a distinct laugh that the other two versions don't have. In Twilight Princess, a nearly identical enemy called the "Fire Bubble" can be found, and just like its forebears, it will fly at Link to attack him. However, in Twilight Princess this bubble will latch onto you and continually damage you. A simple touch will put Link up in flames.
Blue Bubble
These cursed monsters are found in many dungeons. Defend yourself with your shield, this will knock its blue flame out. All other items will also accomplish this purpose, but defending is the safest method. They also seem to be attracted to bombs, because when Link throws one near a Blue Bubble in Ocarina of Time, they circle it until the bomb explodes. When it drops to the floor simply attack it with your sword. Beware, because contact with its blue flames will cause curses in Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker, and you will be unable to use your sword for a few seconds (but instantly can be removed by the Song of Storms); if it touches you in the latter game, you'll be unable to use any item at all! Also, note that in The Wind Waker, rather then using your shield to put out the flames, you must use your Hookshot or Deku Leaf. Ice Arrows are also effective, but it costs arrows and magic. In Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass, similar enemies called "Ice Bubbles" can be found, but instead of cursing you, they freeze you in a small block of ice when they touch you. It is best to attack these enemies from a distance using the Hero's Bow or the Gale Boomerang. The Clawshot is not advised. In Phantom Hourglass, the Bow, Boomerang, and Grappling Hook work best.
Green Bubble
The Green Bubble appears in various dungeons throughout Ocarina of Time. They float in a set pattern, with their green flames acting as a barrier. To defeat them, simply wait until their flames die down, or put them out with your shield, then attack them. They won't attack directly, and so can be considered easier than most. They often appear in groups of two.
One appears floating around the water way in the Kakariko Well mini-dungeon. This one is larger than usual, but still as easy to kill.
White Bubble
The White Bubble is the fourth and final variety of the 'bubble family' seen in Ocarina of Time. It only appears in this game as well, and only in the Spirit Temple. Similar to the Green Bubble, the White Bubble follows a set path, only their paths are more confusing. They travel much faster, and they are often seen in groups, so it is a good tactic to pick them out one by one from a distance. Fortunately, they will not begin to hop around annoyingly like the other bubbles the first time they are struck, and they don't have a flame surrounding their bodies to protect them from sword attacks.
Trivia
- A similar creature named Bonehead appears in the N64 Game Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Both monsters share a few notable similarities including having wings and growing the wings when it is approached.
See Also
- Enemies
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda
- Enemies in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Enemies in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Undead