Stalfos

STALFOS

Whether you’ve explored the full overworld or not, eventually the player will have to plunge into the eight dungeons scattered throughout the map. Inside they will discover even more enemies and challenges, including hordes of reanimated skeletons who tend to come back to life if you take too long slaying their friends.

These are the Stalfos, or at least, Stalfos is the most common name of the enemy type. Many games will include slightly smaller versions called Stalchildren, and games like Breath of the Wild will include variants for all the various enemies. Strictly speaking though, we’ll be mostly focused on the core Stalfos design.

In game, they will be tough and nimble warriors generally able to go toe-to-toe with Link in a one-on-one fight. They’ll be armed with swords and shields, and their movesets will pull from all their game appearances and the abilities of their multiple variants.

Likelihood rating: Could happen.

3D Zelda Returning Characters

RETURNING CHARACTERS

I hope we're in for the long haul, because after this, we have a full total of sixty-three newcomer character sheets to do. Luckily, I have hopefully come up with a new way to cover all returning characters in need of update rather than just adding them to the total.

First on our returning list is Link. He has four (five?) alternate versions coming, but this one will be the basic Adult Link type, pulling from much of his appearances in Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword. Across all of the games, he had a ton of specialized items and weaponry, but as per usual, weapons like his sword, shield, bow and arrow, boomerang, and bombs make constant consistent appearances. If I were to make a change to his moveset, his boomerang might now have a wind effect, his hookshot could potentially replace his Up B (though it works fine as a tether too), his arrows might have the ice, fire, or light effects, and his Master Sword Finish doesn't have to be his Final, though I'd say it's still the best option.

Dark Link returns, though he will still only be an echo fighter, and probably will be until we cover Four Swords Adventure. So, all changes we made to Link, we can attach to him with dark effects. Otherwise, he's still fine.

Princess Zelda is a major upheaval, since before she was mostly honorary with only general guesses for a moveset. Now, we have much more to go on. Removing Sheik and Tetra from the equation, she often makes use of her light arrows, has a special magical song called Zelda's Lullaby that can have numerous magical effects, can trap herself in a jewel, can create and dispel magical barriers, float and sail with a sail cloth, and of course, seal Ganon away. I'd say light arrows are a natural Standard B, her barrier magic, ability to heal herself, or Zelda's Lullaby with a "Metronome" style effect all have some good Down B energy, with one of them taking up the Side B spot as well. Finally, her sail cloth or ability to float into the air could easily take up her Up B. Her Final Smash makes sense to seal Ganon away, and I'm actually quite fond of how it looks in Smash now.

Moblins of course reappear a lot, and slide into their new role as the "big" variants of the smaller Bokoblins. Most of what I included in the moveset before has reappeared, or seen actually fruition, with one of my only changes possibly being their propensity for clubs and the shockwaves created in their Ocarina of Time appearances, possibly having their spear charges take up Standard B, and the club shockwaves becoming Side B.

Finally, we have Stalfos, who tend to take up different fighting styles across their game appearances. One of the most notable new features of them is the Stalchildren, smaller versions of them that rise from the ground to cause trouble. Those I would include as the Down B, if I haven't included it yet. The Majora's Mask boss's dust breath might work for a Side B or Standard B as well.

And that's it! Come back tomorrow for our new characters, starting with Young Link!

Character Sheet: Stalfos

STALFOS

Today, we begin our very first run of Legend of Zelda character sheets, figuring out just what kind of movesets we can pull from all these characters and building a roster. For the moment, we have about fourteen:

1. Link

2. Dark Link

3. Princess Zelda (Currently honorary)

4. Marin

5. Sahasrahla

6. Old Man

7. Hylian Soldier

8. Ganon

9. Agahnim

10. Nightmare

11. Moblin

12. Stalfos

13. Vire/Keese

14. Thunderbird

Another major recurring enemy type is the Stalfos, skeletal warriors risen from the dead that often seem to be the go-to basic enemy of dungeon areas (at least in the 2D games). They would go on to receive multiple alternate forms, such as their smaller versions, the Stalchildren, and many, many, many versions in Breath of the Wild based on all the regular enemy types.

Stalfos are most often seen wielding swords, and can often carry around shields as well. Jumping seems to be pretty standard for them, as is the propensity to collapse when defeated, returning to life if not all of their comrades have been defeated in time. They can throw their own heads when need be, and some appearing in Link to the Past could even cast spells and wore Wizzrobe-type shrouds.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Head Throw

The sword its standard weapon, the Stalfos will instead throw its head forward as its base special, the head flying out as a projectile and returning like a boomerang.

Side B: Magic Shroud

It will cast a spell forward that will explode on impact, the character animation briefly taking on a Wizzrobe shroud to cast it.

Up B: Flying Leap

Not too much in the way of aerials yet, but for now, I think we can stick with the standard of leaping into the air, with its sword over its head, and coming down with a vertical slash.

Down B: Stalchild

It will summon as Stalchild from the ground, which will walk forward in front of it. It will be very weak, and collapse in one hit, but the Stalfos will be able to revive it with another Down B-press within five seconds of it being hit.

Final Smash: Blood Moon

Considering it has to do with reviving the dead, I'd say it works. The stage will turn a dark red, and all manner of Stal-enemies will crawl their way up out of the stage floor, terrorizing everyone on it.

Entrance: It will start as a pile of bones before coming together.

Taunts: Up, it will toss its own head gently into the air once. Side, a Stalchild will run around it for a second. Down, it will collapse in a heap and rise again.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the Vire and/or Keese enemies!