Helmasaur

Template:Enemy Seen in many games throughout the series, Helmasaurs (also known as Iron Masks or Hiploops) are dinosaur-like enemies who make use of their hard masks in their front as a defense against most weapons. The easiest way to damage them is from behind or to forceably remove their masks by various means.

Appearances

A Link to the Past

File:Helmasaur Sprite ALttP.png

Helmasaurs can be found at the Dark Palace and Ganon's Tower. They have a hard green mask for a head, while the rest is a soft brown body susceptible to most weapons. Their only form of attack involves charging toward Link, which takes out half a heart with regular armor. They can be dealt with much faster by using the Magic Hammer due to it being able to be damaged anywhere. It can also be turned into a weak Slime using Magic Powder or destroyed quickly using the Bombos Medallion.

Lastly, the boss of the Dark Palace is the Helmasaur King a larger version of these enemies.

Link's Awakening

Main article: Iron Mask

In Link's Awakening, there is a very similar enemy referred to as an Iron Mask. It it very similar to a Helmasaur and is defeated in a similar fashion.

Majora's Mask

Called by their original Japanese name in Majora's Mask, Hiploops are encountered in both the Woodfall Temple and the Stone Tower Temple. In the game, they charge at Link many times knocking him off the edge of something. Without their masks on they look more like insects in this game, then the dinosaur look seen in the other games of the series. Link can turn the enemies around by using his shield, or taking off their mask using the hookshot.

Oracle of Seasons and Ages

Main article: Iron Mask

In both Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the same Iron Masks from Link's Awakening make their re-appearance.

Four Swords

Called Hiploops once again, these enemies make a return in Four Swords. In this game they are red, with a pointed helmet (making them look more like Iron Masks from the Oracle games and Link's Awakening). They will charge at Link, in which he must dodge and then slash at their exposed back.

The Minish Cap

Returning in The Minish Cap, they look just like they did in Four Swords, but are called Helmasaurs. Link can defeat them just like in previous games, but can also blow off their mask using the Gust Jar.

Twilight Princess

In Twilight Princess, they can be found in the Lakebed Temple, City in the Sky, Cave of Ordeals, and Hyrule Field. In this game they look more dinosaur-like, having greyish-green skin and wearing a mask on the top of their head. In the game, they will charge at Link requiring him to dodge them. If Link can get to the backside of this monster, he can then attack it by slashing at it with his sword. He can also remove the mask with the Clawshot, causing it to lose its only form of defense. After it loses its mask, it can still charge at Link though, so it is best to take it out quickly. After defeating it, the enemy will leave behind its mask, which can be picked up and used by Link for tossing at enemies and for weighing down switches. He also picks up the mask if he uses the clawshot on it.

Helmasaurus

Main article: Helmasaurus

This is a unique variation of the Helmasaur that only appears in Twilight Princess. It can be found at the City in the Sky and cannot have its mask removed. This means that the only way of defeating it is to wait for it to charge and then dodge, hacking away at its backside.

Gallery

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  Hiploop without its helmet in Majora's Mask

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  Helmasaurus from Twilight Princess

References

1. "Hiploops are giant flies who commonly sport steel face masks to protect themselves from their struggling prey. Hiploops are found throughout Termina, but primarily they are concentrated in the Southern Swamp." — (The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia).