Deku Baba
Deku Baba are common carnivorous plant enemies that have appeared in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Spirit Tracks, and Skyward Sword. There are several types of Deku Babas as well as other enemies with very similar characteristics.
Appearances
Ocarina of Time
Deku Babas can be found within the Forest Temple, Kokiri Forest, Inside the Deku Tree, and at the Bottom of the Well. They have a large, bulbous head that is blue in color with purple speckles around the mouth. The inside of their mouth is a textured red and pink, and there are no noticeable teeth. Their body, in relation to their head, is very thin and green. They have little means of defense besides their lunging bite that they use to intimidate and attack with when provoked.
When Link approaches a Deku Baba, it reveals itself and lunges out with a fierce bite. The most effective forms of defense against a Deku Baba are to block with Link's shield or to simply back away. Since the Deku Baba is attached to the ground, it can only lunge our the length of its stem. Link can use projectile attacks such as a Deku Nut to stun a Deku Baba.
If a Deku Baba attacks you as it lunges out, it will trap you in its mouth and continue to deal small amounts of damage until it releases you. If it is stunned prior to detection, it will stand stick straight. However, if left unharmed, it will start to rotate in a circular motion as it un-stuns itself. This movement can also hurt Link if he stands too close without attacking. If you kill Deku Babas when they are lunging out to attack you, you will obtain Deku Nuts. If you kill them when they are standing straight up, you will obtain a Deku Stick.
In addition to standard Deku Babas there are two variations of the enemy in the form of a Big Deku Baba and a Withered Deku Baba.
Big Deku Baba
- Main article: Big Deku Baba
A Big Deku Baba is a larger variation of the standard Deku Baba. While it is a bit stronger than a standard Deku Baba, it has the same primary attacks. Big Deku Baba are found in the Kokiri Forest and the Forest Temple when Link is an adult.
Withered Deku Baba
- Main article: Withered Deku Baba
Withered Deku Babas are weaker versions of the standard Deku Baba. These fellows will not even attack Link and the only way to get hurt is for Link to walk directly into them. A single sword slash will defeat them, and they will always leave behind a Deku Stick as a reward. Withered Deku Baba can be found within the Kokiri Forest and Inside the Deku Tree. This variation of a Deku Baba can also be found within Majora's Mask.
Majora's Mask
Deku Baba in Majora's Mask appear in an identical fashion as they did within Ocarina of Time. Deku Babs remain Forest enemies, and they can be found within Termina Field, Southern Swamp, Woodfall Temple, and Sakon's Hideout.
Withered Deku Baba's also make a return in Majora's Mask and can be found similar Forest areas where standard Deku Babas can be found. Additionally there are two new variations of a Deku Baba in the form of a Bio Deku Baba and a Mini Baba.
Bio Deku Baba
- Main article: Bio Deku Baba
Bio Deku Babas are alternate forms of Deku Babas, found hanging upside down from the ceiling or underneath lily pads. Bio Deku Babas can be found in Termina Field, Great Bay Temple, and Stone Tower Temple. Link can split them from the ceiling or their lily pads and they'll drop to the ground where they will continue to walk around. If Link tries to land on top of the lily pad where a Bio Deku Baba is hiding, it will flip around and harm him.
Mini Baba
- Main article: Mini Baba
Mini Baba are tiny variations of Deku Babas that completely lack stems. Thus, these creatures won't reach out and harm Link. They can only hurt Link if he walks right into them. They are found exclusively within Southern Swamp and within underground caverns of Termina Field.
The Wind Waker
Deku Babas do not actually make an appearance in The Wind Waker. However, a very similar enemy known as a Boko Baba did and it shared many of the same characteristics.
Boko Baba
- Main article: Boko Baba
Boko Babas are carnivorous plant enemies that live in the Forest Haven and the Forbidden Woods. They share many similar physical features and attributes with Deku Babas and it is possible that the Boko Babas are just evolved forms of Deku Babas.
Twilight Princess
Deku Babas in Twilight Princess share many of the same characteristics as their Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask counterparts, but they also have new abilities. This time, its head will actually grasp onto Link when it bites him and it will hold Link between its jaws. Link will have to move around quickly or perform a Spin Attack in order to free himself from the plants' grasp. Deku Baba can be taken out easily by stunning them with a projectile weapon, then slashing them with Link's sword. After defeating a Deku Baba, its head will dry up into a small sphere. This can be broken up to find Pumpkin Seeds which will serve as an ammunition for Link's Slingshot.
In Twilight Princess, there are many variations of Deku Babas. The standard Deku Baba retains its Forest Habitat, being found within the Faron Woods, Forest Temple, and strangely enough within the City in the Sky. However, there are now several new variations including a Baba Serpent, Big Baba, Twilit Baba, and even a full-out temple boss Diababa. All members of the Deku Baba family can be found within the same Forest areas, while Twilit Baba naturally can be only be found within the Twilight.
Baba Serpent
- Main article: Baba Serpent
When battling a Deku Baba, Link can split the head of the enemy from its stem using several weapons including the Boomerang. After Link cuts its stem, it will slither along the ground, chomping its teeth and occasionally lunging towards Link. Link must then attack it, or it will grab a hold of Link. The only way to get out of its grip is to perform a spin attack. Baba Serpents can also be found hanging from the ceiling. Again, using projectile weapons to stun them can be very helpful. If left alone, these Baba Serpent can re-attach to their base to form Deku Babas.
Big Baba
- Main article: Big Baba
A Big Baba is a much larger version of a Deku Baba found within the Forest Temple and the City in the Sky. These creatures have much larger range due to their long stems. Once one has been defeated, it will turn into a Deku Like. Throw a bomb into it to finish it off.
Diababa
- Main article: Diababa
Twilit Parasite: Diababa is a large, three-headed version of a Deku Baba. It serves as the Temple boss within the Forest Temple. Link can use the dungeon item, the Gale Boomerang, to whirl a bomb into its mouth, knocking its head to the ground and temporarily stunning it. From here, Link can use the sword to attack the hidden eye inside the monster's mouth.
Twilit Baba
- Main article: Twilit Baba
A Twilit Baba serves as the the Twilit version of a standard Deku Baba. They have a slightly different appearance but all of their attacks are the same. However, Twilit Babas cause more damage to Link than standard Deku Babas.When defeated two purple lines falldown and sometimes they leave behind hearts.
Spirit Tracks
Deku Babas did not actually make an appearance in Spirit Tracks. However, a very similar enemy known as a Fire Baba did and it shared many of the same characteristics.
Fire Baba
- Main article: Fire Baba
Fire Babas share some of their characteristics with Deku Baba in that they are plant-like creatures sprung from the ground. Unlike standard Deku Babas, these creatures don't initially attack Link by biting him. Instead, they will shoot fireballs towards him. If Link can separate its head from its stem using the Whip, the Fire Baba will try to bite Link. They are found in the Goron Village and the Fire Sanctuary.
Skyward Sword
Deku Babas in Skyward Sword resemble their earlier counterparts but the method to defeat them has changed quite a bit. No longer can Link just use his sword to cut of the head of the Deku Baba, but instead, he needs to make precision sword slashes in the proper direction in order to harm them. There are two variations of Deku Baba within Skyward Sword, a standard blue one, as well as a more powerful golden variation.
Deku Baba come out from underground and try to bite Link if he gets too close. Deku Baba will open up their mouths horizontally or vertically and Link must use a proper sword slash to separate their mouths into two. Alternatively, Link can toss or roll a bomb towards a Deku Baba and it will gobble it up, causing the bomb to explode within its mouth.
Some Deku Babas can be seen hanging from walls or the ceiling, and they are out of reach from Link's sword. In order to defeat these fellows, Link must use the Beetle. After sending out the beetle, Link can track its direction so that it cuts down the Deku Babas from their stems. Unlike in Twilight Princess, once a Deku Baba is cut from its stem it will be defeated. Link can also use his bow and arrows to cut these Deku Babas from their stems.
Quadro Baba
- Main article: Quadro Baba
The Quadro Baba is a stronger variation of the standard Deku Baba. It attacks Link in all the same ways that a standard Deku Baba does by lunging towards Link and attempting to bite him. Its mouth is divided into quarters, rather than the two halves of a standard Deku Baba. The Quadro Baba will change how its mouth opens mid-battle, sometimes opening horizontally and other times opening vertically. Link will need to read which way the mouth opens and quickly deliver a sword slash in the proper direction. Quadro Babas are also a bit stronger and will take multiple hits to defeat. Much like standard Deku Babas, Link can toss or roll a bomb towards the Quadro Baba to defeat it.
Non-Canon appearances
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
A Deku Baba is featured as a sticker within Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The sticker gives a bonus of +4 to arm and leg attacks and can be applied to anyone.
Trivia
- Deku Baba share many physical attributes with Piranha Plants from the Super Mario Bros. Franchise.
Gallery
Deku Baba artwork from Ocarina of Time
Withered Deku Baba in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask
A Hanging Bio Deku Baba in Majora's Mask
A Shadow Deku Baba in Twilight Princess
A Baba Serpent as seen in Twilight Princess
