Summary
The land of Hyrule inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis populated by monsters and beasts of all kinds.Minibosses in the forms of Hinox, Talus, and Molduga litter Hyrule’s most dangerous areas; however, there’s one enemy that has no health bar across the screen but still strikes fear in the hearts of most players: The Lynels. This legendaryZeldaenemy has never been so intimidating, and players must use their best equipment and employ a bevy of combat skills to ensure that they can defeat this enemy after a hard-fought battle.
There are five types ofLynels inBotW, and all of them pack a serious punch. Lynels are some of the most dangerous enemies in the game, and players should avoid them until they have the proper gear and know the best tips and strategies. Players who want to deal with theseLynels inBoTWshould make it a point to find out about all their variants and how to tackle these monstrous enemies. Sure, players can wing it when deciding to take on this intimidating foe in battle, but doing so will lead to a swift and humiliating game over in no time.
Updated on July 26, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Lynels in BotWare some of the strongest and most fearsome enemies that players will encounter in their travels. This nightmarish conjunction between a lion and centaur carries some of the most powerful equipment in the game and will give any player a tough contest as they face off against an enemy that can decimate all their hearts with a single attack. While most players will avoid these brutish foes as they make their way through the game world, they’ll be emboldened to face this foe head-on after an adequate amount of preparation. Since Link can become a powerful hero after a few hours, it’s only sensible for players to be up-to-date when it comes to the manyLynel types in BotWthat scale up with a player’s strength and how they should tackle these enemies.
Where To Find Lynels
Given how massiveBreath of the Wild’s map is, finding a Lynel can become somewhat of a daunting task. However, this search can be made easier byscouting in and around the following locationsin the game:
Of course,do keep in mind that seeking out a Lynel fight early on in the game is akin to a death sentence. These enemies will hit like a truck if Link’s armor isn’t high enough, leading to a single shot being more than enough to guarantee a game over. So, while these locations are good to know of, players should ideally steer clear of these areas until both their equipment and skills are improved over the course of playingBreath of the Wild.
5Red-Maned Lynels
The Basic Form Of This Fearsome Foe
Theweakest Lynel typescattered across Hyrule, the Red-Maned Lynel is still no laughing matter. Any player who finds even a Red-Maned Lynelbefore stocking up on good weapons and armoris in for a nasty surprise. These Lynel can be farmed for Lynel Horns, Lynel Hooves, and Lynel Guts, which are used in the upgrading of the Barbarian Armor set.
Red-Maned Lynels also drop regular Lynel Swords, Lynel Spears, Lynel Crushers, Lynel Shields, and Lynel Bows. This gear is some of the most durable and highest damage in the game, so players should be sure to try and take on these fights once they feel ready. They can also drop shock and fire arrows, and the fact that they’re theeasiest Lynel to killinBreath of the Wildmakes hunting them down worth it.
Most players will encounter this beast for the first time when they are tasked with acquiring a ton of Lightning Arrows during the quest to free Divine Beast Vah Ruta, being told to sneak around this powerful foe. However, players who feel like they’re up for the challenge can take this beast head-on to see if their combat skills are up to the mark.
4Blue-Maned Lynels
A Step Above From The Weakest Variant
Blue-Maned Lynels are the second tier; with more HP and better gear, these Lynels pose a greater challenge for Link. Blue-Maned Lynels start spawning after Link has completed one Divine Beast. They wield the Mighty Lynel gear, each of which has a corresponding sword, spear, crusher, shield, and bow. The more enemies players defeat within the game, the more Lynels will begin upgrading to higher tiers.
Because of this, the mighty Lynel equipment is only available for a certain span of time within the game. If players wish to complete the compendium, it is worthfarming Blue-Maned Lynelsto find each piece of Mighty Lynel gear. It’s a shame that these Lynels don’t last in the game for too long, but fighting them is still a treat, regardless.
3White-Maned Lynels
Tough, Intimidating, And Fatal If Players Aren’t Prepared
The thirdtype of Lynelsis the White-Maned Lynels. They again have increased HP and higher damage weapons, but they also have new attacks. White-Maned Lynels are capable of jumping into the air and slamming down to create a shockwave that knocks Link back. They also have the ability to create a sphere of flame spreading from the Lynel after it roars.
These attacks deal significant damage and should be avoided when possible. White-Maned Lynelsdrop the powerful Savage Lynel Sword, Spear, Crusher, Shield, and Bow, which are better than the other Lynel gear varieties. Players should brush up on their skills before fighting this enemy since its higher damage output can take most players by surprise.
2Silver-Maned Lynels
The Toughest Variant Of The Lynel In Normal Mode
The Silver-Maned Lynels are the most difficultLynel typethat Link will have to face in a player’s first run-through ofBreath of the Wild. Unfortunately, they still drop the Savage Lynel gear, so players hoping to find even better weapons will be disappointed. However, most players won’t find this to be an issue since the sense of achievement one feels fromdefeating these tough enemies for the first timemore than makes up for any disappointing loot.
What playerscanget from Silver-Maned Lynels are rare gem drops, such as Topazes, Rubies, Sapphires, Diamonds, and Star Fragments. This makes them well worth the intense fight players will need to go through in order to slay one of these mighty monsters, which is a pretty satisfying endeavor in its own right. It’s easy to see why these Lynels are the toughest variant of the enemy that players will encounter in normal mode.
1Gold-Maned Lynels
A Strong Enemy Introduced In Master Mode
Gold-Maned Lynels are the strongest non-boss enemies inBreath of the Wild. They only spawn in Hyrule during a playthrough in Master Mode, which is available if players have boughtThe Master TrialsDLC Pack and have beaten the base game. These enemies are not to be trifled with, andplayers should bring their best weapons and armorin a fight against this imposing behemoth.
For those experienced players, Gold-Maned Lynels will still prove a significant challenge with massive HP and the best Lynel gear in the game. Taking on these big bad monstrosities is one of the ultimate tests of a player’s skill and should only be attempted if the player is confident in their abilities to take down what is one of the toughest normal enemies in the game.
